Abstract: Disclosed is a tube assembly for a shell and tube heat exchanger, the tube assembly having: a plurality of tubes respectively extending in a lengthwise direction L to a respective plurality of opposing ends at respective opposing internal ends of the heat exchanger, the plurality of tubes being collectively arranged in a first grid pattern, wherein the plurality of tubes form a respective plurality of grid nodes; and a plurality of fins connecting the plurality of tubes to form a respective plurality of grid edges, the plurality of fins extending to opposing ends of the plurality of tubes, wherein the plurality of fins each include a plurality of through holes formed therein.

Abstract: An automated store attached to or integrated into a site where vehicles park, such as a gas station, charging station, or parking lot. The store may obtain the identity of the vehicle automatically, for example in a message sent over a charging cable, or by scanning a license plate. An authorization linked to the vehicle identity may be extended to passengers who exit the vehicle, so that these passengers may take items from the store and have them automatically charged to the vehicle's account. Locked cases containing products may be unlocked automatically when a shopper who exited an authorized vehicle arrives at the case. As passengers move around the site and obtain items from the store, messages may be transmitted back to the vehicle, or to a mobile device of the vehicle owner or driver, showing the items that have been taken.

Abstract: A sensor bar shelf monitor, for example that may be added to an existing shelving system to convert a store to autonomous operation. The sensor bar may contain distance sensor to detect shoppers reaching towards items on a shelf, and cameras to determine which items shoppers have taken. It may be installed into shelf supports such as gondola shelving uprights. The sensor bar may be located at the front edge of a shelf, and may monitor the shelf below. Placing the sensor bar along the front edge prevents damage to electronics from spills or shelf cleaning, and prevents heat from the sensor bar electronics from damaging items on the shelf. The sensor bar may have a local sensor bar processor that collects sensor data; images may be analyzed locally or transferred to more powerful store processors. A sensor bar may also have controllable lights and controllable electronic labels.

Abstract: A Squalene Hopene Cyclase (SHC) isolated from Gluconobacter morbifer is provided as are variants and a method for using the G. morbifer SHC to biocatalytically convert homofarnesol to ambroxan.

Abstract: A sensor bar shelf monitor, for example that may be added to an existing shelving system to convert a store to autonomous operation. The sensor bar may contain distance sensor to detect shoppers reaching towards items on a shelf, and cameras to determine which items shoppers have taken. It may be installed into shelf supports such as gondola shelving uprights. The sensor bar may be located at the front edge of a shelf, and may monitor the shelf below. Placing the sensor bar along the front edge prevents damage to electronics from spills or shelf cleaning, and prevents heat from the sensor bar electronics from damaging items on the shelf. The sensor bar may have a local sensor bar processor that collects sensor data; images may be analyzed locally or transferred to more powerful store processors. A sensor bar may also have controllable lights and controllable electronic labels.

Abstract: A carbon dioxide sensor has a conduit connecting to a source of breathing air and delivering a sample of breathing air into a test chamber. A radiation source applies radiation across the chamber. A sensor detects modification in the radiation as it passes through the air sample in the test chamber and communicates with electronics to identify a percentage of carbon dioxide in the sample. A rigid cover surrounds the radiation source, the test chamber, and the sensor. A spacesuit is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides PCSK9 inhibitors, compositions comprising the PCSK9 inhibitors, and methods of identifying and using the PCSK9 inhibitors.

Abstract: A system that integrates camera images and quantity sensors to determine items taken from, placed on, or moved on a shelf or other area in an autonomous store. The items and actions performed may then be attributed to a shopper near the area. Shelves may be divided into storage zones, such as bins or lanes, and a quantity sensor may measure the item quantity in each zone. Quantity changes indicate that a shopper has taken or placed items in the zone. Distance sensors, such as LIDAR, may be used for shelves that push items towards the front. Strain gauges may be used for bins or hanging rods. Quantity changes may trigger analysis of camera images of the shelf to identify the items taken or replaced. Images from multiple cameras that view a shelf may be projected to a vertical plane at the front of the shelf to simplify analysis.

Abstract: The invention provides PCSK9 inhibitors, compositions comprising the PCSK9 inhibitors, and methods of identifying and using the PCSK9 inhibitors.

Abstract: A system that integrates camera images and quantity sensors to determine items taken from, placed on, or moved on a shelf or other area in an autonomous store. The items and actions performed may then be attributed to a shopper near the area. Shelves may be divided into storage zones, such as bins or lanes, and a quantity sensor may measure the item quantity in each zone. Quantity changes indicate that a shopper has taken or placed items in the zone. Distance sensors, such as LIDAR, may be used for shelves that push items towards the front. Strain gauges may be used for bins or hanging rods. Quantity changes may trigger analysis of camera images of the shelf to identify the items taken or replaced. Images from multiple cameras that view a shelf may be projected to a vertical plane at the front of the shelf to simplify analysis.

Abstract: A retractable spout device for a flowable substance container comprising a first section 1 adapted to be secured to an interior of the container, and a second section 2 displaceable relative to the first section in order to facilitate the movement of the second section from a retracted position wherein the second section is at least partially collapsed, to a deployed position wherein the second section extends outwards to form a spout.

