Abstract: There is provided an inorganic hierarchical porous membrane comprising at least two layers, wherein each layer of the at least two layers comprises a different average pore size as compared to another layer of the at least two layers, and wherein the membrane comprises a patterned surface. There is also provided a method of forming the membrane.

Abstract: Support structures are used in certain additive fabrication processes to permit fabrication of a greater range of object geometries. For additive fabrication processes with materials that are subsequently sintered into a final part, an interface layer is formed between the object and support in order to inhibit bonding between adjacent surfaces of the support structure and the object during sintering.

Abstract: A battery enclosure includes a tub defining an internal volume, a lid, a cross member within the internal volume, and a mounting bracket. The tub has a bottom and a wall integrally formed with the bottom. The lid is configured to couple to the wall to enclose the internal volume. The cross member is coupled to the tub. The mounting bracket is attached to the bottom of the tub and is configured to releasbly secure a battery.

Abstract: An energy absorbing side rail including an inner rail, an outer rail fixedly coupled to the inner rail defining a cavity, the outer rail defining triggers extending along at least a portion of the outer rail, and at least one energy absorber housed in the cavity, wherein at least one energy absorber is positioned in-line with the triggers.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of sequencing a region of a nucleic acid and identifying mutations within the region. The disclosed methods may comprise constructing a nucleic acid fragments library of the region of the nucleic acid by using a deoxyribonuclease (DNase) to fragment amplification products of the region generated by long range polymerase chain reaction (LR-PCR) amplification. The sequencing method may also comprise a duplication analysis using an artificial sequence. The disclosed method may detect mutations within the region when the region comprises repetitive sequences.

Abstract: This disclosure describes an LED sign that has the exterior appearance of a neon sign, but is much easier and less expensive to mass produce, and has none of the environmentally challenging elements of a neon sign. The sign has a frame that mounts to a background element, through which one or more channels are routed or molded. Flexible LED light tubes are laid into the channels and then closed off with heat shrink tubes. Because the LED light tubes are restrained in the channel, the sign takes on the desired shape that has been formed into the background, allowing the sign to be mass-produced economically for even small quantities, as there is no need for an expensive mold. The background can be 1-piece, or made from multiple pieces connected to each other in a removable fashion.

Abstract: A thermal forcing system for controlling a temperature of a device under test (DUT) includes a thermal plate, heater, temperature sensor, cold head, actuator, and controller. The thermal plate is thermally coupleable to the DUT. The temperature sensor senses a temperature of the thermal plate. The cold head has a temperature which is lower than that of the thermal plate. The controller is configured to: receive information of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor; determine a temperature difference between a setpoint temperature and the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor; and command the actuator to move the cold head relative to the thermal plate or command the heater to heat the thermal plate, in response to the temperature difference, so as to facilitate adjusting the temperature of the thermal plate, and consequently the DUT, to the setpoint temperature.

Abstract: A vehicle bumper assembly is provided having an energy absorber, a bracket, a step pad and a bumper fascia. The energy absorber includes an upper horizontal surface wherein the upper horizontal surface may define a deformable structure. The deformable structure may be in the form of flexible fins. The bracket may be mounted to the vehicle frame on a first end of the bracket and the energy absorber affixed to a second end of the bracket. The step pad may be affixed to the energy absorber. The bumper fascia may be affixed to either or both the step pad and the energy absorber.

Abstract: A vehicle bumper assembly is provided having an energy absorber, a bracket, a step pad and a bumper fascia. The energy absorber includes an upper horizontal surface wherein the upper horizontal surface may define a deformable structure. The deformable structure may be in the form of flexible fins. The bracket may be mounted to the vehicle frame on a first end of the bracket and the energy absorber affixed to a second end of the bracket. The step pad may be affixed to the energy absorber. The bumper fascia may be affixed to either or both the step pad and the energy absorber.

Abstract: The a blind spot monitor arrangement for a truck bumper includes a polymeric bumper reinforcement having a blind spot monitor, a substantially horizontal surface, a substantially vertical face and a lower reinforcement arm. The lower reinforcement arm is substantially parallel to the substantially parallel horizontal surface. The lower reinforcement arm is integral to and connecting a lower end of the rear face to the lower end of the right face. A blind spot monitor is further mounted to the integrated sensor bracket and a bumper cover encloses the blind spot monitor and the polymeric bumper reinforcement.

