Abstract: A manufacturing method of a connection structure includes the following steps. A dielectric layer is formed on conductive structures. Openings are formed in the dielectric layer and expose the conductive structures. A tungsten nucleation layer is conformally formed on the dielectric layer and in the openings. A nitrogen-containing treatment is performed on the tungsten nucleation layer. A deposition process is performed to form a tungsten filling layer on the tungsten nucleation layer. An interfacial layer is formed between the tungsten nucleation layer and the tungsten filling layer by the deposition process. A fluorine concentration of the interfacial layer is higher than that of the tungsten filling layer. A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process is performed to remove a part of the tungsten nucleation layer and a part of the tungsten filling layer for forming connection structures. The interfacial layer is removed by the CMP process.

Abstract: A method to more effectively and efficiently diagnose problems in a storage network is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes generating, for a storage network, a resource map that identifies components therein. For each component in the resource map, the method identifies an importance factor that indicates the component's importance in the storage network. When a problem is detected in the storage network, the method identifies, for each component in the resource map, a potential cause factor that indicates how likely the component is to have caused the problem. The method also calculates, for each component in the resource map, a problem responsibility factor to indicate to what extent the component is held responsible for the problem. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including a laser including a layer having first and second regions, the first region including a void; a mirror section provided on the layer, the mirror section including a waveguide core, at least part of the waveguide core is provided over at least a portion of the void; a first grating provided on the waveguide core; a first cladding layer provided between the layer and the waveguide core and supported by the second region of the layer; a second cladding layer provided on the waveguide core; and a heat source configured to change a temperature of at least one of the waveguide core and the grating, where an optical mode propagating in the waveguide core of the mirror section does not incur substantial loss due to interaction with portions of the mirror section above and below the waveguide core.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a condition of a battery includes a mode identifying unit configured to identify a usage mode of the battery during a period of time and its corresponding attenuation curve, according to recorded data on battery usage, stored usage modes of the battery and attenuation curves corresponding to the various usage modes, the attenuation curve representing a change of a fully charged capacity of the battery with battery usage; and a condition estimating unit configured to calculate battery degradation according to the recorded data, the identified usage mode and its corresponding attenuation curve, the degradation representing a quantity of the fully charged capacity of the battery that is reduced over the battery usage. The condition of the battery is estimated so as to rationally judge the residual value of the battery in operation.

Abstract: A fuel nozzle assembly includes a centerbody including an outer wall. The outer wall defines a plurality of fuel injection apertures. The fuel injection apertures include a first portion of the plurality of fuel injection apertures configured to induce a first fuel flow rate. The fuel injection apertures also include a second portion of the plurality of fuel injection apertures configured to induce a second fuel flow rate. The second fuel flow rate is less than the first fuel flow rate.

Abstract: A lane tracking method is proposed for use by an autonomous vehicle running on a lane. A future location of the autonomous vehicle that corresponds to a future time point is estimated based on a current location and a measurement result of an inertial measurement unit of the autonomous vehicle. The future location of the autonomous vehicle, and a reference lane line data and a reference past location that correspond to a reference past time point are used to estimate a future lane line data that corresponds to the future time point.

Abstract: A refrigerant compressor according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an impeller arranged in a main flow path and including a plurality of vanes. The impeller is configured to rotate about an axis. A channel is outside the main flow path. A first orifice fluidly couples the channel to the main flow path upstream of the vanes, and a second orifice fluidly couples the channel to the main flow path downstream of leading edges of the vanes.

Abstract: A lane tracking method is proposed for use by an autonomous vehicle running on a lane. A future location of the autonomous vehicle that corresponds to a future time point is estimated based on a current location and a measurement result of an inertial measurement unit of the autonomous vehicle. The future location of the autonomous vehicle, and a reference lane line data and a reference past location that correspond to a reference past time point are used to estimate a future lane line data that corresponds to the future time point.

Abstract: A system and a method for active steering control with automatic torque compensation are disclosed with a processor that generates a targeted torque signal after receiving a steering assistance signal generated by an active driver assistance device, overlays the targeted torque signal on a driver's torque signal after receiving the driver's torque signal sensed by a torque sensor to generate a steering torque signal, and performs an assistance logic algorithm according to the steering torque signal. As the assistance logic algorithm is performed based on both the steering assistance signal and the driver's torque signal, the steering assistance effect provided by the system and the method will not resist against the way of driver's steering, allowing the driver to easily and stably control the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle lateral control system having a lane model with modulation weighting for controlling a vehicle includes a camera, an image processing device, a controller and a steering device. The camera is configured to capture a front image of the vehicle to generate a front image dataset. The front image dataset is analyzed by the image processing device to obtain a plurality of lane markers, and the image processing device establishes a lane fitting curve according to the lane markers and a target weighting. The controller has a plurality of vehicle dynamic parameters and a target distance. The target weighting is changeable according to the target distance. The controller generates a steering control weighting according to the lane fitting curve and the vehicle dynamic parameters. The steering device is configured to control a turning direction of the vehicle according to the steering control weighting.

