Abstract: A hybrid RF-acoustic relay is provided where some but not all of the incident RF power is rectified to power the relay and, optionally, to provide power for further link features. The remaining fraction of the incident RF power is used to directly drive an acoustic transceiver array in communication with one or more acoustically powered nodes. In this manner, power, control and communication can be efficiently provided to acoustically powered nodes even in situations where an RF link or an acoustic link would perform poorly.

Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods determining the minimum concentration of sealing particles to position within a drilling fluid to prevent losing drilling fluid into a hydraulic fracture.

Abstract: An isolator in an exhaust system of a vehicle is provided. The isolator comprises a bracket to be connected with an under body of the vehicle; and a gas filled cushion at least partially embedded in the bracket. The cushion is formed to have a through hole in a middle portion and the through hole is configured to receive a hanger connected to an exhaust system.

Abstract: An isolator in an exhaust system of a vehicle is provided. The isolator comprises a bracket to be connected with an under body of the vehicle; and a gas filled cushion at least partially embedded in the bracket. The cushion is formed to have a through hole in a middle portion and the through hole is configured to receive a hanger connected to an exhaust system.

Abstract: A human-machine interface (HMI) application (26) uses parallel processing. The HMI engineering system (24) allows explicit specification (44) of different cores of a multi-core processor (16) for different elements and/or actions. The programmer may design the HMI application for concurrent operation. The HMI engineering system (24) or runtime system (28) may test (56) for data dependency amongst the elements or actions and automatically assigns different cores where data is independent. During runtime, different threads for the HMI application (e.g., different elements and/or actions) are scheduled for different cores.

Abstract: An arrangement is proposed for creating and executing human-machine interface (HMI) applications in various heterogeneous computing and communication environments. The arrangement includes an engineering system for designing HMI applications based upon a library of known HMI elements, a runtime system for determining an optimum configuration for executing the designed HMI applications and a knowledge repository that communicates with both the engineering system and the runtime system. The knowledge repository stores information related to various ones of the known HMI elements, as well as information created by application developers and information generated during execution of an HMI application by the runtime system. Thus, the knowledge repository can interact with the engineering system for updating information regarding selected elements and interacting with the runtime system to collect execution information for use in subsequent application developments.

Abstract: An arrangement is proposed for creating and executing human-machine interface (HMI) applications in various heterogeneous computing and communication environments. The arrangement includes an engineering system for designing HMI applications based upon a library of known HMI elements, a runtime system for determining an optimum configuration for executing the designed HMI applications and a knowledge repository that communicates with both the engineering system and the runtime system. The knowledge repository stores information related to various ones of the known HMI elements, as well as information created by application developers and information generated during execution of an HMI application by the runtime system.

Abstract: A human-machine interface (HMI) application (26) uses parallel processing. The HMI engineering system (24) allows explicit specification (44) of different cores of a multi-core processor (16) for different elements and/or actions. The programmer may design the HMI application for concurrent operation. The HMI engineering system (24) or runtime system (28) may test (56) for data dependency amongst the elements or actions and automatically assigns different cores where data is independent. During runtime, different threads for the HMI application (e.g., different elements and/or actions) are scheduled for different cores.

Abstract: A modular linkage device used for coupling ribs of a multi-foldable umbrella frame, includes first and second modular linking halves disposed to confront each other in a pivot direction, and respectively having pivotal and pivoting holes registered with each other, and a fastening member including a shank body configured to permit a retained end thereof to fit in the pivotal hole and pass through the registered pivoting hole to be detachably engaged with the second modular linking half while an enlarged abutment end is brought to abut against an outward major surface of the first modular linking half so as to couple the ribs. The fastening member is detachable from the linking halves to permit the shank body to be nondestructively disengaged from the linking halves.

Abstract: An automatic umbrella has a signaling device including sensor and alert units. The sensor unit has a first sensor mounted on one of a handle and a lower end of a central shaft, and a second sensor which is movable with a runner and which is configured to activate the sensor unit to emit a signal once a predetermined spatial relationship is established between the first and second sensors as a result of movement of the second sensor toward said first sensor once the runner is moved to reach the handle. The alert unit is mounted on the handle to receive the signal and generate an alert indication to indicate that the umbrella is in a closed state.

Abstract: An expandable shell of a suitcase includes first and second surrounding shell bodies mated with and stackable on each other and cooperatively defining an expandable accommodation chamber for increasing the volume of the suitcase. A control unit includes a pulling cord secured to the first surrounding shell body and reeled on a reel member that is mounted to the second surrounding shell body, and a pawl and ratchet teeth disposed to control the rotation of the reel member so as to adjust a distance between the first and second surrounding shell bodies and the volume of the expandable accommodation chamber.

