Abstract: A system including an apparatus for determining the presence of ice on an external surface of a structure is provided. The apparatus includes a sensor that includes first and second parallel ink or paint conductive traces separated by a gap. The apparatus also includes a circuit configured to measure the impedance or change in impedance between the first and second parallel ink or paint conductive traces.

Abstract: A cardiac assist system includes a pneumatic effector and an external drive unit. The pneumatic effector is implanted proximate a patient's heart to enhance left ventricular contraction. The external drive unit includes a gas pump connectable to the pneumatic effector and is configured to actuate the pneumatic effector assembly in response to the patient's sensed heart rhythm. The system may include an isolation valve located between the gas pump assembly and an inlet to the pneumatic effector and a pressure sensor located between the isolation valve and the inlet to the pneumatic effector, where the control circuitry is configured to receive changes in pressure sensed by the pressure sensor the when the isolation valve is closed to isolate the pneumatic effector. The system may also include a liquid accumulator and a liquid sensor adjacent the liquid accumulator sensor to detect liquid in the pneumatic effector.

Abstract: A system including an apparatus for determining the presence of ice on an external surface of a structure is provided. The apparatus includes a sensor that includes first and second parallel ink or paint conductive traces separated by a gap. The apparatus also includes a circuit configured to measure the impedance or change in impedance between the first and second parallel ink or paint conductive traces.

Abstract: A system including an apparatus for determining the presence of ice on an external surface of a structure is provided. The apparatus includes a sensor that includes first and second parallel ink or paint conductive traces separated by a gap. The apparatus also includes a circuit configured to measure the impedance or change in impedance between the first and second parallel ink or paint conductive traces.

Abstract: A system including an apparatus for determining the presence of ice on an external surface of a structure is provided. The apparatus includes a sensor that includes first and second parallel ink or paint conductive traces separated by a gap. The apparatus also includes a circuit configured to measure the impedance or change in impedance between the first and second parallel ink or paint conductive traces.

Abstract: A cable card assembly includes a circuit card and cables terminated to the circuit card. Each cable has signal conductors, an insulator, and a cable shield. The cable card includes conductor holders forward of the insulators manufactured from a dielectric material and having conductor channels that receive the signal conductors. The cable card assembly includes ground shields coupled to the circuit card providing electrical shielding for the cables. Each ground shield includes a side walls and an end wall. The end wall has an end wall connecting portion coupled to the cable shield. The first side wall has a first side wall connecting portion coupled to the cable shield. The second side wall has a second side wall connecting portion coupled to the cable shield.

Abstract: A cable card assembly includes a circuit card and cables terminated to the circuit card. Each cable has signal conductors, an insulator, and a cable shield. The cable card includes conductor holders forward of the insulators manufactured from a dielectric material and having conductor channels that receive the signal conductors. The cable card assembly includes ground shields coupled to the circuit card providing electrical shielding for the cables. Each ground shield includes a side walls and an end wall. The end wall has an end wall connecting portion coupled to the cable shield. The first side wall has a first side wall connecting portion coupled to the cable shield. The second side wall has a second side wall connecting portion coupled to the cable shield.

Abstract: A pluggable module includes a housing and cables arranged as a cable bundle extending from a module cavity of the housing. Each cable includes first and second conductors and an insulator surrounding the conductors. Each cable is obround shaped having generally flat first and second ends and semi-circular first and second sides between the first and second ends. The pluggable module includes a cable organizer coupled to the cable bundle to position the cables relative to each other. The cable organizer has cable channels receiving and holding the cables such that at least a first subset of the cables are oriented with the first and second ends non-parallel to the first and second ends of a second subset of the cables.

Abstract: A light rail transit system has a railcar having a roller coaster wheel assembly, solar panels, a battery bank, an inverter, a solar charge controller, and a power rail contactor. The light rail system further has a rail system having a first riding rail and a second riding rail for receiving the roller coaster wheel assembly, and a power rail for providing backup power to the railcar via the power contactor, the power rail extending less than the length of the first riding rail and second riding rail and only supplying current when the power rail contactor of the railcar is in contact therewith.

Abstract: A network-based service may be provided for facilitating queries for a number of items, such as travel services. A user may submit a query including criteria for determining one or more relevant items. Based on the submitted query, the network-based service may present the user with information regarding the actions of other similar users of the network-based service, such as searches performed by the other users. Based on this information, the user may elect to supplement the current query to conform to the actions for other users. In some embodiments, actions by other users may be based at least in part on a category of the querying user. By presenting actions of similar users, a current user may be enabled to select the most relevant query terms for identifying a desired item.

Abstract: A pluggable module includes a housing and cables arranged as a cable bundle extending from a module cavity of the housing. Each cable includes first and second conductors and an insulator surrounding the conductors. Each cable is obround shaped having generally flat first and second ends and semi-circular first and second sides between the first and second ends. The pluggable module includes a cable organizer coupled to the cable bundle to position the cables relative to each other. The cable organizer has cable channels receiving and holding the cables such that at least a first subset of the cables are oriented with the first and second ends non-parallel to the first and second ends of a second subset of the cables.

