Abstract: A foodstuff dispensing system is provided in which a foodstuff dispensing hopper comprises a gate rotatably mounted adjacent a bottom opening for selectively opening and closing the bottom opening. The hopper further comprises coupling means for detachably and rotationally coupling the hopper to the apparatus, and an interlock mechanism for interoperating with the gate to enable rotation of the bottom opening relative to the gate into an open position when the coupling means is being rotationally coupled to the apparatus and to enable rotation of the bottom opening relative to the gate into a closed position when the coupling means is being counter-rotationally decoupled from the apparatus.

Abstract: A system for controlling a multi-zone resistive heater. The system includes a first zone of the multi-zone resistive heater formed from a material having a negative temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) and configured to receive a first power to generate thermal energy. The system further includes a second zone of the multi-zone resistive heater formed from the material having the negative TCR, separated from the first zone by a gap, and configured to receive a second power to generate the thermal energy.

Abstract: An interactive system for an amusement park attraction includes one or more processors configured to identify a non-fungible token (NFT) possessed by a user within the amusement park attraction. The one or more processors are also configured to transform the NFT into a derivative of the NFT based on context data for the amusement park attraction. The one or more processors are further configured to instruct display of the derivative of the NFT on a display screen within the amusement park attraction.

Abstract: Systems, storage media and methods for providing information for user prioritization of tasks associated with collaboratively developed content are described. Some examples may include: receiving a conversation thread associated with collaboratively developed content, the conversation thread including a plurality of comments authored by multiple different authors, generating a predicted measure of completion for the received conversation thread, the predicted measure of completion being at least one of a predicted number of remaining actions until the received conversation thread is resolved or a predicted number of total actions for the conversation thread to be resolved and providing, for display at a user interface, the predicted measure of completion for the received conversation thread, the predicted measure of completion being associated with the conversation thread at the user interface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for thermal management in data storage devices are provided. One such data storage device includes a non-volatile memory (NVM), at least one ambient temperature sensor configured to detect an ambient temperature of the data storage device, at least one component temperature sensor configured to detect one or more component temperatures of one or more components of the data storage device, and a processor coupled to the NVM, the at least one ambient temperature sensor, and the at least one component temperature sensor. The processor is configured to determine a composite temperature of the data storage device based on the one or more component temperatures and the ambient temperature. The processor is further configured to determine whether the composite temperature exceeds a threshold and perform a thermal management operation if the composite temperature exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: Methods and devices addressing power tracking of transmission systems using antenna arrays are disclosed. The disclosed teachings may be implemented on a channel element to channel element basis, are adaptive and can be implemented on short time durations such as time slots. Power efficiency can be improved when applying the described methods to the design of systems with antenna arrays.

Abstract: A ride system may include a ride vehicle that supports a passenger and an attention tracker to determine a current direction of attention of the passenger. The ride system may also include a control system for maintaining an environment of the passenger. Maintaining the environment may include determining a set of content to be incorporated into the environment based at least in part on the current direction of attention.

Abstract: Packets in a data communications network are encapsulated by an encapsulation module on a sending computer and decapsulated on the receiver computer, the trans-mission of data packets being controlled by credit sent by the receiving computer. When overloaded, network switches trim the payload from packets; trimmed packets inform the receiving computer of the demands of the sending computer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable refueler for storing a quantity of gaseous fuel, optionally hydrogen, for refueling an end-user vehicle, comprising: a plurality of storage tanks, each storage tank comprising at least one cylinder which is horizontally arranged within an enclosure, wherein the enclosure is configured to be carried by a vehicle, and, a refueling nozzle for discharging a quantity of the gaseous fuel to the end-user vehicle during refueling.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, methods implement replicator shelves. A blade is slidably connected to a replicator shelf. Communication connectors are positioned on the blade. A support bar, within the replicator shelf, supports a plurality of cables to a plurality of blades comprising the blade.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein include ride vehicles configured to locally store player state caches. For example, ride vehicles may include an on-board ride and game control sub-system configured to control local features of a ride and game control system associated with an amusement park ride system (e.g., that occur locally on the ride vehicles), to locally cache player state data for riders of the ride vehicles during ride cycles of the ride vehicles, and to synchronize the locally-cached player state data with global player state data maintained by an off-board ride and game control sub-system after the ride cycles of the ride vehicles.

Abstract: The virtual queue system includes a virtual queue controller comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processor and is configured to receive a request, the request being associated with an individual guest, for a position in a virtual queue of an attraction, assign the individual guest to the position in the virtual queue in response to the request, receive ride schedule data for the attraction comprising information about a change in status of individual rides of the attraction, and determine a wait time for the individual guest for the attraction based at least on the position of the individual guest in the virtual queue, the ride schedule data, and historical guest throughput at the attraction. The virtual queue system is further configured to output a signal to a guest-associated device indicating the wait time for the attraction.

