Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a novel interfacial surface generator (ISG) design comprised of helical channels and associated methods of using the new design. The novel design addresses processing challenges associated with conventional ISG designs used in layer multiplying coextrusion systems. Embodiments of the present invention may be used in either a static configuration or “active” configuration. In one active configuration, two counter-rotating cylindrical rods and/or moving belts may be used to induce drag, or Couette, flow. Conveyance of materials through the ISG may be due to pressure driven flow, drag flow, or a combination of these.

Abstract: An airbag module for a supplemental restraint system of a vehicle can include an inflator, an airbag attached to the inflator and in fluid communication with the inflator; and a module controller mounted to the inflator. The module controller can be configured to: determine an elapsed service time of the inflator based on the identification information of the vehicle; compare the elapsed service time to a first time threshold; and output a disable signal to the SRS controller commanding the SRS controller to disable a firing pulse for the inflator when the elapsed service time is greater than or equal to the first time threshold.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for fault detection in a microprocessor-based system uses a serial data communication protocol for communications between a peripheral device and a controller. Peripheral device interface circuitry is adapted to intermittently receive input serial data frames from the controller using the serial communication protocol and to intermittently send output serial data frames to the controller using the serial communication protocol. Each output serial data frame includes one or more status bits representing communication status data and one or more data bits representing peripheral device data. The status bits and the data bits are serially followed by at least one fault bit that indicates whether a fault is detected during sending of the output serial data frame.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight and low-cost stretchable radio frequency (RF) coil of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one example, a RF coil assembly for a MRI system includes a loop portion comprising distributed capacitance conductor wires, a coupling electronics portion including a pre-amplifier; and a stretchable material to which the loop portion and coupling electronics portion are attached and/or enclosed therein.

Abstract: A medical device inspection system may include a base, a medical device holder on the base, a fiber scope holder on the base, a moveable roller moveably attached to the base such that it is free to rotate around an axis and move from a first position to a second position along the base, and a feeder coupled with the base for feeding a flexible portion of the fiber scope into a lumen of the medical device. During use, the flexible portion of the fiber scope may extend from the handle, around the moveable roller, and through the feeder to enter an opening in the lumen of the medical device.

Abstract: A compact catheter assembly and methods of making such a catheter are disclosed. The catheter assembly incudes a receiver and a catheter sub-assembly. The catheter sub-assembly includes a gripping member and a catheter tube carried by the gripping member.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an enclosure of a vapor compression system, where a component is disposed within the enclosure. The component is fluidly coupled to the vapor compression system and configured to discharge a flow of fluid. The enclosure includes a hole within a portion of the enclosure and a relief valve disposed within the hole of the enclosure, where the relief valve is configured to discharge the flow of fluid in a first direction through a passage within the relief valve. The passage extends from an interior region of the enclosure to an environment external of the enclosure. The relief valve is configured to block a second flow of fluid through the passage in a second direction, where the second direction is opposite of the first direction.

Abstract: A learning automaton can be trained to merge data from input data streams, optionally with different data rates, into a single output data stream. The learning automaton can learn over time from the input data streams. The input data streams can be low-pass filtered to suppress data having frequencies greater than a time-varying cutoff frequency. Initially, the cutoff frequency can be relatively low, so that the effective data rates of the input data streams are all equal. This can ensure that initially, high data-rate data does not overwhelm low data-rate data. As the learning automaton learns, an entropy of the learning automaton changes more slowly, and the cutoff frequency is increased over time. When the entropy of the learning automaton has stabilized, the training is completed, and the cutoff frequency can be large enough to pass all the input data streams, unfiltered, to the learning automaton.

Abstract: A method for preprocessing data for device operations can include preprocessing measurement data using a machine learning technique, determining, by a Kalman filter and based on (1) the preprocessed measurement data or the measurement data and (2) prediction data from a prediction model predicting a measurement associated with the measurement data, corrected measurement data, and providing the corrected measurement data based on the predicted measurement and the preprocessed measurement data.

