Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for routing secondary air to engine an exhaust system during a cold-start condition to reduce tail pipe emissions. In one example, a method may include operating a pump of an evaporative leak check module (ELCM) in a positive pressure mode and routing pressurized air to the exhaust passage upstream of an exhaust catalyst via an air conduit housing a first valve.

Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for adaptive prediction of electrified vehicle performance including receiving a set of goal parameters identifying a drivers performance requirements, receiving a set of fixed parameters related to course, vehicle and passenger status, receiving past energy consumption data for the electrified vehicle and the driver, generating an adaptive prediction of a future state of charge (SOC) of one or more electricity sources, and providing a dynamic control alteration based on the adaptive prediction, the dynamic control alteration as a function of the set of goal parameters. The adaptive prediction is based on the set of goal parameters, the set of fixed parameters and the past energy consumption data. The adaptive prediction includes updated parameters based on performance of the electrified vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing evaporative emissions from a vehicle. In one example, the vehicle may include a system for capturing emissions including a plurality of vacuum ports coupled to a vacuum source. The plurality of vacuum ports may be disposed in vehicle components prone to emitting hydrocarbon vapors and activation of the vacuum source draws the vapors from the vehicle components to a fuel canister where the evaporative emissions are stored until the fuel canister is purged.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for routing secondary air to engine an exhaust system during a cold-start condition to reduce tail pipe emissions. In one example, a method may include operating a pump of an evaporative leak check module (ELCM) in a positive pressure mode and routing pressurized air to the exhaust passage upstream of an exhaust catalyst via an air conduit housing a first valve.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing evaporative emissions from a vehicle. In one example, the vehicle may include a system for capturing emissions including a plurality of vacuum ports coupled to a vacuum source. The plurality of vacuum ports may be disposed in vehicle components prone to emitting hydrocarbon vapors and activation of the vacuum source draws the vapors from the vehicle components to a fuel canister where the evaporative emissions are stored until the fuel canister is purged.

Abstract: This invention relates to portable signs used to display a signal or message. In embodiments, the invention includes a sign, a stator, and a rotor. The sign has a display surface for displaying information and is mounted to a vehicle. The stator has a central axis, and the rotor may be coupled to the sign and rotatably coupled to the stator. The rotor may be configured to rotate about the central axis so that rotation of the rotor with respect to the stator may align the display surface in a selected orientation.

Abstract: A security system is provided. The security system comprises a plurality of hardware device modules and a plurality of sensor detection devices. At least one hardware device module has a microcontroller coupled to a memory element that stores a configuration map for remote configuration comprising configuration option information available for the hardware device module. The plurality of sensor detection devices are capable of sending a signal to one or more of the hardware device modules.

Abstract: Methods of reducing toxic emissions from coal tar or asphalt compositions. The methods include providing an initial composition including coal tar, a coal tar emulsion, or asphalt and adding a rheological modifier to the initial composition to form a reduced emission composition, wherein the rheological modifier includes a tall oil saponified in an anhydrous strong base and wherein the reduced emission composition releases less toxic emissions into the atmosphere than the initial composition itself would otherwise release. Further, reduced emission compositions for reducing toxic emissions that would otherwise occur in coal tar compositions or asphalt compositions. The reduced emission compositions include an initial composition including coal tar, a coal tar emulsion, or asphalt; and a chemical rheological modifier including a tall oil saponified in an anhydrous strong base.

Abstract: A security system is provided. The security system comprises a plurality of hardware device modules and a plurality of sensor detection devices. At least one of the hardware device modules has a microcontroller coupled to a memory element that stores a configuration map for on-site configuration comprising configuration option information available for the at least one hardware device module. The plurality of sensor detection devices are capable of sending at least a signal to one or more of the hardware device modules.

Abstract: A system that provides security communication processes in a security system is provided. The system has a digital signal processor (“DSP”), a memory portion and a coder/decoder (“CODEC”). The DSP implements a plurality of different communication processes. The memory portion has a plurality of communication algorithms that implement a corresponding communication process within the DSP. The CODEC is connected to the DSP to convert analog signals into digital signals prior to being sent to the DSP and to convert digital signals sent from the DSP into analog signals. The DSP is connected to the memory portion to enable retrieval of the at least one communication algorithm for use in implementing the corresponding communication process.

Abstract: A security system is provided. The security system comprises a plurality of hardware device modules and a plurality of sensor detection devices. At least one hardware device module has a microcontroller coupled to a memory element that stores a configuration map for remote configuration comprising configuration option information available for the hardware device module. The plurality of sensor detection devices are capable of sending a signal to one or more of the hardware device modules.

Abstract: A security system is provided. The security system comprises a plurality of hardware device modules and a plurality of sensor detection devices. At least one of the hardware device modules has a microcontroller coupled to a memory element that stores a configuration map for on-site configuration comprising configuration option information available for the at least one hardware device module. The plurality of sensor detection devices are capable of sending at least a signal to one or more of the hardware device modules.

Abstract: The present invention is a soil sampling probe where a conical piston is kept at the opening to the sampling container by a first threaded portion near the top of the piston rod which engages a threaded opening near the top end of the container. With the piston in this position the probe is more streamlined to reduce the required driving force. When the desired depth is reached, the piston rod is rotated until the first threaded portion of the piston rod is disengaged from the threaded opening at the top end of the container. The piston is then raised until a second threaded portion of the piston rod, near the piston itself, engages a threaded lock ring near the top end of the container. Thus the piston is locked in place near the top of the container. The container is then further inserted to take the core sample.

Abstract: Electrochromic optical device and method to produce the same. The device includes first substrate (1) on the one side of the substrate a first transparent conductor (2) on the conductor a first electrochromic layer (3), a second substrate (4), on the one side of the second substrate a second transparent conductor (5), on the second transparent conductor, a second electrochromic layer (6), the two substrates are laminated to each other by means of a solid state polymer with their sides carrying the respective transparent conductor and electrochromic layer facing each other. The polymer work as an ion conductor and is based on methylacrylate and poly(propyleneglycol) doped with a metal salt.

Abstract: A sliding door locking apparatus in which ratchet shaped catches project vertically from a housing and are depressible to a lowered position. The housing is horizontally mounted to the base of the door frame. One of the catches prevents the opening of the door by making contact with a blocking member that is attached to the slidable door panel. However, the door can be quickly closed because contact between the blocking member and the catch in the opposite direction depresses the catch, owing to its ratchet shape. When the catch is depressed to a lower position, the door can move freely in either direction. An alarm is provided which is responsive to an attempt to open the door when the catch is not depressed to a lowered position.