Abstract: A thermoelectric engine for heating and cooling a surface. The thermoelectric engine includes a top circuit and bottom circuit. A thermoelectric device is electrically connected between the top and bottom circuits. The top and bottom circuits include a plurality of spaced apart conductors bonded to a base layer. The base layer includes a plurality of elongated slots spaced apart by a bridge of base layer material for allowing the top and bottom circuits to flex between the conductors.

Abstract: An alert system to assist in child safety in a vehicle includes a seat belt buckle insert adapted to be inserted between the male and female parts of a standard safety belt found in most automobiles or for a child car safety seat. It may also include a portable receiver device designed to be carried by a vehicle operator. The seat belt buckle insert detects whether the seat belt has been buckled and the temperature is within an acceptable range, as well as the approximate distance between the seat belt buckle insert and portable receiver device. The seat belt buckle transmits information gathered to the portable receiver device and triggers alerts notifying the vehicle operator of a child's safety status.

Abstract: A starter battery is provided comprising a plurality of pouch-type prismatic cells stacked to form an array and configured to output a voltage sufficient to start a vehicle engine. The starter battery further includes a housing configured to contain the array wherein the housing includes a tray and a lid attached with the tray such that the housing provides a compressive force sufficient to prevent cell delamination and to constrain expansion or swelling of the cells during operation.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for determining the level of clutter in an image in a manner that is rapid, and that allows a scoring process to quickly determine whether an image is above or below an acceptable level of clutter—for example to determine if the underlying imaged runtime object surface is defective without need to perform a more in-depth analysis of the features of the image. The system and method employs clutter test points that are associated with regions on the image that should contain a low gradient magnitude, indicative of emptiness. This enables the runtime image to be analyzed quickly by mapping trained clutter test points at locations in the coordinate space in which lack of emptiness indicates clutter, and if detected, can rapidly indicate differences and/or defects that allow for the subject of the image to be accepted or rejected without further image analysis.

Abstract: A heating and cooling engine comprises a center isolator for isolating electric and thermal energy. The center isolator has a top surface and an opposite bottom surface. A plurality of spaced apart thermoelectric elements are supported by the center isolator between the top and bottom surface. The thermoelectric elements have a top side and an opposite bottom side. A first plurality of electrically and thermally conductive buss bars are secured to the top surface of the center isolator and electrically connected to the top side of at least a pair of the thermoelectric elements. A second plurality of electrically and thermally conductive buss bars are secured to the bottom surface of the center isolator and electrically connected So the bottom side of at least a pair of the thermoelectric elements wherein thermal energy is generated to the first and second plurality of buss bars by the thermoelectric elements.

Abstract: An alert system to assist in child safety in a vehicle includes a seat belt buckle insert adapted to be inserted between the male and female parts of a standard safety belt found in most automobiles or for a child car safety seat. It may also include a portable receiver device designed to be carried by a vehicle operator. The seat belt buckle insert detects whether the seat belt has been buckled and the temperature is within an acceptable range, as well as the approximate distance between the seat belt buckle insert and portable receiver device. The seat belt buckle transmits information gathered to the portable receiver device and triggers alerts notifying the vehicle operator of a child's safety status.

Abstract: A motor vehicle seat restraint system may include a tongue or buckle and an electrical component carried thereby, an elongated restraint web coupled to the tongue or buckle, the restraint web having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, an outer surface between the first and second sides and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, a channel member coupled to and between the inner and outer surfaces of the restraint web adjacent to the first side of the restraint web and extending along at least a portion of a length thereof, the channel member and the first side of the restraint web defining a passageway therebetween, and one or more electrical wires operatively coupled to the electrical component and extending into and through the passageway such that the one or more electrical wires ride within the channel member along-side the restraint web.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for scoring a candidate pose in a geometric-pattern matching tool of a vision system by using trained color, grayscale and/or range (height) information (“color/grayscale/range”) in association with edge-aligned candidate poses. A trained pattern includes associated color/grayscale/range information in a set of test points. At runtime, a color, grayscale and/or range image is acquired and/or provided. A runtime pose is established with a coordinate space for the color/grayscale/range image with respect to the trained pattern, where the runtime pose is generated by an alignment tool. The color/grayscale/range test points are mapped onto the coordinate space for the image. The match is then determined at the respective mapped test points. Based on the test point match, a score is determined. The score is used in conjunction with the alignment result in runtime to accept or reject candidate poses from (e.g.) acquired images of runtime objects.

Abstract: The application relates to an electrode for use in the electrochemical detection of a target species, wherein the electrode has a planar surface disposed on which are probe molecules that are capable of binding selectively to the target species, wherein the electrode, prior to binding of the probe molecules with the target species, has an electron transfer resistance per area of the electrode of from 10 megaohms cm?2 to 95 megaohms cm?2.

Abstract: A flexible heat sink with a flexible base having a first side configured to engage a heat generating component, and a second side opposite the first side. A plurality of groups of fins extend from the second side of the base. The groups of fins are positioned in an array and spaced apart lengthwise and width wise across the base to enable the heat sink to flex lengthwise and width wise. The heat sink is able to flex lengthwise and width wise between the groups of fins. The fins and groups of fins also may provide some flex. The fins may define triangular, rectangular, or u-shaped channels to enable air flow through the heat sink.

