Abstract: The present invention concerns a programmable power amplifier comprising: an amplifier core transistor circuit connected to an amplifier output node; a switch connected to the amplifier core transistor circuit, the switch being configured to switch on and off the amplifier core transistor circuit; and a feedback circuit of the amplifier core transistor circuit. The feedback circuit comprises a digital-to-analog converter and an operational amplifier having a first input node configured to receive a first reference signal; a second input node connected to the digital-to-analog converter; and an output node for outputting an operational amplifier output signal and connected to the amplifier core transistor circuit for controlling the amount of current flowing in the amplifier core transistor circuit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detector circuit (10) being part of an RFID-device, and comprising: a bias current generator circuit (20) configured to generate an output bias current that is proportional to the square of a temperature-dependent input current, a first and a second FET-devices (21, 22), at least one of the first and the second FET-devices (21, 22) is biased by means of the output bias current of the bias current generator circuit (20) so that it operates in the sub-threshold region, an incoming RF-signal is coupled into at least one of the first and the second FET-devices, a current source (18) for generating a variable threshold current, and a comparator (19) for determining, on the basis of the variable threshold current and the incoming RF-signal, whether the value of the incoming RF-signal exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: A retractable wheel system includes a rotatable member, a swing arm attached to the rotatable member and a wheel, a swing mount attached to the rotatable member, and a spring member. The spring member is attached to the swing mount at a connection point on a first end and to the swing arm on a second end. The spring member is rotatable relative to the swing mount at the connection point. The spring member is configured to apply a force in an upward direction when the connection point is above a line extending between a wheel attachment point and a swing arm rotation point of the swing arm and a force in a downward direction when the connection point is below the line of the swing arm. A transportation unit including the retractable wheel system is also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to provisioning private virtual machines in a public cloud and to managing private virtual machines hosted on a public cloud. In one scenario, a computer system receives authentication information for a private domain from an entity. The entity indicates that their private virtual machines are to be provisioned on a public cloud, where the entity's private domain is accessible using the authentication information. The computer system establishes a virtual network on the public cloud which is configured to host the entity's private virtual machines, where each virtual machine hosts remote applications. The computer system establishes an authenticated connection from the virtual network to the entity's private domain using the received authentication information and provides the entity's private virtual machines on the public cloud.

Abstract: A method for making a growing medium includes a step of combining tree bark and/or wood components together to form an initial composition; heating the initial composition to a temperature greater than about 149° C. under steam in a pressurized vessel; processing the initial composition through a refiner with a plurality of opposing disks to obtain the fibrous growing medium, the refiner separating fibers from each other; wherein the growing medium has total porosity of 88 volume % or more.

Abstract: A method for making a growing medium includes a step of combining tree bark and/or wood components together to form an initial composition; heating the initial composition to a temperature greater than about 149° C. under steam in a pressurized vessel; processing the initial composition through a refiner with a plurality of opposing disks to obtain the fibrous growing medium, the refiner separating fibers from each other; wherein the growing medium has total porosity of 88 volume % or more.

Abstract: A growing medium comprising fibrous tree bark and fibrous wood components, wherein the fibers of the growing medium have an average length to width ratio, such that the growing medium has a dry bulk density of about 60 kg/m3 or lower and wet bulk density of about 120 kg/m3 or lower.

Abstract: A method for improving threshold accuracy in an RFID-device through offset cancellation, and including the steps of providing a comparator including a first and a second amplifiers, providing a current output digital-to-analogue converter, AC-coupling in an RF-signal into the detector circuit, during a first phase, applying a signal based on the RF-signal into the first amplifier while a current of the DAC is set to zero, and applying a current of the DAC into the second amplifier while a signal based on the RF-signal is set to zero, during a second phase, applying the current of the DAC into the first amplifier while the signal based on the RF-signal is set to zero, and applying the signal based on the RF-signal into the second amplifier while the current of the DAC is set to zero.

Abstract: A seat (S) comprises a seat portion (SP) having an occupant supporting surface (SPU) and a back portion (BP) having an occupant supporting surface (BPU) and head rest assembly (1), the head rest assembly (1) having a head rest portion (2) and a side impact portion (3), the head rest assembly (1) being secured or securable to the seat (S), and being movable towards and away from a seat portion (SP) of the seat (S), the side impact portion (3) comprising a pair of peripheral elongate portions (3a) which are pivotable together about a common pivot axis (P) and relative to the head rest portion (2) between a first position wherein each peripheral elongate portion (3a) extends along the occupant supporting surface (BPU) of the back portion (BP) of the seat (S) toward the seat portion (SP) and a second or stowed position.