Abstract: A funnel wind turbine has a horizontal funnel, rotor blades in the narrower end of the funnel, the rotor blades coupled to a rotor, a shaft coupling the rotor to a generator, and a support tower. The funnel wind turbine may have bearings or a yaw system to allow rotation of the horizontal funnel on the support tower. The funnel wind turbine may have wind direction and speed sensors, an electronic control unit, and a communication device (e.g., cellular antennas, radio transmitters/receivers, etc.) for transmitting information such as wind speed and direction, power generation, and efficiency to a distant receiver.

Abstract: A top load device for disinfecting a container, such as a security bin for use in an airport, the device configured to store a stack of contaminated containers, wherein the device separates and releases a single container into an interior of a housing for disinfection. The housing comprises a conveyor that moves the container through the interior of the housing from an initial location to an exit of the housing, wherein the container is disinfected or sanitized with electromagnetic wavelength as it moves through the interior of the housing.

Abstract: An adaptive communication system integrated into the wash functions of a carwash is provided. The adaptive communication system embodies a programmable input relay board coupled to a digital sound trigger board retrievably storing a plurality of communication events. Each wash function is adapted to transmit an output signal upon being engaged. The programmable input relay board is adapted to receive such output signals and interface with the digital sound trigger board so as to selectively activate one or more of the plurality of communication events.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a cable assembly having a cable bundle of cables and a conductive cable shield surrounding and providing electrical shielding for the cable bundle. The cable assembly includes an electrical connector a housing holding contacts and a conductive backshell having a cavity that receives the electrical connector to provide electrical shielding for the electrical connector. The backshell has a cable channel at a rear of the backshell that receives the cable. A ground spring is coupled to the cable and positioned between the cable bundle and the cable shield. The ground spring includes spring members engaging the inner surface of the cable shield and biasing the cable shield radially outward. The ground spring is received in the cable channel and forces the outer surface of the cable shield outward against the backshell to electrically connect the cable shield to the backshell.

Abstract: A magnetic closure system for HVAC filter grilles has at least one magnet coupled to the HVAC filter grille, the at least one magnet positioned so as to be interposed between the HVAC filter grille and an inner frame for receiving the HVAC filter grille, the magnet abutting both the filter grille and inner frame so as to magnetically couple the HVAC filter grille to the inner frame; and at least one handle on the exterior surface of the filter grille.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a cable assembly having a cable bundle of cables and a conductive cable shield surrounding and providing electrical shielding for the cable bundle. The cable assembly includes an electrical connector a housing holding contacts and a conductive backshell having a cavity that receives the electrical connector to provide electrical shielding for the electrical connector. The backshell has a cable channel at a rear of the backshell that receives the cable. A ground spring is coupled to the cable and positioned between the cable bundle and the cable shield. The ground spring includes spring members engaging the inner surface of the cable shield and biasing the cable shield radially outward. The ground spring is received in the cable channel and forces the outer surface of the cable shield outward against the backshell to electrically connect the cable shield to the backshell.

Abstract: A gaming system and a related method provide a game that includes symbol display areas and one or more cluster patterns that can be associated with two or more of the symbol display areas to create a winning outcome and one or more awards. The gaming system includes one or more symbol sets that provide symbols displayed in the symbol display areas, and a cluster pattern may be associated with a grouping of one or more of the symbol display areas. Cluster patterns of different sizes and shapes, or multiple similar shaped and sized cluster patterns positioned in different locations may be used. The gaming system evaluates symbols displayed in a grouping of the symbol display areas associated with a cluster pattern to determine an award. The gaming system may further evaluate the symbol display areas to determine other awards associated with the displayed symbols.

Abstract: A funnel wind turbine has a horizontal funnel, rotor blades in the narrower end of the funnel, the rotor blades coupled to a rotor, a shaft coupling the rotor to a generator, and a support tower. The funnel wind turbine may have bearings or a yaw system to allow rotation of the horizontal funnel on the support tower. The funnel wind turbine may have wind direction and speed sensors, an electronic control unit, and a communication device (e.g., cellular antennas, radio transmitters/receivers, etc.) for transmitting information such as wind speed and direction, power generation, and efficiency to a distant receiver.

Abstract: A funnel wind turbine has a horizontal funnel, rotor blades in the narrower end of the funnel, the rotor blades coupled to a rotor, a shaft coupling the rotor to a generator, and a support tower. The funnel wind turbine may have bearings or a yaw system to allow rotation of the horizontal funnel on the support tower. The funnel wind turbine may have wind direction and speed sensors, an electronic control unit, and a communication device (e.g., cellular antennas, radio transmitters/receivers, etc.) for transmitting information such as wind speed and direction, power generation, and efficiency to a distant receiver.