Abstract: Methods for determining an irregular fuel request (IFR) for vehicle engines coupled to driveshafts via clutched transmissions are provided and include: determining an idle condition of the engine, generating one or more fuel requests during the idle condition, and determining an IFR based on a clutch control parameter and a fuel request generated during the idle condition. The idle condition of the engine is determined based on a vehicle speed and an engine speed if the vehicle speed and engine speed are below respective thresholds. An IFR is determined if a fuel request falls outside a range, and/or if the clutch control parameter is such that the clutch does not substantially impart load to the engine. The idle fuel request range is determined based on a combustion mode of the engine and/or a gear state of the transmission. The method further includes implementing a control action after determining an IFR.

Abstract: A data-storage system comprises a head receiver configured to variably receive up to a number M of write heads. The data-storage system also includes an installed number N of write heads arranged in the head receiver, a substrate receiver configured to receive one or more data-storage substrates, and a positioner machine configured to adjust a relative placement of each of the M write heads with respect to at least one of the one or more data-storage substrates.

Abstract: A retrievable packer device for use in a wellbore includes first and second end rings configured to be mounted on a base member and a deformable sleeve extending from the first end ring to the second end ring and configured to extend around the base member. A swellable sleeve is mounted on the deformable sleeve.

Abstract: A data-storage system comprises a head receiver configured to variably receive up to a number M of write heads. The data-storage system also includes an installed number N of write heads arranged in the head receiver, a substrate receiver configured to receive one or more data-storage substrates, and a positioner machine configured to adjust a relative placement of each of the M write heads with respect to at least one of the one or more data-storage substrates.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel injector includes determining an actual energizing time correction value for a fuel injector at a first fuel rail pressure, calculating an extrapolated energizing time correction value by performing a mathematical calculation on the actual energizing time correction value, and controlling the operation of the fuel injector based on the actual energizing time correction value and the extrapolated energizing time correction value.

Abstract: A method to record data in a solid substrate comprises modulating a polarization angle of a coherent optical pulsetrain, and, while the polarization angle is being modulated, focusing the coherent optical pulsetrain on a locus moving through the solid substrate at a relative velocity. Here the relative velocity, a width of the locus in a direction of the relative velocity, and a rate of modulation of the polarization angle are such that the substrate receives within the width of the locus two or more pulses of the optical pulsetrain differing in polarization angle. In this manner, the two or more pulses record, in different portions of the substrate within the width of the locus, two or more different symbols.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for breathing assistance that includes a body for positioning within an oral cavity of a user, the body defining at least one first opening for allowing airflow between lips of the user. Two second openings are provided in the oral cavity to allow air flow into and out of a posterior region of the oral cavity and two channels, each channel connecting a respective second opening to the at least one first opening and each channel passing at least one of at least partially along the buccal cavity and at least partially between the teeth to thereby provide an airway for the user. The airway at least partially bypasses the nasal passage and acts to replicate a healthy nasal passage and pharyngeal space.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for improving interactions with and between computers in content searching, generating, hosting and/or providing systems supported by or configured with personal computing devices, servers and/or platforms. The systems interact to identify and retrieve data within or across platforms, which can be used to improve the quality of data used in processing interactions between or among processors in such systems. The disclosed systems and methods automatically pair and unpair hardware devices that are logged into a single account. Once a user logs into their profile associated with an online account, the disclosed systems and methods perform the novel, computerized steps of auto-pairing any or all of the other devices that are also logged into the account. The disclosed systems and methods allow any number of devices to be automatically paired or unpaired through shared password-less credentials associated with a single profile.

Abstract: A data-storage system comprises a head receiver configured to variably receive up to a number M of write heads. The data-storage system also includes an installed number N of write heads arranged in the head receiver, a substrate receiver configured to receive one or more data-storage substrates, and a positioner machine configured to adjust a relative placement of each of the M write heads with respect to at least one of the one or more data-storage substrates.

Abstract: A data-storage system comprises a head receiver configured to variably receive up to a number M of write heads. The data-storage system also includes an installed number N of write heads arranged in the head receiver, a substrate receiver configured to receive one or more data-storage substrates, and a positioner machine configured to adjust a relative placement of each of the M write heads with respect to at least one of the one or more data-storage substrates.

Abstract: A system monitors use of an oral appliance including a body positioned within an oral cavity of the user in use. The system includes an appliance monitoring device attached to or embedded within the oral appliance. The appliance monitoring device includes at least one sensor including a pressure sensor generating a signal indicative of a pressure, a data store, and a processing device analysing signals from the at least one sensor to determine a usage state. In response to a determination that the appliance is in use, the processor generates usage data at least partially indicative of the use and stores the usage data in the data store. The system also includes one or more processing systems acquiring the usage data from the monitoring device and storing an indication of the usage data and/or causing a representation to be displayed at least partially in accordance with the usage data.