Abstract: A refrigerant compressor according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first compression stage arranged in a main refrigerant flow path. The first compression stage is a mixed compression stage having both axial and radial components. The compressor further includes a second compression stage arranged in the main refrigerant flow path downstream of the first compression stage. The second compression stage is a radial compression stage.

Abstract: A method of lane change and path planning that receives sensed signals from multiple sensors through a car computer on a vehicle to generate multiple traveling speed time-sorted information and multiple surrounding circumstance time-sorted information, and to further generate a 3×3 grid corresponding to the surroundings of the vehicle; when receiving a signal to switch on the turn signals, the car computer selects data within a time interval from those traveling speed time-sorted information and surrounding circumstance time-sorted information, respectively; and then the selected data is to be processed together with the 3×3 grid to generate a lane change space, and through a decision strategy to determine whether the lane change space complies with a safety movement strategy, and then the car computer generates a planned path of movement, such that a safest space for assisting lane change is provided for improving convenience and safety.

Abstract: An electronic device may have a display that provides image light to a waveguide. First and second liquid crystal lenses may be mounted to opposing surfaces of the waveguide. An coupler may couple the image light out of the waveguide through the first lens. The second lens may convey world light to the first lens. Control circuitry may control the first lens to apply a first optical power to the image light and the world light and may control the second lens to apply a second optical power to the world light that cancels out the first optical power. Each lens may include two layers of liquid crystal molecules having antiparallel pretilt angles. The pretilt angles and rubbing directions of the first lens may be antiparallel to corresponding pretilt angles and rubbing directions of the second lens about the waveguide.

Abstract: A method for controlling a power steering system of a road vehicle includes: after the road vehicle is started, activating only an EPS subsystem; afterward, activating an EHPS subsystem when a speed of the road vehicle is not higher than a predetermined speed threshold; once the EHPS subsystem is activated, controlling the hydraulic motor of the EHPS subsystem to rotate at a rotational speed lower than a pre-set rotational speed when a torque applied to a steering column is smaller than a predetermined torque threshold.

Abstract: A hybrid lithium-ion battery-capacitor (H-LIBC) energy storage device includes a hybrid composite cathode electrode having a lithium ion battery (LIB) cathode active material and a lithium ion capacitor (LIC) cathode active material. An anode electrode having a surface is pre-loaded and pressed with a lithium (Li) thin film source. The anode electrode is pre-lithiated with the lithium film source by positioning the Li film source on the surface of anode electrode after electrolyte filling and soaking processes, A separator and an organic solvent electrolytic solution including a lithium salt electrolyte are also provided. A method of making a hybrid lithium-ion battery-capacitor and a method of making a hybrid composite cathode for a hybrid lithium-ion battery-capacitor are also disclosed.

Abstract: Infusion systems, infusion devices, and related operating methods are provided. An exemplary method of operating an infusion device to deliver fluid to a user in accordance with an operating mode involves obtaining operational information pertaining to one or more prior instances of the operating mode, obtaining status information pertaining to the infusion device, and determining a diagnosis time based at least in part on the operational information. The diagnosis time is prior to a subsequent instance of the operating mode. At the diagnosis time, the method automatically determines the viability of the subsequent instance of the operating mode based at least in part on the status information and automatically generates a notification indicative of a recommended action for the user based at least in part on the viability.

Abstract: An assisted steering system with vibrational function for vehicles is applied to a steering system of a vehicle. The steering system has a first steering column and a second steering column, and the assisted steering system includes a speed-adjustable steering device and an electronic control unit. The speed-adjustable steering device is connected between the first steering column and the second steering column and has a motor. The electronic control unit is electrically connected to the motor, generates a vibration driving current when receiving a warning command, combines a steering driving current with the vibration driving current to generate a motor control current, and outputs the motor control current to the motor of the speed-adjustable steering device to excite windings of the motor with the vibration driving current in generation of a vibrational effect.

Abstract: Ultra-thin lithium ion capacitors with ultra-high power performance are provided. Ultra-thin electrodes and ultra-thin lithium films can be used for the ultra-thin lithium ion capacitor. A lithium ion capacitor can include a first positive electrode and a second positive electrode, a negative electrode disposed between the first positive electrode and the second positive electrode, a first lithium film disposed between the first positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a second lithium film disposed between the second positive electrode and the negative electrode. Each of the first and second lithium films can include an electrolyte. In addition, at least one separator can be provided between the first positive electrode and the first lithium film, and at least one separator can be provided between the second positive electrode and the second lithium film.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a combustor and a turbine. The combustor includes a pre-mixer having a body defining a plurality of fluid passages extending axially through the pre-mixer, wherein a cross-sectional projection of each of the plurality of fluid passages comprises one or more features that form a helical coil about an axis of the fluid passage along a length of the fluid passage, wherein the pre-mixer is configured to receive fuel from a fuel supply, receive air from an air supply, mix the fuel and air by flowing the fuel and air through the plurality of fluid passages, and imparting a swirling motion on the fuel and air, and supply the air-fuel mixture to a combustion zone. The combustor is configured to combust the air-fuel mixture, generating combustion fluids. The turbine is configured to receive the combustion fluids from the combustor and to use the combustion fluids to drive one or more stages of the turbine.