Abstract: A welding electrode apparatus has a base member and a locking ring for clamping a consumable electrode tip to the electrode base. The base and the tip are predominantly made of copper, or a copper alloy. The base member has a first end that is threaded to fit a welding head that supplies electric current; and an electrically conductive second end to which the electrode tip is mounted. The second portion has an externally facing, axially extending cylindrical wall. A circumferential groove is formed in the wall. The locking ring has a quick-disconnect feature in the form of an array of spring-loaded detents that deflect to release the cylindrical wall of the first member, and that spring inwardly to seat in the circumferential groove.

Abstract: An imaging device with a plurality of image sensing pixels and a plurality of event detection pixels is provided. The image sensing and event detection pixels can be provided as part of different arrays of pixels, or can be included within a common array of pixels. The event detection pixels are operated continuously to provide signals indicating the occurrence of events. In response to detecting an event, image sensing pixels are selectively operated. The selective operation of the image sensing pixels can include activation of image sensing pixels within one or more regions of interest, while image sensing pixels not included in any region of interest remain off. The selective operation of the image sensing pixels can include the selection of a frame rate applied across an array of mage sensing pixels, or within determined regions of interest.

Abstract: A sensor system with a plurality of sensors or sensor functions is provided. The sensors can include an event detection sensor, a time of flight sensor, and imaging sensor. The different sensors can be implemented on the same or different substrates. Accordingly, sensors with pixels having different or shared functions can be included in the sensor system. In operation, an event detection signal from an event detection sensor causes the operation of a time of flight sensor to be initiated. In response to the detection of an object within a critical range by the time of flight sensor, the imaging sensor is activated. The image sensing and event detection pixels can be provided as part of different arrays of pixels, or can be included within a common array of pixels.

Abstract: An image sensor comprises a plurality of pixels. Pixels are capable of detecting a change in an amount of light intensity and pixels are capable of detecting an amount of light intensity. In a first mode the sensor outputs data from the first one or more of the pixels. In a second mode the sensor outputs data from the second one or more of the pixels. The first mode may be a lower power operation mode and the second mode may be a higher power operation mode. At least one of the first mode and the second mode is selected by a processor based on at least one of a result of processing data output in the first mode and a result of processing data output in the second mode.

Abstract: An image sensor comprises a plurality of pixels. Pixels are capable of detecting a change in an amount of light intensity and pixels are capable of detecting an amount of light intensity. In a first mode the sensor outputs data from the first one or more of the pixels. In a second mode the sensor outputs data from the second one or more of the pixels. At least one of the first mode and the second mode is selected by a processor based on at least one of a result of processing data output in the first mode and a result of processing data output in the second mode.

Abstract: A system for refilling a stick product, such as lipstick or deodorant, in a propel-repel dispenser allows the reuse of the propel-repel mechanism. The stick product refill is shaped and dimensioned to be inserted into the open end of the dispenser and to attach to the receptacle that holds the stick product after the used product has been removed. Attachment of the refill to the stick receptacle is by an attachment means on the outer surface of an anchor cap enclosing the distal end of the refill and/or on the receptacle itself. Once secured to the receptacle, the refill can be advanced and retracted by the propel-repel mechanism so that it protrudes when in use and is withdrawn with the dispenser to protect it when not in use.

Abstract: A system for data transformation includes a database, a spreadsheet storage of a spreadsheet for planning, an interface, and a processor. The spreadsheet storage is separate from the database. The interface is configured to receive a database datum associated with a large time period. The processor is configured to generate a plurality of spreadsheet data based at least in part on the database datum. Each spreadsheet datum is associated with one of a set of small time periods. The plurality of spreadsheet data is stored in the spreadsheet storage. The spreadsheet storage is separate from the database. The processor is configured to provide the plurality of spreadsheet data for display in the spreadsheet.

Abstract: An artificial urinary sphincter device is configured to be implanted in a relationship with a patient's urethra for the treatment of urinary incontinence. The size and shape of the device can vary for implantation on any of a wide variety of locations relative to the urethra such that it can exert a force onto the urethra for inhibiting or preventing involuntary leakage of urine.

