Abstract: A ball and socket joint assembly is disclosed that includes a body defining a cavity, a collet disposed in the cavity to receive a ball of a connector, and an actuator shaft coupled to the collet for rotating and translating the collet in the cavity. The cavity has a distal opening to accept the ball and an engagement feature extending into the cavity. The collet has an outer diameter larger than the opening in the body when the ball is disposed in the collet, and the collet has a corresponding engagement feature around at least a portion of the outer surface for receiving the engagement feature and converting rotation of the compression member into translation of the compression member along a proximal-distal axis of the body. The collet is compressed against the opening of the cavity when the collet is advanced distally against the opening.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for text extraction from a receipt image.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for aircraft assembly. The method includes receiving a half barrel section of fuselage in an assembly line having a plurality of serially arranged work stations; advancing the half barrel section in a process direction through the assembly line such that the half barrel section extends across at least a portion of the work stations; and performing work on the half barrel section with the portion of the work stations simultaneously.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for demolding a composite part from a mandrel. The method includes mechanically coupling a first arm of an extraction tool to a first arcuate portion of a composite part that has been hardened onto a mandrel, mechanically coupling a second arm of an extraction tool to a second arcuate portion of the composite part, and separating the composite part from the mandrel by iteratively performing the following operations until the composite part no longer contacts the mandrel: elastically straining the first arcuate portion of the composite part via the first arm, and elastically straining the second arcuate portion of the composite part via the second arm.

Abstract: A vibration attenuator is configured for use on an aircraft rotor rotatable about a mast axis and has upper and lower weight assemblies, each comprising a weight with a center of gravity being a radial distance from the mast axis. The weight assemblies are configured for rotation together relative to the rotor at a selected angular rate about the mast axis, the weights being located on opposing sides of the mast axis. A first motor is configured for selective translation of one of the weight assemblies relative to the other weight assembly along the mast axis between a minimum-moment configuration, in which the centers of gravity of the weights revolve about the mast axis in the same plane, and a maximum-moment configuration, in which the centers of gravity of the weights revolve about the mast axis in different planes for producing a whirling moment about the mast axis.

Abstract: An adaptive system for efficient and long-range wireless power delivery using magnetically coupled resonators responds to changes in a dynamic environment, and maintains high efficiency over a narrow or fixed frequency range. The system uses adaptive impedance matching to maintain high efficiency. The wireless power transfer system includes a drive inductor coupled to a high-Q transmitter coil, and a load inductor coupled to a high-Q receiver coil. The transmitter coil and receiver coil for a magnetically coupled resonator. A first matching network is (i) operably coupled to the drive inductor and configured to selectively adjust the impedance between the drive inductor and the transmitter coil, or (ii) is operably coupled to the load inductor and configured to selectively adjust the impedance between the load inductor and the receiver coil.

Abstract: A method for hardening a preform into a composite part is provided. The method comprises aligning a layup mandrel carrying a preform for insertion into an autoclave having an inner surface that is complementary to a contour of the preform. The layup mandrel is then sealed into the autoclave.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method of providing a virtual bottle service from an establishment to a user. The virtual bottle service is accessible by the user via an app on a smartphone of a user. The method comprises receiving, via the app on the smartphone of a user, a purchase request for a virtual bottle from an establishment, and after the receiving, allocating the user with a predetermined number of drinks of a particular liquor from the establishment. The method further includes, in response to a drink order from the virtual bottle by the user, decrementing the number of drinks from the virtual bottle that remain available to the user. The method may also include communicating, to the user, the remaining number of drinks via the app on the smartphone. A corresponding system that incorporates and/or uses such a method is also provided.

Abstract: The system captures portions of a label on a package in a set of images, reconstructs the label based on the set of images, identifies text in the label, determines associations of identified text and types of information, and stores the set of images, the reconstructed label, the identified text in the label, and the determined associations as, for example, a batch in a review queue. During a review process, the batch is reviewed and a structured prescription record is determined for the batch which is further used by the system and user of the system associated with the batch to provide various features to the user.

Abstract: Circuit breakers with a housing with a line side and a load side and an electronically controlled lock-out lock member coupled to the housing configured to electronically controllably travel between a first position and a second position. In the second position, the lock member is in a lock-out position and prevents the handle from moving to an ON position associated with electrical current conduction and in the first position the lock member is translated to a position that allows the handle to move to the ON position.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method of providing a virtual bottle service from an establishment to a user. The virtual bottle service is accessible by the user via an app on a smartphone of a user. The method comprises receiving, via the app on the smartphone of a user, a purchase request for a virtual bottle from an establishment, and after the receiving, allocating the user with a predetermined number of drinks of a particular liquor from the establishment. The method further includes, in response to a drink order from the virtual bottle by the user, decrementing the number of drinks from the virtual bottle that remain available to the user. The method may also include communicating, to the user, the remaining number of drinks via the app on the smartphone. A corresponding system that incorporates and/or uses such a method is also provided.

