Abstract: The invention provides an improved drill bit and a method for designing thereof. The drill bit includes a bit body, a journal depending from the bit body, and a disc rotatably mounted on the journal. The disc of the drill bit has PDC cutting elements disposed on it. Also provided is an improved cutting structure for the discs of the drill bit. The cutting structure includes a portion that is comprised from PDC.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a plurality of gaming devices and a linked game controller in data communication with the plurality of gaming devices. The linked game controller is arranged to conduct a linked game in which eligible ones of the gaming devices participate and any award is shared between the participating gaming devices. The linked game controller is arranged to conduct the linked game by generating at least one game outcome, and evaluating each game outcome to determine any award associated with the linked game to share based on the number of participating gaming devices.

Abstract: A flywheel device includes structures allowing the flywheel system to be assembled offsite, transported safely, and installed with relatively few steps. The flywheel includes a rotor and a housing enclosing the rotor, where the housing includes a bottom plate, a top plate and side walls. The bottom plate and the top plate each includes a hole aligned with the center axis of the rotor. The flywheel also includes multiple bearing housings substantially covering the holes of the bottom plate and the top plate that are aligned to the center axis of the rotor. The flywheel also includes posts that physically contact the primary rotational mass of the rotor to prevent motion of the rotor during transport of the flywheel system. Some or all of these posts may be repositioned or removed during installation so that the rotor can spin freely.

Abstract: A mobile drive unit including a docking head assembly is provided. The docking head assembly is configured with two or more actuator assemblies to lift an inventory holder and tilt the inventory holder in two or more directions. The direction of tilt and an associated angle may be determined based on a location of a center of gravity of the inventory holder relative to the mobile drive unit. The direction of tilt and the associated angle may also be determined based on information describing external forces acting on the inventory holder.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide compression/distraction methods and tools useful for fitting a spinal stabilization system in a patient through minimally invasive surgery. The spinal stabilization system may comprise screws anchored in vertebrae. The vertebrae may need to be compressed or distracted. One embodiment of an instrument disclosed herein may comprise a shaft for engaging one of the screws through an extender sleeve. A driver may engage another screw through an opening of the instrument. Through this engagement, a surgeon may use the rack and pinion of the instrument to compress or distract one or more levels of the vertebrae in a parallel motion, which can be advantageous clinically in certain situations.

Abstract: There is provided height rescue apparatus comprising a casing which incorporates a bracket for attachment to a harness. The bracket can be releasably attached to a load element which is attached to a safety line which in turn can be attached to a secure anchorage. There is also a release means in the form of a pull cord for releasing the load element from the bracket after a fall and speed control means for controlling the rate of deployment of an elongate element stored within the casing and thus controlling the descent of a user.

Abstract: In some implementations, a first user associated with a first user account may send a request to exchange digital libraries with a second user associated with a second user account. Upon acceptance, the second user receives first library information associated with the first user account that identifies content items that may be accessed by the second user due to the exchange. Similarly, the first user receives second library information associated with the second user account that identifies second content items that may be accessed by the first user. In other examples, a user may access the digital library of a selected person or entity, such as a historical figure, celebrity, author, friend, or organization. Additionally, in some cases, a user may view content of a content item that a selected person is currently reading, and which may include annotations made to the content item by the selected person.

Abstract: Character identity recognition is applied to identify text strings corresponding to character identities in a written work. The textual strings are grouped according to character identity and, from each group, a primary name is selected. A significance value may be calculated for each of the character identities. The character identities including the primary names are presented in a catalog based on the calculated significance values.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a physical fitness test which is easy to do, easy to monitor and is easily self correcting. It involves taking a push, pull, core, and cardio test that is easy to do but can be measured for like age and gender individuals.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus is provided for measuring within a region of a conduit for guiding a flow. The apparatus includes a transducer arrangement disposed at least partially around an external surface of a wall of the conduit and having one or more driver elements for exciting in operation a helical acoustic wave propagation within the wall of the conduit for leaking acoustical energy from the helical acoustic wave propagation over an extensive area of the wall of the conduit for stimulating waves in chordal paths within the flow, wherein the waves in the choral paths within the flow re-enter the wall of the conduit to propagate further as a guided helical wave. The transducer arrangement includes one or more sensors for receiving a re-entered portion of the acoustic wave propagation along the paths within the flow which interacts with the flow and includes information characterizing properties of the flow.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus is provided for measuring characteristics of a wall of a structure and/or a medium in contact with the structure, wherein the sensor apparatus includes a transducer arrangement disposed at least partially around a planar or curved surface of a wall of the structure, or disposed over a region of a planar or curved surface of a wall of the structure. The sensor apparatus includes a transducer waveguide including at least one free distal end whereat one or more driver and/or receiver elements are mounted on one or more sides of the at least one free distal end. Moreover, the transducer arrangement is operable, when interrogating the structure to perform at least one of: switching between selected acoustic wave modes present in an acoustic wave propagation, steering an acoustic propagation direction of the acoustic wave propagation.