Abstract: A fabricated torque arm for use in a vehicle suspension, including a rod having a solid rectangular cross-section, the rod having a first end and an oppositely disposed second end, a first bushing hub, and wherein the rod is only a single piece cut from a metal plate or sheet, wherein the first bushing hub comprises cut tubing, wherein the first end of the rod has a radius that conforms to an outer surface of the first bushing hub, and wherein the first end of the rod is welded to the outer surface of the first bushing hub.

Abstract: A tracking device with a screen that displays the mode of the tracking device on a screen. The device modes may include sleep mode, monitor mode, locate mode, and emergency mode. Each mode represents a frequency of transmission and which can be changed by the software developer or by the consumer in their software application. The sleep mode will be the fewest frequency pings and may be the mode in which the tracking device is operating while it is in a geofence. Monitor mode will be a higher frequency of pings and a locate mode may be yet a further increased number of pings per given time interval. The emergency mode will be entered when, for example, the pet is outside of the geofence and the owner needs to receive an intense number of pings to assure proper location, especially if the pet is moving.

Abstract: A self-supporting template for an electrical receptacle cutout and method of using the template. The template includes a base plate with template openings, an upright on the base plate, a biased reciprocating push button, and at least one sharp. The push button is secured to the upright for transverse reciprocation between a biased first position spaced furthest from the base plate and a second position spaced closest to the base plate. The at least one sharp reciprocates concurrently with the push button wherein the distal tip is fully recessed when the push button is in the first position and protrudes a fully extended distance in the second transverse direction from the lower major surface of the base plate when the push button is in the second position.

Abstract: A dishwashing appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing. A sump is a sump positioned at a bottom of the wash chamber for receiving fluid from the wash chamber. A circulation pump is connected to the sump. The dishwashing appliance also includes a mounting cable extending from the circulation pump. The circulation pump is suspended by the mounting cable.

Abstract: An optical instrument for determining the distance to a target. The instrument includes a light source for emitting a pulsed light beam and a lens responsive to the light beam and projecting the light beam on the target. The instrument also includes an imaging lens responsive to a reflected beam from the projected light beam on the target and a TOF sensor including a photodetector array having an array of detector elements, where each detector element includes an FET switch and a capacitor for storing charge, and where the imaging lens focusing an image of the projected light beam on a group of the detector elements in the array. Processing electronics control the light source and processing of the image of the projected beam on the array, where the processing electronics determine a time from when the light beam is emitted and the image of the projected beam is created.

Abstract: A workpiece holder is configured to hold a workpiece and is utilized in a metrology system which includes a sensing configuration for obtaining 3-dimensional surface data for the workpiece. The workpiece holder includes at least three reference features (e.g., spherical reference features extending from sides) that are configured to be sensed by the sensing configuration when the workpiece holder is in different orientations (e.g., as rotated 180 degrees between first and second orientations for presenting front and back sides of the workpiece towards the sensing configuration). A determination of 3-dimensional positions of the reference features for each orientation enables a combining (e.g., in a common coordinate system) of 3-dimensional surface data that is acquired for the workpiece in each orientation. Interchangeable workpiece holding portions may be provided that fit within the workpiece holder for holding workpieces with different characteristics (e.g., having different sizes and/or shapes).

Abstract: A system and method for receiving video from multiple sources, compositing those sources and then republishing the composited video as a source to a virtual camera driver endpoint. In one embodiment, the present method comprises displaying multiple media streams, represented by worksurface image on a shared display. The shared display worksurface image is then re-encoded, and the re-encoded composite image is transmitted to a client computer, where the re-encoded image is transcoded to simulate a device connected to the client computer. The transcoded media stream is then transmitted to a teleconferencing system.

Abstract: The hexagonal packaging unit includes a container adapted to hold contents, wherein the contents are on or more of pharmaceutical composition or medical devices. The hexagonal packaging unit includes a lid pivotally connected and configured to slideably rotate on a pivot and engage a top of the container, wherein the lid is rotatable in a first direction between a closed position resulting in the lid covering an opening in the container, and an open position resulting in the opening of the container at least being partially open. The hexagonal packaging unit includes a first latch portion associated with the lid comprising a first release lever and a second release lever. The hexagonal packaging unit includes a second latch portion associated with the container positionable to engage the first latch portion when the lid is in the closed position, and disengage when the lid is in the open position.