Abstract: An underground utility locator is provided. The underground utility locator includes a wand, a GNSS module, a power module, a smoothing circuit, and a multi-layer enclosure. The wand has a top end and a bottom end and includes at least one antenna configured to output a field strength signal in response to an electromagnetic field. The GNSS module is coupled to the top end of the wand. The power module is coupled to the wand. The multi-layer enclosure at least partially surrounds the GNSS module and includes an outer shell layer and an inner shell layer. The outer shell layer and the inner shell layer are partially separated by an air gap.

Abstract: Pumps are provided, more particularly piston type pumps having increased energy efficiency, systems incorporating such piston type pumps, and methods of operating piston type pumps. The pumps are suitable for pumping of oil from an oil well or for pumping other liquids such as ground water, subterranean liquids, brackish water, sea water, waste water, cooling water, gas, coolants, and the like.

Abstract: A track shoe includes a base plate with a first linear edge perpendicular to a first axis extending along a movement direction. The base plate has a second edge spaced from the first edge and perpendicular to the first axis. A first and second side extend from the first edge to the second edge. One or both of the first or second side include: (a) first continuous curved edge extending from the first edge to the second edge, (b) plural first linear side edges interconnected with at least two of the linear side edges transversely oriented at non-perpendicular angles to the first and second edge; (c) a second curved edge and second linear side edges on opposite sides of the second curved edge, the second linear side edges extending from the first and second edges to the second curved edge; or (d) two or more curved edges without linear edge.

Abstract: Pumps are provided, more particularly piston type pumps having increased energy efficiency, systems incorporating such piston type pumps, and methods of operating piston type pumps. The pumps are suitable for pumping of oil from an oil well or for pumping other liquids such as ground water, subterranean liquids, brackish water, sea water, waste water, cooling water, gas, coolants, and the like.

Abstract: An image sensing assembly includes an enclosure that defines a first viewport aperture in a front wall of the enclosure. The image sensing assembly includes a first image sensor attached within the enclosure, the first image sensor aligned with the first viewport aperture in the front wall of the enclosure to capture image data representative of a scene viewed through the first viewport aperture. The image sensing assembly includes a bracket attached to the enclosure at a first portion of the bracket and attached to a first mounting plate at a second portion of the bracket. The image sensing assembly includes a vibration dampening mount located between the bracket and the first mounting plate to at least partially isolate the enclosure from vibration of the first mounting plate.

Abstract: A power supply may include multiple converters connected in parallel. The power supply may detect a signal that indicates how much power a device uses. Based on the signal, a converter controller may determine which of the multiple converters to activate or deactivate to supply enough power to meet the power load of the device and to operate the highest efficiency possible. The amount of power output from the power supply may be the sum of the power output by each of the converters that is activated. The power supply may use the multiple converters to operate at high efficiency throughout a wide range of power load levels. Such a power supply may achieve a haystack (i.e., near flat) power efficiency curve throughout a large part of its operating range.

Abstract: An image sensing assembly includes an enclosure that defines a first viewport aperture in a front wall of the enclosure. The image sensing assembly includes a first image sensor attached within the enclosure, the first image sensor aligned with the first viewport aperture in the front wall of the enclosure to capture image data representative of a scene viewed through the first viewport aperture. The image sensing assembly includes a bracket attached to the enclosure at a first portion of the bracket and attached to a first mounting plate at a second portion of the bracket. The image sensing assembly includes a vibration dampening mount located between the bracket and the first mounting plate to at least partially isolate the enclosure from vibration of the first mounting plate.

Abstract: An image sensing assembly includes an enclosure that defines a first viewport aperture in a front wall of the enclosure. The image sensing assembly includes a first image sensor attached within the enclosure, the first image sensor aligned with the first viewport aperture in the front wall of the enclosure to capture image data representative of a scene viewed through the first viewport aperture. The image sensing assembly includes a bracket attached to the enclosure at a first portion of the bracket and attached to a first mounting plate at a second portion of the bracket. The image sensing assembly includes a vibration dampening mount located between the bracket and the first mounting plate to at least partially isolate the enclosure from vibration of the first mounting plate.

Abstract: An image sensing assembly includes an enclosure that defines a first viewport aperture in a front wall of the enclosure. The image sensing assembly includes a first image sensor attached within the enclosure, the first image sensor aligned with the first viewport aperture in the front wall of the enclosure to capture image data representative of a scene viewed through the first viewport aperture. The image sensing assembly includes a bracket attached to the enclosure at a first portion of the bracket and attached to a first mounting plate at a second portion of the bracket. The image sensing assembly includes a vibration dampening mount located between the bracket and the first mounting plate to at least partially isolate the enclosure from vibration of the first mounting plate.

Abstract: Pumps are provided, more particularly piston type pumps having increased energy efficiency, systems incorporating such piston type pumps, and methods of operating piston type pumps. The pumps are suitable for pumping of oil from an oil well or for pumping other liquids such as ground water, subterranean liquids, brackish water, sea water, waste water, cooling water, gas, coolants, and the like.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for validating addresses of a settlement are provided. An address validation model for a settlement is generated from an address numbering system inferred from observed addresses located in the settlement, based on the assumption that a most settlements use a regular addressing scheme. The address validation model has a first axis and a second axis having headings determined from are generated by determining known address points and headings to matched points. A mapping is determined between the coordinates of the first axis and the address points and between the coordinates of the second axis and the address points. The address validation model having the mapping is used to validate addresses for the settlement. Invalid addresses may be flagged for further review by an operator.

