Abstract: A device and method for management of an account. An event placement timeline is displayed. Account events are shown along the timeline. A preferred event time range or “safe zone” is shown along the timeline. The “safe zone” is the portion of the month during which it is safe to schedule certain events, like bill payments, with lower risk of NSF, overdraft or the like. The user moves a movable object into the “safe zone” to reschedule the account event in the “safe zone”, and the settings of the account are modified to automatically execute the account event at that time.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for securing a duct to a bracket or hanger using a duct saddle. The duct saddle includes a body that includes a first side and a second opposing side. The body includes a duct seating surface on the a first side. The duct saddle also includes a plurality of retention clips extending from the body. The retention clips include respective tabs extending over the second side of the body and spaced apart from the second side of the body. The tabs include respective retention surfaces facing the second side of the body. The duct saddle also includes retention bodies extending from the respective retention surfaces toward the second side of the body. The above-described duct saddles can be installed on brackets without the use of fasteners, such as bolts and nuts.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for securing a duct to a bracket or hanger using a duct saddle. The duct saddle includes a body that includes a first side and a second opposing side. The body includes a duct seating surface on the a first side. The duct saddle also includes a plurality of retention clips extending from the body. The retention clips include respective tabs extending over the second side of the body and spaced apart from the second side of the body. The tabs include respective retention surfaces facing the second side of the body. The duct saddle also includes retention bodies extending from the respective retention surfaces toward the second side of the body. The above-described duct saddles can be installed on brackets without the use of fasteners, such as bolts and nuts.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer-implemented methods for implementing a data transfer control based on information received from connected devices. In one instance, operations include loading an expected usage amount for a group of connected devices. Signals representing actual usage amounts associated with the group are received from at least device in the group. The actual usage amounts can be compared to the expected usage amount. An authorization of at least one payment-related action associated with the at least one group of connected devices is automatically transmitted to a payment system in response to determining that the usage amount is less than or equal to the expected amount, and at least one instruction to perform a corrective action associated with the group is automatically transmitted to at least one connected device of the group in response to determining that the actual amount exceeds the expected amount.

Abstract: The disclosure provides embodiments of a self-contained automatic battery charging system having a printed circuit board (PCB) that enables inputting an alternating current (AC) power flow to the system. A first switchmode converter converts an AC input power to a direct current (DC) power, providing an active power factor correction. The first switchmode converter comprises an isolation transformer, which provides an electrical isolation between a primary circuitry and a secondary circuitry of the system. A second switchmode converter regulates system output voltage and limits system output current to an electrical load. The DC output is connected to a battery, another electrical storage device, and/or a parallel-connected DC load to be powered. An optional accessory PCB electrically connects to the power PCB and provides features including an LCD, alarm output relay(s), and/or a controller area network bus (CANbus) interface. The system may implement a battery-life-extension charging regime.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an embodiment of a charger having a power printed circuit board (PCB) that enables an alternating current (AC) power to flow into a self-contained automatic battery charging system. A first switchmode converter converts an AC input power into a direct current (DC) power thereby to provide an active power factor correction to obtain an improved power factor. The first switchmode converter comprising a high frequency isolation transformer which provides an electrical isolation between a primary circuitry and a secondary circuitry of the self-contained automatic battery charging system. A second switchmode converter connected to a DC output from the first switchmode converter regulates system output voltage and limits system output current to an electrical load. The DC output is connected to a battery and/or another electrical storage device to be charged and/or to a parallel-connected DC load to be powered.

Abstract: There is disclosed in an embodiment, a charger having a PCB that enable input AC power to flow into the system. A first high frequency switchmode converter converts AC input power into DC power and to provide active power factor correction. The converter comprising a high frequency isolation transformer providing electrical isolation between primary and secondary system circuitry. A second high frequency switchmode converter connected to DC output from the first converter regulates output voltage and limits system output current. DC output is connected to a battery and/or other electrical storage device to be charged and/or to a parallel-connected DC load to be powered. An optional accessory PCB is electrically connected to the power board, housed in a same chassis or enclosure. The accessory board provides optional features including an LCD, alarm output relay(s), and/or a CANbus interface. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining when a mobile communications device has crossed a geo-fence. The method comprises (a) providing a mobile communications device (209) equipped with an operating system and having a location detection application resident thereon, wherein the mobile communications device is in communication with a server (211) over a network (203), and wherein the server maintains a geo-fence database (213); (b) receiving, from the operating system, a notification that (i) the location of the mobile communications device has changed by an amount that exceeds a predetermined threshold, or (ii) that a period of time has passed; (c) querying the operating system for a data set comprising the general location of the mobile communications device and the corresponding location accuracy; (d) transmitting the data set to the server; and (e) receiving from the server, in response to the transmission of the data set, a set of geo-fences (205) proximal to the general location.