Abstract: A coil spring (100) includes a top portion (110) and a bottom portion (120). The top portion (110) includes three coils that are vertically stacked on top of each other to have a straight cylindrical shape in a side-view of the top portion (110). The three coils connect together such that no gap exists between the three coils in the side-view. The top portion (110) includes a top coil (115) that extends one and one-half turns along a flat plane as seen from a top-view of the top portion (110). The bottom portion (120) includes multiple coils that form a truncated-cone shape in the side-view and that in a compressed state extends one and one-half turns along a flat plane as seen from a bottom-view of the bottom portion (120).

Abstract: Variety of approaches to provide an autonomous governor in a distributed system for preserving a shared resource are described. A hosted service initiates operations to provide the autonomous governor upon determining the shared resource to be managed. An initial lease count is designated to the shared resource. The initial lease count corresponds to an estimated capacity of the shared resource. Next, an assigned lease count is determined by incrementing or decrementing the initial lease count based on a detected actual capacity of the shared resource. Upon detecting a steady state of the assigned lease count, the assigned lease count is incremented to determine whether the actual capacity of the shared resource is increased.

Abstract: A method for designing a system on a target device includes identifying portions in the system to preserve based on comparing structural characteristics of the system with another system. Design results from the another system are reused for portions in the system that are preserved.

Abstract: A welding ground apparatus comprising at least two members, the at least two members engaged and having at least one angular degree of freedom between them, the grounding apparatus including a biasing member for applying a force to at least one of the at least two members when compressed, the line of action of the force traversing a contact footprint, the contact footprint having a footprint periphery and defined by one of the at least two members.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a gateway and a telematics controller. The controller is programmed to generate a signal to transition the gateway from sleep to powered state responsive to receipt of a wakeup message over a network; initialize a gateway cloud connector and a timer to periodically send ping messages to keep radio resource control alive; and responsive to inactivity over the network for a predefined period, discontinue the timer and transition the gateway from powered to sleep state.

Abstract: A method for designing a system on a target device includes identifying portions in the system to preserve based on comparing structural characteristics of the system with another system. Design results from the another system are reused for portions in the system that are preserved.

Abstract: A method for designing a system on a target device includes identifying portions in the system to preserve based on comparing structural characteristics of the system with another system. Design results from the another system are reused for portions in the system that are preserved.

Abstract: An artificial urinary sphincter device is configured to be implanted in a relationship with a patient's urethra for the treatment of urinary incontinence. The size and shape of the device can vary for implantation on any of a wide variety of locations relative to the urethra such that it can exert a force onto the urethra for inhibiting or preventing involuntary leakage of urine.

Abstract: A battery assembly (100) includes a plurality of batteries (120). The battery assembly (100) includes a printed circuit board (148A, 148B) that attaches to a flat conductive sheet (200) with plural fuses (220). A plurality of cushions (460) compress between the batteries and the printed circuit board to force the conductive sheet into electrical contact with an end of the batteries.

Abstract: A system for data transformation includes a database, a spreadsheet storage of a spreadsheet for planning, an interface, and a processor. The spreadsheet storage is separate from the database. The interface is configured to receive a database datum associated with a large time period. The processor is configured to generate a plurality of spreadsheet data based at least in part on the database datum. Each spreadsheet datum is associated with one of a set of small time periods. The plurality of spreadsheet data is stored in the spreadsheet storage. The spreadsheet storage is separate from the database. The processor is configured to provide the plurality of spreadsheet data for display in the spreadsheet.

Abstract: A system for database updating includes a database, a spreadsheet storage of a spreadsheet for planning, an interface, and a processor. The spreadsheet storage is separate from the database. The interface is configured to receive an indication to modify the spreadsheet. The processor is configured to store a modification in the spreadsheet storage based at least in part on the indication, determine one or more objects to change in the database based at least in part on the indication, and cause change to the one or more objects in the database.

Abstract: A welding ground apparatus comprising at least two members, the at least two members engaged and having at least one angular degree of freedom between them, the grounding apparatus including a biasing member for applying a force to at least one of the at least two members when compressed, the line of action of the force traversing a contact footprint, the contact footprint having a footprint periphery and defined by one of the at least two members.