Abstract: A method for controlling an orientation of a steerable distal portion of an elongate instrument, said instrument comprising at least one tensioning member attached to said steerable distal portion may include receiving an input command at a controller for articulation of said steerable distal portion, the articulation correlating to an approximate y-bend and an approximate x-bend of said steerable distal portion; calculating an approximate overall bend from said approximate y-bend and said approximate x-bend; and setting a limit of said approximate overall bend beyond which said steerable distal portion is not permitted to achieve. The method may further include one of: causing actuation of said at least one tensioning member to achieve said y-bend and said x-bend on a condition of said calculated approximate overall bend being equal to or less than said limit, and repeating the receiving, calculating, and setting steps on a condition of said calculated approximate overall bend being greater than said limit.

Abstract: A protective film includes an adhesive material configured for “dry” application to a surface that is to be protected, such as the surface of an electronic device. An installation assembly that includes the protective film is configured to minimize or eliminate contact with the protective film as it is applied to the surface that is to be protected. Methods for manufacturing a protective film and an installation assembly that includes the protective film may be effected in contaminant-free conditions. Methods for applying the protective film are also disclosed, as are devices (e.g., electronic devices, etc.) with at least one surface covered with a protective film.

Abstract: A multi-functional endosurgical device (1) comprises a tube (3), an end effector (21), and a device operating part (4). The tube (3) several lengthwise extending channels (9) for supplying a liquid and suction to the end effector (21) and to apply current to perform diathermy. A slide rail assembly (5) comprises at a main slide guide body (46) that accommodates an end effector slider (47) and a junction slider (48). The end effector slider (47) slides in the guideway (54) and is connected to the effector sleeve (17) through one of the lengthwise extending channels to operate said effector sleeve (17) in relation to the end effector. The junction slider (48) also slides in the guideway (54) downstream the end effector slider (47). The junction slider (48) is connected to the tube (3) to arrange at least a first lengthwise extending channel (9), a second lengthwise extending channel (10) and a third lengthwise extending channel (15) of the tube (3) in communication with the end effector (21).

Abstract: Systems and methods for printing a three-dimensional object containing information embedded as three-dimensional physical representations are disclosed. The methods include receiving information to be embedded in the three-dimensional object, determining a mapping between the received information and a plurality of three-dimensional physical representations to be embedded in the three-dimensional object, generating a build sequence that will cause the three-dimensional printing device to print the three-dimensional object comprising the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations in accordance with the mapping. The three-dimensional printing device uses the build sequence to print the three-dimensional object comprising the plurality of three-dimensional physical representations.

Abstract: A pressure therapy device includes a pressure chamber, an inflatable padding, a seal, and a positioning mechanism. The pressure chamber has an opening arranged for admitting the inflatable padding and a limb of a user. The inflatable padding is inflatable to enclose and fix the limb in position. The seal covers the opening, including the inflatable padding and the limb to seal the pressure chamber from ambient atmospheric pressure. A pump unit is provided to generate a non-atmospheric pressure within the pressure chamber and includes a first valve system and a piston with safety release features for preventing unsafe pressure levels.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a vehicle toll module, which may comprise a first antenna, a radio frequency power detector, an attenuator, and/or a controller. The first antenna may receive a first signal from a toll collection system remotely located relative the vehicle and generate a first output based thereon. The radio frequency power detector may be configured to adjust the first output to generate a second output. The attenuator may be configured to receive the second output and generate a third output based thereon. The controller may be connected to the attenuator and configured to: receive the third output, extract data from the second output, and generate a third output based on a unique identifier associated with the toll module, in response to the extracted data. Additionally, the third output may be received by an antenna which may either transmit a second signal or backscatters the first signal.

