Abstract: A magnetic cutting board is generally rectangular shaped having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, a rear surface, a left surface, and a right surface. The rectangular cutting board comprised of a border portion and a cutting portion. A stack of magnets centrally positioned entirely within the rectangular cutting board are provided, wherein the stack of magnets are approximate to the left surface or the right surface and within the border portion. A magnetic blade of a knife is configured to be removably attached to the left surface or the right surface of the rectangular cutting board via the stack of magnets. The magnetic blade of the knife is not configured to be magnetically attached to the stack of magnets within the cutting portion of the rectangular cutting board.

Abstract: A method that includes supplying an amount of power to a thermal system to effect a temperate change of a touch surface; determining a rate of the temperature change of the touch surface; comparing the determined rate of the temperature change to a predetermined rate threshold; and changing the amount of power supplied to the thermal system after the comparing step based on whether the determined rate of temperature change is less than or greater than the predetermined rate threshold.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a zonal conditioning system for a vehicle comprises a headliner assembly configured to be secured to the top surface of a vehicle interior, wherein the headliner assembly comprises a first side positioned away from the vehicle interior and hidden from the vehicle interior, and a second side positioned toward the vehicle interior, the headliner assembly comprising at least two vents through which air selectively passes. The zonal conditioning system further includes at least two fluid modules positioned along the first side of the headliner assembly, wherein each of the fluid modules comprises a fluid transfer device and an outlet. In some embodiments, at least one property of the air discharged through the first and second vents can be selectively regulated to create separate conditioning zones within the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a zonal conditioning system for a vehicle comprises a headliner assembly configured to be secured to the top surface of a vehicle interior, wherein the headliner assembly comprises a first side positioned away from the vehicle interior and hidden from the vehicle interior, and a second side positioned toward the vehicle interior, the headliner assembly comprising at least two vents through which air selectively passes. The zonal conditioning system further includes at least two fluid modules positioned along the first side of the headliner assembly, wherein each of the fluid modules comprises a fluid transfer device and an outlet. In some embodiments, at least one property of the air discharged through the first and second vents can be selectively regulated to create separate conditioning zones within the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include an automotive heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system (12) for an interior of a vehicle (10), comprising: an auxiliary HVAC system (32) that provides conditioned air to the interior, the auxiliary HVAC system including an auxiliary air conditioning device (50); a control module that operates the auxiliary HVAC system independently of the central HVAC system (30); and one or more sensors for detecting, calculating, or both when fog, ice, condensation, or a combination thereof are located on a window of an automobile; wherein the central HVAC system includes a central air conditioning device (40) that is separate from the auxiliary air conditioning device (50).

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a zonal conditioning system for a vehicle comprises a headliner assembly configured to be secured to the top surface of a vehicle interior, wherein the headliner assembly comprises a first side positioned away from the vehicle interior and hidden from the vehicle interior, and a second side positioned toward the vehicle interior, the headliner assembly comprising at least two vents through which air selectively passes. The zonal conditioning system further includes at least two fluid modules positioned along the first side of the headliner assembly, wherein each of the fluid modules comprises a fluid transfer device and an outlet. In some embodiments, at least one property of the air discharged through the first and second vents can be selectively regulated to create separate conditioning zones within the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a zonal conditioning system for a vehicle comprises a headliner assembly configured to be secured to the top surface of a vehicle interior, wherein the headliner assembly comprises a first side positioned away from the vehicle interior and hidden from the vehicle interior, and a second side positioned toward the vehicle interior, the headliner assembly comprising at least two vents through which air selectively passes. The zonal conditioning system further includes at least two fluid modules positioned along the first side of the headliner assembly, wherein each of the fluid modules comprises a fluid transfer device and an outlet. In some embodiments, at least one property of the air discharged through the first and second vents can be selectively regulated to create separate conditioning zones within the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A rack assembly includes a nineteen-inch sub-assembly coupled to a four-inch extension that comprises two substantially closed side panels adjacent to each other, two substantially open sides adjacent to each other, a closed top and bottom, a plurality of mounting flanges for attaching the extension to a nineteen-inch sub-assembly and a plurality of embossments for receiving mounting hardware for installing the sub-assembly and extension into a twenty-three-inch rack. The four-inch extension is formed not only to allow a nineteen-inch rack sub-assembly to be installed in a twenty-three-inch rack, but also is formed to conduct air exhausted from a side of the nineteen-inch sub-assembly towards a rear end of the twenty-three-inch rack.

Abstract: A subassembly includes a plurality of card guides formed to receive card assemblies and also to conduct air for cooling purposes to improve cooling of components on the card guide. The card guides are particularly formed to place the cards in a location to facilitate airflow and to more evenly distribute the airflow. The invention further includes a method for designing the card guides to achieve the stated functionality. The method of designing the card guides includes determining a first and a second volume of space that is desired in relation to the amount of expected heat that is to be generated within the first and second volumes of space.

