Abstract: Provided is a process that includes: obtaining low-sensitivity values mapped to respective locations within an area of a sensor array; determining differences between respective ones of the low-sensitivity values and respective ones of prior values for the locations, one example being tare values for the locations; obtaining a set of detection locations within the area of the sensor array based on differences exceeding a threshold; obtaining, after switching at least a portion of the sensor array to a high sensitivity mode, high sensitivity values mapped to respective locations within the area of the sensor array, each of the locations mapped to a respective second prior value, one example being a tare value in the high sensitivity mode; determining, for each location within the set of detected locations, a value based on the respective high sensitivity value and the respective second prior value; and outputting, the values and the locations.

Abstract: A borehole system and a method of installing a liner in a borehole. A liner is disposed in the borehole. A cement is flowed into an annulus between the liner and a wall of the borehole. An acoustic sensor is disposed within the liner and measures an acoustic impedance of the annulus as the cement is flowing into the annulus. A processor determines a depth of an upper surface of the wet cement from the acoustic impedance and performs an operation based on the depth of the upper surface of the wet cement.

Abstract: Methods and devices for vector-based targeting of the human central thalamus (CT) to guide deep brain stimulation (DBS) are disclosed. In some examples, electrode(s) each with a plurality contacts are provided. A three-dimensional orientation of a dominant axis of a central lateral nucleus dorsal tegmental tract medial component (CL/DTTm) fiber bundle of a human subject is determined. The contacts of the electrode(s) are positioned in the subject's CT fibers in substantial alignment with the three-dimensional orientation. An electrical stimulus is applied to the contacts to selectively activate the CT fibers. The positioning and the applying are carried out to maximize activation of a central lateral nucleus and medial dorsal tegmental tract fiber pathway in the subject and to minimize activation of a centromedian-parafascicularis fiber pathway in the subject. Methods and devices for surgical planning involving for vector-based targeting of the human CT to guide DBS are also disclosed.

Abstract: Efficiency of a battery module is achieved using an actively cooled high power electrical interface. The battery module comprises a plurality of battery cells, at least one busbar coupled to the battery cells, a connector electrically coupled to the at least one busbar, and at least one cooling component that is thermally coupled to the first connector. The battery cells may be arranged in two layers, each layer containing a plurality of battery cells connected by a busbar. The connector comprises a contact through which the battery module may be coupled to an external circuit. The at least one cooling component provided cooling for the battery cells and the connectors and may be placed on the surface of the battery module or between layers of battery cells.

Abstract: A junction box is dimensioned to accommodate electronic components, and receives a plurality of terminals, including a distal end shaped differently from each other. The junction box includes an outer wall and a bottom wall. The outer wall extends upwardly from a peripheral edge of the bottom wall. The bottom wall and the outer wall are dimensioned to form a plurality of recesses spaced apart from each other and forming a key feature that corresponds in shape to one of the plurality of terminals. As such, each of the plurality of terminals are designed to be seated within a predetermined key feature. Further, as the key features are recessed with respect to the outer wall, the key features are protected from damage as a result of an accidental drop or during shipment.

Abstract: Oxygen carriers for chemical looping and scalable methods of preparation thereof. Wet impregnation of active metal precursors into porous substrates, together with selective adsorption of the precursors on the pore surfaces, enables transition metal oxides derived from the precursors to disperse throughout the substrate, even at the nanoscale, without increased sintering or agglomeration, thereby forming oxygen carriers suitable for chemical looping. The porous substrate can be an oxide, for example SiO2. The oxygen carriers can comprise relatively large oxide loadings of over about 20 wt. % and exhibit high reactivity over many regeneration cycles with substantially no loss in oxygen transport capacity or decrease in kinetics. The use of multiple transition metal oxides, for example NiO in addition to CuO, can greatly enhance chemical looping performance.

