Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for responding to HVAC-induced vehicle microphone buffeting. An example disclosed vehicle includes a microphone, a speaker, and a buffeting detector. The example microphone is electrically coupled to an input of a voice-activated system. The example speaker is located on a front driver side of the vehicle. The example buffeting detector, when a button is activated, determines a buffeting factor of a signal captured by the microphone. Additionally, the example buffeting detector, in response to the buffeting factor satisfying a threshold, activates a relay to electrically couple the speaker to the input of the voice-activated system.

Abstract: Disclosed are antioxidative, natural compounds, their salts, chelates and cleavage derivatives that exhibit a superior combination of properties. The compounds can be used for a variety of purposes, including stabilizing foods, cosmetics, beverages and nutritional supplement. The compounds can be prepared by substantially cleaving a humic acid of formula I to provide at least one antioxidant compounds of formula II, formula III, formula IV, formula V, formula VI, salts, or chelates thereof.

Abstract: A method of assembling an airfoil includes depositing a bonding material on a first end of the tip portion and shaping the bonding material to form a first plurality of features. The first plurality of features correspond to a second plurality of features on a second end of the body portion. The method also includes positioning the first end relative to the second end such that the first plurality of features and the second plurality of features interlock. The method further includes coupling the first end of the tip portion to the second end of the body portion.

Abstract: Antimicrobial or antiseptic polymers may be produced by incorporation of an antimicrobial ingredient into the polymer by grafting, copolymerization, or via a combined antimicrobial/plasticizer ingredient. The polymer may be produced as a masterbatch, or a ready to process polymer for producing antimicrobial products. The reactions may be conducted in a reactive extruder to provide a single-step synthesis.

Abstract: An improved electronic oscillator circuit suitable for use in an isolating DC-to-DC converter circuit, and an improved isolating DC-to-DC converter circuit. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit coupled to a transformer includes an oscillator and an output driver. The integrated circuit is preferably fabricated using a silicon-on-insulator technology. The oscillator outputs an alternating pulse signal defined by electrical characteristics of components other than the transformer. The alternating pulse signal is coupled to the output driver, the alternating output of which is coupled to corresponding legs of the primary winding of the transformer. The secondary winding of the transformer provides an electromagnetically coupled isolated output which may be rectified and filtered to produce a DC output voltage. Additional functionality, such as current protection circuitry for the improved circuits, may be readily added to the integrated circuit at little or no increase in cost.

Abstract: A mobile patient examination system includes a carrier, a patient support, and furnishing. The patient support is height adjustable and connected to the carrier. Also, the patient support includes a display and a physiological sensor. In some instances, the carrier is sized to be transported to different locations within a facility. Alternatively, the carrier is sized to be transported to remote, rural, and/or disaster-related locations.

Abstract: A system and method of optimizing fleet operation at a mining site is provided. The system includes a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute steps of identifying a forthcoming dig area including material to be extracted by a digging tool, assigning at least one quantified material characteristic to the material to be extracted, and assigning a truck movement based on the at least one quantified material characteristic. The at least one quantified material characteristic of the extracted material is used to assign truck movement, including material flow to processors.

Abstract: A passive vehicular heatstroke prevention system monitors carbon dioxide (CO2) and infrared (IR) energy levels to determine whether a child is present inside a closed vehicle, and, if so, monitors the temperature in the vehicle and, if the temperature in the vehicle exceeds at least one preset critical value, automatically lowers the temperature in the vehicle and contacts the driver/caregiver and/or emergency personnel. The system detects the presence of a child in the closed vehicle by detecting a critical level of carbon dioxide in the air within the vehicle, while monitoring the interior vehicle temperature and takes corrective action to prevent the temperature from exceeding a preset value, such as by activating the vehicle's air conditioning unit and lowering the vehicle's windows, as well as contacting the driver/caregiver and/or emergency personnel.

Abstract: A system and method of onboard and offboard visualization of material characteristics in mining is provided. According to one aspect, the method includes a step of providing a voxel representation of a mining area. The voxel representation includes a plurality of voxels. At least one voxel of the plurality of voxels is compared to a geological model of the mining area, and at least one material characteristic is assigned to the at least one voxel based on the geological model of the mining area. In another aspect, the method includes calculating a volume of extracted material, assigning at least one quantified material characteristic to the volume of extracted material based on a geological model, and displaying a visual representation of the volume of extracted material and at least one quantified material characteristic using a visualization tool.

Abstract: A control system for a combustor system including a plurality of can combustors, each can combustor accommodating combustion of a plurality of combustion fluids in a combustion chamber thereof is provided. The control system may include a calculator calculating: a) a pressure drop for each respective can combustor of the plurality of can combustors between a selected combustion fluid upstream of the combustion chamber and a combustion flow within the combustion chamber of the respective can combustor, and b) a differential between the respective pressure drop for each of the plurality of can combustors and an average pressure drop across all of the plurality of can combustors. The differentials identify can-to-can variation. A controller can modify a combustion parameter of at least one can combustor to reduce the differential for the at least one can combustor. The system can work iteratively to reduce can-to-can variation.

