Abstract: An apparatus can include a first light bar that includes a first light guide that can reflect a first light from a first source. The apparatus can include a second light bar that includes a second light guide that can reflect a second light from a second source. The first light bar can couple with the second light bar.

Abstract: A new welding system is provided that makes use of breath of the operator to control one or more operating parameters of the power source or welding machine (or “welder”). The welding system may be configured for arc welding, and the welding machine or welder may include a constant voltage power source with varying current (or vice versa). In such an embodiment, the welding system includes a breath-based controller with a mouthpiece through which the operator can breathe or blow in air. The breath-based controller processes the user's breath to determine user input, and this operator input is communicated to the welder or welding machine (via wired or wireless communication links) to control arc intensity (i.e., current for a constant voltage welding machine) or arc length (i.e., voltage for a constant current welding machine). An operator uses the breath-based controller to remotely control the welding machine with high precision.

Abstract: An interretractable folding stand includes outer, inner, and top pairs of mirror-image members. Each outer member is rotatably connected to an inner member and to a top member. Inner members are connected by a first hinge, and top members are connected by a second hinge, so that when inner and top members are fully rotatably misaligned with respect to the outer pair, the first and second hinges can be opened to allow the inner and outer members to form a tripod. When open, inner members can engage top members to support the top members in an elevated horizontal plane to provide a stable surface for supporting an elongated structure or instrument such as an electric piano. When closed, outer members align in parallel to form a retracting channel for the inner and top members.

Abstract: An interretractable stand includes outer and inner pairs of mirror-image members. Each member of the outer pair rotatably connects to a member of the inner pair. The members of the outer pair are hingedly connected, and the members of the inner pair are hingedly connected, so that the inner pair when fully rotatably misaligned with respect to the outer pair allows the inner and outer pairs to be hingedly separated to an open position, and so that the inner pair when fully rotatably aligned with respect to the outer pair rests between members of the outer pair in a closed position. When open the outer members provide two tripod feet and a backrest, and the inner members provide a third tripod foot and a carriage, forming a stand for supporting a musical instrument, canvas, book, or board. When closed the inner members align between the outer members for easy carrying and storage.

Abstract: An interretractable folding stand includes outer, inner, and top pairs of mirror-image members. Each outer member is rotatably connected to an inner member and to a top member. Inner members are connected by a first hinge, and top members are connected by a second hinge, so that when inner and top members are fully rotatably misaligned with respect to the outer pair, the first and second hinges can be opened to allow the inner and outer members to form a tripod. When open, inner members can engage top members to support the top members in an elevated horizontal plane to provide a stable surface for supporting an elongated structure or instrument such as an electric piano. When closed, outer members align in parallel to form a retracting channel for the inner and top members.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for an injector is located in a curved portion of an exhaust line having an exhaust flow from an upstream end to a downstream end. The mounting assembly includes an indent extending at least partially into the exhaust line curved portion and disposed in the exhaust flow. The downstream wall has an interior surface oriented to substantially face the exhaust line downstream end. A recess extends from the downstream wall in a direction away from the exhaust line downstream end, and a recess aperture is formed in the recess and configured to fluidly communicate with the injector. The recess reduces the amount of exhaust heat reaching the injector tip.

Abstract: A method for determining when to perform an operation on a computing device is described. The computing device receives a direction to perform an operation. A deferral configuration including at least one criterion is also received. The computing device determines whether a criterion is met and defers performance of the operation if it is met. The computing device performs the operation if a criterion is not met.

Abstract: An interretractable stand includes outer and inner pairs of minor-image members. Each member of the outer pair rotatably connects to a member of the inner pair. The members of the outer pair are hingedly connected, and the members of the inner pair are hingedly connected, so that the inner pair when fully rotatably misaligned with respect to the outer pair allows the inner and outer pairs to be hingedly separated to an open position, and so that the inner pair when fully rotatably aligned with respect to the outer pair rests between members of the outer pair in a closed position. When open the outer members provide two tripod feet and a backrest, and the inner members provide a third tripod foot and a carriage, forming a stand for supporting a musical instrument, canvas, book, or board. When closed the inner members align between the outer members for easy carrying and storage.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for an injector is located in a curved portion of an exhaust line having an exhaust flow from an upstream end to a downstream end. The mounting assembly includes an indent extending at least partially into the exhaust line curved portion and disposed in the exhaust flow. The downstream wall has an interior surface oriented to substantially face the exhaust line downstream end. A recess extends from the downstream wall in a direction away from the exhaust line downstream end, and a recess aperture is formed in the recess and configured to fluidly communicate with the injector. The recess reduces the amount of exhaust heat reaching the injector tip.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for an injector is located in a curved portion of an exhaust line having an exhaust flow from an upstream end to a downstream end. The mounting assembly includes an indent extending at least partially into the exhaust line curved portion and disposed in the exhaust flow. The downstream wall has an interior surface oriented to substantially face the exhaust line downstream end. A recess extends from the downstream wall in a direction away from the exhaust line downstream end, and a recess aperture is formed in the recess and configured to fluidly communicate with the injector. The recess reduces the amount of exhaust heat reaching the injector tip.

Abstract: A method of producing an electronic module with at least one electronic component and one carrier. A structure is provided on the carrier so that the electronic component can take a desired target position relative to the structure. The structure is coated with a liquid meniscus suitable for receiving the electronic component. Multiple electronic components are provided at a delivery point for the electronic components. The carrier, with the structure, is moved nearby and opposite to the delivery point, where the delivery point delivers one of the electronic components without contact, while the structure on the carrier is moving near the delivery point, so that after a phase of free movement the electronic component at least partly touches the material, and the carrier, with the structure, is moved to a downstream processing point, while the electronic component aligns itself to the structure on the liquid meniscus.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for an injector is located in a curved portion of an exhaust line having an exhaust flow from an upstream end to a downstream end. The mounting assembly includes an indent extending at least partially into the exhaust line curved portion and disposed in the exhaust flow. The downstream wall has an interior surface oriented to substantially face the exhaust line downstream end. A recess extends from the downstream wall in a direction away from the exhaust line downstream end, and a recess aperture is formed in the recess and configured to fluidly communicate with the injector. The recess reduces the amount of exhaust heat reaching the injector tip.