Abstract: Techniques for enforcing data security in a cleanroom data processing environment are described herein. In one or more embodiments, a virtual private cloud environment stores a first set of data provided by a first user account and a second set of data provided by a second user account, where the first user account is associated with a first set of one or more security credentials and the second user account is associated with a second set of security credentials and where the first user account is prevented from accessing at least the second set of data and the second user account is prevented from accessing at least the first set of data. In response to receiving, from the first user account or the second user account, a request to destroy the virtual private cloud environment, at least the first set of data and the second set of data are deleted.

Abstract: A beverage cooler assembly for PURPOSE includes a cylinder and an insulator that is positioned within the cylinder. The insulator insertably receives a beverage container. Moreover, the insulator is comprised of a thermally insulating material to inhibit thermal communication between the beverage container and ambient air. An audio unit is coupled to the cylinder to emit audible sounds outwardly therefrom. The audio unit is selectively placed in wireless electrical communication with an electronic device thereby facilitating the audio unit to receive and play an audio signal from the electronic device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for interest-driven data visualization systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. In one embodiment, an interest-driven data visualization system includes a processor, a memory connected configured to store an interest-driven data visualization application, and metadata storage, wherein the interest-driven data visualization application configures the processor to define reporting data requirements, generate data retrieval job data based on the reporting data requirements, transmit the data retrieval job data, receive aggregate data, create at least one piece of reporting data using the received aggregate data and the reporting data requirements, associate visualization metadata with the reporting data describing the visual appearance of the at least one piece of reporting data, and generate a report using the reporting data requirements and the visualization metadata.

Abstract: A fastening apparatus for setting a fastener penetrating into a workpiece having a first and a second sheet of material to be joined is provided. The fastening apparatus includes a frame supporting a punch and an upsetting die assembly. The upsetting die assembly includes a housing defining an axial bore, and a die member and a rod located in the bore. The die member and rod are axially displaceable within the bore. A stop member is pivotally connected to the frame and is in engagement with the rod. A fastener insertion force generated by the punch displaces the die member and rod within the bore, and the stop member is configured to dampen the axial displacement and reduce the fastener insertion force over a predetermined fastener insertion distance of the fastener into the workpiece.

Abstract: A downhole tool and method of operation thereof is provided. The downhole tool may be configured to permit fluid communication between a combined flowbore of the casing string and the downhole tool and the subterranean formation or wellbore, or both, after a pressure test has been completed, a second threshold pressure is reached or applied, and a third threshold pressure has been applied to the downhole tool.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein is generally directed towards detection and remediation of virtual computing instance (VCI) failure on host devices. Monitoring is performed to detect suspected failures of different guest operating systems, identify failure information, and perform remediation to provide high availability for the VCI.

Abstract: A strap assembly device is used to maintain engagement between the strap and the strap anchor point. The strap assembly device works by creating a loop to prevent the fastening hook on the strap from slipping. The strap assembly device is looped through a strap anchor point and the fastening hook is engaged to the anchor point. A portion of the strap extends beyond the fastening hook through the anchor point. The strap creates a loop by using a fastening system. The fastening system is generated by a male and female portion being joined. Either the male or female portion of the fastening system is located on the medial portion of the strap (portion before the hook). The other portion of the fastening system, male or female, is located on the lateral portion of the strap (portion extending beyond the hook). Once the fastening hook is engaged with the strap anchor point on the vehicle, the male and female portions of the fastening systems are joined.

Abstract: A ceiling-mounted sensing unit includes (i) one or more air temperature sensors; (ii) an infrared sensor having a field of view oriented towards a floor of the room; and (iii) a microcontroller receiving readings from both the air temperature sensors and the infrared sensor, the microcontroller providing an estimated temperature at a predetermined distance above the floor of the room based on a model of the room. The model may be based on a double-exponential smoothing function obtained by matching a Kalman filter model. Alternately, the model may be itself a Kalman filter model or a machine learning trained linear model obtained using a linear regression technique, such as L2 regularization. The Kalman filter model uses a state vector that includes both the estimated temperature and a rate of change in the estimated change in temperature. The machine-trained model may be verified using a k-fold cross-validation technique.

Abstract: Systems and methods for interest-driven data sharing in interest-driven business intelligence systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated.