Abstract: A contact sensor for the repeatable detection of small, high frequency mechanical vibrations in external systems is presented herein. The sensor includes a metal housing with an attachment device at one end and an output at the other end. Inside the metal housing is a core assembly that includes a piezo transducer assembly suspended or isolated between an actuator and a biasing device. The actuator may be in the form of a ceramic sphere that sits at least partially within a recess on the inside of the housing and is in physical contact with the piezo transducer assembly. The biasing device may be in the form of a spring that causes the piezo transducer assembly to be pressed against the actuator at a contestant and known amount of tension.

Abstract: A resettable mechanical logic circuit is disclosed which is formed as part of a material structure. The circuit makes use of a bistable element. The bistable element may have a characteristic of being stable in either one of first and second orientations, once moved past a midpoint between the first and second orientations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for treating a glass substrate, comprising bringing a surface of the glass substrate into contact with at least one surface treatment agent for a time sufficient to form a coating comprising the at least one surface treatment agent on at least a portion of the surface. Also disclosed herein are glass substrates comprising at least one surface and a coating on at least a portion of the surface, wherein the coated portion of the surface has a contact angle ranging from about 20 degrees to about 95 degrees, and/or a contact angle greater than about 20 degrees after contact with water, and/or a contact angle less than about 10 degrees after wet or dry cleaning of the glass substrate.

Abstract: An integrated circuit with protection against transient electrical stress events includes a trigger circuit having a first detection circuit coupled to a first supply voltage, a second detection circuit coupled to a second supply voltage, and a rail clamp device. During a first type of electrical stress event, the rail clamp device is activated in response to a first output signal provided by the first detection circuit. During a second type of electrical stress event, the rail clamp device is activated in response to a second output signal provided by the second detection circuit.

Abstract: A process for serializing and deserializing instance data from a schema is disclosed. A schema can be used to automatically and dynamically generate classes and methods. First, the raw schema may be parsed into an intermediate data structure consisting of <key,value> pairs representing object properties and attributes of the properties. Then, an exemplary process generates new parser classes and methods by iterating over the intermediate data structure's keys and generating classes or class variables based on the property type. Accessors and mutators are generated for each class variable. Additionally, a serialization method and a constructor method are generated for each class. These classes and methods are stored in memory and can be used by a host programming language to transmit, receive, and manipulate data to or from an API.

Abstract: A resettable mechanical logic circuit is disclosed which is formed as part of a material structure. The circuit makes use of a bistable element. The bistable element may have a characteristic of being stable in either one of first and second orientations, once moved past a midpoint between the first and second orientations.

Abstract: In one example, a method for controlling temperature of a print dryer. High power is applied to a heater of the print dryer. A series of temperatures of the print dryer are periodically measured and stored until a target temperature for the print dryer is exceeded. Low power is applied to the heater after the target temperature is exceeded. A rate of temperature change at a time when the target temperature was exceeded is calculated from the stored temperatures. Using the rate, an initial heater duty cycle defining an initial heater power determined. PID control of the heater power is performed, beginning with the initial heater duty cycle, to maintain the print dryer temperature at the target temperature within a predefined accuracy.

Abstract: A pressure vessel includes a first (base or innermost) layer composed of a resin-impregnated woven sleeve with chopped basalt fibers assembled in the voids of the sleeve and impregnated with an epoxy resin. A second and third layer is composed of continuous basalt fiber filaments arranged in a helical pattern, with the helical angle of the second layer being not equal to that of the third layer. A fourth layer is composed of continuous basalt fibers arranged in a hoop pattern. The fifth (outermost) layer is composed of randomly oriented chopped basalt fibers impregnated with a resin matrix and compacted with the subsequent wound filaments at up to ten pounds of tension.

Abstract: An electromechanically operated fuel nozzle having at least four flow rate settings including maximum flow, minimum flow, and a plurality of intermediate flows. The fuel nozzle includes a plurality of solenoid valves, each configured to, upon actuation, permit a predetermined portion of the maximum flow through a fuel-dispensing pipe. The fuel nozzle also includes an electronic board configured to, in response to input indicating selection of a particular one of the flow rate settings, selectively actuate one or more of the solenoid valves such that the predetermined portions provide the particular one of the flow rate settings.

Abstract: An image of an eye is obtained via a camera. A multi-step filter is applied to the image for multiple iterations. Applying the multi-step filter includes, for each iteration, performing one or more pixel merge operations on the image. The pixel merge operations are controlled based on one or more input parameters to control whether or not the iteration classifies pixels of the image as corresponding to a feature of the eye. The one or more input parameters vary from at least one iteration to another. The iterations each output a provisional output, in which some pixels of the image are deemed as corresponding to the feature of the eye. The provisional outputs provide diverse definitions of the eye feature, and may be combined in various ways to yield a refined output, in which some pixels of the image are deemed as corresponding to the feature of the eye.

