Abstract: The present application describes machines and methods that leverage enabling technologies such as robotics, sensing, machine learning, and wireless internet coverage (e.g., 5G cell coverage) in order to monitor photovoltaic systems such as solar sites. Machines according to the present disclosure can be operated remotely by users to traverse a solar site and perform a series of inspection steps, such as via an online portal. Autonomous and semi-autonomous operations are also possible. These methods and machines can eliminate the need for a technician to visit the site in person for routine inspection, and can provide better information when a site alarm is triggered so that if a technician does need to visit the site, he or she is better prepared. Also described herein are systems and methods for inventorying solar sites, and systems and methods for inspection of structure-mounted photovoltaic systems.

Abstract: The present application describes machines and methods that leverage enabling technologies such as robotics, sensing, machine learning, and wireless internet coverage (e.g., 5G cell coverage) in order to monitor photovoltaic systems such as solar sites. Machines according to the present disclosure can be operated remotely by users to traverse a solar site and perform a series of inspection steps, such as via an online portal. Autonomous and semi-autonomous operations are also possible. These methods and machines can eliminate the need for a technician to visit the site in person for routine inspection, and can provide better information when a site alarm is triggered so that if a technician does need to visit the site, he or she is better prepared. Also described herein are systems and methods for inventorying solar sites, and systems and methods for inspection of structure-mounted photovoltaic systems.

Abstract: A system and method for manipulating or heating conductive material. The system comprises: a first electromagnet; a second electromagnet; the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet each comprising: a body; a first pole, the first pole proximal to a working surface; a second pole, the second pole distal to a working surface; a coil at least partially disposed around the body; a modulating controller configured to selectively apply a current to the first or the second electromagnet; the current configured to produce a time-varying flux density at the first pole; and a working volume in communication with the first pole. Manipulation of the material may be contactless and may include, but is not limited to, rotating, levitating, moving, and/or shaping the conductive material.

Abstract: The present application describes machines and methods that leverage enabling technologies such as robotics, sensing, machine learning, and wireless internet coverage (e.g., 5G cell coverage) in order to monitor photovoltaic systems such as solar sites. Machines according to the present disclosure can be operated remotely by users to traverse a solar site and perform a series of inspection steps, such as via an online portal. Autonomous and semi-autonomous operations are also possible. These methods and machines can eliminate the need for a technician to visit the site in person for routine inspection, and can provide better information when a site alarm is triggered so that if a technician does need to visit the site, he or she is better prepared. Also described herein are systems and methods for inventorying solar sites, and systems and methods for inspection of structure-mounted photovoltaic systems.

Abstract: A system and method for manipulating or heating conductive material. The system comprises: a first electromagnet; a second electromagnet; the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet each comprising: a body; a first pole, the first pole proximal to a working surface; a second pole, the second pole distal to a working surface; a coil at least partially disposed around the body; a modulating controller configured to selectively apply a current to the first or the second electromagnet; the current configured to produce a time-varying flux density at the first pole; and a working volume in communication with the first pole. Manipulation of the material may be contactless and may include, but is not limited to, rotating, levitating, moving, and/or shaping the conductive material.

Abstract: The present application describes machines and methods that leverage enabling technologies such as robotics, sensing, machine learning, and wireless internet coverage (e.g., 5G cell coverage) in order to monitor photovoltaic systems such as solar sites. Machines according to the present disclosure can be operated remotely by users to traverse a solar site and perform a series of inspection steps, such as via an online portal. Autonomous and semi-autonomous operations are also possible. These methods and machines can eliminate the need for a technician to visit the site in person for routine inspection, and can provide better information when a site alarm is triggered so that if a technician does need to visit the site, he or she is better prepared. Also described herein are systems and methods for inventorying solar sites, and systems and methods for inspection of structure-mounted photovoltaic systems.

