Abstract: A surface-reinforced bitumen roofing membrane includes at least two layers, namely 1) a bitumen compound layer, and 2) a fiber mat, and can optionally include a) an optional bleed blocker layer that is located between the bitumen compound layer and the fiber mat, b) an optional liquid applied coating that partially or fully encapsulates the fiber mat, c) an optional release liner that is releasably positioned on the bottom surface of the bitumen roofing membrane, and/or d) an optional release film that is releasably positioned on the fiber mat surface.

Abstract: A bicycle chain includes a pair of outer plates, a pair of inner plates, and a connecting pin assembly. The pair of outer plates defines a width of the bicycle chain in a transverse direction, and the pair of inner plates is positioned at least partially between the pair of outer plates. The connecting pin assembly connects the pair of outer plates with the pair of inner plates and includes a first rocker pin, a second rocker pin, and a center pin between the first rocker pin and the second rocker pin in a longitudinal direction. A length of the center pin in the transverse direction is less than the width of the bicycle chain.

Abstract: A method of fabricating one or more colour centres in a crystal is described. The method comprises focusing a laser into a crystal to induce the creation, modification, or diffusion of defects within a focal region of the laser. Fluorescence detection is used to determine when one or more colour centres are formed within the focal region and the laser is terminated when a desired number of colour centres have been formed. The method enables colour centres to be formed in a crystal with a high degree of control in terms of both the number and location of colour centres within the crystal, and a degree of control over other parameters such as colour centre orientation and local environment. In particular, it is possible to form a well-defined pattern of colour centres within a crystal.

Abstract: A buckle assembly includes a housing enclosing a locking bar for securing a latch. The latch is inserted into a latch cavity of the buckle assembly, pushing the spring-loaded locking bar into the housing until a convex feature of the latch passes a convex feature of the latch cavity, and slides to the side, whereupon the locking bar is extended by a compression spring, thereby locking the latch from release from the buckle assembly. The latch is released from the latch cavity by pulling a release cord or cable or trigger attached to the locking bar to overcome the spring tension and draw the locking bar up, thus allowing the latch to move away from the convex feature of the latch cavity and release from the buckle assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for controlling an electric vehicle's electric motor output. The method obtains electric vehicle data, user-related data, and receives input from at least one sensor. A controller is utilized to evaluate the electric vehicle data, the user-related data, and the input from the at least one sensor, and automatically tailor an output power curve of an electronic motor to obtain a best performance for the electric vehicle for a given rate of conservation of a battery power.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for pumping a fluid using a high-speed, fluid evacuating pump in which the pump is operated by a battery powered hand drill, wherein a first embodiment of a pump design includes a rigid cylindrical draw tube with the intake placed at the bottom and an outlet disposed near the top, a gear assembly attached to the top of the pump to achieve proper impeller speeds required to reach the targeted fluid pumping volume, and a rigid and segmented driveshaft connected to the gear assembly to drive the impeller placed near the intake of the pump, wherein the driveshaft includes a plurality of solid segments and hollow segments threaded together to thereby decrease vibration of the driveshaft at high RPMs.

Abstract: An automated litter device having: a base; and a chamber configured for retaining a litter and rotatably supported by the support base, wherein the chamber includes: an entry opening so that an animal can enter and exit the chamber; and a waste opening generally opposing the entry opening configured so that an animal waste passes through the waste opening into the base upon rotation of the chamber; wherein the automated litter device includes one or more of: i) one or more sensors located adjacent to the entry opening which are adapted to sense the presence of the animal within the chamber, the presence of the waste in the base, a level of litter in the chamber, a position of the chamber relative to the base, or any combination thereof; ii) a filtering system configured for reducing, eliminating, and/or preventing, malodors building in the base; and/or iii) a litter dispenser in communication with the chamber to transfer some of the litter to the chamber.

Abstract: A litter device which is easily operable by individuals with limited mobility or disabilities. A litter device having a base; a waste drawer removably located within the base; a chamber with an entry opening, wherein the chamber is configured to retain litter, is supported by the base, and is located above the waste drawer; and a lift affixed to the base, the waste drawer, or both, wherein the lift is configured to raise and lower the base, the waste drawer, or both.

Abstract: A feeder including: a) a base portion having a serving area; b) a chamber portion supported by the base portion and configured to retain a granular material within a chamber interior; c) a dispenser configured to segregate a portion of the granular material from the chamber interior and transfer the portion of the granular material from the chamber portion to the serving area, wherein the dispenser includes: i) a rocker body; and ii) one or more fins projecting from the rocker body; and wherein the feeder includes one or more of: i) the fin(s) are flexible; ii) sensing device(s) part of a sensing tower configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the chamber portion; and/or iii) sensing device(s) configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the serving area.