Abstract: Methods for determining an irregular fuel request (IFR) for vehicle engines coupled to driveshafts via clutched transmissions are provided and include: determining an idle condition of the engine, generating one or more fuel requests during the idle condition, and determining an IFR based on a clutch control parameter and a fuel request generated during the idle condition. The idle condition of the engine is determined based on a vehicle speed and an engine speed if the vehicle speed and engine speed are below respective thresholds. An IFR is determined if a fuel request falls outside a range, and/or if the clutch control parameter is such that the clutch does not substantially impart load to the engine. The idle fuel request range is determined based on a combustion mode of the engine and/or a gear state of the transmission. The method further includes implementing a control action after determining an IFR.

Abstract: A system for providing breathing assistance to a user includes (a) an oral appliance including a body for positioning within an oral cavity of the user, the body defining at least one extra-oral opening for allowing airflow between lips of the user in fluid communication with at least one intra-oral opening provided in the oral cavity to direct airflow into and/or out of a posterior region of the oral cavity; and, (b) at least one of: (i) a housing connected to the at least one extra-oral opening of the appliance, the housing configured to allow natural breathing through the appliance; and, (ii) a connector system for receiving air from a positive airway pressure (PAP) device, the connector system connected to the at least one extra-oral opening of the appliance.

Abstract: A downhole seal system comprising at least one a deformable member; and at least one expandable seal; wherein the deformable member is provided proximate, adjacent, against, or fixed to the expandable seal. Optionally, the expandable seal is or comprises a swellable seal and/or the deformable member comprises or at least partially defines a seal receiving groove and at least part of the expandable seal is received or receivable within the seal receiving groove such that the expandable seal is expandable so as to deform the deformable member and thereby increase an outer diameter or extent of the deformable member. Also described is an associated deformable member and fixing member and associated methods for producing and using the seal system.

Abstract: A downhole seal device and associated method, the seal device having a support member; first and second end members fixed to opposing ends of the support member; and an outer seal mounted on the support member. The seal device is configured for mounting on a pipeline or other elongate member.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing breathing assistance includes first and second bodies configured to be positioned within an oral cavity of a user. Each of the first and second bodies includes a recess configured to receive a respective set of teeth of a user. An adjustable mounting is configured to interconnect the first and second bodies to thereby allow a relative position of the first and second bodies to be adjusted.

Abstract: A system for performing distributed computing. The system comprises a plurality of compute node resources for performing computations for the distributed computing, a management resource for managing each of the compute node resources in the plurality, and a virtual cloud network. The management resource and the plurality of compute node resources are interconnected via the virtual cloud network.

Abstract: An optical data-storage system comprises a laser, an imaging optic, and associated computer logic. The laser is configured to emit a pulsed wavefront having uniform phase and polarization. The imaging optic is configured to modulate the phase and polarization of different portions of the wavefront by different amounts, and to diffract light from the different portions to a substrate with writeable optical properties. The logic is configured to receive data and to control modulation of the phase and polarization such that the light diffracted from the imaging optic writes the data to the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for improving interactions with and between computers in content searching, generating, hosting and/or providing systems supported by or configured with personal computing devices, servers and/or platforms. The systems interact to identify and retrieve data within or across platforms, which can be used to improve the quality of data used in processing interactions between or among processors in such systems. The disclosed systems and methods automatically pair and unpair hardware devices that are logged into a single account. Once a user logs into their profile associated with an online account, the disclosed systems and methods perform the novel, computerized steps of auto-pairing any or all of the other devices that are also logged into the account. The disclosed systems and methods allow any number of devices to be automatically paired or unpaired through shared password-less credentials associated with a single profile.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for improving interactions with and between computers in content searching, generating, hosting and/or providing systems supported by or configured with personal computing devices, servers and/or platforms. The systems interact to identify and retrieve data within or across platforms, which can be used to improve the quality of data used in processing interactions between or among processors in such systems. The disclosed systems and methods automatically pair and unpair hardware devices that are logged into a single account. Once a user logs into their profile associated with an online account, the disclosed systems and methods perform the novel, computerized steps of auto-pairing any or all of the other devices that are also logged into the account. The disclosed systems and methods allow any number of devices to be automatically paired or unpaired through shared password-less credentials associated with a single profile.