Abstract: A mosquito control device includes a connector positioned at a first end of the device. The connector couples to a light bulb socket to provide power to the device. The device also includes an LED light source positioned at a second end of the device and an electrocuting mechanism disposed between the connector and the LED light source. The electrocuting mechanism electrocutes the mosquitos upon contact. The device also includes a carbon dioxide generating device that generates and releases carbon dioxide to attract the mosquitos to the device. The device also includes a heater that generates and releases heat to attract the mosquitos to the device.

Abstract: Described examples include an integrated circuit having a transistor that has a transistor well extending into a semiconductor substrate having a first dopant concentration; a gate electrode over the transistor well; and a gate insulating layer between the transistor well and the gate electrode, the gate insulating layer having a first thickness. The integrated circuit also has a capacitor that has a capacitor well extending into the substrate having a second dopant concentration greater than the first dopant concentration; a capacitor electrode over the capacitor well; and a homogeneous capacitor insulating layer between the capacitor well and the capacitor electrode having a greater thickness than the gate insulating layer.

Abstract: A low-powered sensor, a method for a low-powered sensor, and an apparatus are provided for monitoring a condition of a machine. Responsive to receiving a trigger signal during a setup phase, the low-powered sensor collects sensor data for a predetermined extended period of time. The low-powered sensor receives a setting of a delay based on a determined amount of time of the predetermined extended period of time, since the receiving of the trigger signal, for the machine to reach a steady operating condition within predetermined limits. Upon receiving the trigger signal after the receiving of the setting of the delay, the low-powered sensor waits a period of time of the set delay before collecting the sensor data for a predetermined amount of time that is shorter than the predetermined extended period of time, and provides the collected sensor data to a computing device for analysis.

Abstract: A method for X-ray measurement includes generating and directing an X-ray beam to a sample including at least first and second layers stacked on one another, the X-ray beam incident on a sample location at which the first and second layers include respective first and second high aspect ratio (HAR) structures. X-ray scatter profiles are measured, that are emitted from the sample location in response to the X-ray beam as a function of tilt angle between the sample and the X-ray beam. A shift is estimated, between the first and second layers and a characteristic tilt of the first and second layers, based on the X-ray scatter profiles measured as a function of the tilt angle.

Abstract: An auditory function screening device includes a controller, a speaker, a microphone, an actuator, a display, a communication engine, and a memory. The speaker generates tones of each frequency of a set of test frequencies. The microphone detects ambient noise. The actuator initiates an auditory function screening test. The display displays an indication corresponding to a total number of generated tones. The communication engine communicates with an external computing device. The memory stores executable instructions that implement the auditory function screening test, which includes: detecting an ambient noise amplitude, determining a gain adjustment, generating a predetermined number of tones of each frequency of the set of test frequencies at a predetermined gain level based on the gain adjustment, presenting an indication corresponding to the total number of generated tones, and causing a use counter to be incremented.

Abstract: An intrauterine contraceptive system may include a contraceptive intrauterine device, a retrieval thread permanently attached to the intrauterine device and an insertion device for inserting the intrauterine device into a uterus. The system may also include a release thread releasably coupled with the intrauterine device. The intrauterine device may be deployable out of a distal end of the insertion device and may be configured to change from a delivery configuration when housed in the insertion device to a deployed configuration when deployed in a uterus. The retrieval thread and the optional release thread may be at least partially housed within the insertion device during insertion of the intrauterine device into the uterus. The release thread may extend from the intrauterine device through the insertion device to an attachment point at or near a proximal end of the insertion device.

Abstract: A low-powered sensor, a method for a low-powered sensor, and an apparatus are provided for monitoring a condition of a machine. Responsive to receiving a trigger signal during a setup phase, the low-powered sensor collects sensor data for a predetermined extended period of time. The low-powered sensor receives a setting of a delay based on a determined amount of time of the predetermined extended period of time, since the receiving of the trigger signal, for the machine to reach a steady operating condition within predetermined limits. Upon receiving the trigger signal after the receiving of the setting of the delay, the low-powered sensor waits a period of time of the set delay before collecting the sensor data for a predetermined amount of time that is shorter than the predetermined extended period of time, and provides the collected sensor data to a computing device for analysis.

Abstract: This application relates to audio driving circuitry (100), and in particular to audio driving circuitry for outputting first and second audio driving signals for driving a stereo audio load (106), which may be a stereo audio load of an accessory apparatus (102) removably coupled to the audio driving circuitry in use. A load monitor (111) is provided for monitoring to monitor, from a monitoring node (112), an indication of a common mode return current passing through a common return path, together with an indication of a common mode component of the first and second audio driving signals and to determine an impedance characteristic of the stereo audio load. The load monitor (111) can provide dynamic monitoring of any significant change in load impedance. In some embodiments the load monitor (111) comprises an adaptive filter (301) which adapts a parameter of the filter which is related to the load impedance so as to determine the indication of load impedance.