Abstract: System that facilitates rapid onboarding of an autonomous (cashier-less) store by capturing images of items in the store's catalog from different angles, with varying backgrounds and lighting conditions, and that automatically builds a classifier training dataset from these images. The system may have cameras in different positions, lights supporting variable illumination, and monitor screens that generate different background colors. It may have an input device such as a barcode reader, and an operator terminal that prompts operators to place items into the imaging system in the necessary orientations. Once an item is placed in the imaging system, a fully automated process may generate a sequence of background colors, a sequence of lighting conditions, and may capture and process images from all of the cameras to create training images. Training images for an item may be generated in seconds, compared to many minutes per item using manual image capture and processing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tube assembly for a shell and tube heat exchanger, the tube assembly having: a plurality of tubes respectively extending in a lengthwise direction L to a respective plurality of opposing ends at respective opposing internal ends of the heat exchanger, the plurality of tubes being collectively arranged in a first grid pattern, wherein the plurality of tubes form a respective plurality of grid nodes; and a plurality of fins connecting the plurality of tubes to form a respective plurality of grid edges, the plurality of fins extending to opposing ends of the plurality of tubes, wherein the plurality of fins each include a plurality of through holes formed therein.

Abstract: A system that integrates camera images and quantity sensors to determine items taken from, placed on, or moved on a shelf or other area in an autonomous store. The items and actions performed may then be attributed to a shopper near the area. Shelves may be divided into storage zones, such as bins or lanes, and a quantity sensor may measure the item quantity in each zone. Quantity changes indicate that a shopper has taken or placed items in the zone. Distance sensors, such as LIDAR, may be used for shelves that push items towards the front. Strain gauges may be used for bins or hanging rods. Quantity changes may trigger analysis of camera images of the shelf to identify the items taken or replaced. Images from multiple cameras that view a shelf may be projected to a vertical plane at the front of the shelf to simplify analysis.

Abstract: A solar drive system, having: at least one photovoltaic array generating a DC current; at least one inverter electrically connected to the photovoltaic array for inverting the DC current into an AC current; at least one electric motor electrically connected to the inverter for supplying the electric motor with the AC current; and at least one device for determining a present rotational frequency of the electric motor; wherein the inverter is configured to track a maximum power point of the photovoltaic array by performing a Perturb and Observe Maximum Power Point Tracking method and to determine a step direction of the Perturb and Observe Maximum Power Point Tracking method using the determined present rotational frequency of the electric motor.

Abstract: A projected image item tracking system that analyzes projected camera images to determine items taken from, placed on, or moved on a shelf or other area in an autonomous store. The items and actions performed on them may then be attributed to a shopper near the area. Projected images may be combined to generate a 3D volume difference between the state of the area before and after shopper interaction. The volume difference may be calculated using plane-sweep stereo, or using convolutional neural networks. Because these methods may be computationally intensive, the system may first localize a change volume where items appear to have been displaced, and then generate a volume difference only within that change volume. This optimization results in significant savings in power consumption and in more rapid identification of items. The 3D volume difference may also indicate the quantity of items displaced, for example from a vertical stack.

Abstract: A projected image item tracking system that analyzes projected camera images to determine items taken from, placed on, or moved on a shelf or other area in an autonomous store. The items and actions performed on them may then be attributed to a shopper near the area. Projected images may be combined to generate a 3D volume difference between the state of the area before and after shopper interaction. The volume difference may be calculated using plane-sweep stereo, or using convolutional neural networks. Because these methods may be computationally intensive, the system may first localize a change volume where items appear to have been displaced, and then generate a volume difference only within that change volume. This optimization results in significant savings in power consumption and in more rapid identification of items. The 3D volume difference may also indicate the quantity of items displaced, for example from a vertical stack.

Abstract: A projected image item tracking system that analyzes projected camera images to determine items taken from, placed on, or moved on a shelf or other area in an autonomous store. The items and actions performed on them may then be attributed to a shopper near the area. Projected images may be combined to generate a 3D volume difference between the state of the area before and after shopper interaction. The volume difference may be calculated using plane-sweep stereo, or using convolutional neural networks. Because these methods may be computationally intensive, the system may first localize a change volume where items appear to have been displaced, and then generate a volume difference only within that change volume. This optimization results in significant savings in power consumption and in more rapid identification of items. The 3D volume difference may also indicate the quantity of items displaced, for example from a vertical stack.

Abstract: A system that integrates camera images and quantity sensors to determine items taken from, placed on, or moved on a shelf or other area in an autonomous store. The items and actions performed may then be attributed to a shopper near the area. Shelves may be divided into storage zones, such as bins or lanes, and a quantity sensor may measure the item quantity in each zone. Quantity changes indicate that a shopper has taken or placed items in the zone. Distance sensors, such as LIDAR, may be used for shelves that push items towards the front. Strain gauges may be used for bins or hanging rods. Quantity changes may trigger analysis of camera images of the shelf to identify the items taken or replaced. Images from multiple cameras that view a shelf may be projected to a vertical plane at the front of the shelf to simplify analysis.

Abstract: A projected image item tracking system that analyzes projected camera images to determine items taken from, placed on, or moved on a shelf or other area in an autonomous store. The items and actions performed on them may then be attributed to a shopper near the area. Projected images may be combined to generate a 3D volume difference between the state of the area before and after shopper interaction. The volume difference may be calculated using plane-sweep stereo, or using convolutional neural networks. Because these methods may be computationally intensive, the system may first localize a change volume where items appear to have been displaced, and then generate a volume difference only within that change volume. This optimization results in significant savings in power consumption and in more rapid identification of items. The 3D volume difference may also indicate the quantity of items displaced, for example from a vertical stack.