Abstract: Methods and related apparatus for depositing an ashable hard mask (AHM) on a substrate include pulsing a low frequency radio frequency component at a high power. Pulsing low frequency power may be used to increase the selectivity or reduce the stress of an AHM. The AHM may then be used to etch features into underlying layers of the substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a system and method for managing energy consumption of one or more processor cores in a multicore processing device. The method includes establishing a temporal interval that includes a plurality of temporal periods and an interval energy target for one or more processor cores. The method also includes determining for each temporal period a period energy target for the processor cores and determining a processor core throttling state for the processor cores. The method further includes adjusting the respective period energy target and the respective processor core throttling state at the beginning of each successive temporal period. The method also includes converging, subject to the adjusting, as each respective temporal period of the plurality of temporal periods is concluded, a total period energy consumption of the processor cores with the interval energy target.

Abstract: A frame apparatus for displaying a flat article and a combined frame apparatus and flat article. In one aspect, the frame apparatus includes a display frame defining a rabbet, a stack positioned in the rabbet, and a spacer apparatus. The rabbet is defined by a floor and a wall. The wall includes an engagement feature which may be a channel. The spacer apparatus is configured to be positioned in the rabbet and engagement features thereof extend into the channel in the wall of the rabbet to couple the spacer apparatus to the display frame. The spacer assembly may also be in contact with the stack to hold the stack in the rabbet.

Abstract: A fluid valve system including a housing defining a plurality of flow paths and a flow control member moveably disposed and selectively positionable within the housing. The flow control member includes a passageway having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, wherein a cross-sectional area of the fluid inlet is larger than a cross-sectional area of the fluid outlet. When the flow control member is in a first position, a flow of fluid through a first flow path is permitted. When the flow control member is in a second position, the flow of fluid through a second flow path is permitted. When the flow control member is in intermediate third positions between the first position and the second position and/or a fourth position, the flow of fluid through the first flow path and the second flow path is permitted.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for accelerated ergonomic collection of capillary blood. An apparatus and system include a blood collection module with a proximal portion including a vacuum generation chamber, a distal portion including a blood collection chamber, a concave mid portion including a pressure equalization channel configured to equalize reduced air pressure. The apparatus further includes a sealing surface to stably seal the blood collection module to the skin around a collection site and a slide latch actuated by a lengthwise sliding motion. Also included is a lancet carrier with linearly-arranged lancet strips to puncture rows of blood extraction slits in the collection site. The apparatus also includes an angled transfer port with a low-resistance non-microfluidic blood flow channel to a transfer module, then to a plasma separation module with a multilayer laminate and plasma separation membrane. Methods for accelerated ergonomic collection of capillary blood are disclosed.

Abstract: A reciprocating piston air compressor includes a programmable logic controller, a tank, a motor, a pump, a variable speed drive, a head unloader and a cooling system. The programmable logic controller and/or variable speed drive are utilized to monitor the operating state of the air compressor and to control various operational variables, such as motor and pump speed. The air compressor can utilize the variable speed drive to operate a three phase motor on single-phase power.

Abstract: A faucet is provided that electronically controls the flow volume and temperature of water being dispensed. The faucet illustratively includes a faucet body and a faucet handle. In some embodiments, the faucet may include a faucet body and be voice controlled. The faucet illustratively includes an inertial motion unit sensor mounted in the faucet handle to sense spatial orientation of the faucet handle. The faucet illustratively includes an electronic flow control system to adjust flow volume and temperature of water being dispensed. The faucet illustratively includes a controller configured to receive signals from the inertial motion unit sensor and control the electronic flow control system to adjust flow volume and temperature of water being dispensed based upon the position of the faucet handle.

Abstract: Provided herein is a photonic integrated circuit and methods for controlling a photonic integrated circuit that can utilize the resonant frequency of one or more components of the photonic integrated circuit to enhance the response of the circuit. At least one component of the photonic integrated circuit can be driven by an electrical signal whose frequency is substantially equal to the mechanical resonance frequency of the component such that the response of the optical component is increased. The component of the photonic integrated circuit can include a phase shifter that can impart a phase shift on a received optical signal. By driving the phase shifter with an electrical signal that is equal to the mechanical resonance frequency of the optical phase shifter, less power can be required to impart a desired phase shift on a received optical signal. The optical components can be implemented using piezoelectric cantilevers.