Abstract: A sighting device, such as a gunsight, includes a support. The support includes a surface. The surface has a surface first section and a surface second section. The surface second section forms a curve. A hollow is delimited by the support surface. An access into the hollow is delimited by the support surface. An elongate light collector has a first section connected to a curved second section. The collector further includes a terminal connected to the second section. Also an illuminating surface of the collector resides at the first section. The light collector first section lies on and along the surface first section. The light collector second section lies on and along said curve of the second section. A light generating source resides in the hollow.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for reducing off-flavor in aquatic species or in aqueous systems. Microbial biomass or its derivatives is provided in the form of a feed composition or into the water in an aquaculture production system or other aqueous system, thereby modulating the level of one or more off-flavor producing compounds.

Abstract: A motion control system includes a top mount, a bottom mount, a rigid housing, an air spring, and a linear actuator. The air spring transfers force of a first load path between the top mount and the bottom mount. The air spring includes a pressurized cavity containing pressurized gas that transfers the force of the first load path. The linear actuator transfers force of a second load path between the top mount and the bottom mount in parallel to the first load path. The rigid housing defines at least part of the pressurized cavity and transfers the force of the second load path.

Abstract: A device is presented for use in power distribution networks, for limiting transient overvoltages during backfeed on a network primary feeder whose feeder breaker is open and whose network protector fails to open. The device is self-contained and self-protecting, and limits the transient voltages due to an arcing single line-to-ground fault by inserting a resistance into the zero-sequence network of the primary feeder. Limiting transient overvoltages reduces damage to and prevents failures of various network components, and in particular, prevents multiple insulation failures during backfeed and reduces failures during backfeed in microprocessor network protector relays on the secondary side of network transformers whose protectors are open. In addition, the device reduces transient overvoltages associated with re-energizing a network primary feeder by closing the station breaker when all network protectors on the feeder are open, as occurs when restoring a network primary feeder that has been out of service.

Abstract: A system for providing dynamic roadside assistance coordination may include a customer mobile device or vehicle in direct, or indirect, wireless communication with an insurance provider and/or service provider remote server. The customer's device may transmit a request for roadside assistance (e.g., towing services), and a current GPS location. In response, a closest, trusted service provider vehicle may be determined, and then directed to the customer's location. For instance, a software application may receive the customer location and compare it with availability information to match the customer with a close and trusted service provider. The customer's device may receive an acknowledgement that help is on the way, and be able to track the current location of the service provider vehicle while en route. Payment for the roadside assistance may be automatically and electronically paid by the insurance provider. As a result, prompt and safe roadside assistance may be provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for designing, optimizing, patterning, forming, and manufacturing symphotic structures are described herein. A symphotic structure may be formed by identifying a continuous refractive index distribution calculated to convert each of a plurality of input reference waves to a corresponding plurality of output object waves. The continuous refractive index distribution can be modeled as a plurality of subwavelength voxels. The system can calculate a symphotic pattern as a three-dimensional array of discrete dipole values to functionally approximate the subwavelength voxels. A symphotic structure may be formed with a volumetric distribution of dipole structures. A dipole value, such as a dipole moment (direction and magnitude) of each dipole is selected for the volumetric distribution to convert a plurality of input reference waves to a target plurality of output object waves.

Abstract: The system captures portions of a label on a package in a set of images, reconstructs the label based on the set of images, identifies text in the label, determines associations of identified text and types of information, and stores the set of images, the reconstructed label, the identified text in the label, and the determined associations as, for example, a batch in a review queue. During a review process, the batch is reviewed and a structured prescription record is determined for the batch which is further used by the system and user of the system associated with the batch to provide various features to the user.

Abstract: A method is provided to produce a custom calendar user interface (UI) display on an electronic device display screen comprising: providing a search query to a user device; sending the search query over the network to a server system; receiving over the network by one or more user devices from a server system, information that identifies one or more code objects that match the search query; using the identified one or more identified code objects by the one or more user devices to generate one or more visual content items within a calendar user interface (UI) grid display on their device display screens.

Abstract: Systems and methods may use healthcare protocols for use with distributed ledger technology. The healthcare protocols may be used to, among other things, classify event data items as distributed ledger data items such that record of such classified event data items may be stored in a distributed ledger. Further, the healthcare protocols may be modified over time, and record of such modifications may also be stored in a distributed ledger.