Abstract: A door closer, comprising a door closer housing mounted to one of a door frame or a door surface and a linkage arm for pivoting the door between open and closed positions. The linkage arm has a first and second end, the first end mounted to the other of the door frame or the door surface. The door closer includes a rotatable connector between the linkage arm and the door closer housing, the linkage arm second end engaging with the rotatable connector. The connector has a rotatable body portion and head protrusion substantially secured in a female receptor to transmit rotation about a longitudinal axis of the connector. One or both of the head protrusion or female receptor has a curved profile and is further movable with respect to the head protrusion to permit limited rotational misalignment of the linkage arm on any axis perpendicular to the connector longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to compositions and methods that are used for the remediation of near-wellbore damage in regions of formations near injection wells in communication with subterranean reservoirs. The damage is caused by previous injection of a polymer emulsion into the injection well. A specific aspect is a method of injecting into the subterranean reservoir a composition containing an olefin sulfonate, a sulfosuccinate, and a chemical selected from an alcohol alkoxylated sulfate, an alcohol alkoxylated carboxylate, or a combination thereof. The polymer emulsion is thereby dissolved, cleaned and/or flushed away from the region near the injection well.

Abstract: A flexure-based micro-array having a plurality of micro-assemblies, each comprising: an object; and at least three electrostatic actuation modules for tipping, tilting, and/or piston-actuating the object, each actuation module comprising: a base with first and second electrodes electrically isolated from each other; an electrically conductive lever arm; a first flexure bearing suspending the lever arm adjacent the first and second electrodes so that electrical activation of at least one of the first and second electrodes produces an electrostatic moment of force on the lever arm to resiliently bias the first flexure bearing and pivot the lever arm about a fulcrum; and a second flexure bearing connecting the lever arm to the object at a connection location that is different from other connection locations of the other actuation modules so that pivoting the lever arm about the fulcrum induces the second flexure bearing to pivot the object about an object pivot axis defined between two of the other connection lo

Abstract: A system and method of measuring bioelectric signals generated by an individual, inclusive of humans or other living organisms, comprises a plurality of sensors, at least one of the plurality of sensors being constituted by a capacitive-type sensor. Sensor has an associated insulated layer of material preventing the conduction of direct current between an electrode and individual, wherein a bioelectric signal of individual can be measured underwater.

Abstract: In one example, a method for controlling temperature of a print dryer. High power is applied to a heater of the print dryer. A series of temperatures of the print dryer are periodically measured and stored until a target temperature for the print dryer is exceeded. Low power is applied to the heater after the target temperature is exceeded. A rate of temperature change at a time when the target temperature was exceeded is calculated from the stored temperatures. Using the rate, an initial heater duty cycle defining an initial heater power determined. PID control of the heater power is performed, beginning with the initial heater duty cycle, to maintain the print dryer temperature at the target temperature within a predefined accuracy.

Abstract: An energy collection system uses one or more airborne energy collection vehicles having a lighter-than-air balloon structure. The balloon structure has an outer gas envelope formed of a substantially inelastic material and an inner gas envelope at least partially separate from the outer gas envelope, contained within the outer gas envelope and separated from the outer gas envelope by a flexible diaphragm. The space between the outer and inner gas envelopes is filled with air. An air chamber pressurization mechanism maintains the outer gas envelope gas pressure at a target value. An energy storage facility receives energy from a photovoltaic collector array and converts the received energy to stored energy. Storage of the received energy can be accomplished by conversion of a precursor to a high energy fuel as the stored energy, by use of storage batteries or by storage in an inertial mass.

Abstract: Technologies are disclosed herein for providing a media application service for predictive caching of media content on a mobile device. The media application service is configured to consider usage data related to media content playback by a user on one or more devices, a connectivity profile of the mobile device, and to generate a list of media content to cache on the mobile device when power and network connectivity requirements of the mobile device are met or exceeded.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods can be used to deliver temperature-controlled medical fluids to patients. For example, this disclosure provides devices, systems, and methods for controlling the temperature of dialysate delivered to a patient during a peritoneal dialysis treatment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automated fluid sampling for tracer testing are described. In one aspect, an automated fluid sampling system includes a pressurized line, such as a production well or an injection well connectively and a fluid separation vessel receiving sample fluids therefrom. The fluid separation vessel includes a plunger and is configured for gravity-mediated phase separation of the sample fluids into a plurality of aqueous, organic and/or gas phase fluid fractions and includes pluralities of inlet and outlet ports for mediating flow of sample fluids therethrough. At least one purging fluid source, such as a gas or liquid, is used for driving the plunger. Sample fluid collection vessels receive phase-separated sample fluids from the fluid separation vessel.

Abstract: Articles utilizing strengthened glass substrates, for example, ion-exchanged glass substrates, in combination with organic molecules or polymers are described along with methods for making the articles. The articles are useful in electronics-based devices that utilize organic thin film transistors.