Abstract: A power converter for converting an input to an output for driving a load, said power converter comprising a switched mode power supply, SMPS, arranged for receiving an input and for converting said input to an output for driving said load, a buffer capacitor connected in a parallel branch across said load and arranged for buffering said output from said SMPS, a charge circuit, separate from said SMPS, and arranged for providing a charge current to said buffer capacitor until a voltage over said buffer capacitor exceeds a voltage threshold.

Abstract: A ply sorting device is disclosed, comprising a picker and a buffer. The picker is arranged to pick planar plies of cut fiber material and move them to the buffer. The buffer comprises a plurality of substantially planar supports each arranged to receive plies from the picker and to support the plies in planar orientation. The planar supports are movably arranged relative to each other to receive the plies. In addition, a method of sorting plies of differing geometry is disclosed. Planar plies of cut fiber material are picked and moved to supports of a buffer where plies are received in a planar orientation, and supports are moved relative to each other to receive the plies.

Abstract: A transmitter circuit including an impedance setting circuit having first and second legs, wherein each leg includes an adjustable pull-up resistance and an adjustable pull-down resistance connected in series between a supply terminal and a reference terminal. A first-leg-node, between the adjustable resistances of the first leg, is connected to a first bus terminal. A second-leg-node, between the adjustable resistances of the second leg, is connected to a second bus terminal. The controller detects a transition in a transmission data signal, and in response to a dominant to recessive transition the controller controls a voltage setting circuit to set the differential driver voltage on the bus to a recessive value; adjusts each of the adjustable pull-up resistances and the adjustable pull-down resistances with the same target impedance profile such that the transmitter circuit drives the bus with a target driver impedance for an active recessive period of a bit time.

Abstract: In order to provide a balance between a fast start-up in start-up phase and a low light output ripple in normal operation phase, it is provided a LED driving circuit comprising: an input to receive a LED driving current, a buffer circuit adapted to buffer said LED driving current, and an output to be connected to LED and adapted to output the LED driving current, after buffered, to the LED, characterized in that, further comprises a buffer adjustment circuit adapted to adjust the buffer capability of the buffer circuit at a first level, in a start-up phase of the LED driving circuit when the LED driving circuit starts to receive said LED driving current, and adjust the buffer capability of the buffer circuit at a second level larger than the first level in a normal operation phase later than the start-up phase.

Abstract: An actuator, configured to move a first object with respect to a second object, that includes a first body having an annular ring, a second body, arranged movably with respect to the first body, having a longitudinal shaft at least partially disposed within the annular ring, and at least one spring device, arranged between the first body and the second body, wherein the at least one spring device is configured to guide relative movements between the first body and the second body in a range of movement, and the at least one spring device has two or more leaf springs, wherein each of the two or more leaf springs is connected to the first body and to the second body, and wherein at least one of the leaf springs is in a non-planar state when the spring device is in an equilibrium position.

Abstract: A method for forming a transistor with an emitter, intrinsic base, and collector. The base includes a semiconductor layer doped with a conductivity dopant to provide for a lower resistivity path to the intrinsic base. After the formation of a layer over a substrate, an emitter window opening is formed in the layer. The semiconductor layer is formed through the opening by a deposition process. A portion of the semiconductor layer is then removed. An emitter electrode is formed that includes at least a portion located in the opening. A remaining portion of the semiconductor layer is in a conductive path to the intrinsic base.

Abstract: An inductive sensing device comprises first (16) and second (24) loops, the first loop (16) being coupled with a capacitor to form a resonator circuit (20), and the resonator circuit and second loop being coupled via an active buffering component (28). The active buffering component provides voltage to current amplification, and an output of the buffering component drives a current in the second loop. Conductive lines forming each of the first and second loop parts are radially spaced apart.

Abstract: A ply sorting device is disclosed, comprising a picker and a buffer. The picker is arranged to pick planar plies of cut fiber material and move them to the buffer. The buffer comprises a plurality of substantially planar supports each arranged to receive phes from the picker and to support the plies in planar orientation. The planar supports are movably arranged relative to each other to receive the plies. In addition, a method of sorting plies of differing geometry is disclosed. Planar plies of cut fiber material are picked and moved to supports of a buffer where plies are received in a planar orientation, and supports are moved relative to each other to receive the plies.

Abstract: Techniques for predictive disease identification using simulations improved via machine learning. A method includes applying at least one machine learning model to features extracted from data including animal characteristics data of an animal, wherein outputs of the at least one machine learning model include a plurality of disease predictor values, wherein each disease predictor value corresponds to a respective disease type of a plurality of disease types, wherein each disease type of the plurality of disease types corresponds to a predetermined group of diseases; generating disease contraction statistics based on the outputs of the at least one machine learning model; and determining, based on the disease contraction statistics, at least one disease prediction for the animal.

Abstract: A system and method for predictive disease identification via simulations improved using machine learning. A method includes applying a plurality of machine learning models including a plurality of first machine learning models and a second machine learning model to features extracted from data including animal characteristics data of at least one animal, wherein the second machine learning model is a combiner model, wherein outputs of the plurality of machine learning models include a plurality of disease predictor values, wherein each disease predictor value corresponds to a respective disease type of a plurality of disease types; running a plurality of disease contraction simulations based on the plurality of disease predictor values; and generating at least one display element based on results of the plurality of disease contraction simulations.

Abstract: Scratching apparatus 1 comprising a plurality of scratchable sacrificial elements 7 that can be assembled together to form a tower 5, and a base 3 having a first surface on which the tower 5 can be mounted so that the tower 5 is generally upstanding from the base 3 when the apparatus 1 is in use.

Abstract: A modular animal bed 1 comprising a base 3 that is attachable to any of a plurality of different toppers 5 that each have a different configuration, the base and each said topper carrying respective parts of a multi-part fastening mechanism 15 that can be fastened together to couple a selected one of said plurality of toppers to said base.