Abstract: Polymer compositions for making a stabilized polymeric articles that are resistant to discoloration upon exposure to UV-C light having: (i) an organic polymeric material; and (ii) a hindered phenol, organic phosphite, or a combination thereof, with the provisos that: (a) the OH group on the aromatic ring of the hindered phenol is flanked by two tertiary hydrocarbyl groups, and (b) the organic phosphite does not have any-OAr group linked directly to the P atom of the phosphite, wherein Ar represents an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group, are provided herein. Reduced discoloration is associated with the use of specific hindered phenols and the organic phosphites compared to other hindered phenols and organic phosphites, even in the absence of other polymer additives including UV absorbers, hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS), metal oxides and/or barium salts.

Abstract: A fuel and emissions control method for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle includes performing passive evaluation of individual cylinder fuel control (ICFC) multipliers by determining whether any of the ICFC multipliers exceed an ICFC multiplier threshold and, in response, determining first and second cylinder fuel-air (FA) imbalances during first and second passive evaluation stages, respectively, separated by a passive evaluation delay period, and based on a comparison between the first and second cylinder FA imbalances, either (i) passing, by the controller, the evaluation and maintaining, by the controller, the ICFC multipliers or (ii) failing, by the controller, the evaluation and (a) resetting, by the controller, the ICFC multipliers and (b) increasing, by the controller, the passive evaluation delay period and repeating the passive evaluation.

Abstract: A method of using artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor situations, or a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which is recorded instructions. The method may include using one or more cameras to monitor one or more objects; processing, with AI, images or moving images from the camera; determining whether a problem is occurring within the images or moving images from the camera; and reporting possible problems to a receiving point. In some situations, the monitored objects are animals. The receiving point may be a dashboard monitored by a human, who can review and determine whether possible problems are actual problems, including animal abuse. In some configurations, Optical Flow is used to capture motion within the images or moving images. In other situations, the monitored objects may be humans, and the possible problems reported from the images or moving images from the camera may be criminal actions.

Abstract: A busbar system is configured to carry current, such as, for example, in a battery system. The busbar system includes two or more busbars, that interface at respective surfaces and are aligned by one or more alignment features. The one or more alignment features may include a boss feature such as a pin or other protrusion, a recess such as a hole, slot, or other recess feature, or both a boss feature and a recess feature. Each busbar may include an alignment feature that engages with the alignment feature of the other busbar to cause, maintain, or otherwise effect alignment. Alignment of the busbars ensures relative position, prevents relative motion, or both. The busbars are engaged with each other by positioning the busbars such that their mating surfaces can engage, and then engaging alignment features of the busbars to provide alignment of the busbars relative to each other.

Abstract: A heat exchanger cleaning system (HECS) includes an engine having an intake conduit and an exhaust port, and an EGR cooler having a cooler inlet in fluid communication with the engine exhaust port, a cooler outlet in fluid communication with the engine intake conduit, and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve disposed between the engine exhaust port and the EGR cooler. A first pressure sensor is disposed between the engine exhaust port and the EGR valve, and a second pressure sensor disposed in the engine intake conduit. A controller is in electrical communication with the EGR valve, the first pressure sensor, and the second pressure sensor. The controller is configured to implement a predetermined set of operating parameters for the engine and/or the EGR valve, wherein implementation of the predetermined set of operating parameters causes an increased flow velocity of exhaust gas through the EGR cooler.

Abstract: Wet impregnation of active metal precursors into porous substrates, together with selective adsorption of the precursors on the pore surfaces, enables transition metal oxides derived from the precursors to disperse throughout the substrate, even at the nanoscale, without increased sintering or agglomeration, thereby forming oxygen carriers suitable for chemical looping. The porous substrate can be an oxide, for example SiO2. The oxygen carriers can comprise relatively large oxide loadings of over about 20 wt % and exhibit high reactivity over many regeneration cycles with substantially no loss in oxygen transport capacity or decrease in kinetics. The use of multiple transition metal oxides, for example NiO in addition to CuO, can greatly enhance chemical looping performance.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for dispensing a beverage into a container comprising at least one dispenser unit. The dispenser unit comprises at least one fluid port and a moveable seal member which is configured to form a sealing barrier between at least a portion of the container and the dispenser head.

