Abstract: A portable storage device can convert itself, without a host computer, from being a fixed disk to a removable disk and from being a removable disk to a fixed disk. The storage device may include a physical input device, a memory and a controller. The controller may determine, based on information stored within the storage device, whether the storage device is currently a fixed disk or a removable disk. The controller may then convert the storage device to a removable disk or a fixed disk, based on a control input and the determination. The control input may be received from the physical key input device. When the storage device is a removable disk and when a command from a host computer requests ejecting a memory within the storage device, the controller declines the request and instead electrically disengages the storage device from the host computer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing microbial contamination and growth in an HVAC system by irradiating one or more air contacting surfaces of the HVAC system with antimicrobial UV-C light.

Abstract: A drug delivery device includes a housing defining a shell and an inner volume, a container, a drive mechanism, a needle assembly, a fluid flow connection, and a backflow prevention mechanism. The container has an inner volume to contain a medicament to be administered to a user. The drive mechanism is at least partially disposed within the housing and exerts a force to urge the medicament out the container. The fluid flow connection is coupled to the container and the needle assembly and allows the medicament to flow from the container to the needle assembly to be administered. The backflow prevention mechanism is associated with at least one of the container, the fluid flow connection, or the needle assembly and includes at least one flow restrictor to restrict a fluid from flowing from the needle assembly to the container.

Abstract: Liquid Ring pumps are inherently inefficient due to energy losses caused by friction, the present invention overcomes this by providing a coating on certain surfaces of the pump to limit the friction.

Abstract: A method using hardware button(s) dispatches gestures for motion-disabled users. It displays a translucent layer, on top of underlying applications, which intercepts user touch events (preventing inadvertent gestures) and modifies (x?,y?) based on dampened differences of most recent intercepted event coordinates (swabs). The method operates in three modes identified by translucent colors and/or digits (how many button pushes before invocation): mode 1 dispatches short taps at (x?,y?); mode 2 displays extending arrow while the user swabs (x?,y?) until the second push, which dispatches scrolling in arrow direction; mode 3 creates an arrow and pivot. Pivot size and color indicate magnification/demagnification. The third push dispatches zooming when pivot and arrow are collinear; otherwise it dispatches rotation. A special case of mode 2 dispatches a long tap.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing microbial contamination and growth in an automotive HVAC system by irradiating one or more air contacting surfaces of the HVAC system with antimicrobial UV-C light.

Abstract: A portable storage device can convert itself, without a host computer, from being a fixed disk to a removable disk and from being a removable disk to a fixed disk. The storage device may include a physical input device, a memory and a controller. The controller may determine, based on information stored within the storage device, whether the storage device is currently a fixed disk or a removable disk. The controller may then convert the storage device to a removable disk or a fixed disk, based on a control input and the determination. The control input may be received from the physical key input device. When the storage device is a removable disk and when a command from a host computer requests ejecting a memory within the storage device, the controller declines the request and instead electrically disengages the storage device from the host computer.

Abstract: An ergonomically designed, auto-retracting utility knife that can safely remain in the user's hand while performing non cutting tasks. This invention allows a person to continue with the jobs they were performing by having the ability to use both hands and not having to set the utility knife down between manual tasks, thus saving time and increasing efficiency. An auto-retracting blade decreases the risk lacerations and other hand/wrist injuries to the user and others during routine use of the knife.

Abstract: Methods and systems of reducing computer resource utilization to update rankings based on dynamically generated content are described. The method includes identifying a ranking of content experience types of a list of content experience types. Each content experience type including parameters to generate content experience documents. The method also includes updating the ranking of content experience types. The updating includes iteratively selecting content experience types from the ranking of content experience types to generate an update subset of the ranking of content experience types, generating, for a client device, a feedback request document including a plurality of content experience documents, and receiving feedback information related to the plurality of content experience documents included in the feedback request document to update the ranking of the content experience types included in the update subset.

Abstract: An aircraft environmental control system (4) for controlling a temperature of a fluid, the control system (4) comprising: a temperature sensor (30) configured to measure a temperature of the fluid and to generate a first signal, the first signal being indicative of the measured temperature; a control signal generator (52) configured to, dependent upon the first signal, generate a control signal for controlling the temperature of the fluid; and one or more processors (64) configured to, responsive to determining that the measured temperature is less than or equal to a pre-determined threshold value (e.g. 0° C.), increase a gain of the control signal generator (52).

Abstract: This invention relates generally to novel methods and novel devices for the continuous manufacture of nanoparticles, microparticles and nanoparticle/liquid solution(s) (e.g., colloids). The nanoparticles (and/or micron-sized particles) comprise a variety of possible compositions, sizes and shapes. The particles (e.g., nanoparticles) are caused to be present (e.g., created and/or the liquid is predisposed to their presence (e.g., conditioned)) in a liquid (e.g., water) by, for example, preferably utilizing at least one adjustable plasma (e.g., created by at least one AC and/or DC power source), which plasma communicates with at least a portion of a surface of the liquid. At least one subsequent and/or substantially simultaneous adjustable electrochemical processing technique is also preferred. Multiple adjustable plasmas and/or adjustable electrochemical processing techniques are preferred. Processing enhancers can be utilized alone or with a plasma. Semicontinuous and batch processes can also be utilized.

