Abstract: The disclosure embraces a system and method for providing a continuous communication link between a server computer and a symbol reading device, and a novel symbol reading device adapted for use in such a system. The system greatly simplifies the remote management, diagnostic evaluation, and monitoring of symbol reading devices, especially those devices connected to host devices that are not PC-based or running a complete operating system.

Abstract: In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a channel region disposed in a semiconductor substrate, a gate dielectric disposed on the channel region and a drift region disposed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the channel region. The apparatus can further include a field plate having an end portion disposed between a top surface of the semiconductor substrate and the gate dielectric The end portion can include a surface in contact with the gate dielectric, the surface having a first portion aligned along a first plane non-parallel to a second plane along which a second portion of the surface is aligned, the first plane being non-parallel to the top surface of the semiconductor substrate and the second plane being non-parallel to the top surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A parking lock assembly for a motor vehicle is described that has at least one electrically drivable driving axle. The parking lock comprises an electric drive, a shaft which is arranged in the driveline of a motor vehicle and which is drivable by the electric drive, as well as a locking mechanism which is controllable in the locking sense in order to prevent a rotational movement of the shaft and which is controllable in the opening sense in order to release the shaft. The electric drive is controllable in order to transmit torque to the shaft if, in spite of the locking mechanism being controlled in the opening sense, the shaft is prevented from carrying out a rotational movement. Furthermore, a method of actuating such a parking lock assembly is described.

Abstract: In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a channel region disposed in a semiconductor substrate, a gate dielectric disposed on the channel region and a drift region disposed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the channel region. The apparatus can further include a field plate having an end portion disposed between a top surface of the semiconductor substrate and the gate dielectric The end portion can include a surface in contact with the gate dielectric, the surface having a first portion aligned along a first plane non-parallel to a second plane along which a second portion of the surface is aligned, the first plane being non-parallel to the top surface of the semiconductor substrate and the second plane being non-parallel to the top surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: An actuating assembly for connecting a driving axle in the driveline of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The actuating assembly comprises a pump for generating a hydraulic pressure; a pressure accumulator which can be filled by the pump with a hydraulic fluid for generating a pre-pressure; a first hydraulic actuating unit for actuating a first coupling; a second hydraulic actuating unit for actuating a second coupling; wherein at least one of the two first or second hydraulic actuating units can be loaded by the pressure accumulator with hydraulic pressure and, after the pressure accumulator has been at least partially emptied, can be additionally loaded by the pump, wherein the associated first or second coupling can be actuated in the closing sense. Furthermore, a drive assembly having an inventive actuating assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A drive assembly for a multi-axle driven motor vehicle is disclosed herein. The drive assembly comprises a differential unit having a rotational axis, an input part and two output parts drivably connected to the input part, an externally controllable selectable coupling, and an externally controllable locking coupling. The output parts have a compensating effect among each other. The externally controllable selectable coupling is for drivably connecting the differential unit to a drive source. The externally controllable locking coupling is for locking the compensatory movement between both output parts of the differential unit. The selectable coupling and the locking coupling are arranged coaxially to the rotational axis.

Abstract: A drive assembly for a motor vehicle driven by a plurality of axles includes a differential unit, an externally controllable hang-on coupling, an externally controllable locking coupling, a first hydraulic actuating unit, and a second hydraulic actuating unit. The differential unit includes an input part that is rotatably drivable around an axis of rotation, and two output parts drivingly connected to the input part. The hang-on coupling drivingly connects the differential unit and a driveshaft. The locking coupling locks the differential movement between the two output parts of the differential assembly. The first hydraulic actuating unit actuates the hang-on coupling and the second hydraulic actuating unit actuates the locking coupling. The first hydraulic actuating unit, the hang-on coupling, the second hydraulic actuating unit and the locking coupling are arranged coaxially relative to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A mobile communication terminal can comprise a hand-held housing, a microprocessor disposed within the housing, a display incorporated into the housing and equipped with a backlight, a display adapter configured to control the display, a video memory configured to store data representing images displayed by the display, and a wireless communication interface at least partially disposed within the housing. The mobile communication terminal can be configured, responsive to detecting a byte sequence representing an image of decodable indicia being transferred to the video memory, to increase an intensity of the backlight to a pre-defined level, increase a timeout associated with the backlight to a pre-defined value, disable a power save mode for the display, and/or change a display color scheme to a pre-defined color scheme.

Abstract: Provided herein is a system and method for sharing control of a customer service provided by a contact center. The method may include: receiving, from a customer, a customer contact to request the customer service; communicating by use of a communication channel between the customer and the contact center in order to provide the customer service; receiving a join request, from the customer, to join an outside party to the customer service; and joining the outside party to the customer service.

Abstract: A coupling assembly for optionally connecting a driving axle in a motor vehicle having multiple driving axles is disclosed. The coupling assembly comprises an externally controllable friction coupling with a coupling input part and an output part. The input part is rotatingly drivable around an axis of rotation A. A differential drive with an input element and two output elements which are drivingly connected to the input element, are also included. The input element of the differential drive is arranged coaxially relative to the coupling output part and drivably connected to the coupling output part for the purpose of transmitting torque. A driveline assembly having such a coupling assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A parking brake assembly for the driveline of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The parking brake assembly comprises a locking mechanism, an actuator and an unlocking mechanism. The locking mechanism is able to inhibit and release the rotational movement of a shaft in the driveline of a motor vehicle. The actuator actuates the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises a locking element which is linearly movable by the actuator, and a latching element which cooperates with the locking element. The locking element can be transferred into a first axial position in which the latching element assumes a releasing position in which the shaft is rotatable, and wherein the locking element can be transferred into a second axial position in which the latching element assumes a closing position in which the latching element inhibits a rotational movement of the shaft. The unlocking mechanism forcibly unlocks the locking mechanism.

