Abstract: Disclosed is a polyol composition comprising: (a) at least one monomeric polyol comprising three or more hydroxyl groups; (b) at least one higher polyol comprising three or more hydroxyl groups; and (c) at least one polyhydroxylated aromatic compound; wherein the at least one higher polyol comprises residues of either or both of the at least one monomeric polyol and the polyhydroxylated aromatic compound linked by one or more carbonate groups, oxygen ether groups, or a combination thereof, and wherein the polyol composition has a viscosity of less than 5000 cps at 150 degrees Fahrenheit. The at least one monomeric polyol and at least one higher polyol may have any structures affording polyol compositions and polyurethane compositions having the requisite physical characteristics in terms of polyol composition viscosity and polyurethane heat resistance, strength and flexural modulus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polyol composition comprising: (a) at least one monomeric polyol comprising three or more hydroxyl groups; (b) at least one higher polyol comprising three or more hydroxyl groups; and (c) at least one polyhydroxylated aromatic compound; wherein the at least one higher polyol comprises residues of either or both of the at least one monomeric polyol and the polyhydroxylated aromatic compound linked by one or more carbonate groups, oxygen ether groups, or a combination thereof, and wherein the polyol composition has a viscosity of less than 5000 cps at 150 degrees Fahrenheit. The at least one monomeric polyol and at least one higher polyol may have any structures affording polyol compositions and polyurethane compositions having the requisite physical characteristics in terms of polyol composition viscosity and polyurethane heat resistance, strength and flexural modulus.

Abstract: A device can estimate the heart rate of an active user by using a physiological model to refine a “direct” measurement of the user's heart rate obtained using a pulse sensor. The physiological model can be based on heart rate response to activity and can be informed by context information, such as the user's current activity and/or intensity level as well as user-specific parameters such as age, gender, general fitness level, previous heart rate measurements, etc. The physiological model can be used to predict a heart rate, and the prediction can be used to assess or improve the direct measurement.

Abstract: A device can estimate the heart rate of an active user by using a physiological model to refine a “direct” measurement of the user's heart rate obtained using a pulse sensor. The physiological model can be based on heart rate response to activity and can be informed by context information, such as the user's current activity and/or intensity level as well as user-specific parameters such as age, gender, general fitness level, previous heart rate measurements, etc. The physiological model can be used to predict a heart rate, and the prediction can be used to assess or improve the direct measurement.

Abstract: An algorithm for removing motion artifacts from a PPG signal in the frequency domain and a harmonic template classifier (HTC) algorithm and unit to determine heart rate are disclosed. In some examples, PPG signals can be processed in combination with accelerometer signals to remove unwanted artifacts in the frequency domain. For example, an acceleration mask can be generated and used to filter out acceleration contributions represented in the PPG signal. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, an HTC unit can be configured to generate a heart rate correlation curve based on the correlation between frequency domain PPG signals and spectral templates. In some examples, the HTC unit can be configured to implement an algorithm to determine a predicted heart rate and an associated confidence measure. In some examples, heuristics can be used to determine a predicted heart rate based on the correlation curve and/or the confidence measure.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, a computer readable storage medium configured with instructions for carrying out a method, and logic encoded in one or more computer-readable tangible medium to carry out actions. The method is to decode audio data that includes N.n channels to M.m decoded audio channels, including unpacking metadata and unpacking and decoding frequency domain exponent and mantissa data; determining transform coefficients from the unpacked and decoded frequency domain exponent and mantissa data; inverse transforming the frequency domain data; and in the case M<N, downmixing according to downmixing data, the downmixing carried out efficiently.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, a computer readable storage medium configured with instructions for carrying out a method, and logic encoded in one or more computer-readable tangible medium to carry out actions. The method is to decode audio data that includes N.n channels to M.m decoded audio channels, including unpacking metadata and unpacking and decoding frequency domain exponent and mantissa data; determining transform coefficients from the unpacked and decoded frequency domain exponent and mantissa data; inverse transforming the frequency domain data; and in the case M<N, downmixing according to downmixing data, the downmixing carried out efficiently.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, a computer readable storage medium configured with instructions for carrying out a method, and logic encoded in one or more computer-readable tangible medium to carry out actions. The method is to decode audio data that includes N.n channels to M.m decoded audio channels, including unpacking metadata and unpacking and decoding frequency domain exponent and mantissa data; determining transform coefficients from the unpacked and decoded frequency domain exponent and mantissa data; inverse transforming the frequency domain data; and in the case M<N, downmixing according to downmixing data, the downmixing carried out efficiently.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, a computer readable storage medium configured with instructions for carrying out a method, and logic encoded in one or more computer-readable tangible medium to carry out actions. The method is to decode audio data that includes N.n channels to M.m decoded audio channels, including unpacking metadata and unpacking and decoding frequency domain exponent and mantissa data; determining transform coefficients from the unpacked and decoded frequency domain exponent and mantissa data; inverse transforming the frequency domain data; and in the case M<N, downmixing according to downmixing data, the downmixing carried out efficiently.

Abstract: A polycarbonate such as aliphatic/aromatic polycarbonate comprises repeating structural carbonate units of the formula (H-1): in which Rh is a radical having the formula (H-2): wherein each of R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, R18, R19, R20, R21, R22, R23, R24, R25, R26, R27, and R28 is independently a hydrogen, a C1-C6 alkyl group, or a halogen substituted C1-C6 alkyl group. The polycarbonate, and a thermoplastic composition thereof, have improved thermal stability, cost-effectiveness, and exhibit improved manufacturability such as, for example, minimum cyclic carbonate formation and minimum amine acceptor requirement.

