Abstract: In described examples, a method of forming a microelectromechanical device comprises: forming a first metallic layer comprising a conducting layer on a substrate; forming a first dielectric layer on the first metallic layer, wherein the first dielectric layer comprises one or more individual dielectric layers; forming a sacrificial layer on the first dielectric layer; forming a second dielectric layer on the sacrificial layer; forming a second metallic layer on the second dielectric layer; and removing the sacrificial layer to form a spacing between the second dielectric layer and the first dielectric layer. Removing the sacrificial layer enables movement of the second dielectric layer relative to the first dielectric layer in at least one direction.

Abstract: A buttstock includes a mounting extension member attachable to a firearm receiver, an adjustable butt pad for varying the length of the stock, and an adjustable cheek rest for adjusting the height of the stock. The butt pad assembly is attached to the extension member by a laterally compressible clamping member operated by a double-acting cam lever having two locking surfaces and a non-locking release surface. At least one adjustment rail extends forward from the butt pad through opposing movable jaws of the clamping member. The rail can slide forward/rearward to adjust the stock length which is lockable via the cam lever locking surfaces. The cheek rest includes compressible opposing adjustment legs operated by a similarly configured cam lever in one embodiment. The height of the cheek rest may be adjusted and locked in position in a similar manner.

Abstract: A buttstock includes a mounting extension member attachable to a firearm receiver, an adjustable butt pad for varying the length of the stock, and an adjustable cheek rest for adjusting the height of the stock. The butt pad assembly is attached to the extension member by a laterally compressible clamping member operated by a double-acting cam lever having two locking surfaces and a non-locking release surface. At least one adjustment rail extends forward from the butt pad through opposing movable jaws of the clamping member. The rail can slide forward/rearward to adjust the stock length which is lockable via the cam lever locking surfaces. The cheek rest includes compressible opposing adjustment legs operated by a similarly configured cam lever in one embodiment. The height of the cheek rest may be adjusted and locked in position in a similar manner.

Abstract: A trigger housing mounting system for a firearm includes a receiver having a mounting slot and cutouts which receive mounting tabs on the trigger housing. The trigger housing is slidable forward and rearward in the receiver between locked and unlocked positions. A spring-biased locking block is movably mounted on the trigger housing. During the mounting process, the locking block is movable between a non-blocking position and a blocking position which prevents removal of the trigger housing from the receiver. A related mounting method is disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments enable text aggregation from multiple image frames of text. Accordingly, in order to stitch newly scanned areas of a document together, text in a respective image is recognized and analyzed using an algorithm to identify pairs of corresponding words in other images. Upon identifying a minimum number of matching pairs between two respective images, a mapping between the same can be determined based at least in part on a geometric correspondence between respective identified pairs. Based on this mapping, the recognized text of the two images can be merged by adding words of one image to the other using the matching word pairs as alignment data points.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for the automated assembly of individual tiles on a surface in a predetermined pattern. In one exemplary embodiment, an automated apparatus comprises a tile dispenser with an open ended shoe portion adapted for holding a stack of regularly shaped tiles, and a tile advancement mechanism for incrementally advancing tiles in the shoe toward the open end thereof. The automated apparatus may further comprise a robotic mechanism adapted to retrieve a tile from the end of the tile stack, and place the tile on the surface.

Abstract: The invention comprises a composition comprising the extrusion product of synthetic turf and a processing agent, whereby the extrusion product has a moisture content of less than 0.5% by weight. A process for making the composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a water vapor barrier. The water vapor barrier comprises a water vapor impermeable substrate, the substrate comprising a sheet of polymeric material and the substrate having a width. The water vapor barrier also comprises a first fabric on one side of the substrate, the first fabric having a width less than the width of the substrate such that a portion of the substrate is exposed on both sides of the first fabric. A method of installing the water vapor barrier is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention comprises a fire retardant composition comprising a fire retardant compound that thermally decomposes to release carbon dioxide or water or both and a thermoplastic polymer. The invention also comprises a fire resistant synthetic turf comprising a backing layer, a face fiber and infill material between the face fibers, the infill material comprises a flame retardant composition comprising a flame retardant compound that thermally decomposes to release carbon dioxide or water or both and a thermoplastic polymer. The invention also comprises a method of forming a fire resistant synthetic turf product.