Abstract: Provided is a process that includes: obtaining low-sensitivity values mapped to respective locations within an area of a sensor array; determining differences between respective ones of the low-sensitivity values and respective ones of prior values for the locations, one example being tare values for the locations; obtaining a set of detection locations within the area of the sensor array based on differences exceeding a threshold; obtaining, after switching at least a portion of the sensor array to a high sensitivity mode, high sensitivity values mapped to respective locations within the area of the sensor array, each of the locations mapped to a respective second prior value, one example being a tare value in the high sensitivity mode; determining, for each location within the set of detected locations, a value based on the respective high sensitivity value and the respective second prior value; and outputting, the values and the locations.

Abstract: A fluid-affected fuse includes a structural housing, a pair of electric terminals, one or more fuse elements, and a fluid arranged in an internal volume of the structure. The structure provides rigidity to the fuse. The terminals are coupled to the structural housing and are configured to be coupled to an electric power circuit of a battery circuit. The one or more fuse elements are electrically connected in series to the pair of electric terminals and are arranged in the internal volume. The fluid is configured to affect a temperature of the fuse element. A fluid-filled fuse is filled with fluid, optionally sealed, and operated with the increased heat capacity of the fluid to affect temperature of the fuse. A fluid-cooled fuse is filled with the fluid, undergoing a stream of the fluid thus allowing control of fuse temperature. A control system controls the fluid stream and fuse operation.

Abstract: A high voltage distribution system is provided with multiple fuses. The high voltage distribution system includes multiple laminated busbars that are electrically coupled to a battery and to the multiple fuses. Busbars are electrically coupled to the one or more fuses via electrical connections between the busbars and the fuses. The electrical connections can pass through other busbars without having an electrical coupling to the other busbars. An insulating layer may be used between the busbars to prevent overcurrent events. The configuration, size, and position of each busbar is selected based on the electrical requirements of components that are electrically coupled to the busbar and based on the prevention of overcurrent events.

Abstract: Electric vehicle battery pack frames constructed with extruded aluminum side and cross members. Such frames are significantly stronger than conventional cast aluminum frames, while also being much lighter than steel frames. Cross members may be affixed to side members with extruded aluminum brackets. Side members of differing lengths may be employed, to make battery pack frames of differing sizes in modular manner. Battery pack lids and bottom panels may be removably affixed to the frame such as with bolts, for improved serviceability.

Abstract: System for dispensing a beverage into a container (18) comprising at least one dispenser unit (10). The dispenser unit (10) comprises at least one beverage outlet port and a movable seal member (34) which is configured to form a sealing barrier between at least a portion of the container (18) and the dispenser head. In this way the container is pressurised before filling, so as to avoid excessive foaming.

Abstract: A high voltage distribution system is provided with multiple fuses. The high voltage distribution system includes multiple laminated busbars that are electrically coupled to a battery and to the multiple fuses. Busbars are electrically coupled to the one or more fuses via electrical connections between the busbars and the fuses. The electrical connections can pass through other busbars without having an electrical coupling to the other busbars. An insulating layer may be used between the busbars to prevent overcurrent events. The configuration, size, and position of each busbar is selected based on the electrical requirements of components that are electrically coupled to the busbar and based on the prevention of overcurrent events.

Abstract: Electric vehicle battery pack frames constructed with extruded aluminum side and cross members. Such frames are significantly stronger than conventional cast aluminum frames, while also being much lighter than steel frames. Cross members may be affixed to side members with extruded aluminum brackets. Side members of differing lengths may be employed, to make battery pack frames of differing sizes in modular manner. Battery pack lids and bottom panels may be removably affixed to the frame such as with bolts, for improved serviceability.