Abstract: A system includes a converter unit and a power distribution unit (PDU) having at least one power outlet, a first power port configured to be coupled to an AC power source and second power port coupled to the converter unit. The PDU is further configured to selectively provide power to the at least one outlet from the first and second power ports. The PDU may include a power strip with an elongate enclosure and a plurality of receptacles at a face of the enclosure, and the converter may include a rack mountable converter unit coupled to the power strip by a power cable and a communications cable. The rack mountable converter unit may include an inverter and a battery.

Abstract: The present application relates to a sensing method that is carried out using an electrode that comprises an electrode substrate functionalised with sensing elements. The method involves conducting electrochemical impedance spectroscopy at a plurality of applied voltages and then integrating measurement data as a function of voltage. Also provided is an apparatus for carrying out the sensing method. The method and apparatus are suitable for a broad range of sensing applications, including the detection of diagnostic biomarkers, drug screening, development of glycoarray systems and the sensing of environmental parameters such as light intensity, temperature and humidity.

Abstract: The application relates to an electrode for use in the electrochemical detection of a target species, wherein the electrode has a planar surface disposed on which are probe molecules that are capable of binding selectively to the target species, wherein the electrode, prior to binding of the probe molecules with the target species, has an electron transfer resistance per area of the electrode of from 10 megaohms cm?2 to 95 megaohms cm?2.

Abstract: A power adjuster (30) for adjusting the position of an upper track (16) relative to a lower track (18) of a seat track assembly (10). The power adjuster includes a lead screw (22) fixedly secured to the upper track, a drive assembly (32) operatively coupled to the upper track and selectively coupled to the lead screw, a driven assembly (34) operatively coupled to the lead screw and selectively coupled to the drive assembly, and a release mechanism (36) coupled to the upper track. The release mechanism is operable between a locked condition coupling the driven assembly to the drive assembly and the upper track wherein the driven assembly and the drive assembly move longitudinally along the lead screw with the upper track relative to the lower track and an unlocked condition wherein the driven assembly is decoupled from the upper track and retained along the lead screw during movement of the upper track relative to the lower track.

Abstract: An alert system to assist in child safety in a vehicle includes a seat belt buckle insert adapted to be inserted between the male and female parts of a standard safety belt found in most automobiles or for a child car safety seat. It may also include a portable receiver device designed to be carried by a vehicle operator. The seat belt buckle insert detects whether the seat belt has been buckled and the temperature is within an acceptable range, as well as the approximate distance between the seat belt buckle insert and portable receiver device. The seat belt buckle transmits information gathered to the portable receiver device and triggers alerts notifying the vehicle operator of a child's safety status.

Abstract: A track system for traction of a vehicle (e.g., a snowmobile, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) etc.). The track system comprises a track and a track-engaging assembly for driving and guiding the track around the track-engaging assembly. The track system may have various features to enhance its traction, floatation, and/or other aspects of its performance, including, for example, a lightweight design, enhanced tractive effects, an enhanced heat management capability, an enhanced resistance to lateral skidding (e.g., on a side hill), an adaptive capability to adapt itself to different conditions (e.g., ground conditions, such as different types of snow, soil, etc.; and/or other conditions), an adjustability of a contact area of its track with the ground, and/or other features.

Abstract: A support system for loading ramps useful in loading and unloading vehicles and other machinery in truck beds and similar storage and transport structures. The support system includes a horizontal support which couples with a hitch receiver, a vertical support having a central aperture at its top to receive a support bar of a loading ramp system, and an angle brace designed and configured to be removably affixed to the horizontal and vertical supports. The angle brace may extend at an angle of between 20 and 40 degrees or between 50 and 70 degrees from horizontal. In some embodiments the support system is provided with a ramp system including a pair of ladder ramps, each ladder ramp having two ladder ramp segments hingedly connected. In these and other embodiments the support system may be provided with a ramp system including an arced segment near the top portion thereof.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus, systems, and methods can process height maps. For example, the disclosed computerized method of determining posture information of an object in a two-dimensional height map captured by a range sensor system can include receiving the height map of the object captured by the range sensor system, generating a plurality of one-dimensional slices of the height map and a location record indicating locations of the plurality of one-dimensional slices on the height map, identifying points of interest in the plurality of one-dimensional slices, determining locations of the identified points of interest in the height map based on the location record, and determining the posture information of the object based on the locations of the identified points of interest in the height map.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, one or more current service elements that can provide a service for a client are monitored. An event associated with a current service element is detected. One or more candidate service elements are analyzed with respect to the one or more current service elements operating for the client. The one or more candidate service elements operate in a client scenario corresponding to the client. A recommendation is provided in response to the analysis.

Abstract: An electrical device assembly includes an electrical device and a power input member. The electrical device includes an end portion having a cavity with a mounting surface at a distal portion of the cavity. The power input member includes a body and a power input cable extending from the body. The body has a plurality of faces including first and second mounting faces. The cavity is sized and configured to receive the power input member body: in a first position with the first mounting face facing the mounting surface and with the power input cable extending away from the electrical device in a first direction; and in a second position with the second mounting face facing the mounting surface and with the power input cable extending away from the electrical device in a second direction that is different from the first direction.