Abstract: The inventive concepts provides indoor positioning capabilities and door monitoring to facilities including but not limiting to day care providers and elderly care facilities in order for them to be able to quickly position someone inside the building as well as to be forewarned when they are going somewhere they shouldn't be i.e. near an exit way. The system also offers two way communications to the staff in the facility when a management server is implemented.

Abstract: An aircraft environmental control system (4) for controlling a temperature of a fluid, the control system (4) comprising: a temperature sensor (30) configured to measure a temperature of the fluid and to generate a signal, the first signal being indicative of the measured temperature; a control signal generator (52) configured to, dependent upon the first signal, generate a control signal for controlling the temperature of the fluid; and one or more processors (64) configured to, responsive to determining that the measured temperature oscillates about a central value, decrease a gain of the control signal generator (52).

Abstract: An aircraft environmental control system (4) for controlling a temperature of a fluid, the control system (4) comprising: a first temperature sensor (30) configured to measure a first temperature and to generate a first signal, the first temperature being a temperature of the fluid, the first signal being indicative of the measured first temperature; an amplifier (76) configured to amplify the first signal; one or more processors (64) configured to, using the amplified first signal, generate a control signal for controlling the temperature of the fluid; and a second temperature sensor (68) configured to measure a second temperature, the second temperature being a temperature of an operational environment of the amplifier (76); wherein the one or more processors (64) are further configured to, responsive to the determining that the measured second temperature satisfies one or more predetermined criteria, modify a gain of the amplifier (76) and wherein: the aircraft environmental control system (4) further comp

Abstract: An aircraft environmental control system (4) for controlling a temperature of a fluid, the control system (4) comprising: a temperature sensor (30) configured to measure a temperature of the fluid and to generate a first signal, the first signal being indicative of the measured temperature;a control signal generator (52) configured to, dependent upon the first signal, generate a control signal for controlling the temperature of the fluid; and one or more processors (64) configured to, responsive to determining that the measured temperature is less than or equal to a pre-determined threshold value (e.g. 0° C.), increase a gain of the control signal generator (52).

Abstract: An apparatus includes a processor and a machine-readable medium coupled to the processor and comprising instructions. The instructions, when loaded into the processor and executed, configure the processor to identify that a USB element has attached to a USB hub at a port, classify the USB element according to power operations of the USB element, and assign an upstream or downstream setting of the port based upon the classification of the USB element based on power operations of the USB element.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to novel methods and novel devices for the continuous manufacture of nanoparticles, microparticles and nanoparticle/liquid solution(s) (e.g., colloids). The nanoparticles (and/or micron-sized particles) comprise a variety of possible compositions, sizes and shapes. The particles (e.g., nanoparticles) are caused to be present (e.g., created and/or the liquid is predisposed to their presence (e.g., conditioned)) in a liquid (e.g., water) by, for example, preferably utilizing at least one adjustable plasma (e.g., created by at least one AC and/or DC power source), which plasma communicates with at least a portion of a surface of the liquid. At least one subsequent and/or substantially simultaneous adjustable electrochemical processing technique is also preferred. Multiple adjustable plasmas and/or adjustable electrochemical processing techniques are preferred. Processing enhancers can be utilized alone or with a plasma. Semicontinuous and batch processes can also be utilized.

Abstract: An accessory helps motion-disabled users operate a touchscreen device via an extra-software-layer running on the CPU of the device. The accessory may take the shape of a glove, stylus or thimble. The accessory has a circuit that selectively engages and disengages the electrical connection between the user and the touchscreen based on mode and/or user/transducer interaction to send extra information from the user to the extra-software layer. A controller in the accessory generates unique timing patterns of connection and disconnection which the extra-software layer reconstructs by computing statistics from motion-event timestamps. The extra-software layer uses one or more (x,y) coordinates to compute an (x?,y?) coordinate, which is shown on the pixel display.

Abstract: A robotic cargo system provides an ability to move cargo without requiring the use of additional material handling equipment such as forklifts and K-loaders. The robotic cargo system may operate as a vehicle during drive maneuvering, and may operate to lockdown on an aircraft as a pallet during flight. The system may navigate over rough terrain while carrying heavy loads through the use of a track-based propulsion system. The system may provide a cargo loading system, ramp ascent and descent algorithms, and autonomous navigation.

Abstract: The inventive concepts provides indoor positioning capabilities and door monitoring to facilities including but not limiting to day care providers and elderly care facilities in order for them to be able to quickly position someone inside the building as well as to be forewarned when they are going somewhere they shouldn't be i.e. near an exit way. The system also offers two way communications to the staff in the facility when a management server is implemented.