Abstract: In a general aspect, a construction tool can include a template portion arranged in a first plane. The template portion can include a rectangular plate having a slot defined, the slot being angled with respect to an edge of the plate and configured to facilitate marking a cut line on a construction material. The construction tool can also include a base portion arranged in a second plane, the second plane being orthogonal to the first plane. The base portion can include a first portion disposed on a first side of the plate, and a second portion disposed on a second side of the plate of the template portion that is opposite the first side of the plate. The first portion of the base portion can have a first thickness, and the second portion of the base portion having a second thickness that is different than the first thickness.

Abstract: A hybrid apparatus for charging electric vehicles and mining cryptocurrency is provided. The apparatus may comprise an electric power input associated with a rated maximum power capacity, an electric vehicle charger, a cryptocurrency miner and a power coordinator. The electric vehicle charger may have at least one vehicle power outlet and a maximum charger power draw from the electric power input. The cryptocurrency miner may have multiple cryptocurrency mining computers and a maximum miner power draw from the electric power input. Each mining computer may have an adjustable intensity level. The power coordinator may be configured to determine mining power availability within the rated maximum power capacity after prioritizing power demand by the electric vehicle charger, and to direct the cryptocurrency miner to continue mining cryptocurrency by adjusting the intensity levels of the mining computers such that the cryptocurrency miner consumes not more than the mining power availability.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for improved data comparison, particularly when scanning large amounts of data for particular conditions or configurations. With respect to cyber-security, this improvement takes the form of receiving a plurality of threat conditions for cyber threats against a networked computer device; identifying commonalities among the plurality of threat conditions by comparing each threat condition in the plurality of threat conditions against the plurality of threat conditions; generating, based on the commonalities, a hierarchy for scanning of the cyber threats; and scanning for the cyber threats according to the hierarchy.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for improved data comparison, particularly when scanning large amounts of data for particular conditions or configurations. With respect to cyber-security, this improvement takes the form of receiving a plurality of threat conditions for cyber threats against a networked computer device; identifying commonalities among the plurality of threat conditions by comparing each threat condition in the plurality of threat conditions against the plurality of threat conditions; generating, based on the commonalities, a hierarchy for scanning of the cyber threats; and scanning for the cyber threats according to the hierarchy.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for improved data comparison, particularly when scanning large amounts of data for particular conditions or configurations. With respect to cyber-security, this improvement takes the form of receiving a plurality of threat conditions for cyber threats against a networked computer device; identifying commonalities among the plurality of threat conditions by comparing each threat condition in the plurality of threat conditions against the plurality of threat conditions; generating, based on the commonalities, a hierarchy for scanning of the cyber threats; and scanning for the cyber threats according to the hierarchy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for friction welding. The method includes frictionally engaging a weld surface of a first workpiece and a weld surface of a second workpiece; oscillating the weld surface of the first workpiece and the second workpiece until they reach a fusion point, and applying a forge force to the first workpiece with the second workpiece, so that the workpieces are urged into contact at a weld point, wherein the weld point is the centroid of an interface between the weld surfaces.

Abstract: A method for friction welding, the method comprising: locating a first workpiece in a recess or aperture of a first tool; bringing a weld face of the first and a weld face of a second workpiece into frictional engagement; and moving the first tool and the second workpiece relative to one another.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stopping an impeller-driven watercraft is includes distributing a plurality of submunitions in advance of a path of the impeller-driven watercraft. Each of the submunitions includes a buoyant member, a first end cap, and a second end cap; the second end cap is heavier than the first end cap. A lanyard connects the first end cap to the second end cap, optionally passing through the buoyant member. At least one of the submunitions enters an intake vent of the impeller-driven watercraft and attaches to a blade of an impeller of the impeller-driven watercraft, causing cavitation and imbalance, thereby slowing the impeller-driven watercraft.

Abstract: There is provided an electrical pulse splitter (EPS) for an explosives system (10), the explosives system comprising an electrical pulse generator (EPG), the electrical pulse splitter (EPS), and first and second explosive charges (Ch1, Ch2) having respective first and second electrical initiators (D1, D2), The electrical pulse splitter (EPS) is configured to receive a primary electrical pulse from the electrical pulse generator (EPG), and to output first and second electrical pulses to the first and second electrical initiators (Ch1, Ch2) respectively. The second electrical pulse is output a length of time after the first electrical pulse is output, and the electrical pulse splitter is powered by the primary electrical pulse.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stopping an impeller-driven watercraft is includes distributing a plurality of submunitions in advance of a path of the impeller-driven watercraft. Each of the submunitions includes a buoyant member, a first end cap, and a second end cap; the second end cap is heavier than the first end cap. A lanyard connects the first end cap to the second end cap, optionally passing through the buoyant member.