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining when a mobile communications device has crossed a geo-fence. The method comprises (a) providing a mobile communications device (209) equipped with an operating system and having a location detection application resident thereon, wherein the mobile communications device is in communication with a server (211) over a network (203), and wherein the server maintains a geo-fence database (213); (b) receiving, from the operating system, a notification that (i) the location of the mobile communications device has changed by an amount that exceeds a predetermined threshold, or (ii) that a period of time has passed; (c) querying the operating system for a data set comprising the general location of the mobile communications device and the corresponding location accuracy; (d) transmitting the data set to the server; and (e) receiving from the server, in response, a set of geo-fences (205) proximal to the general location.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining when a mobile communications device has crossed a geo-fence. The method comprises (a) providing a mobile communications device (209) equipped with an operating system and having a location detection application resident thereon, wherein the mobile communications device is in communication with a server (211) over a network (203), and wherein the server maintains a geo-fence database (213); (b) receiving, from the operating system, a notification that (i) the location of the mobile communications device has changed by an amount that exceeds a predetermined threshold, or (ii) that a period of time has passed; (c) querying the operating system for a data set comprising the general location of the mobile communications device and the corresponding location accuracy; (d) transmitting the data set to the server; and (e) receiving from the server, in response, a set of geo-fences (205) proximal to the general location.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining when a mobile communications device has crossed a geo-fence. The method comprises (a) providing a mobile communications device (209) equipped with an operating system and having a location detection application resident thereon, wherein the mobile communications device is in communication with a server (211) over a network (203), and wherein the server maintains a geo-fence database (213); (b) receiving, from the operating system, a notification that (i) the location of the mobile communications device has changed by an amount that exceeds a predetermined threshold, or (ii) that a period of time has passed; (c) querying the operating system for a data set comprising the general location of the mobile communications device and the corresponding location accuracy; (d) transmitting the data set to the server; and (e) receiving from the server, in response to the transmission of the data set, a set of geo-fences (205) proximal to the general location.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining when a mobile communications device has crossed a geo-fence. The method comprises (a) providing a mobile communications device (209) equipped with an operating system and having a location detection application resident thereon, wherein the mobile communications device is in communication with a server (211) over a network (203), and wherein the server maintains a geo-fence database (213); (b) receiving, from the operating system, a notification that (i) the location of the mobile communications device has changed by an amount that exceeds a predetermined threshold, or (ii) that a period of time has passed; (c) querying the operating system for a data set comprising the general location of the mobile communications device and the corresponding location accuracy; (d) transmitting the data set to the server; and (e) receiving from the server, in response, a set of geo-fences (205) proximal to the general location.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for efficiently increasing exhaust flow temperature for an internal combustion engine. The method includes excepting a user input to disable an exhaust valve opening mechanism. The method further includes monitoring exhaust gas mass flows and temperatures, interpreting required exhaust temperatures for aftertreatment devices, and surveying a plurality of operating conditions for a combustion engine. The method includes determining a crankshaft angle for dynamically engaging an exhaust valve open mode based on the exhaust temperature, the required exhaust temperature, and the engine operating conditions. Dynamically engaging the exhaust valve open mode includes selecting a specific crankshaft angle for each combustion cycle of the engine.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for efficiently increasing exhaust flow temperature for an internal combustion engine. The method includes excepting a user input to disable an exhaust valve opening mechanism. The method further includes monitoring exhaust gas mass flows and temperatures, interpreting required exhaust temperatures for aftertreatment devices, and surveying a plurality of operating conditions for a combustion engine. The method includes determining a crankshaft angle for dynamically engaging an exhaust valve open mode based on the exhaust temperature, the required exhaust temperature, and the engine operating conditions. Dynamically engaging the exhaust valve open mode includes selecting a specific crankshaft angle for each combustion cycle of the engine.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of polishing a substrate comprising a metal layer comprising copper. The method comprises the steps of (i) providing a chemical-mechanical polishing system comprising a liquid carrier, a polishing pad, an abrasive, and a negatively-charged polymer or copolymer, (ii) contacting the substrate with the poloshing system, and (iii) abrading at least a portion of the substrate to polish the metal layer of the substrate. The negatively-charged polymer or copolymer comprises one or more monomers selected from sulfonic acids, sulfonates, sulfates, phosphonic acids, phosphonates, and phosphates, has a molecular weight of about 20,000 g/mol or more, and coats at least a portion of the abrasive such that the abrasive has a zeta potential value that is lowered upon interaction of the negatively-charged polymer or copolymer with the abrasive.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of polishing a substrate comprising a metal layer comprising copper. The method comprises the steps of (i) providing a chemical-mechanical polishing system comprising a liquid carrier, a polishing pad, an abrasive, and a negatively-charged polymer or copolymer, (ii) contacting the substrate with the poloshing system and (iii) abrading at least a portion of the substrate to polish the metal layer of the substrate. The negatively-charged polymer or copolymer comprises one or more monomers selected from sulfonic acids, sulfonates, sulfates, phosphonic acids, phosphonates, and phosphates, has a molecular weight of about 20,000 g/mol or more, and coats at least a portion of the abrasive such that the abrasive has a zeta potential value that is lowered upon interaction of the negatively-charged polymer or copolymer with the abrasive.