Abstract: A light fixture includes a light receiver, an electrically-powered light source coupled to the light receiver, and a vessel containing a liquid. The vessel is translucent such that the light from the light source radiates through the vessel. The vessel includes an outer wall and an inner wall that define an enclosed area that receives and contains the liquid. The inner wall defines an open area positioned radially inward from the enclosed area and the inner wall includes a top opening and a bottom opening such that the open area is a through-hole extending through the enclosed area. The vessel is configured such that light emitted from the light source passes through the liquid contained within the vessel.

Abstract: A mounting adapter for mounting a surface processing tool having a rotational or longitudinal axis to at least one spider arm of a rotatable spider assembly of a surface processing apparatus, the spider arm having a leading side and a trailing side as a function of the direction of rotation of the spider assembly. The mounting adapter has a first element for removably attaching the adapter to the spider arm and a second element positioned circumferentially offset behind the first element for positioning the rotational or longitudinal axis of a surface processing tool circumferentially offset behind the trailing side of the spider arm. The first element is an elongate apertured bar and the second element is weld filler material, the bar being connected to said surface processing tool via the weld filler material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting open circuit fault conditions in a battery pack containing parallel cells include providing a first control signal to a close FET in parallel with a resistive element, the resistive element being in series with a first battery cell in a first cell path between the terminals of the battery pack, the first cell path being in parallel with a second cell path including a second battery cell. While the FET is closed, a test load is applied across the terminals and a first voltage measurement is obtained at a test point in the battery pack. The methods include providing a second control signal to open the FET, applying the test load across the terminals, obtaining a second voltage measurement at the test point, and determining whether a difference between the first and second voltage measurements indicates an open circuit fault condition in the battery pack.

Abstract: A light fixture includes a light receiver, an electrically-powered light source coupled to the light receiver, and a vessel containing a liquid. The vessel is configured such that light emitted from the light source passes through the liquid contained within the vessel. The vessel is translucent such that the light from the light source radiates through the vessel.

Abstract: A mounting adapter for mounting a surface processing tool having a rotational or longitudinal axis to at least one spider arm of a rotatable spider assembly of a surface processing apparatus, the spider arm having a leading side and a trailing side as a function of the direction of rotation of the spider assembly. The mounting adapter has a first element for removably attaching the adapter to the spider arm and a second element positioned circumferentially offset behind the first element for positioning the rotational or longitudinal axis of a surface processing tool circumferentially offset behind the trailing side of the spider arm. The first element is an elongate apertured bar and the second element is weld filler material, the bar being connected to said surface processing tool via the weld filler material.

Abstract: A mobile device payment system and method, the method for a mobile device user to purchase goods/services from merchants with financing by a mobile device manufacturer including: providing a mobile device; establishing a user account; establishing merchant accounts; transforming the merchant accounts into a universal merchant account data set; providing the universal merchant account data set to the mobile device user; storing the universal merchant account data set; requesting the mobile device manufacturer to load consumer credit; loading the credit amount; identifying goods/services for purchase; determining a total price for the identified goods/services and a merchant identifier associated with the selected merchant; actuating a purchase button; retrieving merchant bank deposit instructions; retrieving purchase credit; and routing the retrieved credit to the selected merchant in accordance with the retrieved merchant credit deposit instructions.

Abstract: A mounting adapter for mounting a surface processing tool having a rotational or longitudinal axis to at least one spider arm of a rotatable spider assembly of a surface processing apparatus, the spider arm having a leading side and a trailing side as a function of the direction of rotation of the spider assembly. The mounting adapter has a first element for removably attaching the adapter to the spider arm and a second element positioned circumferentially offset behind the first element for positioning the rotational or longitudinal axis of a surface processing tool circumferentially offset behind the trailing side of the spider arm. The first element is an elongate apertured bar and the second element is weld filler material, the bar being connected to said surface processing tool via the weld filler material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling charge current in a battery pack containing cells of disparate types are disclosed. The methods include receiving a charge current for charging a battery pack that includes one or more battery cells of a first cell type, and one or more battery cells of a second cell type. Each battery cell of the first cell type has a first impedance and a first charge current limit. Each battery cell of the second cell type has a second impedance greater than the first impedance and a second charge current limit greater than the first charge current limit. The methods include reducing, by a respective current control circuit associated with each battery cell of the first cell type, the amount of the received charge current through the battery cell of the first cell type to an amount less than the first charge current limit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for extending discharge over-current trip time in a battery protection circuit are disclosed. The protection circuit includes a safety circuit that asserts a first discharge over-current indicator when the discharge current of the battery exceeds a first discharge over-current threshold corresponding to a sustained over-current limit, a delay circuit that applies an added delay to the assertion of the first discharge over-current indicator, and a short circuit detection circuit that asserts a second discharge over-current indicator, with no delay added, when the discharge current exceeds a second discharge over-current threshold corresponding to a cell-specific peak output current limit. The battery protection circuit includes a logic circuit configured to assert a discharge over-current control signal to disable the battery responsive to assertion of the first discharge over-current indicator or the second discharge over-current indicator.