Abstract: An apparatus for friction welding, the apparatus comprising a mounting plate having a surface for mounting a first workpiece, a forge for applying a forge force to a second workpiece in a direction substantially perpendicular to a weld surface of the first workpiece and an oscillator for effecting oscillation of the mounting plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the forge force.

Abstract: A method for friction welding, the method comprising: locating a first workpiece in a recess or aperture of a first tool; bringing a weld face of the first and a weld face of a second workpiece into frictional engagement; and moving the first tool and the second workpiece relative to one another.

Abstract: There is provided an electrical pulse splitter (EPS) for an explosives system (10), the explosives system comprising an electrical pulse generator (EPG), the electrical pulse splitter (EPS), and first and second explosive charges (Ch1, Ch2) having respective first and second electrical initiators (D1, D2), The electrical pulse splitter (EPS) is configured to receive a primary electrical pulse from the electrical pulse generator (EPG), and to output first and second electrical pulses to the first and second electrical initiators (Ch1, Ch2) respectively. The second electrical pulse is output a length of time after the first electrical pulse is output, and the electrical pulse splitter is powered by the primary electrical pulse.

Abstract: There is provided a heating device based on an exothermic reaction between first and second substances. The device comprises a first cavity holding the first substance, a second cavity holding the second substance, and a first barrier layer therebetween. The device further comprises a rotatable breaking element for rotating to breach the first barrier layer, thereby allowing mixing of the first and second substances to start the reaction.

Abstract: A system and method for backing up a database, where the system has read threads running simultaneously, write threads, and data buffers. Each read thread repeats the following operations until all the data is backed up: read a block of data from the database, compress the data using a dynamic compression ratio which is initialized and adjusted after every compression, write the data to an available data buffer until the data buffer is full, write to the next available data buffer once the data buffer is full, and determine a new compression ratio. A controller determines the new compression ratio using either a method that monitors the timing of system components and/or a method that monitors CPU consumption.

Abstract: A matte surface of a display screen is converted to an optically flat surface, for example, via an epoxy resin coating or the like which has a refractive index equal to that of the matte surface. A film with a substantially flat surface may be applied to the matte surface. Alternatively, the matte surface may be removed from the screen, and replaced with an optically smooth surface. The matte surface may be a diffusive surface formed on a birefringent film of an LCD screen. The display screen is the front screen of a multilevel three-dimensional display comprising layered screens, and altering the surface from matte to flat reduces the blurring of displayed images.

Abstract: A method of controlling a point spread of an object is disclosed. The method includes determining a first value of a characteristic of an optical component of a display, wherein the display includes a first display screen and a second display screen, and wherein the first and second display screens overlap. The method also includes determining a position for the optical component based upon the first value of the characteristic by determining a distance from an origin of the object to the position based upon the first value of the characteristic.

Abstract: A method of rendering an image using a multi-component display includes displaying a first image on a first display screen of the multi-component display, wherein the displaying the first image further includes displaying the first image with a first luminance. A second image is displayed on a second display screen of the multi-component display, wherein the first display screen and the second display screen overlap, and wherein the displaying the second image further includes displaying the second image with a second luminance. The displaying of the first image and the displaying of the second image further include displaying the first and second images in an overlapping manner to render the image, and wherein a perceived depth of the image is related to the first luminance and the second luminance.

Abstract: A method of controlling the point spread function of an image projected with said image being diffused by a filter; said point spread function is a result of the application of spatial filter(s) on said image; with said control of the point spread function effected by varying the distance between such image and said spatial filter(s) and varying the bidirectional scattering transmission function of the spatial filter(s). Said spatial filter may be a holographic diffuser, which by method of manufacture has a well defined bi-directional scattering transmission spread function. Control of said spread function is particularly useful to maintain image quality while abating moiré interference in situations where two periodic patterns are layered causing moiré interference.

Abstract: A method of displaying an image with variable perceived depth using a display (1) including one or more at least partially transparent, substantially parallel imaging screens (3) located in front of, and overlapping with, a rear imaging screen (4), characterized in that a physical image is formed on two or more imaging screens (3,4), each image being of substantially identical configuration and being sized and aligned such that like portions of each image are coterminous to a viewer observing the display, wherein at least two of said coterminous images are displayed with different luminance.