Abstract: Disclosed herein are coated beads made of a primary matrix material and containing a population of quantum dot nanoparticles. Each bead has a multi-layer surface coating. The layers can be two or more distinct surface coating materials. The surface coating materials may be inorganic materials and/or polymeric materials. A method of preparing such particles is also described. The coated beads are useful for composite materials for applications such as light-emitting devices.

Abstract: Methods and systems for cleaning a pressure relieve valve for a fuel tank are disclosed. In one example approach a method for cleaning a pressure relief valve that is normally activated at a preset negative pressure in a fuel system comprises, during a test cycle, reducing fuel system pressure to a predetermined pressure which is higher than the preset pressure, and measuring pressure changes in the fuel system; and when not in the test cycle, periodically reducing the fuel system pressure to a third pressure which is less than said preset pressure.

Abstract: This is directed to systems and methods for providing inputs to an electronic device with a button assembly. The button assembly may include a center region, a first end region that may extend from a first side of the center region, and a second end region that may extend from a second side of the center region. Each one of the first end region and the second end region may include a first flexibility, and the center region may include a second flexibility that may be less than the first flexibility.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device includes an enclosure having a sidewall with a button aperture defined therethrough, a display connected to the enclosure, a processing element in communication with the display. The device also includes a sensing element in communication with the processing element and an input button at least partially received within the button aperture and in communication with the sensing element, the input button configured to receive two types of user inputs. During operation, the sensing element tracks movement of the input button to determine the two types of user inputs.

Abstract: A method for a vehicle having a fuel vapor canister coupled between a fuel tank and an engine intake manifold via an electronically controlled purge valve, comprises initiating a vapor leak test under predetermined conditions and in response to the initiation, fully opening the purge valve from a closed position to a fully open position for a predetermined time, and then fully closing the purge valve after the predetermined time and commencing the leak test.

Abstract: A method for purging fuel vapors, comprising: purging fuel tank vapors directly from a fuel tank to an engine intake, bypassing a canister, via a venturi, while drawing canister vapors via the venturi into the purged fuel tank vapors en route to the engine intake. In this way, fuel tank vapors may be used to enable purging of a fuel vapor canister, even under conditions where there is insufficient manifold vacuum to enable a canister purge routine. By increasing the frequency of purge opportunities, bleed emissions from a saturated canister may be reduced.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for fabricating a printed circuit board (PCB) having electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and also having reduced volume over conventional frame-and-shield approaches. Some embodiments include fabricating the PCB by mounting an integrated circuit to the PCB, outlining an area corresponding to the integrated circuit with a number of grounded vias, selectively applying an insulating layer over the PCB such that at least one of the grounded vias are exposed, and selectively applying a conductive layer over the PCB such that the conductive layer covers at least a portion of the integrated circuit and such that the conductive layer is coupled to the at least one of the grounded vias that are exposed.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and machine-readable medium are described for establishing peer-to-peer (“P2P”) communication channels. In particular, in one embodiment, a matchmaker service performs a series of operations to service match requests received from a group of mobile devices. In one embodiment, the matchmaker service groups the match requests into matchable sets based on the application for which the requests are received and one or more variables associated with the application. Match requests within each match set can then be matched based on variables such as the NAT type, connection type and language associated with each of the mobile devices. Other variables such as geographical location, experience level, and age of the match requests may also be used to render match decisions.

Abstract: A method for purging fuel vapors, comprising: purging fuel tank vapors directly from a fuel tank to an engine intake, bypassing a canister, via a venturi, while drawing canister vapors via the venturi into the purged fuel tank vapors en route to the engine intake. In this way, fuel tank vapors may be used to enable purging of a fuel vapor canister, even under conditions where there is insufficient manifold vacuum to enable a canister purge routine. By increasing the frequency of purge opportunities, bleed emissions from a saturated canister may be reduced.

Abstract: Methods and systems for cleaning a pressure relieve valve for a fuel tank are disclosed. In one example approach a method for cleaning a pressure relief valve that is normally activated at a preset negative pressure in a fuel system comprises, during a test cycle, reducing fuel system pressure to a predetermined pressure which is higher than the preset pressure, and measuring pressure changes in the fuel system; and when not in the test cycle, periodically reducing the fuel system pressure to a third pressure which is less than said preset pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are coated beads made of a primary matrix material and containing a population of quantum dot nanoparticles. Each bead has a multi-layer surface coating. The layers can be two or more distinct surface coating materials. The surface coating materials may be inorganic materials and/or polymeric materials. A method of preparing such particles is also described. The coated beads are useful for composite materials for applications such as light-emitting devices.

