Abstract: A method of processing a signal representative of at least one physical property of a physical system comprising generating a set of predicted signals, the set of predicted signals comprising at least one member, each member representing a physical state of the physical system, generating a predicted waveform or the signal for each member dependent upon the physical state, and comparing each predicted waveform with the signal to determine the accuracy with which the physical state represented by the member for which the predicted signal was generated matches an actual physical state of the physical system. In an example embodiment, the physical system is a tyre and the state includes the air pressure within the tyre.

Abstract: Various embodiments pertain to computing devices and virtual machines. In particular, various embodiments relate to the start-up, operation, and communication of virtual machines. A method includes initiating operation of a virtual machine on a computing device, and sending a token from the computing device to a virtual machine, where the token is used to connect the computing device and the virtual machine. The method also includes establishing a virtual private network between the virtual machine and a network node using the token, and launching a user interface of the virtual machine on the computing device after the virtual private network has been established.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to composition and methods for upconverting light. In some embodiments, the composition and methods comprise an organic material, a nanocrystal, and a ligand capable of facilitating energy transfer between the nanocrystal and the organic material. In certain embodiments, the nanocrystal has a first excited energy state with an energy greater than a triplet state of the organic material. The organic material, in some embodiments, may be aromatic and/or include one or more pi-conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds. In some cases, incident light may be absorbed by the nanocrystal to produce triplet excitons. The triplet excitons may then transfer from the nanocrystal to the organic material and undergo triplet-triplet annihilation, creating a singlet state of approximately twice the energy of the triplet exciton. In certain embodiments, the singlet state fluoresces, resulting in the formation of a high energy photon.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for envelope tracking systems are provided. In certain configurations, an envelope tracking system includes a digital filter that generates a filtered envelope signal based on a digital envelope signal representing an envelope of a radio frequency signal, a buck converter controllable by the filtered envelope signal and including an output electrically connected to a power amplifier supply voltage, a digital-to-analog converter module including an output electrically connected to the output of the buck converter and that provides an output current, and a digital shaping and delay circuit configured to generate a shaped envelope signal based on shaping the filtered envelope signal. The shaped envelope signal controls a magnitude of the output current, and the digital shaping and delay circuit controls a delay of the shaped envelope signal to align the output of the digital-to-analog converter module and the output of the buck converter.

Abstract: The autonomous garbage can cart is a remotely operated motorized cart that transports garbage receptacles. The autonomous garbage can cart comprises a platform that is formed with a cavity that is sized to receive garbage receptacles. The autonomous garbage can cart further comprises one or more adaptive inserts that are used to adjust the size of the cavity to match the size of the garbage receptacle. The autonomous garbage can cart further comprises a plurality of wheels driven by a plurality of motors that are controlled by a control module. In a potential embodiment of the disclosure, the remote control system is operated through a personal data device. The autonomous garbage can cart comprises a platform, a plurality of wheels, one or more drive motors, a one or more gearing systems, a control module and a battery.

Abstract: A handheld appliance having a body and an attachment, the body including an outer tube and fluid flow path extending from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet within the outer tube and a printed circuit board (PCB) arranged within the fluid flow path wherein, the PCB is housed within a housing. The body may further include an inner wall and the inner wall provides the housing for the PCB and the fluid flow path may extend around the housing. The housing may be generally rectangular and may extend across an internal radius of the outer tube. The fluid flow path may extend around both sides of the housing. The housing may include a heat sink which may be in contact with the fluid flow path on one side and with components on the PCB on the other side.

Abstract: A handheld appliance includes a user operable button, a switch and an actuator including an arm extending between the button and the switch wherein the button has three linearly spaced positions each position corresponding to a different state for the switch. The arm may include a surface adapted to engage with the switch. The switch may include a lever and the lever is moved by contact with the surface. The lever may have a first position and a second position. The second position of the lever may be a neutral position where the lever is not in contact with the surface. When the lever is in the first position, the surface may engage with the lever. The lever may be housed within a recess of the arm. The switch may comprise a first switch and a second switch which may be longitudinally spaced.

Abstract: A handheld appliance having a body and an attachment, the body includes an attachment mechanism having a slot and an actuator, the attachment including a protrusion adapted to engage with the slot wherein the actuator has a first position and a second position and the actuator is moved from the first position towards the second position as the protrusion engages with the slot. In the first position the actuator may at least partially obscures the slot. The actuator includes a surface which may interact with the protrusion when the protrusion engages with the slot. The surface may be adapted to at least partially define the slot at or near the second position. When the protrusion is at a pre-determined position within the slot, the actuator may return towards the first position. The actuator may be biased into the first position.