Abstract: A system and method for manipulating or heating conductive material. The system comprises: a first electromagnet; a second electromagnet; the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet each comprising: a body; a first pole, the first pole proximal to a working surface; a second pole, the second pole distal to a working surface; a coil at least partially disposed around the body; a modulating controller configured to selectively apply a current to the first or the second electromagnet; the current configured to produce a time-varying flux density at the first pole; and a working volume in communication with the first pole. Manipulation of the material may be contactless and may include, but is not limited to, rotating, levitating, moving, and/or shaping the conductive material.

Abstract: The present application describes machines and methods that leverage enabling technologies such as robotics, sensing, machine learning, and wireless internet coverage (e.g., 5G cell coverage) in order to monitor photovoltaic systems such as solar sites. Machines according to the present disclosure can be operated remotely by users to traverse a solar site and perform a series of inspection steps, such as via an online portal. Autonomous and semi-autonomous operations are also possible. These methods and machines can eliminate the need for a technician to visit the site in person for routine inspection, and can provide better information when a site alarm is triggered so that if a technician does need to visit the site, he or she is better prepared. Also described herein are systems and methods for inventorying solar sites, and systems and methods for inspection of structure-mounted photovoltaic systems.

Abstract: The present application describes machines and methods that leverage enabling technologies such as robotics, sensing, machine learning, and wireless internet coverage (e.g., 5G cell coverage) in order to monitor photovoltaic systems such as solar sites. Machines according to the present disclosure can be operated remotely by users to traverse a solar site and perform a series of inspection steps, such as via an online portal. Autonomous and semi-autonomous operations are also possible. These methods and machines can eliminate the need for a technician to visit the site in person for routine inspection, and can provide better information when a site alarm is triggered so that if a technician does need to visit the site, he or she is better prepared. Also described herein are systems and methods for inventorying solar sites, and systems and methods for inspection of structure-mounted photovoltaic systems.

Abstract: A motion desktop, including a moving image, may be presented on a display screen of a processing device. Foreground items such as, for example, icons and associated text, or other information, may appear on a surface of the motion desktop. In embodiments consistent with the subject matter of this disclosure, foreground content may be rendered to a composing surface, which may be an alpha-enabled surface capable of presenting translucent items. A motion desktop module may render content for at least a portion of a background of the motion desktop to a respective shared memory, shared with a composer. The composer may periodically copy the rendered content from the shared memory to the composing surface, where the composer may compose and blend a scene from background and foreground content. The composed scene may then be presented as the motion desktop.

Abstract: An improved hair clip employs a pair of cooperating main members that are pivotally connected and biased into a hair engaging orientation. Each of the main members is contoured and includes a first end spaced apart from a second end by a middle portion. The first end of each main member acts as an articulation tab that allows an individual to apply leverage necessary to place the clip in a hair engaging orientation. Attachment sleeves are removably attached to the main member middle portions with a centrally located articulation storage sleeve. Each storage sleeve may be capped for storage of loose items or may accept one of several interchangeable accessory tubes. A depending cover member is provided for positioning of a mirror for use in cosmetics application.

Abstract: A motion desktop, including a moving image, may be presented on a display screen of a processing device. Foreground items such as, for example, icons and associated text, or other information, may appear on a surface of the motion desktop. In embodiments consistent with the subject matter of this disclosure, foreground content may be rendered to a composing surface, which may be an alpha-enabled surface capable of presenting translucent items. A motion desktop module may render content for at least a portion of a background of the motion desktop to a respective shared memory, shared with a composer. The composer may periodically copy the rendered content from the shared memory to the composing surface, where the composer may compose and blend a scene from background and foreground content. The composed scene may then be presented as the motion desktop.

Abstract: A motion desktop, including a moving image, may be presented on a display screen of a processing device. Foreground items such as, for example, icons and associated text, or other information, may appear on a surface of the motion desktop. In embodiments consistent with the subject matter of this disclosure, foreground content may be rendered to a composing surface, which may be an alpha-enabled surface capable of presenting translucent items. A motion desktop module may render content for at least a portion of a background of the motion desktop to a respective shared memory, shared with a composer. The composer may periodically copy the rendered content from the shared memory to the composing surface, where the composer may compose and blend a scene from background and foreground content. The composed scene may then be presented as the motion desktop.