Abstract: An encoded information reading (EIR) terminal can comprise a microprocessor, a communication interface, an NFC reading device, and an EIR device, all communicatively coupled to the system bus. The EIR reading device can be provided by a bar code reading device, an RFID reading device, or a card reading device. The EIR device can be configured to perform outputting raw message data containing an encoded message or outputting decoded message data corresponding to an encoded message. The EIR terminal can be configured, responsive to completing a decoding operation by the EIR device, to initiate a payment operation using the NFC reading device. The EIR terminal can be further configured, responsive to receiving a response from an NFC tag supporting a payment protocol, to transmit a payment operation request to an external computer.

Abstract: Provided herein is a system and method for sharing control of a customer service provided by a contact center. The method may include: receiving, from a customer, a customer contact to request the customer service; communicating by use of a communication channel between the customer and the contact center in order to provide the customer service; receiving a join request, from the customer, to join an outside party to the customer service; and joining the outside party to the customer service.

Abstract: A power transfer unit assembly for a vehicle. The power transfer unit includes a housing, an internal variable speed differential positioned within the housing, a first front side shaft rotatively connected to the differential, a second front side shaft rotatively connected to the differential, an input shaft interconnected to at least one of the first and second side shafts, and at least one shifting mechanism for engaging at least one of the first and second shafts with at least one mode selection gear set. Engagement of the mode selection gear set transfers torque through the input shaft to selectively engage with a second gear set interconnected to a power transfer final drive unit assembly having an internal variable speed differential.

Abstract: A parking lock assembly for a motor vehicle is described that has at least one electrically drivable driving axle. The parking lock comprises an electric drive, a shaft which is arranged in the driveline of a motor vehicle and which is drivable by the electric drive, as well as a locking mechanism which is controllable in the locking sense in order to prevent a rotational movement of the shaft and which is controllable in the opening sense in order to release the shaft. The electric drive is controllable in order to transmit torque to the shaft if, in spite of the locking mechanism being controlled in the opening sense, the shaft is prevented from carrying out a rotational movement. Furthermore, a method of actuating such a parking lock assembly is described.

Abstract: A multi-stage laser beam despeckling device including a first laser beam despeckling module for optically multiplexing an input laser beam into a temporal/spatial coherence-reduced output laser beam; and a second laser beam despeckling module, optically coupled to the first laser beam despeckling module, for receiving the temporal/spatial coherence-reduced as an input laser beam to the second despeckling module and producing a further temporal/spatial coherence-reduced output laser beam.

Abstract: A drive assembly for a multi-axle driven motor vehicle is disclosed herein. The drive assembly comprises a differential unit having a rotational axis, an input part and two output parts drivably connected to the input part, an externally controllable selectable coupling, and an externally controllable locking coupling. The output parts have a compensating effect among each other. The externally controllable selectable coupling is for drivably connecting the differential unit to a drive source. The externally controllable locking coupling is for locking the compensatory movement between both output parts of the differential unit. The selectable coupling and the locking coupling are arranged coaxially to the rotational axis.

Abstract: A parking brake assembly for the driveline of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The parking brake assembly comprises a locking mechanism, an actuator and an unlocking mechanism. The locking mechanism is able to inhibit and release the rotational movement of a shaft in the driveline of a motor vehicle. The actuator actuates the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises a locking element which is linearly movable by the actuator, and a latching element which cooperates with the locking element. The locking element can be transferred into a first axial position in which the latching element assumes a releasing position in which the shaft is rotatable, and wherein the locking element can be transferred into a second axial position in which the latching element assumes a closing position in which the latching element inhibits a rotational movement of the shaft. The unlocking mechanism forcibly unlocks the locking mechanism.

Abstract: An actuating assembly for connecting a driving axle in the driveline of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The actuating assembly comprises a pump for generating a hydraulic pressure; a pressure accumulator which can be filled by the pump with a hydraulic fluid for generating a pre-pressure; a first hydraulic actuating unit for actuating a first coupling; a second hydraulic actuating unit for actuating a second coupling; wherein at least one of the two first or second hydraulic actuating units can be loaded by the pressure accumulator with hydraulic pressure and, after the pressure accumulator has been at least partially emptied, can be additionally loaded by the pump, wherein the associated first or second coupling can be actuated in the closing sense. Furthermore, a drive assembly having an inventive actuating assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a drive assembly for a motor vehicle driven by a plurality of axles. The drive assembly comprises a differential unit, an externally controllable hang-on coupling, an externally controllable locking coupling, a first hydraulic actuating unit, and a second hydraulic actuating unit. The differential unit includes an input part which is rotatably drivable around an axis of rotation A, and two output parts which are drivingly connected to the input part. The two output parts have a differential effect relative to one another. The externally controllable hang-on coupling drivingly connects the differential unit and a driveshaft. The externally controllable locking coupling locks the differential movement between the two output parts of the differential assembly. The first hydraulic actuating unit actuates the hang-on coupling and the second hydraulic actuating unit actuates the locking coupling.