Abstract: A hand held appliance includes a handle having an outer wall and an inner wall, a motor and a heater both housed within the inner wall, a wiring assembly including a power supply for the motor and a power supply for the heater wherein the power supply for the motor is substantially diametrically opposite the power supply for the heater within the handle. The power supply for the motor may be substantially diametrically opposite the power supply for the heater when the wiring assembly extends passed the motor. When the wiring assembly extends passed the motor, the wiring assembly may be located between the outer wall and the inner wall. The inner wall may include at least one channel extending along a radially outer surface for housing the wiring assembly and each of the at least one channel may house a wire of the wiring assembly.

Abstract: A hand held appliance includes a handle and a user interface comprising at least one user operated button wherein the handle has an elliptical cross section having a major axis and a minor axis wherein the user interface is provided on a first vertex of the major axis and the handle additionally comprises a further user operated button and the further user operated button is provided on a second vertex of the major axis. The appliance may further include an attachment for connection to the handle wherein the further user operated button operates a mechanism for removing the attachment from the handle. The user interface may include three user operated buttons which may be arranged in a triangular configuration, each of the three user operated buttons may be disposed at a vertex of the triangle.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a flow device including a body disposed in an extrusion apparatus. The body is defined along a plane and has a first side and a second side. The second side is disposed opposite the first side. The flow device also includes a first face formed at the first side and a second face formed at the second side. The body has a thickness defined between the first face and second face. A plurality of feedholes is defined in the body between the first side and the second side. In addition, at least a portion of the first face or second face forms a curvature that extends outwardly from the plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical device for melting snow and ice that has accumulated on the surface of a. vehicle. During inclement weather, snow, sleet, rain or hail accumulate on all exposed surfaces of the automobile, in particular on the flat surfaces, such as on the roof the hood, the trunk, or a truck bed of a vehicle. These areas of snow coverage are relatively large and significantly high off the ground, presenting a challenge to clean in terms of time and effort. Frequently, the owners of the vehicles need to use their automobiles early in the morning, when snow or ice that has accumulated over night is at its hardest. Since it is unsafe, and sometimes unlawful, to operate a vehicle that has not been properly snow dusted and deiced, cleaning must be effectuated before a vehicle can be driven on the roads.

Abstract: A lid and seat assembly for a plumbing fixture includes a housing, a lid, and a seat. The housing includes a generally planar front surface and a generally planar rear surface. The lid is pivotably coupled to the housing. The seat is pivotably coupled to the housing. The front surface and the rear surface meet at a first edge located at a first end of the housing and at a second edge at a second end of the housing. The front surface, the rear surface, the first common edge, and the second common edge cooperatively define a continuous surface profile configured to facilitate single-wipe cleaning of the housing.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for identifying out-of-stock situations based on customer shopping lists and patterns. A system for identifying out-of-stock situations can comprise an electronic shopping list, an inventory database, and a stocking status engine communicatively coupled with the electronic shopping list and the inventory database and configured to analyze the electronic shopping list and the inventory database to identify a stocking status of at least one item on the electronic shopping list in a retail environment. If a potential out-of-stock event is identified, the system can output a stocking personnel notification to either replenish stock of the item in the retail environment or relocate existing stock of the item to a new location in the retail environment.

Abstract: An attachment including an air inlet for receiving airflow from a hair styling apparatus, at least one air outlet, a chamber for conveying air from the air inlet to said at least one air outlet, wherein the air inlet is located at one end of the chamber, and the at least one air outlet extends along the length of the chamber and the cross-sectional area of the chamber decreases in size from the air inlet along the length of the at least one air outlet.

Abstract: An attachment including an air inlet for receiving airflow from a hair styling apparatus, an air outlet, a duct for conveying air from the air inlet to the air outlet, wherein the air inlet is located at one end of the duct, and the air outlet extends along the length of the duct and the cross-sectional area of the duct decreases in size from the air inlet along the length of the air outlet.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing backups to a storage device are provided. For virtual disks of a virtual machine, snapshots are used to backup data periodically to a storage device. A disk virtualization layer “retires” data blocks associated with a snapshot, while retaining a list of block addresses, for comparison in future backup operations. The retired snapshot can be compared against future snapshots to generate incremental backups without occupying storage space with data blocks that have already been copied to another storage device.

Abstract: Various embodiments pertain to computing devices and virtual machines. In particular, various embodiments relate to the start-up, operation, and communication of virtual machines. A method includes running an application in a virtual machine operating on a computing device. The application creates at least one file in the virtual machine. The method also includes transmitting the at least one file to a cloud storage system. In addition, the method includes transferring the at least one file from the cloud storage system to the computing device.

Abstract: Various embodiments pertain to computing devices and virtual machines. In particular, various embodiments relate to the start-up, operation, and communication of virtual machines. A method includes initiating operation of a virtual machine on a computing device, and sending a token from the computing device to a virtual machine, where the token is used to connect the computing device and the virtual machine. The method also includes establishing a virtual private network between the virtual machine and a network node using the token, and launching a user interface of the virtual machine on the computing device after the virtual private network has been established.