Abstract: The present invention provides a grill guard for a vehicle comprising a grill structural frame and a releasably fold down center assembly having a center structural frame and a latching assembly wherein the grill guard is attached to front of the vehicle by the grill structural frame; and the center assembly is attached to the grill structural frame and can be released and folded down by the latching assembly while the grill structural frame remains fixed in its original location attached to the front of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method includes determining a set of one or more visual appearance values that indicate a visual appearance of an object that is to be placed in an environment. The method includes selecting, based on the set of one or more visual appearance values, a rig that allows the object to be manipulated to exhibit movement in the environment. The method includes applying the rig to the object by associating joints of the rig with respective portions of the object. The method includes animating the object within the environment by manipulating the joints of the rig associated with the object.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program product provide a route using a map layer of one or more sound events. For example, the apparatus receives a user preference indicating a sound type, identifies a road segment associated with the sound type from a plurality of road segments, selects a subset from the plurality of road segments as a route based on association of the subset with respect to the road segment, and outputs the route.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for predicting a state of visibility for a road object. For example, at least one processor receives road sign attribute data indicating at least one attribute of a road sign. The processor further receives weather forecast data indicating a weather forecast of a location in which the road sign is disposed, and using the road sign attribute data and the weather forecast data, a state of visibility for the road sign is identified.

Abstract: A rotatable sputtering target is provided for use in a sputtering system having a plurality of hollow sleeves of sputtering material arranged on a hollow e backing tube so as to form an annular space that is occupied by a bonding agent and a thermally conductive element which is a woven metal mesh.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program product are provided for determining a state of visibility of a road object, such as a road sign, using vehicle sensor data. For example, the apparatus determines whether one or more sensors of a first vehicle observes a road sign. If the road sign is not observed by the one or more sensors, the apparatus determines whether one or more second vehicles is obscuring the road sign. If the one or more second vehicles is not obscuring the road sign, the apparatus determines whether the road sign is obscured due to a weather condition. If the road sign is obscured due to the weather condition, the apparatus generates a signal indicating that the road sign was obscured due to the weather condition.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program product provide a route using a map layer of one or more sound events. For example, the apparatus receives a user preference indicating a sound type, identifies a road segment associated with the sound type from a plurality of road segments, selects a subset from the plurality of road segments as a route based on association of the subset with respect to the road segment, and outputs the route.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program product are provided for determining a state of visibility of a road object, such as a road sign, using vehicle sensor data. For example, the apparatus determines whether one or more sensors of a first vehicle observes a road sign. If the road sign is not observed by the one or more sensors, the apparatus determines whether one or more second vehicles is obscuring the road sign. If the one or more second vehicles is not obscuring the road sign, the apparatus determines whether the road sign is obscured due to a weather condition. If the road sign is obscured due to the weather condition, the apparatus generates a signal indicating that the road sign was obscured due to the weather condition.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for predicting a state of visibility for a road object. For example, at least one processor receives road sign attribute data indicating at least one attribute of a road sign. The processor further receives weather forecast data indicating a weather forecast of a location in which the road sign is disposed, and using the road sign attribute data and the weather forecast data, a state of visibility for the road sign is identified.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for controlling a functional road object. For example, at least one processor receives road sign attribute data indicating at least one attribute of a road sign and receives weather forecast data indicating a weather forecast of a location in which the road sign is disposed. The road sign includes at least one machinery for mitigating exposure to one or more weather conditions. The at least one processor identifies a state of visibility for the road sign using the road sign attribute data and the weather forecast data and generates a control signal for controlling the at least one machinery using the state of visibility.

Abstract: An approach is provided for estimating lane pavement conditions based on street parking events. For example, the approach involves map-matching a vehicle park-in event, a vehicle park-out event, or a combination thereof to a lane of a road segment. The approach also involves calculating an adjusted pavement condition of the lane based on the map matched park-in event, the map-matched park-out event, or a combination thereof, wherein the adjusted pavement condition accounts for a reduction of a weather effect on a pavement condition of the lane caused by one or more vehicles parking in the lane. The approach further involves providing the adjusted pavement condition of the lane as an output.

Abstract: A rotatable sputtering target is provided for use in a sputtering system having a plurality of hollow sleeves of sputtering material arranged on a hollow e backing tube so as to form an annular space that is occupied by a bonding agent and a thermally conductive element which is a woven metal mesh.

Abstract: A laser system including a rack, a plurality of laser modules mounted in the rack to drive light through an optical fiber exiting the system, and a power distribution module to distribute electricity through circuit branches coupled to the laser modules is generally presented. In some embodiments, the rack includes a horizontal cross-member with a bottom rack flange extending vertically and defining a bottom of an opening in the rack.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a camera, a dark field illumination source, and a fiber inspection housing including a fiber connector input situated to receive an optical fiber connector so that an optical fiber output end of the optical fiber connector is removably insertable into an interior region of the fiber inspection housing and securable at a predetermined location in the interior region, a camera input situated to receive and secure the camera so that the camera is in optical communication with the interior region and the optical fiber output end, and a dark field illumination source input situated to receive the dark field illumination source so that light emitted from the dark field illumination source is received by the optical fiber output end at a dark field illumination angle and is scattered by contamination or defects associated with the optical fiber output end so as to be detectable by the camera.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a door jamb assembly comprising a door stop member movably mounted thereon, configured such that the door stop is selectively operable to move from an extended, door-engaging position into a retracted door-disengaging position, and where the door stop member is adapted to initially move directly away from the face of a door with which it is in contact during use. Associated methods, door assemblies and suchlike are also provided. The door jamb assembly of the present invention is of particular use in situations where a door may be barricaded.

Abstract: A laser module service shelf is generally presented. In some embodiments, a laser system includes a rack including a stack of slots to support a plurality of laser modules in first positions within the rack, wherein the rack comprises a pair of struts extending at opposite sides of an opening in the rack through which the laser modules may pass, and a module service shelf attachable to the struts to support a weight of one of the laser modules in a second position that is cantilevered from the rack in alignment with the opening and one of the slots, wherein the module service shelf comprises a plurality of detachable sections. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a door jamb assembly comprising a door stop member movably mounted thereon, configured such that the door stop is selectively operable to move from an extended, door-engaging position into a retracted door-disengaging position, and where the door stop member is adapted to initially move directly away from the face of a door with which it is in contact during use. Associated methods, door assemblies and suchlike are also provided. The door jamb assembly of the present invention is of particular use in situations where a door may be barricaded.

Abstract: A laser system including a rack, a plurality of laser modules mounted in the rack to drive light through an optical fiber exiting the system, and a power distribution module to distribute electricity through circuit branches coupled to the laser modules is generally presented. In some embodiments, the rack includes a horizontal cross-member with a bottom rack flange extending vertically and defining a bottom of an opening in the rack.

Abstract: A laser module service shelf is generally presented. In some embodiments, a laser system includes a rack including a stack of slots to support a plurality of laser modules in first positions within the rack, wherein the rack comprises a pair of struts extending at opposite sides of an opening in the rack through which the laser modules may pass, and a module service shelf attachable to the struts to support a weight of one of the laser modules in a second position that is cantilevered from the rack in alignment with the opening and one of the slots, wherein the module service shelf comprises a plurality of detachable sections. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.