Abstract: A method for a vehicle having a fuel vapor canister coupled between a fuel tank and an engine intake manifold via an electronically controlled purge valve, comprises initiating a vapor leak test under predetermined conditions and in response to said initiation, fully opening said purge valve from a closed position to a fully open position for a predetermined time, and then fully closing said purge valve after said predetermined time and commencing said leak test.

Abstract: This is directed to systems and methods for providing inputs to an electronic device with a button assembly. The button assembly may include a center region, a first end region that may extend from a first side of the center region, and a second end region that may extend from a second side of the center region. Each one of the first end region and the second end region may include a first flexibility, and the center region may include a second flexibility that may be less than the first flexibility.

Abstract: An invitation service performs a series of transactions to enable P2P communication between two or more mobile data processing devices. Prior to attempting to establish a P2P network communication channel, the invitation service may first collect network information for each of the mobile devices and use the network information to determine if a direct P2P network communication channel is feasible. If a direct connection is feasible, then the invitation service provides for direct P2P communication, pushing the necessary network information to each of the mobile devices. If, however, a direct connection is infeasible or if a direct connection is attempted and fails, then the invitation service may identify network information associated with a relay service. The network information may then be used by any pair of mobile devices to establish a connection through the relay service.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and machine-readable medium are described for managing data within a friend service. In one embodiment, a key/value data store can be used to provide an efficient and highly-scalable friend service database. Various techniques can be used to ensure data consistency between friend service data records. For example, in one embodiment, operations are detected which require updates to a plurality of related friend state records. A key may be generated to represent each of the operations and then used to create an entry in a write-ahead log database. In one embodiment, each entry in the write-ahead log database may specify the operation to be performed on the friend state records. If the plurality of friend state records are successfully updated, then the entry in the write-ahead log database may be deleted. However, if the plurality of friend state records are not successfully completed, then the entry is not deleted from the write-ahead log database.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and machine-readable medium are described for establishing peer-to-peer (“P2P”) communication channels. In particular, in one embodiment, a matchmaker service performs a series of operations to service match requests received from a group of mobile devices. In one embodiment, the matchmaker service groups the match requests into matchable sets based on the application for which the requests are received and one or more variables associated with the application. Match requests within each match set can then be matched based on variables such as the NAT type, connection type and language associated with each of the mobile devices. Other variables such as geographical location, experience level, and age of the match requests may also be used to render match decisions.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and machine-readable medium are described for establishing peer-to-peer (“P2P”) communication channels. In particular, in one embodiment, a matchmaker service performs a series of operations to service match requests received from a group of mobile devices. In one embodiment, the matchmaker service groups the match requests into matchable sets based on the application for which the requests are received and one or more variables associated with the application. Match requests within each match set can then be matched based on variables such as the NAT type, connection type and language associated with each of the mobile devices. Other variables such as geographical location, experience level, and age of the match requests may also be used to render match decisions.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and machine-readable medium are described for establishing peer-to-peer (“P2P”) communication channels. In particular, in one embodiment, an invitation service performs a series of transactions to enable P2P communication between two or more mobile data processing devices. Prior to attempting to establish a P2P network communication channel, the invitation service may first collect network information for each of the mobile devices and use the network information to determine if a direct P2P network communication channel is feasible. If a direct connection is feasible, then the invitation service provides for direct P2P communication, pushing the necessary network information to each of the mobile devices. If, however, a direct connection is infeasible or if a direct connection is attempted and fails, then the invitation service may identify network information associated with a relay service.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and machine-readable medium are described for managing data within a friend service. In one embodiment, a key/value data store can be used to provide an efficient and highly-scalable friend service database. Various techniques can be used to ensure data consistency between friend service data records. For example, in one embodiment, operations are detected which require updates to a plurality of related friend state records. A key may be generated to represent each of the operations and then used to create an entry in a write-ahead log database. In one embodiment, each entry in the write-ahead log database may specify the operation to be performed on the friend state records. If the plurality of friend state records are successfully updated, then the entry in the write-ahead log database may be deleted. However, if the plurality of friend state records are not successfully completed, then the entry is not deleted from the write-ahead log database.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for guiding an automated-guided vehicle includes providing a guide path defined with respect to a physical path and controlling a vehicle to generally follow the guide path. The presence of an obstacle at the guide path is detected, such as with a laser scanner, radar detector, or the like. The vehicle is controlled around the obstacle and back to the guide path. This may be accomplished by generating an offset to the guide path at the detected obstacle.