Abstract: In some implementations, a method for distributing content feed of a live event via satellite includes: obtaining media signals for the live event from signal sources, where the media signals comprise audio and visual feed of the live event; converting the media signals into a mixed digital media signal; wirelessly transmitting, using a network protocol, the mixed digital media signal to a satellite uplink device; wirelessly transmitting, using the satellite uplink device, the mixed digital media signal to a satellite; identifying content delivery networks in electronic communication with client devices configured to receive the mixed digital media signal; obtaining the mixed digital media signal from the satellite, using a satellite downlink device; and delivering the mixed digital media signal to the one or more identified content delivery networks, through the satellite downlink device, where the identified content delivery networks further deliver the mixed digital media signal to the client devices.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided in which a satellite uplink device is positioned to distribute an event. Data is collected from one or more automatic sensor device associated with the satellite uplink device. An optimal position of the satellite uplink device is calculated based on at least the data collected from the one or more sensor devices. The location of one or more satellites in orbit is determined and one or more satellites are selected as a preferred satellite. The satellite uplink device is automatically positioned in the calculated optimal position to connect with the preferred satellite without user intervention. However, a user at a remote location may communicate instructions to change the position the satellite uplink device. User instructions are converted into one or more actuator commands and are wirelessly transmitted to the satellite uplink device for changing its position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing an audio/visual feed of events include mixing audio signals, from microphones monitoring the event, with sound board feed from the event public address system, thereby forming a mixed audio signal. A video input signal is received at each video input in one or more video inputs at a video board from one or more corresponding cameras recording the event. A video input signal is selected as the video board output and is combined with the mixed audio signal thereby producing an audio/visual signal. This signal is encoded using a video codec, at each of several bitrates, and an audio codec, thereby forming bitrate streams each comprising the video portion of the audio/visual signal at a unique bitrate. The streams are received by a satellite router and transmitted to a satellite which sends them to one or more downlink servers for Internet distribution.

Abstract: A steering arrangement including a first, second, third and fourth hydraulic chamber, the first and third chambers being operable to steer in a first direction and the second and fourth chambers being operable to steer in a second direction. A pump system supplies fluid to a steering system, which is operable to supply the pressurized fluid to one or more of the first, second, third and fourth hydraulic chambers. The steering system having a first mode wherein fluid is supplied to the first and third hydraulic chambers to steer in the first direction, or pressurized fluid is supplied to the second and fourth hydraulic chambers to steer in the second direction. The steering system having a second mode to steer in the first direction, or to steer in the second direction, such that the steering ratio is higher in the second mode than in the first mode.

Abstract: Techniques for obfuscating and securely communicating data are described herein. In one example, a client device may be authenticated with a service, for example, by transmitting authentication information encrypted with an initial unique seed generated and provided by the service. The service, upon authenticating the client device, may generate at least one first unique seed including a corresponding random number that includes a randomly selected start value and step value. The service may encrypt the first seed and corresponding random number using the initial seed and communicate the encrypted first seed and the encrypted random number to the client device. The client device may subsequently transmit data to the service by encrypting the data with the at least one first unique seed and in some cases, with subsequent seeds, generated by the service, encrypted by the first seed, and communicated to the client device.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for facilitating media playlist generation for a program participant based at least in part on media library inventory information provided by a number of program participants. The system or program in which the individuals are participating is an on-line media store. Those individuals that decide to be program participants are interested in organizing, maintaining and playing their music, based at least in part, on data derived from a population of other participants in the program that have similar or the same music in their libraries. To be a program participant, the individual music holder must send, and the on-line music store receive, data representative of that program participant's media inventory. This data typically contains identification data of the individual media items presently contained in that participant's media library regardless of the individual media item's source.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing an audio/visual feed of events include mixing audio signals, from microphones monitoring the event, with sound board feed from the event public address system, thereby forming a mixed audio signal. A video input signal is received at each video input in one or more video inputs at a video board from one or more corresponding cameras recording the event. A video input signal is selected as the video board output and is combined with the mixed audio signal thereby producing an audio/visual signal. This signal is encoded using a video codec, at each of several bitrates, and an audio codec, thereby forming bitrate streams each comprising the video portion of the audio/visual signal at a unique bitrate. The streams are received by a satellite router and transmitted to a satellite which sends them to one or more downlink servers for Internet distribution.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing an audio/visual feed of a live event include mixing ambient audio signals, from ambient microphones monitoring the live event, with sound board feed from the event public address system, thereby forming a mixed audio signal. A video input signal is received at each video input in a plurality of video inputs at a video board from corresponding cameras recording the event. One such video input signal is selected as the video board output and is combined with the mixed audio signal thereby producing an audio/visual signal. This signal is encoded using a video codec, at each of several bitrates, and an audio codec, thereby forming bitrate streams each comprising the video portion of the audio/visual signal at a unique bitrate. The streams are received by a satellite router and transmitted to a satellite which sends them to one or more downlink servers for Internet distribution.

Abstract: A piston type pumping apparatus comprises a vertically oriented cylinder having a top and a bottom with a first aperture. There are first and second passageways for liquid in the cylinder at the top and bottom respectively thereof. A piston is reciprocatingly mounted within the cylinder and has an area against which pressurized fluid acts in the direction of movement of the piston. A hollow piston rod is connected to the piston and extends below the piston and slidably through the first aperture. There is a reload chamber below the cylinder. The piston rod extends slidably into the reload chamber and has a third passageway for liquid communicating thereto. A first one-way valve is located in the third passageway. There is also a fourth passageway that extends from the reload chamber to a source of liquid to be pumped and a second one-way valve therein.