Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a storage compartment positioned forward of a vehicle passenger cabin and accessible by opening a vehicle hood, a thermally conductive plate or heat exchanger in contact with a bottom surface of the storage compartment and having an associated conduit configured for circulating a working fluid from a vehicle cooling system, and a valve operable to control flow of the working fluid through the conduit. The storage compartment may be filled with a cooling medium, such as ice or dry ice, to provide enhanced cooling during high-demand operation or charging of the vehicle, such as when operating in a performance/track mode, towing a trailer, or in other extreme use scenarios. The valve may be controlled so that the working fluid bypasses the conduit when the storage compartment is used for cargo and/or enhanced cooling is not desired.

Abstract: A vehicle power system includes a motor, a battery, and one or more controllers. The motor is configured to propel the vehicle. The battery is configured to supply power to the motor. The one or more controllers are programmed to, responsive to detecting a wheel slip or a longitudinal tractive force being outside a preferred range, adjust an accelerator pedal mapping such that a same amount of accelerator pedal travel before the adjustment corresponds to an amount of mechanical power output by the motor that is different than an amount of mechanical power output by the motor after the adjustment.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a first input device and a second input device that provides a plurality of selectable input options. The plurality of selectable input options comprises a plurality of control input options for controlling a plurality of vehicle functions and an association input option for associating the first input device with at least one vehicle function suggested from among the plurality of vehicle functions. The at least one vehicle function is suggested based on historical use of the control input option that controls the at least one vehicle function and an accessibility score of the control input option.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a first input device and a second input device that provides a plurality of selectable input options. The plurality of selectable input options comprises a plurality of control input options for controlling a plurality of vehicle functions and an association input option for associating the first input device with at least one vehicle function suggested from among the plurality of vehicle functions. The at least one vehicle function is suggested based on historical use of the control input option that controls the at least one vehicle function and an accessibility score of the control input option.

Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a storage compartment positioned forward of a vehicle passenger cabin and accessible by opening a vehicle hood, a thermally conductive plate or heat exchanger in contact with a bottom surface of the storage compartment and having an associated conduit configured for circulating a working fluid from a vehicle cooling system, and a valve operable to control flow of the working fluid through the conduit. The storage compartment may be filled with a cooling medium, such as ice or dry ice, to provide enhanced cooling during high-demand operation or charging of the vehicle, such as when operating in a performance/track mode, towing a trailer, or in other extreme use scenarios. The valve may be controlled so that the working fluid bypasses the conduit when the storage compartment is used for cargo and/or enhanced cooling is not desired.

Abstract: DC supply circuitry is disclosed to supply DC power from an AC source to a DC PV panel input associated with a PV energy storage system (ESS) inverter system. The DC power may be supplied in accordance with a DC current and DC voltage. The DC PV panel input may function by adjusting the drawn current that is supplied by the DC supply circuitry based upon changes in the load, e.g. battery charging. The DC supply circuitry may function to adjust the supplied DC voltage in accordance with changes in the drawn current using a corresponding point on a predetermined DC voltage current-voltage characteristic (I-V) curve. The predetermined I-V curve may represent an ideal I-V curve associated with a DC PV panel system that is compatible with the PV ESS inverter system, thereby allowing for the use of DC PV panel inputs that may typically go unused.

Abstract: DC supply circuitry is disclosed to supply DC power from an AC source to a DC PV panel input associated with a PV energy storage system (ESS) inverter system. The DC power may be supplied in accordance with a DC current and DC voltage. The DC PV panel input may function by adjusting the drawn current that is supplied by the DC supply circuitry based upon changes in the load, e.g. battery charging. The DC supply circuitry may function to adjust the supplied DC voltage in accordance with changes in the drawn current using a corresponding point on a predetermined DC voltage current-voltage characteristic (I-V) curve. The predetermined I-V curve may represent an ideal I-V curve associated with a DC PV panel system that is compatible with the PV ESS inverter system, thereby allowing for the use of DC PV panel inputs that may typically go unused.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a bone fixation assembly comprising a coupling element and a bone anchor. The coupling element has an upper surface with a first diameter defining a first bore extending along a first axis, a lower surface with a second diameter defining a second bore extending along a second axis, and an internal surface area defining a seating portion adjacent to the lower surface. The bone anchor has an insertion end opposite of a head. The head may be curved for receipt within the seating portion. The first diameter of the first bore is greater than the second diameter of the second bore. Likewise, the first and second axes may intersect such that the first and second bores are in communication with one another. Related elements and systems of this assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of stabilizing bone, including providing a fixation assembly including an anchoring element and a coupling element, the coupling element having an upper surface with a first diameter defining a first bore extending along a first axis, a lower surface with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter defining a second bore extending along a second axis, the first and second axes intersect such that the first and second bores are in communication with one another and an internal surface area defining a seating portion adjacent to the lower surface, and the anchoring element having a head portion positioned within a coupling element; securing the fixation assembly to bone.