Abstract: A fire prevention system for a building. The fire protection system has an inlet duct having an interior end and an exterior end. An air handler is disposed at the interior end of the inlet duct to provide air from outside the building to the air handler. A flame arrester is located at the exterior end of the inlet duct to prevent burning embers from entering the inlet duct. The fire protection system also includes an interior duct system for distributing air from the air handler through the building. Distribution vents in the interior duct system allow flow of air from the interior duct system to the interior of the building to raise the pressure in the building above the outside pressure. Exhaust vents to allow flow of air out of the building. Also, a method for fire prevention for a building exposed to a fire.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining training data including a plurality of training audio signals and corresponding transcripts. Each training audio signal is spoken by a target speaker in a first accent/dialect. For each training audio signal of the training data, the method includes generating a training synthesized speech representation spoken by the target speaker in a second accent/dialect different than the first accent/dialect and training a text-to-speech (TTS) system based on the corresponding transcript and the training synthesized speech representation. The method also includes receiving an input text utterance to be synthesized into speech in the second accent/dialect. The method also includes obtaining conditioning inputs that include a speaker embedding and an accent/dialect identifier that identifies the second accent/dialect.

Abstract: Processing O-rings in an automated mass production system includes advancing an O-ring retainer toward a loading position in alignment with an output end of a feed device, discharging a leading O-ring from the output end in electronic synchronization with advancement of the O-ring retainer to the loading position to initiate loading of the O-ring into the retainer prior to the retainer arriving at the loading position, after loading the O-ring into the retainer, advancing the retainer away from the loading position toward an unloading position, and moving an end effector in electronic synchronization with advancement of the retainer to the unloading position to synchronize arrival of the retainer at the unloading position with arrival of the end effector at a pick-up position in alignment with the O-ring at the unloading position for pick up of the O-ring by the end effector.

Abstract: A transportation system is disclosed. The transportation system includes a vehicle, a plurality of seating assemblies positioned within a passenger compartment of the vehicle and defining an arrangement, a plurality of actuators that effect movement of various components of the plurality of seating assemblies, a plurality of sensors, and a controller. Specific examples of pre-set or pre-programmed arrangements are disclosed, as well as the ability to customize the arrangement. Additionally, exemplary methods are disclosed that illustrate transitions between a variety of the pre-set or pre-programmed arrangements.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an annular or semi-annular composite component having a circumferentially-extending base and a flange, the apparatus including: a loom for weaving a woven preform of fibre reinforcement material for the composite component; a rotatable mandrel configured to receive and draw the woven preform through the loom for weaving; and a guide disposed between the loom and the rotatable mandrel, configured so that a woven preform drawn by the rotatable mandrel along a guide path under tension engages the guide to transition to a flanged profile at a lip of the guide before being received on the mandrel.

Abstract: A computing device may determine one or more characteristics of a gaming application executing at one or more processors of the computing device. The computing device may determine a gameplay state of the gaming application executing at the one or more processors based at least in part on the one or more characteristics. The computing device may adjust, based at least in part on the state of the gaming application, a target frame rate of image data outputted by the gaming application for display at a display device. The computing device may output, based at least in part on the adjusted target frame rate, the image data for display at the display device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a thin, lightweight, flexible, strong multi-layer barrier fabric is provided that offers extended breakthrough time against hazardous materials. The multi-layer barrier fabric is arranged as a layer stack that includes an inner layer of facing fabric, an adsorbent layer of adsorptive fabric, a barrier layer of low-permeability fabric and an outer layer of facing fabric. The facing fabric provides tensile strength. The adsorptive fabric and the low-permeability fabric interact synergistically. The barrier layer improves capture effectiveness of the adsorbent layer by both slowing down the hazardous material to increase its residence time in the adsorbent layer and decreasing the escape probability of stray molecules of hazardous material that are not initially intercepted by the adsorptive fabric. The adsorbent layer improves barrier effectiveness of the barrier layer by reducing the concentration of hazardous material challenging the low-permeability fabric of the barrier layer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for stabilizing image data based on a lens polynomial. Non-rectilinear footage can be captured and rectified in-camera; the rectified images may be stabilized to provide rectified stable video. In one exemplary embodiment, the footage is rectified and stabilized based on a lens polynomial and the camera's own movement. In some variants, the rectified stable video may be stored along with its margin track. In-camera rectified stable video provides several benefits over traditional techniques (e.g., the ability to share rectilinear content from the camera without additional post-processing, as well as reduced file sizes of the shared videos). Lens-aware post-processing can reuse portions of the in-camera rectified stable videos while providing additional benefits (e.g., the ability to re-frame the video in post-production).

