Abstract: Interconnects and methods of fabricating a plurality of interconnects. The method includes depositing a conformal layer of a plating base in each of a plurality of vias, and depositing a photoresist on two portions of a surface of the plating base outside and above the plurality of vias. The method also includes depositing a plating metal over the plating base in each of the plurality of vias, the depositing resulting in each of the plurality of vias being completely filled or incompletely filled, performing a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP), and performing metrology to determine if any of the plurality of vias is incompletely filled following the depositing the plating metal. A second iteration of the depositing the plating metal over the plating base is performed in each of the plurality of vias based on determining that at least one of the plurality of vias is incompletely filled.

Abstract: Equipment and a machine and a process for continuously casting strips of battery foils and/or strips of battery grids. The battery foils and grids are composed of lead or a lead alloy material. The foils, in particular, can be employed as current collectors in bipolar batteries. The machine, per an implementation, has a mold ring, a movable belt, one or more rollers, and one or more shoes. The mold ring rotates and has a mold cavity. The mold cavity can establish foil molds or grid molds. The movable belt moves about the roller(s) with a face in confrontation with the mold ring. The shoe(s) urges the movable belt into engagement with the mold ring. Liquid lead is delivered to the mold cavity adjacent the location in which the movable belt engages the mold ring amid use of the machine.

Abstract: A method of identifying a vehicle total loss claim includes retrieving a plurality of historical vehicle records, labeling the records as repaired or total loss, calculating mean cost values, training a regression model, optimizing a probability threshold, analyzing a plurality of inputs to generate a prediction, and transmitting the prediction. A computing system includes a transceiver; a processor; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing system to receive answers, transmit the answers, receive a prediction, when the prediction is repairable, generate a repair suggestion, and when the prediction is total loss, generate a settlement offer. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions that when executed, cause a computer to receive answers, transmit the answers, receive a prediction, when the prediction is repairable, generate a repair suggestion, and when prediction is total loss, generate a settlement offer.

Abstract: A system and process for injection molding polymer articles is described. The system and process are designed to reduce gate blush. In one embodiment, an injection molding device injects a molten polymer composition into a mold cavity adjacent to an interior curved surface on the mold. The flow of the polymer material is parallel to a line that is tangent to the curved surface.

Abstract: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are destroyed by oxidation in supercritical conditions. PFAS in water can be concentrated and prepared for destruction in a pretreatment phase. Following annihilation of the PFAS in supercritical conditions to levels below 5 parts per trillion (ppt), the water effluent can be used to recover heat, returned to sub-critical conditions, and then released back into the environment.

Abstract: A motion planning system and method receives requests for routing a set of dissimilar aircraft through a defined airspace. Each aircraft has a starting and destination position relative to the airspace. A start state is based on the earliest start, and a goal state on the destination. The system connects start and goal states via a sequence of next states by projecting each state incrementally forward in time. Candidate next states include all possible next paths to a next position of each aircraft combined with next paths and positions of its neighbors, with unsafe next states culled from the set. Remaining next states are prioritized on the basis of aggregate system cost for all next paths and an estimated system cost to achieve the goal state, and an optimal next state is added to the sequence. When the goal state is achieved, optimal flight plans are generated for each aircraft.

Abstract: A safety helmet includes an outer shell configured for surrounding a head of a user, and an infrared reflective layer disposed in an interior of the outer shell. The infrared reflective layer is configured for reflecting at a least a portion of incident infrared radiation transmitted through the outer shell. The infrared reflective layer has infrared reflectivity of at least 40%. The safety helmet further may have an evaporative cooling pad positioned within a cavity defined by the inner surface of the outer shell. A method of manufacturing a safety helmet is also disclosed.

Abstract: For making battery electrodes, a composite strip of a cast ribbon of an electrically conductive metal attached to and extending along an edge of a web of electrically conductive carbon fiber material, also called a carbon felt in some examples, with a plurality of spaced apart notches cast in the ribbon and opening to an edge of the ribbon spaced from the carbon fiber material. A rotatable drum with a mold cavity and a confronting casting shoe for supplying molten metal, such as liquid lead, to the cavity may be used in a casting machine to continuous cast the composite strip.

Abstract: Methods for forming melt processable, actinic radiation polymerizable and crosslinkable adhesives are described. In certain versions, the adhesives or pre-adhesive compositions include two initiators and are polymerized and/or crosslinked by exposure to actinic radiation such as UV light or electron beam radiation. Also described are pre-adhesive compositions including polymerizable monomers, articles including the adhesives, and various methods and systems related to the adhesives and their application. In addition, various apparatuses are described for polymerizing or crosslinking the compositions.

Abstract: Methods for forming melt processable, actinic radiation polymerizable and crosslinkable adhesives are described. In certain versions, the adhesives or pre-adhesive compositions include two initiators and are polymerized and/or crosslinked by exposure to actinic radiation such as UV light or electron beam radiation. Also described are pre-adhesive compositions including polymerizable monomers, articles including the adhesives, and various methods and systems related to the adhesives and their application. In addition, various apparatuses are described for polymerizing or crosslinking the compositions.