Abstract: A light fixture includes a light receiver, an electrically-powered light source coupled to the light receiver, and a vessel containing a liquid. The vessel is configured such that light emitted from the light source passes through the liquid contained within the vessel. The vessel is translucent such that the light from the light source radiates through the vessel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting open circuit fault conditions in a battery pack containing parallel cells include providing a first control signal to a close FET in parallel with a resistive element, the resistive element being in series with a first battery cell in a first cell path between the terminals of the battery pack, the first cell path being in parallel with a second cell path including a second battery cell. While the FET is closed, a test load is applied across the terminals and a first voltage measurement is obtained at a test point in the battery pack. The methods include providing a second control signal to open the FET, applying the test load across the terminals, obtaining a second voltage measurement at the test point, and determining whether a difference between the first and second voltage measurements indicates an open circuit fault condition in the battery pack.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the impact of air resistance on the power being produced by a body motion are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes measuring positions and orientations of a portion of the body in motion. The method further includes measuring pressure experienced by the portion of the body in motion. The motion further includes calculating a static pressure based on the measured pressures and correlated position and orientation measurements. The method further includes calculating a maximum pressure and calculating an air induced power exerted on the body in motion.

Abstract: Thermally insulated shipping system for use in transporting a pallet-sized payload. In one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of thermally insulating walls arranged to define an interior volume suitable for receiving a pallet-sized payload. The thermally insulating walls include a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a left wall, and a right wall, of which all but the bottom wall include at least two slots facing towards the interior volume. One of the slots is an inner slot that is more proximal to the interior volume, and one of the slots is an outer slot that is more distal to the interior volume. The system also includes a plurality of inner cassettes disposed in at least some of the inner slots and a plurality of outer cassettes disposed in at least some of the outer slots. The inner and outer cassettes include phase-change materials.

Abstract: An insurance system for home sharing may comprise a mobile device of a homeowner, one or more databases storing insurance factor data, a plurality of sensors configured to monitor one or more home features, and a server comprising one or more processors and memory. The server may be configured to receive, from the mobile device, data indicating that the homeowner is renting out a home, determine a value for frequency of rentals for the home based on the data indicating that the homeowner is renting out the home, and receive, from the plurality of sensors, monitored data for the one or more home features. The server may compute an insurance premium for the homeowner based on the value for frequency of rentals for the home, the monitored data for the one or more home features, and the insurance factor data and transmit the insurance premium to the mobile device.

Abstract: An insurance system for home sharing may comprise a mobile device of a homeowner, one or more databases storing insurance factor data, a plurality of sensors configured to monitor one or more home features, and a server comprising one or more processors and memory. The server may be configured to receive, from the mobile device, data indicating that the homeowner is renting out a home, determine a value for frequency of rentals for the home based on the data indicating that the homeowner is renting out the home, and receive, from the plurality of sensors, monitored data for the one or more home features. The server may compute an insurance premium for the homeowner based on the value for frequency of rentals for the home, the monitored data for the one or more home features, and the insurance factor data and transmit the insurance premium to the mobile device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling charge current in a battery pack containing cells of disparate types are disclosed. The methods include receiving a charge current for charging a battery pack that includes one or more battery cells of a first cell type, and one or more battery cells of a second cell type. Each battery cell of the first cell type has a first impedance and a first charge current limit. Each battery cell of the second cell type has a second impedance greater than the first impedance and a second charge current limit greater than the first charge current limit. The methods include reducing, by a respective current control circuit associated with each battery cell of the first cell type, the amount of the received charge current through the battery cell of the first cell type to an amount less than the first charge current limit.

Abstract: An electric water heater is disposed close to a faucet to readily provide heated water to the faucet. This heater provides heated water without the wait required to obtain hot water from the main, remotely-located, hot water heater such as a hot water tank. The electric hot water heater includes a heater tube disposed in contact with an electric resistance heater. The electric resistance heater does not directly contact the water in the heater tube. The electric resistance heater heats the sidewall of the heater tube which, in turn, heats the water in the heater tube. Two layers of insulation are disposed over the electric resistance heater. The heater tube is placed in line with the regular hot water supply pipe.

Abstract: Thermally insulated shipping system for use in transporting a pallet-sized payload. In one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of thermally insulating walls arranged to define an interior volume suitable for receiving a pallet-sized payload. The thermally insulating walls include a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a left wall, and a right wall, of which all but the bottom wall include at least two slots facing towards the interior volume. One of the slots is an inner slot that is more proximal to the interior volume, and one of the slots is an outer slot that is more distal to the interior volume. The system also includes a plurality of inner cassettes disposed in at least some of the inner slots and a plurality of outer cassettes disposed in at least some of the outer slots. The inner and outer cassettes include phase-change materials.

Abstract: Connector enclosure assemblies for medical devices provide an angled lead passageway. The lead passageway which is defined by electrical connectors and intervening seals within the connector enclosure assembly establishes the angle relative to a base plane of the connector enclosure assembly. Various other aspects may be included in conjunction with the angled lead passageway, including an angled housing of the connector enclosure assembly, feedthrough pins that extend to the electrical connectors where the feedthrough pins may include angled sections, and a set screw passageway set at an angle relative to the lead passageway to provide fixation of a lead within the lead passageway.

Abstract: A wireless network performance management system and method. The system includes at least one collection agent for collecting data related to at least one of service coverage; service quality; and usage of public and/or private data networks for enterprise clients, and a reporting unit to graphically represent the collected data to at least one of track, troubleshoot, and analyze the one of the service coverage; the service quality; and the usage of public and/or private data networks for the enterprise clients.