Abstract: Bischloroformate oligomer compositions are prepared by passing phosgene into a heterogeneous aqueous-organic mixture containing at least one dihydroxyaromatic compound, with simultaneous introduction of a base at a rate to maintain a specific pH range and to produce a specific volume ratio of aqueous to organic phase. By this method, it is possible to employ a minimum amount of phosgene. The reaction may be conducted batchwise or continuously. The bischloroformate composition may be employed for the preparation of cyclic polycarbonate oligomers or linear polycarbonate, and linear polycarbonate formation may be integrated with bischloroformate composition formation in a batch or continuous process.

Abstract: Bischloroformate oligomer compositions are prepared by passing phosgene into a heterogeneous aqueous-organic mixture containing at least one dihydroxyaromatic compound, with simultaneous introduction of a base at a rate to maintain a specific pH range and to produce a specific volume ratio of aqueous to organic phase. By this method, it is possible to employ a minimum amount of phosgene. The reaction may be conducted batchwise or continuously. The bischloroformate composition may be employed for the preparation of cyclic polycarbonate oligomers or linear polycarbonate, and linear polycarbonate formation may be integrated with bischloroformate composition formation in a batch or continuous process.

Abstract: A process for making bisphenol monochloroformate polycarbonate oligomers is provided by continuously introducing phosgene into a bisphenol mixture under agitated interfacial conditions. The pH of the phosgenation mixture falls below a predetermined value, thereby effecting the introduction of an aqueous alkali hydroxide consistent with the use of particular base introduction control systems. In accordance with the use of such control systems, the pH of the mixture can be stabilized, and the phosgenation and base introduction terminated when the pH of the mixture suddenly dips at least about 1 pH unit, or a sudden increase in the flow rate of aqueous alkali metal hydroxide is noted after a plateau in the rate of base introduction.

Abstract: Oligomeric carbonate bischloroformates are prepared with low phosgene usage by phosgenating a dihydroxyaromatic compound in an interfacial reaction in the presence of small amounts of trialkylamine, preferably, triethylamine. In this invention, the molar ratio of phosgene to dihydroxyaromatic compound, hydrolysis of phosgene, formation of such byproducts as monochloroformates and hydroxyl-terminated polycarbonate oligomers, and batch time are minimized and consumption of the dihydroxylaromatic compound is substantially complete.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting the endpoint of an interfacial aromatic polycarbonate polymerization reaction. The method involves illuminating a sample of the polymerization reaction mixture with a light source and monitoring the extent of apparent light scattering of the sample throughout the course of the polycondensation reaction until at the endpoint, a predetermined threshold extent of apparent light scattering is achieved.

Abstract: A method for making cyclic polycarbonate oligomers is provided by converting oligomeric monochloroformate carbonates to the cyclic state. Improvements in materials usage, process control, and product characteristics are obtained.

Abstract: Aromatic polycarbonates are prepared by initially phosgenating a mixture of bisphenol and aqueous alkali metal hydroxide under interfacial reaction conditions to form an oligomeric bisphenol monochloroformate followed by the further introduction of phosgene and base and thereafter the elimination of reacted phosgene and the incorporation of endcapping phenol and tertiary organic amine and additional alkali metal hydroxide into the mixture. Reduced phosgene usage, the substantial elimination of emulsion formation, increased pH measurement accuracy and avoidance of production of diarylcarbonates are substantially provided.

Abstract: Aromatic bischloroformate compositions are interfacially converted to polycarbonates in a single step which includes capping with a monohydroxyaromatic compound. The reaction is conducted by adding an interfacial polycarbonate formation catalyst such as triethylamine and incrementally adding a base such as aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, without pH control, until the reaction mixture is non-emulsified. The amount of base to be added without pH control may be determined by titration. Further base is then added as necessary to provide a pH in the range of about 10-13.

Abstract: Bischloroformate oligomer compositions are prepared by passing phosgene into a heterogeneous aqueous-organic mixture containing at least one dihydroxyaromatic compound, with simultaneous introduction of a base at a rate to maintain a specific pH range and to produce a specific volume ratio of aqueous to organic phase. By this method, it is possible to employ a minimum amount of phosgene. The reaction may be conducted batchwise or continuously. The bischloroformate composition may be employed for the preparation of cyclic polycarbonate oligomers or linear polycarbonate, and linear polycarbonate formation may be integrated with bischloroformate composition formation in a batch or continuous process.

Abstract: Aromatic bischloroformates are prepared by the reaction of a dihydroxyaromatic compound such as bisphenol A with phosgene in the presence of water, base and an organic liquid such as methylene chloride. Initially, a mixture of the bisphenol, organic liquid and about 5-15% of the total base is prepared, and phosgene is passed into said mixture. The remainder of the base is added initially at a constant rate, and then only when the measured pH of the aqueous mixture is below a targeted value in the range of about 8-11 and in about 5-10% excess with respect to the phosgene then being introduced. This method minimizes hydrolysis of phosgene and formation of such by-products as monochloroformates and hydroxy-terminated polycarbonate oligomers.