Abstract: Lock mounting assemblies are disclosed for storing and mounting a locking apparatus to a transportation device. The mounting assemblies include one or more straps or connectors for securing the mounting assembly to the transportation device. The mounting assemblies having a structure to securely retain the locking apparatus on the transportation device and provide easy access to and release of the locking apparatus from the mounting assembly.

Abstract: A method of identifying a vehicle total loss claim includes retrieving a plurality of historical vehicle records, labeling the records as repaired or total loss, calculating mean cost values, training a regression model, optimizing a probability threshold, analyzing a plurality of inputs to generate a prediction, and transmitting the prediction. A computing system includes a transceiver; a processor; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing system to receive answers, transmit the answers, receive a prediction, when the prediction is repairable, generate a repair suggestion, and when the prediction is total loss, generate a settlement offer. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions that when executed, cause a computer to receive answers, transmit the answers, receive a prediction, when the prediction is repairable, generate a repair suggestion, and when prediction is total loss, generate a settlement offer.

Abstract: A modular plank is provided. The modular plank includes a body portion extending in a longitudinal direction and a plurality of protrusions extending outward from a first end of the body portion in the longitudinal direction. The plurality of protrusions each include a cross-section that changes size as the cross-section extends outwardly from the body portion in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the cross-section includes an upper end that is sized differently than a lower end.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a column for construction using bundled tube are provided. The column having a bottom portion, a middle portion, and a top portion. Each portion consists of a bundle of individual pillars, comprising a center pillar, a plurality of corner pillars, and a plurality of middle pillars. From the bottom portion of the column, addition pillars can be affixed on top of the pillars of the bottom portion, thus forming the middle and the top portion of the column. Each pillar can be secured to another component using a thread stepped dowel comprising of a base section, at least one middle section, and a tip section, with each section being progressively smaller in circumference than the last. The at least one middle section of the threaded stepped dowel further comprises thread spiraling around the outer surface of the at least one middle section.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for facilitating accessing home surveillance device data, preferably an IP camera video stream, by a remote user device at the remote user device's instigation, over the Internet through a home router, the facilitating including incorporating a smart gateway in local communication with the home router and in persistent or intermittent communication with a remote Internet server to facilitate communication of data over the Internet at the remote user device's request through direct communication between the remote user device and the smart gateway, the smart gateway in local communication With the home surveillance device such as an IP camera, the direct communication facilitated by a “hole punch” type of technique.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing a crush strength of a panel. The system having a panel being made from side-grain wood, a bore that extends partly or completely through the panel, and a plug made from end-grain wood. Because end-grain wood has a significantly higher crush strength per square inch than side-grain wood, a topical crush strength of the panel can be increased through the use of the plug. The plug can further be provided with a hollow portion to be used with a thread stepped dowel comprising of a base section, at least one middle section, and a tip section, with each section being progressively smaller in circumference than the last. The at least one middle section of the threaded stepped dowel further comprises thread spiraling around the outer surface of the at least one middle section.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a column for construction using bundled tube are provided. The column having a bottom portion, a middle portion, and a top portion. Each portion consists of a bundle of individual pillars, comprising a center pillar, a plurality of corner pillars, and a plurality of middle pillars. From the bottom portion of the column, addition pillars can be affixed on top of the pillars of the bottom portion, thus forming the middle and the top portion of the column. Each pillar can be secured to another component using a thread stepped dowel comprising of a base section, at least one middle section, and a tip section, with each section being progressively smaller in circumference than the last. The at least one middle section of the threaded stepped dowel further comprises thread spiraling around the outer surface of the at least one middle section.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a column for construction using bundled tube are provided. The column having a bottom portion, a middle portion, and a top portion. Each portion consists of a bundle of individual pillars, comprising a center pillar, a plurality of corner pillars, and a plurality of middle pillars. From the bottom portion of the column, addition pillars can be affixed on top of the pillars of the bottom portion, thus forming the middle and the top portion of the column. Each pillar can be secured to another component using a thread stepped dowel comprising of a base section, at least one middle section, and a tip section, with each section being progressively smaller in circumference than the last. The at least one middle section of the threaded stepped dowel further comprises thread spiraling around the outer surface of the at least one middle section.

Abstract: An apparatus guides first and second assembly components into a predetermined configuration, each assembly component including an opening. When the assembly components are aligned into the predetermined configuration, their openings align to define a cavity for receiving a stepped dowel to fasten the components together. The guiding apparatus includes a stepped dowel member having successively-smaller dowel sections, and a collar member floating around the base of the stepped dowel member. The stepped dowel member tip can be passed through the first assembly component opening and inserted into the second assembly component opening, drawing the components into the predetermined configuration. When the components are aligned into the predetermined configuration, the collar member engages the first assembly component opening and the stepped dowel member engages the second assembly component opening.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a column for construction using bundled tube are provided. The column having a bottom portion, a middle portion, and a top portion. Each portion consists of a bundle of individual pillars, comprising a center pillar, a plurality of corner pillars, and a plurality of middle pillars. From the bottom portion of the column, addition pillars can be affixed on top of the pillars of the bottom portion, thus forming the middle and the top portion of the column. Each pillar can be secured to another component using a thread stepped dowel comprising of a base section, at least one middle section, and a tip section, with each section being progressively smaller in circumference than the last. The at least one middle section of the threaded stepped dowel further comprises thread spiraling around the outer surface of the at least one middle section.