Abstract: A method of operating a household appliance includes connecting the household appliance to a remote computing device and determining that an update is available for the household appliance. The method also includes determining an optimal update time, which may be based on a usage history or an operating status. The method further includes providing a notification of the available update for the household appliance at the determined optimal update time.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a storage environment are provided. A policy for an input/output (I/O) stream having a plurality of I/O requests for accessing storage at a storage device of the storage sub-system is translated into flow attributes so that the I/O stream can be assigned to one of a plurality of queues maintained for placing I/O requests based on varying priorities defined by set polices. When an I/O request for the associated policy is received by the storage sub-system; the storage sub-system determines a flow attribute associated with the I/O request and the policy; selects a queue for staging the I/O request, such that the selected queue is of either higher priority than what is indicated by the flow attribute or at least of a same priority as indicated by the flow attribute; and allocates storage sub-system resource for processing the received I/O request.

Abstract: Disclosed are several technical approaches of using low coherence interferometry techniques to create an autofocus apparatus for optical microscopy. These approaches allow automatic focusing on thin structures that are positioned closely to reflective surfaces and behind refractive material like a cover slip, and automated adjustment of focus position into the sample region without disturbance from reflection off adjacent surfaces. The measurement offset induced by refraction of material that covers the sample is compensated for. Proposed are techniques of an instrument that allows the automatic interchange of imaging objectives in a low coherence interferometry autofocus system, which is of major interest in combination with TDI (time delay integration) imaging, confocal and two-photon fluorescence microscopy.

Abstract: Disclosed are several technical approaches of using low coherence interferometry techniques to create an autofocus apparatus for optical microscopy. These approaches allow automatic focusing on thin structures that are positioned closely to reflective surfaces and behind refractive material like a cover slip, and automated adjustment of focus position into the sample region without disturbance from reflection off adjacent surfaces. The measurement offset induced by refraction of material that covers the sample is compensated for. Proposed are techniques of an instrument that allows the automatic interchange of imaging objectives in a low coherence interferometry autofocus system, which is of major interest in combination with TDI (time delay integration) imaging, confocal and two-photon fluorescence microscopy.

Abstract: Disclosed are several technical approaches of using low coherence interferometry techniques to create an autofocus apparatus for optical microscopy. These approaches allow automatic focusing on thin structures that are positioned closely to reflective surfaces and behind refractive material like a cover slip, and automated adjustment of focus position into the sample region without disturbance from reflection off adjacent surfaces. The measurement offset induced by refraction of material that covers the sample is compensated for. Proposed are techniques of an instrument that allows the automatic interchange of imaging objectives in a low coherence interferometry autofocus system, which is of major interest in combination with TDI (time delay integration) imaging, confocal and two-photon fluorescence microscopy.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a storage environment are provided. A policy for an input/output (I/O) stream having a plurality of I/O requests for accessing storage at a storage device of the storage sub-system is translated into flow attributes so that the I/O stream can be assigned to one of a plurality of queues maintained for placing I/O requests based on varying priorities defined by set polices. When an I/O request for the associated policy is received by the storage sub-system; the storage sub-system determines a flow attribute associated with the I/O request and the policy; selects a queue for staging the I/O request, such that the selected queue is of either higher priority than what is indicated by the flow attribute or at least of a same priority as indicated by the flow attribute; and allocates storage sub-system resource for processing the received I/O request.

Abstract: Disclosed are several technical approaches of using low coherence interferometry techniques to create an autofocus apparatus for optical microscopy. These approaches allow automatic focusing on thin structures that are positioned closely to reflective surfaces and behind refractive material like a cover slip, and automated adjustment of focus position into the sample region without disturbance from reflection off adjacent surfaces. The measurement offset induced by refraction of material that covers the sample is compensated for. Proposed are techniques of an instrument that allows the automatic interchange of imaging objectives in a low coherence interferometry autofocus system, which is of major interest in combination with TDI (time delay integration) imaging, confocal and two-photon fluorescence microscopy.

Abstract: A method for operating a focal plane array in a Time Delay Integration (TDI) mode, the method including: shifting a number of rows during TDI integration, wherein the number of rows shifted is less than a total number of rows of the focal plane array; and reading out a number of rows equal to the total number of rows of the focal plane array minus the number of rows shifted, leaving behind the partially-integrated rows.

Abstract: A number of bladders are stacked one upon another and in fluid flow communication with one another. A fluid introduced into one of the bladders causes that bladder and the remaining bladders to inflate with resulting increase in the height of the stack. An inflexible support panel is seated on top of the uppermost bladder. The panel may be attached to the uppermost bladder or may be detached from it. The panel has a flat upper surface which remains generally horizontal as the bladders inflate while the stack rests upon a flat horizontal surface.

Abstract: A method for operating a focal plane array in a Time Delay Integration (TDI) mode, the method including: shifting a number of rows during TDI integration, wherein the number of rows shifted is less than a total number of rows of the focal plane array; and reading out a number of rows equal to the total number of rows of the focal plane array minus the number of rows shifted, leaving behind the partially-integrated rows.

Abstract: A differential adjuster that utilizes a tool interface for affecting either a coarse adjustment or a fine adjustment is presented. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a differential adjuster includes an intermediate actuator sleeve with a tool interface to accommodate a tool for performing fine adjustments. In some embodiments, a differential adjuster includes a main body with a tool interface to accept a tool for performing coarse adjustments. By utilizing a tool interface, rather than a knob, embodiments of the differential adjuster according to the present invention can be formed with small form factors.

Abstract: The current invention is a backplane of an industrial computer that comprises two or more modular backplane segments that each comprise front loading slots for the insertion of Peripheral Boards. The modular backplane segments also comprise slots on the back side for the insertion of rear mounting boards. Each modular backplane segment comprise a PCI compliant bus. The buses of the modular backplanes are bridged by a bridging module that attaches to the back side of the backplane segments being bridged. The power for the backplane is provided by one or more power supply backplane segments each accepting one or more power supply modules. The modular backplane of the current invention allows the number of slots of the backplane to be determined by the user. Further, by attaching the bridging modules to the back side of the backplane the maximum number of slots for the insertion of boards is available on the front side.