Abstract: A method (100) of producing toothed blades from a strip material is disclosed. The method (100) comprises: laser cutting (102) the strip material to form a plurality of teeth in an edge of the strip material; and mechanically machining (104) the strip material to remove at least part of a heat-affected portion of the edge resulting from the laser cutting. A toothed blade production line (400; 500) arranged to produce toothed blades from a strip material is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method (100) of producing toothed blades from a strip material (200, 250) is disclosed. The method (100) comprises: cutting the strip material using combined laser cutting (102a) and mechanical machining (104a) or using waterjet cutting (102b) to form a plurality of teeth in an edge of the strip material (200, 250), wherein the cutting is controlled to cut each of the teeth using a flexible programmable geometry. A toothed blade production line (300, 400) arranged to produce toothed blades from a strip material using the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of stabilizing bone, including providing a fixation assembly including an anchoring element and a coupling element, the coupling element having an upper surface with a first diameter defining a first bore extending along a first axis, a lower surface with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter defining a second bore extending along a second axis, the first and second axes intersect such that the first and second bores are in communication with one another and an internal surface area defining a seating portion adjacent to the lower surface, and the anchoring element having a head portion positioned within a coupling element; securing the fixation assembly to bone.

Abstract: A method begins with storage units receiving a request to transfer a copy of a set of encoded data slices from two or more source virtual storage vaults to a destination virtual storage vault. The method continues with each storage unit obtaining a slice transfer map and determining whether the storage unit supports one of the two or more source virtual storage vaults. For each supporting storage unit, the method continues with each supporting storage unit determining, based on the slice transfer map, a sub-set of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices that is stored within the one of the two or more source virtual storage vaults by the supporting storage unit. The method continues with the supporting storage unit sending the sub-set of encoded data slices to a corresponding storage unit that is supporting the destination virtual storage vault.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a bone fixation assembly comprising a coupling element and a bone anchor. The coupling element has an upper surface with a first diameter defining a first bore extending along a first axis, a lower surface with a second diameter defining a second bore extending along a second axis, and an internal surface area defining a seating portion adjacent to the lower surface. The bone anchor has an insertion end opposite of a head. The head may be curved for receipt within the seating portion. The first diameter of the first bore is greater than the second diameter of the second bore. Likewise, the first and second axes may intersect such that the first and second bores are in communication with one another. Related elements and systems of this assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method begins with storage units receiving a request to transfer a copy of a set of encoded data slices from two or more source virtual storage vaults to a destination virtual storage vault. The method continues with each storage unit obtaining a slice transfer map and determining whether the storage unit supports one of the two or more source virtual storage vaults. For each supporting storage unit, the method continues with each supporting storage unit determining, based on the slice transfer map, a sub-set of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices that is stored within the one of the two or more source virtual storage vaults by the supporting storage unit. The method continues with the supporting storage unit sending the sub-set of encoded data slices to a corresponding storage unit that is supporting the destination virtual storage vault.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a bone fixation assembly comprising a coupling element and a bone anchor. The coupling element has an upper surface with a first diameter defining a first bore extending along a first axis, a lower surface with a second diameter defining a second bore extending along a second axis, and an internal surface area defining a seating portion adjacent to the lower surface. The bone anchor has an insertion end opposite of a head. The head may be curved for receipt within the seating portion. The second diameter of the second bore may be greater than the first diameter of the first bore or vice versa. Likewise, the first and second axes may intersect such that the first and second bores are in communication with one another. Related elements and systems of this assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method of stabilizing a spine including providing a coupling element having an uppermost end defining a first plane, a lowermost end defining a second plane, and at least one bore extending from said uppermost end toward said lowermost end, wherein said first and second planes intersect one another, assembling said coupling element with an anchoring element, and after the assembling step, securing said anchoring element in bone.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture are disclosed for selecting a channel instance for connecting a client application with a server application in a multi-channel computer system. In this computer system, when a new channel instance is used to connect one of the client applications with one of the server applications, defined channel instance information is established for the channel instance. The method of this invention comprises the steps of when a new application connection request is made, locking existing channel instance information; and after said locking, scanning through a list of channel instance connections for one of the channel instances that is a candidate channel instance for that new application connection request. The method comprises the further steps of, in response to finding a candidate channel instance, determining whether the candidate channel instance is suitable for the new application connection request.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method of stabilizing a spine including providing a coupling element having an uppermost end defining a first plane, a lowermost end defining a second plane, and at least one bore extending from said uppermost end toward said lowermost end, wherein said first and second planes intersect one another, assembling said coupling element with an anchoring element, and after the assembling step, securing said anchoring element in bone.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing bone, such as a spine, includes providing a coupling element having first and second sections that are angled relative to one another, the coupling element having rod receiving openings for securing an elongated member such as an orthopedic rod, and assembling the coupling element with an anchoring element. The method includes securing the anchoring element in bone, moving the coupling element relative to the anchoring element to align the rod receiving openings with the orthopedic rod, securing the orthopedic rod in the rod receiving openings, and after the securing step, locking the coupling element from further movement relative to the anchoring element.