Abstract: According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure a car seat having an adjustable headrest is disclosed. The car seat comprises a shell; an adjustment portion coupled to the shell, the adjustment portion having a plurality of grooves; a headrest portion slidably coupled to the adjustment portion; at least one prong coupled to the headrest portion, the at least one prong configured to fit within a groove of the plurality of grooves; a handle; and a fixing member coupled to the handle, the fixing member being configured to retain the at least one prong in a fixed state.

Abstract: An electric machine with a low profile retention assembly for retention of a stator core is disclosed. A first housing houses the stator core. The first housing has an axial end face with a circumferentially extending, shaped profile having recessed portions that project axially inward alternating with non-recessed portions. A portion of the stator core extends axially out from the recessed portions. A core retention spring is disposed circumferentially at the axial end face of the first housing. The core retention spring has direct contact with the portion of the stator core that extends axially out from the recessed portions of the first housing and the shaped profile of the housing. The core retention spring pushes against the portion of the stator core that extends that extends axially out from the first housing, imparting one or more of an axial load and radial load into the stator core.

Abstract: This invention concerns a series of excipients capable of effectively reducing the viscosity of protein formulations. The viscosity reducing excipients are oligopeptides (e.g., dipeptides, tripeptides) comprising at least one arginine. The peptides may also include basic or acidic or hydrophilic or hydrophobic/aromatic amino acids. An arginine residue may be either at the amino or the carboxyl end of the oligopeptide.

Abstract: Various examples provide a semiconductor package. The semiconductor package includes a substrate having first and second opposed substantially planar major surfaces extending in an x-y direction. The package further includes a bridge die having third and fourth opposed substantially planar major surfaces extending in the x-y direction. The third substantially planar major surface of the bridge die is in direct contact with the second substantially planar major surface of the substrate. The semiconductor package further includes a through silicon via extending in a z-direction through the first substantially planar major surface of the substrate and the fourth substantially planar major surface of the bridge die. The semiconductor package further includes a power source coupled to the through silicon via, a first electronic component electronically coupled to the bridge die, and a second electronic component electronically coupled to the bridge die.

Abstract: A vessel including a thermoplastic wall enclosing a lumen is disclosed. The wall supports an SiOx composite barrier coating or layer, for which x is from 1.8 to 2.4, between the wall and the lumen. High Resolution X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) shows the presence of an interface between the composite barrier coating or layer and the wall or substrate. In one aspect, the interface has at least 1 mol. % O3—Si—C covalent bonding, as a proportion of the O3—Si—C covalent bonding plus SiO4 bonding. In another aspect, the interface has an Si 2p chemical shift to lower binding energy (eV), compared to the binding energy of SiO4 bonding. The result is a tightly adherent composite barrier coating or layer having a high degree of adhesion to the substrate under practical use conditions. Methods of applying the composite barrier coating or layer are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic device may receive a first signal from a first transmitting device at a first time. The electronic device may receive a second signal from a second transmitting device at a second time. The electronic device may access location information for the first transmitting device and the second transmitting device. The electronic device may receive a message from a second electronic device having a known distance relationship to the first transmitting device and the second transmitting device, wherein the second electronic device is configured to receive the first signal, the second signal, and the message including timing information of the signals. The electronic device may determine the position of the electronic device using the location information and the timing information, wherein the position is dependent on the known distance relationship.