Abstract: The invention comprises a composition comprising the extrusion product of synthetic turf and a processing agent, whereby the extrusion product has a moisture content of less than 0.5% by weight. A process for making the composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device is manufactured to provide a battery assembly that includes a first battery and a second battery subassembly. The first battery subassembly includes a subassembly to subassembly electrical connector, a device power connector for supplying power to the device, and a subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector. The second battery subassembly includes a subassembly to subassembly electrical connector for electrically connecting to the subassembly to subassembly electrical connector of the first battery subassembly and a subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector for mechanically connecting to the subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector of the first battery subassembly. The first and second subassemblies are shipped packaged separately in a manner satisfying a regulatory threshold sufficient to avoid increased shipping costs applied when the subassemblies are shipped connected.

Abstract: A battery powered device is provided which includes a chassis, a battery bay defined by the chassis, and a battery assembly. The battery assembly is located in the battery bay and operable to provide power to the battery powered device. The battery assembly includes a plurality of battery subassemblies. The plurality of battery subassemblies are operable to be mechanically and electrically connected together to form the battery assembly. The battery subassemblies are provided to be shipped such that an additional shipping fee that would be incurred due to a chemical mass in the battery assembly is avoided. The plurality of battery subassemblies includes a first battery subassembly and a second battery subassembly. The first battery subassembly includes a first subassembly to subassembly electrical connector, a first subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector, and a device power connector operable to supply power to the battery powered device.

Abstract: A battery assembly includes a plurality of battery subassemblies. The battery subassemblies are operable to be mechanically and electrically connected together to form a battery assembly and are provided to be shipped such that an additional shipping fee that would be incurred due to a battery characteristic that is not the total weight of the battery assembly is avoided. The plurality of battery subassemblies includes a first battery subassembly and a second battery subassembly. The first battery subassembly includes a first subassembly to subassembly electrical connector, a first subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector, and a device power connector operable to supply power to a battery powered device.

Abstract: Field expandable battery pack systems and related methods are disclosed that allow for increased battery life while reducing cost and still meeting shipping regulations. In part, the expanded battery system includes a primary battery having a battery management unit (BMU) and additional expansion batteries that couple to the primary battery and are managed together by the shared-BMU within the primary battery. Each battery has its own protection circuitry, and the batteries can be lithium-ion batteries. As such, multiple batteries can be shipped together and then combined by a user to achieve a desired level of battery capacity that is managed as a single battery through the use of the shared-BMU.

Abstract: A battery failure discharge apparatus includes a battery discharge device operable to drain power from a battery. A controller is coupled to the battery discharge device and operable to detect that a battery is in an over-voltage condition. In response to detecting a battery in an over-voltage condition, the controller is operable to discharge a battery through the battery discharge device until the battery charge is below a predetermined value.

Abstract: In response to detecting that a power adapter, having a first power rating lower than a second power rating of an information handling system (“IHS”), is coupled to the IHS and in response to a request indicating that the IHS is to be powered on, the power adapter is decoupled from the IHS so that the IHS receives power from a battery included by the IHS.

Abstract: In a method and system for managing power provided to a load, a power supply system includes a first power peripheral operable to receive and convert a first type of power to a second type of power. Also included in the power supply system is a second power peripheral operable to receive the second type of power and provide power to the load. A power event trigger device, which is included in the second power peripheral, is operable to introduce a trigger signal in the power to the load. The trigger signal, which is introduced in response to receiving a change in the second type of power, is detected as a power event.

Abstract: In a method and system for detecting charger failure, a battery is operable to receive a charge from the charger via a pair of terminals. The battery includes an analog front end (AFE) coupled to the pair of terminals. The AFE is configured to receive at least one input corresponding to voltage measured across the pair of terminals. A battery controller included in the battery is coupled to the AFE by a serial link. The battery controller receives the at least one input via the serial link. In response to the voltage being below a predefined value, the battery controller is placed in a charge_not_received state, which is indicative of the charger being defective.

Abstract: A battery failure discharge apparatus includes a battery discharge device operable to drain power from a battery. A monitoring and control device is coupled to the battery discharge device and operable to detect that a battery is in an over-voltage condition. In response to detecting a battery in an over-voltage condition, the monitoring and control device is operable to discharge a battery through the battery discharge device until the battery charge is below a predetermined value.