Abstract: Systems and methods directed to generating a predicted quality metric are provided. Telemetry data may be received from a from a first group of devices executing first software. A quality metric for the first software may be generated based on the first telemetry data. Telemetry data from a second group of devices may be received, where the second group of devices is different from the first group of devices. Covariates impacting the quality metric based on features included in the first telemetry data and the second telemetry data may be identified, and a coarsened exact matching process may be performed utilizing the identified covariates to generate a predicted quality metric for the first software based on the second group of devices.

Abstract: A fishing rod holder includes a tubular member capable of removably holding a fishing rod thereon. The tubular member includes a first annular wall enclosing a longitudinally extending first cavity portion and a second annular wall enclosing a longitudinally extending second cavity portion. The second annular wall includes an internally-threaded end portion at one end. The fishing rod holder also includes a spike detachably affixable to the tubular member. The spike has a stored configuration and a deployed configuration. At least a portion of the spike is disposed in the second cavity portion when in the stored configuration.

Abstract: An ingress-barrier assembly for use with pressure-operated downhole equipment can be used to limit hydraulic fluid flow in a wellbore environment for completions and operations through the life of a well. An assembly can comprise a first port to communicate hydraulic fluid with a first fluid conveyance line. The assembly can include a second port to communicate hydraulic fluid with a second fluid conveyance line. The assembly can further include a first-end stop, a second-end stop, and a moveable seal. The moveable seal can move within a bore of the assembly between the first-end stop and the second-end stop to communicate pressure between the first port and the second port.

Abstract: A database management engine provides a user interface that allows users to access and modify employee information in a database. The database includes entries for employees, and each database entry includes identifying information about the associated employee. A user can request to modify data within database entries, for instance in order to update information associated with an employee. Responsive to the request, the database management engine identifies liabilities associated with the database modification stemming from associated tax laws. Based on the identified tax liabilities, the engine computes the aggregate tax liability owed by the employer and/or employee. Before modifying a database entry, the engine modifies the user interface to include interface elements detailing the computed aggregate tax liability. The user explicitly can be required to confirm the database modification in view of the aggregate tax liability.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for efficient media indexing. An example method disclosed herein includes means for initiating a list of hash seeds, the list of hash seeds including at least a first hash seed value and a second hash seed value among other hash seed values, means for generating to generate a first bucket distribution based on the first hash seed value and a first hash function and generate a second bucket distribution based on the second hash seed value used in combination with the first hash seed value, means for determining to determine a first entropy value of the first bucket distribution, wherein data associated with the first bucket distribution is stored in a first hash table and determine a second entropy value of the second bucket distribution.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for clock signal phase measurement and control are described. In one example, a clock signal phase measurement system includes a reference clock signal line to provide a reference clock signal, a delay line to provide an output clock signal, and a wild clock. The clock signal phase measurement system includes a phase sensor configured to randomly and simultaneously sample the reference clock signal and the output clock signal utilizing the wild clock to obtain a phase data. The phase sensor is further configured to measure from the phase data a phase difference between the reference clock signal and the output clock signal.

Abstract: A sterile bag for covering medical equipment comprises: a barrier section, a flexible body section, and an attaching section. The flexible body section has a tubular shape extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof, and an outer surface, an inner surface, and an open end. The barrier section is coupled to the proximal end, and the attaching section is formed at the distal end of the flexible body section. The barrier section is a rigid or semirigid component which attaches the sterile bag to a sterile component or to an unsterile component of the medical equipment in a pleaded or folded state. The flexible body section is configured to be deployed over the unsterile component so as to enclose within the inner surface thereof the unsterile component. The unsterile component is connectable to the sterile component through the central opening of the barrier section.

Abstract: A valve repair system for repairing a native valve of a patient during a non-open-heart procedure includes a delivery device and a valve repair device. The valve repair device include a pair of paddles, first gripping member, a second gripping member, and a spacer. First and second gripping member controls or first and second gripping member control portions are coupled to the first and second gripping members to move the gripping members. The spacer element is configured to close a gap in the native valve of the patient when the valve repair device is attached to the native valve.