Abstract: A push-button operated extendable handle assembly for opening and closing a canopy of an umbrella includes a primary shell member which is movable axially relative to a secondary shell member secured to a handle-side end of a tubular shaft of the umbrella, an upper pushing unit disposed to be operated to release a runner from a lowermost position to an uppermost position for opening the canopy, and a lower pushing unit disposed to be operated to release the runner from the uppermost position to the lowermost position for closing the canopy. The primary shell member is actuated through a transmitting mechanism to move between non-stretched and stretched positions when the runner is moved between the lowermost and uppermost positions for facilitating gripping of the handle assembly in a state of use, and for facilitating carrying and storage of the umbrella in a state of non-use.

Abstract: An umbrella includes an elongated stem having telescopically connected inner and outer tubular segments, a top hub secured to the inner tubular segment to define an upper annular space therebetween, a tubular runner surrounding the stem, slidable between upper and lower positions to spread-out or collapse a canopy and rib assembly, and spaced apart from the inner tubular segment to define a lower annular space therebetween, a tubular spacer slidably sleeved on the inner tubular segment to be inserted into the lower annular space when the runner is displaced to the upper position so as to prevent wobbling movement of the runner, and movable by the outer tubular segment to be thereby withdrawn into the upper annular space when the outer tubular segment is displaced to the retracted position, and a biasing member disposed to bias the spacer into the lower annular space.

Abstract: An umbrella includes an elongated stem having telescopically connected inner and outer tubular segments, a top hub secured to the inner tubular segment to define an upper annular space therebetween, a tubular runner surrounding the stem, slidable between upper and lower positions to spread-out or collapse a canopy and rib assembly, and spaced apart from the inner tubular segment to define a lower annular space therebetween, a tubular spacer slidably sleeved on the inner tubular segment to be inserted into the lower annular space when the runner is displaced to the upper position so as to prevent wobbling movement of the runner, and movable by the outer tubular segment to be thereby withdrawn into the upper annular space when the outer tubular segment is displaced to the retracted position, and a biasing member disposed to bias the spacer into the lower annular space.

Abstract: A support device includes a post, a shaft, a seat and a driving member. The post has a top end that is formed with a through-hole extending in an axial direction. The shaft is mounted rotatably on the top end of the post, and extends in the axial direction through the through-hole in the top end of the post. The seat is mounted securely on the shaft so as to co-rotate with the shaft, and is adapted to support an object thereon. The driving member is mounted movably on the post, engages the shaft, and is operable so as to drive the shaft together with the seat to rotate to a desired angular position relative to the post.

Abstract: An umbrella includes a notch member aligned with an elongate stem along an axis for connection with a rib assembly, a canopy mounted on the notch member, and a runner slidably sleeved on the stem and connected to a stretcher assembly to stretch or retract the rib assembly. First and second coupling members are respectively secured to the notch member and the stem, and have coupling ends swivelable and frictionally rotatable relative to each other about the axis. A retaining member is disposed to prevent relative displacement of the coupling ends along the axis. As such, the canopy can be forced to rotate relative to the stem about the axis once subjected to a relatively strong external force.

Abstract: A water ejectable umbrella includes a water conduit which is disposed in a tubular stem and which has axially extending water drawing and expelling ducts that are communicated with each other by a transit chamber formed in a handle end portion of the stem. A plunger has a plunger head which is disposed in and which is movable relative to the transit chamber to perform a drawing stroke, during which a reduced pressure is created in the chamber for drawing water through the water drawing duct into the chamber, and an expelling stroke, during which the water in the chamber is pressurized to rush through the water ejecting duct so as to be ejected out of a spout proximate to an upper end of the stem.

Abstract: An umbrella includes a notch member aligned with an elongate stem along an axis for connection with a rib assembly, a canopy mounted on the notch member, and a runner slidably sleeved on the stem and connected to a stretcher assembly to stretch or retract the rib assembly. First and second coupling members are respectively secured to the notch member and the stem, and have coupling ends swivelable and frictionally rotatable relative to each other about the axis. A retaining member is disposed to prevent relative displacement of the coupling ends along the axis. As such, the canopy can be forced to rotate relative to the stem about the axis once subjected to a relatively strong external force.

Abstract: An umbrella frame device includes a runner slidably sleeved on a stem for spreading and collapsing a canopy. A retaining member has a retaining end which is movable radially in a slot in the runner and which is extendable inwardly of the runner to slidably contact a slideway on a protuberance disposed on the stem. The retaining end is brought to slip over an upper edge of the protuberance so as to be retained on a shoulder when the runner is moved to an engaging position. A sleeve member surrounds and is movable relative to the runner, and has a cam surface portion which can depress the retaining end radially with a friction force that arrests the runner in the engaging position.