Abstract: A denture retention system includes a denture and an abutment. The denture has an inner channel with an elastic liner having shaped cavities. The cavities have a shaft, a radially outwardly extending ledge surface at the inner end of the shaft and an opening at the outer end of the shaft. The abutment has a shaft portion, a head portion at one end of the shaft portion and a threaded portion at the other end of the shaft portion. The head portion has an undercut surface that extends radially outwardly from the shaft portion. The ledge surface and undercut surfaces overlap and engage one another to retain the denture in the cavity. The threaded part of the abutment threads into an implant or implants into a jaw. The cavity expands when the abutment is inserted or removed from the cavity, and contracts after insertion.

Abstract: A motion desktop, including a moving image, may be presented on a display screen of a processing device. Foreground items such as, for example, icons and associated text, or other information, may appear on a surface of the motion desktop. In embodiments consistent with the subject matter of this disclosure, foreground content may be rendered to a composing surface, which may be an alpha-enabled surface capable of presenting translucent items. A motion desktop module may render content for at least a portion of a background of the motion desktop to a respective shared memory, shared with a composer. The composer may periodically copy the rendered content from the shared memory to the composing surface, where the composer may compose and blend a scene from background and foreground content. The composed scene may then be presented as the motion desktop.

Abstract: A Managed Add-in Framework (MAF) proxy generation tool comprises a library analyzer module operable for taking as input either a type library or managed software code assembly of the existing host application, and a proxy code generation module. Also, an additional input XML file that describes changes that a user would like to be made may be received by the tool and data acquired form the inspection of the additional input XML file and the inspection of the other inputs is merged and used to create the code of the proxy to the host object model. The proxy to the host's object model conforms to requirements of the MAF.

Abstract: A Managed Add-in Framework (MAF) proxy generation tool comprises a library analyzer module operable for taking as input either a type library or managed software code assembly of the existing host application, and a proxy code generation module. Also, an additional input XML file that describes changes that a user would like to be made may be received by the tool and data acquired form the inspection of the additional input XML file and the inspection of the other inputs is merged and used to create the code of the proxy to the host object model. The proxy to the host's object model conforms to requirements of the MAF.

Abstract: A remote procedure call channel for interprocess communication in a managed code environment ensures thread-affinity on both sides of an interprocess communication. Using the channel, calls from a first process to a second process are guaranteed to run on a same thread in a target process. Furthermore, calls from the second process back to the first process will also always execute on the same thread. An interprocess communication manager that allows thread affinity and reentrancy is able to correctly keep track of the logical thread of execution so calls are not blocked in unmanaged hosts. Furthermore, both unmanaged and managed hosts are able to make use of transparent remote call functionality provided by an interprocess communication manager for the managed code environment.

Abstract: A dynamic proxy object is disclosed that is capable of intercepting calls from a calling object to a target object. The dynamic proxy can imitate the target object so that even though the calling object may be of a different version or type from the target object, it can still communicate with the target object. Specifically, the dynamic proxy can intercept early bound invocation by the calling object, obtain metadata from these invocations, and pass it to an adapter via a set of reflective interfaces. The adapter can also obtain metadata from the target object via late bound invocations, and then compare this metadata to the metadata provided by the dynamic proxy in order to make a determination whether or not the calling object and the target object should be communicating. If so, communication can occur between the calling and target objects in spite of differing versioning or object types.

Abstract: A communication technique enables the efficient transmission of data through a low bandwidth and/or time delayed communication link and minimizes the idle time of the communication link by using a deferred acknowledgment of message bundles to temporally pack the communication link. The transmitting system stores messages to be transmitted in a pending message queue and applies a dynamic window to the pending message queue to define a message bundle to be sent through the slow communication link. The transmitting system requests an acknowledgment for at least one message within the bundle, but does not require an acknowledgment for every message within the bundle. Transmitted messages are temporarily stored as outstanding messages in a retransmission queue until the transmitted messages are acknowledged or until a time-out period associated with the messages has lapsed.