Abstract: A method of producing an electronic module with at least one electronic component and one carrier. A structure is provided on the carrier so that the electronic component can take a desired target position relative to the structure. The structure is coated with a liquid meniscus suitable for receiving the electronic component. Multiple electronic components are provided at a delivery point for the electronic components. The carrier, with the structure, is moved nearby and opposite to the delivery point, where the delivery point delivers one of the electronic components without contact, while the structure on the carrier is moving near the delivery point, so that after a phase of free movement the electronic component at least partly touches the material, and the carrier, with the structure, is moved to a downstream processing point, while the electronic component aligns itself to the structure on the liquid meniscus.

Abstract: Desalination apparatus based on porous restraint panels fabricated from a number of different layers of metal, thermoplastic, or other substances are used as sophisticated heat exchangers to control the growth of gas hydrate. The gas hydrate is produced after infusion of liquid hydrate-forming material into water to be treated, which liquid hydrate-forming material can also be used to carry out all the refrigeration necessary to cool seawater to near the point of hydrate formation and to cool the porous restraint panels. Hydrate forms on and dissociates through the porous restraints. The composite restraint panels can also be used in gaseous atmospheres where, for instance, it is desired to remove dissolved water.

Abstract: Improved apparatus and methods for use in atmospheric moisture harvesters are disclosed. In particular, sectored or zoned cooling/condensation surfaces to optimize cooling efficiency are disclosed. In one embodiment, cooling is provided by dual-refrigerant, buffered cooling cells. In another embodiment, cooling is provided by thermoelectric cooling devices. Where thermoelectric cooling devices are used, an airway duct that covers both the cool side and the warm side of the devices can be provided, such that an airflow system that is driven by the difference in density between cooled, de-moisturized air and warmed air is established. Localized temperatures and moisture levels are monitored so that cooling can be adjusted as necessary to provide optimal, most energy-efficient condensation of moisture.

Abstract: Toxic waste waters polluted with high levels of chemical byproducts of various industrial processes (e.g., waste water held in industrial holding ponds) are treated using gas hydrate to extract and remove fresh water from the polluted water, thus reducing the volume of toxic waste water inventories. Extracting fresh water by forming and removing the hydrate raises the concentration of dissolved materials in the residual concentrated brines to levels at which the residual fluid is suitable for use as an industrial feedstock. Furthermore, so raising the concentration of the residual brine will cause certain mineral species to precipitate out of solution, which mineral species are separated from the fluid and may be put to other uses, as appropriate. Food products are also advantageously concentrated by means of gas hydrates.

Abstract: A multi-channel apparatus through which saline water flows continuously contains two separate series of channelways defined by porous membranes. The membranes have pore sizes such that a wide variety of dissolved ions can pass through them. Electrodes or capacitors suitable for attracting dissolved ions are provided within each of the channels in one of the sets of water channelways (“the concentrate channelways”). Ions are concentrated within the series of channelways in which the electrodes or capacitors are provided by applying electrically attractive force in order to capture, concentrate, and remove the dissolved ions from the other series of deionized channelways (“the deionization channelways”). Ions are captured from both sets of channelways and concentrated in the concentrate channels. The concentrate and deionized water streams flow continuously through their respective series of channelways and are removed from the apparatus separately to keep the concentrate and deionized water from mixing.

Abstract: In hydrate-based desalination or other water purification conducted using naturally buoyant or trapped-gas-assisted buoyancy hydrate in a hydrate fractionation column, a portion of fresh or purified product water is extracted from an upper, hydrate dissociation region of the fractionation column and reintroduced into a lower portion of the fractionation column at a point above but generally near a product water/saline water interface. The difference in density between the reintroduced product water and the fluid in the hydrate fractionation column above the point of reintroduction (water, hydrate, and gas) drives a natural circulation system which enhances the rate at which hydrate rises into the hydrate dissociation region.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus are disclosed for separating and purifying aqueous solutions such as seawater by causing a substantially impermeable mat of gas hydrate to form on a porous restraint. Once the mat of gas hydrate has formed on the porous restraint, the portion of the mat of gas hydrate adjacent to the restraint is caused to dissociate and flow through the restraint, e.g., by lowering the pressure in a collection region on the opposite side of the restraint. The purified or desalinated water may then be recovered from the collection region. The process may be used for marine desalination as well as for drying wet gas and hydrocarbon solutions. If conditions in the solution are not conductive to forming hydrate, a heated or refrigerated porous restraint may be used to create hydrate-forming conditions near the restraint, thereby causing gas hydrates to form directly on the surface of the restraint.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus are disclosed for separating and purifying aqueous solutions such as seawater by causing a substantially impermeable mat of gas hydrate to form on a porous restraint. Once the mat of gas hydrate has formed on the porous restraint, the portion of the mat of gas hydrate adjacent to the restraint is caused to dissociate and flow through the restraint, e.g., by lowering the pressure in a collection region on the opposite side of the restraint. The purified or desalinated water may then be recovered from the collection region. The process may be used for marine desalination as well as for drying wet gas and hydrocarbon solutions. If conditions in the solution are not conductive to forming hydrate, a heated or refrigerated porous restraint may be used to create hydrate-forming conditions near the restraint, thereby causing gas hydrates to form directly on the surface of the restraint.