Abstract: The a blind spot monitor arrangement for a truck bumper includes a polymeric bumper reinforcement having a blind spot monitor, a substantially horizontal surface, a substantially vertical face and a lower reinforcement arm. The lower reinforcement arm is substantially parallel to the substantially parallel horizontal surface. The lower reinforcement arm is integral to and connecting a lower end of the rear face to the lower end of the right face. A blind spot monitor is further mounted to the integrated sensor bracket and a bumper cover encloses the blind spot monitor and the polymeric bumper reinforcement.

Abstract: A video and audio signal processor includes a game engine interface mechanism, a video mechanism, a video card, an integration mechanism and a sound effect card. The game engine interface mechanism provides graphic parameters and original sound effect parameters. The video mechanism receives the graphic parameters from the game engine interface and provides video data based on the graphic parameters. The video card receives the video data from the video mechanism and instructs a display to provide images based on the video data. The integration mechanism receives the graphic parameters and the original sound effect parameters from the game engine interface mechanism, analyzes the graphic parameters to derive desired sound effect parameters and integrates the desired sound effect parameters with the original sound effect parameters. The sound effect card instructs at least one speaker to provide sounds under the control of the integration mechanism.

Abstract: A sign panel made of light transmitting material, has a front displaying side and a rear side, the sign panel has a background portion that is preferably a flat surface and a protruding portion that forms a sign character, wherein a lighting blocking layer attached to said background portion of the sign panel, and a highlight coating coated on said protruding portion of the rear side of the sign panel. Light can go through the protruding portion with a highlight coating. The sign panel can use without a complicated neon light tubes, and the sign panel contains no mercury versus argon based neon tubes. This is a huge win from the environmental side as there is no use for mercury inside LED signs.

Abstract: An illuminating sign includes a base panel; an illuminating unit, and a front casing. The front casing includes a metallic light blocking frame attached on the base panel for enhancing a strength of the front casing, wherein the light blocking frame has a plurality of through slots spacedly formed thereon, a plurality of illuminating members securely supported in front of the base panel, and a highlighting element provided at the illuminating members, wherein when the illumination unit is operated for generating the light towards the front casing, the metallic light blocking frame not only blocks the light passing therethrough but also facilitates efficient and effective heat transfer from the illuminating unit to an exterior of the front casing for preventing the illuminating unit from being overheat within the front casing.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a current limiter is configured to limit current drawn from a main power supply to a maximum value. A load device is coupled with an output of the current limiter. The load device is configured to periodically draw a first current during operation. The maximum value is below a value of the first current. A charge storage device is coupled with the load device. The charge storage device is configured to supply additional current to the load device to satisfy the first current value. A linear voltage regulator is coupled between the charge storage device and the load device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for locking a table within a network switch. The table is used to store entries that contain addresses of network stations connected to the network switch. A scheduler regulates access to the address table by allocating prescribed time slots during which components of the network switch can access the address table. Each component requiring access to the address table must wait until it is assigned a time slot in order to further determine if any other components are accessing the address table. If none of the other components are accessing the address table, then the component requiring access can initiate a transaction.

Abstract: An illumination sign includes a sign panel, a light source, and a simulated neon illumination arrangement. The light source is mounted at a rear side of the sign panel to provide illumination toward the sign panel. The simulated neon illumination arrangement includes a light blocking layer provided on the rear surface of the sign panel at the background portion thereof, and a neon effect illumination film provided on the sign panel at the sign portion thereof to form a sign character, wherein when the light source generates light towards the rear side of the sign panel, a portion of the light impinging on the sign portion is allowed to pass through the sign portion through the neon effect illumination film to illuminate the sign characters for producing a simulated neon illumination effect.

Abstract: A neon simulated illumination sign has a base housing and a display panel made of light transmitting material, with a displaying side and an attachment side. The base housing houses light sources while the display panel has a background portion that is preferably a flat surface and a protruding portion that forms sign characters, wherein a lighting blocking layer coated to the background portion of the display panel, and a highlight coating coated on said protruding portion of the attachment side of the display panel. Light can go through the protruding portion with a highlight coating. The illumination sign includes one or more through openings which are designed to create a wide variety of three dimensional features which are more outstanding than that in conventional illumination signs.

Abstract: A sign panel made of light transmitting material, has a front displaying side and a rear side, the sign panel has a background portion that is preferably a flat surface and a protruding portion that forms a sign character, wherein a lighting blocking layer attached to said background portion of the sign panel, and a highlight coating coated on said protruding portion of the rear side of the sign panel. Light can go through the protruding portion with a highlight coating. The sign panel can use without a complicated neon light tubes, and the sign panel contains no mercury versus argon based neon tubes. This is a huge win from the environmental side as there is no use for mercury inside LED signs.