Abstract: A moving cavity motor or pump, such as a mud motor, comprising: a rotor, a stator, and one or more apparatus for constraining (i.e., controlling or limiting) the movement of the rotor relative to the stator.

Abstract: In some implementations, a digital work may include a plurality of objects that may be selected to view supplemental information. A supplemental information user interface may include a listing of objects from the digital work. For instance, the listing may include a selected object appearing at an identified location in the digital work. The user interface may further present a visual representation displayed with each object that provides an indication of at least one location of at least one occurrence of the corresponding object in the digital work. In some examples, a user may navigate between a supplemental information view user interface, a page view user interface, a chapter view user interface, a book view user interface, a series view user interface, and/or a library view user interface to view occurrences of a particular object in the digital work or other digital works.

Abstract: A method of representing a vehicle journey to a user, the method comprising: recording vehicle data over time for a vehicle journey; processing the recorded vehicle data in order to generate an animation of the vehicle journey, the animation of the vehicle journey comprising an animation of the vehicle; displaying at least part of the generated animation to the user.

Abstract: An elevating wheelchair is disclosed. The wheelchair may have a gas cylinder disposed between the seat of the wheelchair and the frame of the wheelchair. By engaging the gas cylinder and pressing against an assistive push bar, the user may translate the seat along at least a portion of a seat travel path, elevating the seat of the wheelchair.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide compression/distraction methods and tools useful for fitting a spinal stabilization system in a patient through minimally invasive surgery. The spinal stabilization system may comprise screws anchored in vertebrae. The vertebrae may need to be compressed or distracted. One embodiment of an instrument disclosed herein may comprise a shaft for engaging one of the screws through an extender sleeve. A driver may engage another screw through an opening of the instrument. Through this engagement, a surgeon may use the rack and pinion of the instrument to compress or distract one or more levels of the vertebrae in a parallel motion, which can be advantageous clinically in certain situations.

Abstract: A method is disclosed in which a configuration code identifying the type and specification of a vehicle (1) is stored in a memory device (2) during manufacture of the vehicle (1). Information relating to one or more types of vehicle is uploaded into a mass storage device (3) located on the vehicle from an external data source (4). The stored configuration code is then used to select from the information stored on the mass storage device (3) only the information relating to the particular vehicle (1) so that only relevant information can be accessed by a user of the vehicle (1). The method may also include restricting the information provided if the vehicle speed is above a predetermined vehicle speed.

Abstract: There is provided height rescue apparatus comprising a casing which incorporates a bracket for attachment to a harness. The bracket can be releasably attached to a load element which is attached to a safety line which in turn can be attached to a secure anchorage. There is also a release means in the form of a pull cord for releasing the load element from the bracket after a fall and speed control means for controlling the rate of deployment of an elongate element stored within the casing and thus controlling the descent of a user.

Abstract: Techniques for performing DC to DC power conversion in switch-mode converter circuits include combinations of dynamic switch shedding, phase shedding, symmetric phase circuit topologies, and asymmetric phase circuit topologies. In at least one embodiment of the invention, a method of operating a power converter circuit includes operating a first phase switch circuit portion using a first number of switch devices when the power converter circuit is configured in a first mode of operation. The first number is greater than zero. The method includes operating the first phase switch circuit portion using the first number of switch devices when the power converter circuit is configured in a second mode of operation. The method includes operating a second phase switch circuit portion using a second number of switch devices when the power converter circuit is configured in the second mode of operation. The second number is greater than the first number.