Abstract: An extended medical test system provides a user-friendly apparatus that can be used to perform a plurality of diagnostic functions. In an example of an eye examination system, the system is configured to capture one or more patient images containing a patient's eye and a surrounding body portion, and perform additional diagnostic functions as well as the eye examination.

Abstract: A process, and corresponding system for performing the process, is described for editing and representing property values for a digital map. The process retrieves electronic map data from a style sheet corresponding to a vector map tile set for a digital map and displays map layer styles in a property editor panel, where each map style layer references a portion of the data and one or more visual style rules to apply to the portion. The process also displays a visual map with the map layer styles applied. Upon receiving selection of one or more map style layers from the plurality of map style layers, the process displays style layer properties and values corresponding to each. The process renders in the visual map only the selected one or more style layers marked as visible. As edits are made in the property editor panel, the visual map is updated to reflect the changes.

Abstract: A process, and corresponding system for performing the process, is described herein for visually distinguishing selection of map style layer data. The process displays source map data layer information from a style sheet for a digital map and corresponding visual map layers. Upon selection of a particular source map data layer, features of the visual map layers defined by the selected particular source map data layer are visually distinguished in the display of the visual map layers. The process determines the source map data layer information and determines whether the selected particular source map data layer has corresponding features in the visual map layers for display, and if so, visually distinguishes those features in the visual map. As updates are made to the source map data layer information for the selected particular source map data layer, the visual map is updated to reflect the changes.

Abstract: Light emitter components, systems, and related methods having improved optical efficiency and a lower manufacturing cost are disclosed. In one aspect, a light emitter component can include a substrate having an elongated body and first and second ends. At least a first trace and a second trace can be provided on the substrate. In some aspects, the first trace can be disposed proximate the first end of the substrate and the second trace can be disposed proximate the second end of the substrate, with no other portion of the first trace or second trace being disposed between the first and second ends of the substrate. In some aspects, a string of LED chips can be provided on the substrate. The string of LED chips can be disposed between the first and second ends of the substrate. Angled traces, gaps and light emitter components can also be provided in some aspects.

Abstract: Light emitting diodes, components, and related methods, with improved performance over existing light emitting diodes. In some embodiments light emitter devices included herein include a submount, a light emitter, a light affecting material, and a wavelength conversion component. Wavelength conversion components provided herein include a transparent substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a phosphor compound disposed on the upper surface or lower surface, wherein the wavelength conversion component is configured to alter a wavelength of a light emitted from a light source when positioned proximate to the light source.

Abstract: An embedded magnetic component device includes a magnetic core located in a cavity extending into an insulating substrate. The cavity and magnetic core are coved with a cover layer. Through holes extend through the cover layer and the insulating substrate, and are plated to define conductive vias. Metallic traces are provided at exterior surfaces of the cover layer and the insulating substrate to define upper and lower winding layers. The metallic traces and conductive vias define the respective primary and secondary side windings for an embedded transformer. At least a first isolation barrier is provided on the cover layer, and at least a third insulating layer is provided on the substrate. The second and third insulating layers provide additional insulation for the device, and define and function as a circuit board for surface mounted power electronics.

Abstract: A hovering remote-control flying craft having a molded frame assembly includes a plurality of arms extending from a center body with an electric motor and corresponding propeller on each arm. In various embodiments, the motor and propeller are mounted downward-facing at a distal portion of each arm with a motor cover over the motor. The center body can be formed of a two-piece molded structure that sandwiches a circuit board to provide structural support for the frame. The circuit board can include a plurality of tabs that facilitate mounting of wire connectors, and can also provide antennas and emitters for both IR and RF communications. In some embodiments, a removable safety ring protects the propellers from lateral contact.

Abstract: A random number generator includes a first circuit producing a random sequence of values, the first circuit having an adjustable input that changes the entropy of the random sequence of numbers; a second circuit receiving the random sequence of values from the first circuit and producing an output indicative of the degree of entropy of the random sequence of values, and a third circuit that adjusts the adjustable input of the first circuit in response to the output of the second circuit.

Abstract: A system for use in coating an interior surface of an object is provided. The system includes a vacuum chamber enclosure defining an interior configured to receive the object, and a cathode coupled to the vacuum chamber enclosure. The cathode is fabricated from a coating material and has an outer surface. The cathode is configured such that when a current is applied to the cathode, an arc is formed on the outer surface and the coating material is removed from the cathode to form a cloud of coating material. The system also includes a collimator configured to be positioned between the cathode and the object configured to focus the cloud into a beam of coating material and to direct the beam towards the object, and a magnet configured to alter a path of the beam such that the beam is directed towards the interior surface of the object.

Abstract: An agricultural implement arrangement includes a container of seed having an ID tag associated therewith; an implement for applying a product to a geographic area; an electrical reader configured for reading the ID tag and providing an output signal; and an electrical processing circuit coupled with the reader and the implement. The ID tag has data representing at least one attribute associated with the seed. The electrical processing circuit receives the output signal and controls the implement, dependent upon the output signal.