Abstract: A system for managing optical fiber media coupled to a circuit board residing within a housing includes an optical fiber media coupler coupled to a surface of the circuit board that receives an optical fiber media in a direction parallel to the front edge of the circuit board and an optical fiber media guide coupled to the surface of the circuit board, wherein the optical fiber media guide tangentially receives the optical fiber media such that the optical fiber media extends from the housing opening substantially parallel to the front edge of the circuit board and such that the fiber media forms a semicircle with a minimum radius about the optical fiber media guide.

Abstract: A latch assembly for removably attaching a motherboard within an enclosure and for removably attaching a co-planar daughter board to the motherboard includes a first latch that is pivotally attached to the motherboard and a first latch actuator, wherein in an engaged position, the first latch extractor engages a first extraction surface of the enclosure. The assembly further includes a second latch that is pivotally attached to the daughter board, the second latch having a second latch extractor and a second latch actuator, wherein in the engaged position, the second latch extractor engages a second extraction surface of the motherboard. The first latch and the second latch pivot in adjacent planes. The second latch, however, may be disengaged to remove the daughter board from the motherboard without disengaging the first latch.

Abstract: A rack assembly includes a nineteen-inch sub-assembly coupled to a four-inch extension that comprises two substantially closed side panels adjacent to each other, two substantially open sides adjacent to each other, a closed top and bottom, a plurality of mounting flanges for attaching the extension to a nineteen-inch sub-assembly and a plurality of embossments for receiving mounting hardware for installing the sub-assembly and extension into a twenty-three-inch rack. The four-inch extension is formed not only to allow a nineteen-inch rack sub-assembly to be installed in a twenty-three-inch rack, but also is formed to conduct air exhausted from a side of the nineteen-inch subassembly towards a rear end of the twenty-three-inch rack.

Abstract: A rack-mountable system for housing a plurality of circuit boards includes a cooling fan tray, the tray for receiving insertable and removable fans, the fans further comprising a flange located at one end of the housing that is formed to mate with and be secured by the cooling fan tray. The fan tray includes a front surface having a plurality of front airflow apertures a plurality of fingers for securely and removably engaging the flange of one of the plurality of fans, and a bottom surface that vertically limits an engaged position of each of the plurality of fans. The tray also has a back surface having a plurality of back airflow apertures that proximately limit air backflow.

Abstract: A latch assembly for removably attaching a motherboard within an enclosure and for removably attaching a co-planar daughter board to the motherboard includes a first latch that is pivotally attached to the motherboard and a first latch actuator, wherein in an engaged position, the first latch extractor engages a first extraction surface of the enclosure. The assembly further includes a second latch that is pivotally attached to the daughter board, the second latch having a second latch extractor and a second latch actuator, wherein in the engaged position, the second latch extractor engages a second extraction surface of the motherboard. The first latch and the second latch pivot in adjacent planes. The second latch, however, may be disengaged to remove the daughter board from the motherboard without disengaging the first latch.

Abstract: A subassembly includes a plurality of card guides formed to receive card assemblies and also to conduct air for cooling purposes to improve cooling of components on the card guide. The card guides are particularly formed to place the cards in a location to facilitate airflow and to more evenly distribute the airflow. The invention further includes a method for designing the card guides to achieve the stated functionality. The method of designing the card guides includes determining a first and a second volume of space that is desired in relation to the amount of expected heat that is to be generated within the first and second volumes of space.

Abstract: A rack-mountable system enclosure for limiting the escape of internally generated electromagnetic interference includes a system case, a front panel, a back panel, overlapped seams formed to couple the front panel and the back panel to the system case such that no gaskets and a minimal number of fasteners including welds, screws and rivets are required, at least one front opening through which communication media passes and apertures formed within the system case for providing air inlet and egress ports.

Abstract: A circuit board assembly for use in a communication system switch includes a motherboard that comprises a planar, substantially rigid, and substantially dielectric circuit, a back plane connector affixed to the circuit board and a pair of daughter board connectors affixed to the circuit board, each of which is for coplanerly coupling with a daughter board. Each daughter board includes rigid dielectric circuit board, a plurality of integrated circuit components disposed thereon, at least one media coupler affixed to the circuit board and a motherboard connector affixed to the circuit board for coplanerly coupling with the motherboard. Finally, a pair of guides affixed to the circuit board for removably engaging a pair of daughter board slot assemblies of the motherboard to mate the daughter board with the motherboard.

Abstract: An electrical connector for reducing cross-talk and a method for making same is disclosed herein. The connector is comprised of a plurality of conductors arranged in an array within a connector housing. In one embodiment, the conductors have a contact area that lies within a first plane. A first plurality of the conductors have a raised portion, and a second plurality of conductors have a lower portion. The raised portions of the first plurality of conductors are located in a second plane while the lower portions of the second plurality of conductors are located in a third plane. The first, second and third planes may be vertically spaced, or offset, from one another. Additionally, the raised portion and/or lower portion of any conductor may be laterally offset from one another.