Abstract: A gear shifting system includes a drive shaft, a face gear, and at least one power transmission component(s). The gear system also includes a pinion gear assembly, which is coupled to the first end of the drive shaft. The pinion gear assembly is configured to mesh with one of the concentric gear-rings on the face gear, so that the rotational movement of the gear-ring is transmitted to the shaft. The gear shifting system is easy to operate, mechanically simple, can smoothly shift between gears under any gear shifting conditions, and exhibits decreased component wear.

Abstract: A feeder including: a) a base portion having a serving area; b) a chamber portion supported by the base portion and configured to retain a granular material within a chamber interior; c) a dispenser configured to segregate a portion of the granular material from the chamber interior and transfer the portion of the granular material from the chamber portion to the serving area, wherein the dispenser includes: i) a rocker body; and ii) one or more fins projecting from the rocker body; and wherein the feeder includes one or more of: i) the fin(s) are flexible; ii) sensing device(s) part of a sensing tower configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the chamber portion; and/or iii) sensing device(s) configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the serving area.

Abstract: A method of analysing crystals is described. The method comprises focusing a laser into a crystal to induce the creation, modification, dissociation, or diffusion of one or more defects within a focal region of the laser. A signal dependent on the creation, modification, dissociation or diffusion of the one or more defects within the focal region of the laser is measured during or after the aforementioned process and used to determine one or more characteristics of the crystal being analysed. In one configuration, one or more fluorescent defects are created, modified, or dissociated and the fluorescent signal is analysed to determine the type of crystal being analysed.

Abstract: A feeder including: a) a base portion having a serving area; b) a chamber portion supported by the base portion and configured to retain a granular material within a chamber interior; c) a dispenser configured to segregate a portion of the granular material from the chamber interior and transfer the portion of the granular material from the chamber portion to the serving area, wherein the dispenser includes: i) a rocker body; and ii) one or more fins projecting from the rocker body; and wherein the feeder includes one or more of: i) the fin(s) are flexible; ii) sensing device(s) part of a sensing tower configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the chamber portion; and/or iii) sensing device(s) configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the serving area.

Abstract: A method of fabricating one or more colour centres in a crystal is described. The method comprises focusing a laser into a crystal to induce the creation, modification, or diffusion of defects within a focal region of the laser. Fluorescence detection is used to determine when one or more colour centres are formed within the focal region and the laser is terminated when a desired number of colour centres have been formed. The method enables colour centres to be formed in a crystal with a high degree of control in terms of both the number and location of colour centres within the crystal, and a degree of control over other parameters such as colour centre orientation and local environment. In particular, it is possible to form a well-defined pattern of colour centres within a crystal.

Abstract: Improving automated discovery of inventory, includes obtaining a discovery message from a network device, wherein the discovery message identifies an identifier, a location, and one or more capabilities of the network device, wherein the discovery message is detected by a management instrumentation discovery (MID) server, automatically modifying a data structure of an inventory data store to include the identifier, the location, and the one or more capabilities based on the discovery message, wherein the inventory data store identifies enterprise assets and configurations of the enterprise assets, and providing the modified data structure of the inventory data store to a controller such that the network device is usable by the controller.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and software are provided for using an optically-readable code such as a quick-response (QR) code. The optically-readable code may represent a uniform resource identifier (URI) including parameters that represent a query, such as a query for content and/or other data. The query results may be used to command a content consumption device to record or otherwise obtain an item of content. The optically-readable code may additionally or alternatively be determined based upon a status of the device, such as what content, or portion thereof, is currently being displayed, and/or what error condition is being experienced.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for connecting solar panels to a roof system surface. The solar panels can be formed flexible or non-flexible solar panels that are at least partially attached to a roofing surface by use of a fastener.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of Formula (I) and methods for their preparation. Also described are pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of Formula (I) and their use in the treatment or prevention of conditions associated with mitochondrial dysfunction.

Abstract: There is provided a method of fabricating a trapped vacancy in a crystal lattice of a target comprising: positioning the target in a laser system, the target containing vacancy trapping elements within the crystal lattice; modifying the crystal lattice within the target by using a laser to generate a lattice vacancy; and annealing the target to cause the lattice vacancy to migrate and be captured by a vacancy trapping element to form the trapped vacancy in the crystal lattice.

Abstract: A valve stop retainer device (220) that is adapted to interface with a cross-bore fluid communication chamber (262) of a reciprocating pump (250) includes a spring retainer plate (221) and a plurality of retainer lobes (223) extending substantially away from a first side of the spring retainer plate (221). Each of the plurality of retainer lobes (223) includes an upper portion (223u) having an outer surface (223s). A shape of each of the outer surfaces (223s) and a shape of an inside surface (261) of the cross-bore fluid communication chamber (262) interfacing with the valve stop retainer device (220) substantially conform to a shape of at least a portion of a surface of revolution. The valve stop retainer device (220) is adapted to be retained inside of the cross-bore fluid communication chamber (262) by the shape of the inside surface (261).