Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an electric machine, an engine selectively coupled to the electric machine by a disconnect clutch, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to a change in the driver-demanded torque necessitating starting of the engine: determine a state of driving (SOD) based on the change in driver-demanded torque, wherein the SOD is indicative of a desired responsiveness of the vehicle, and the desired responsiveness increases as SOD increases; command a speed target to the engine equal to a predicted motor speed associated with the driver-demanded torque plus an offset that is based on the SOD; and command a capacity to the disconnect clutch at a rate and a magnitude based on the SOD.

Abstract: A brush bristle cover encompasses the bristles of the makeup brush head for the purposes of hygiene, protection, and convenience. The arrangement of the apparatus allows for protection of brush bristles during transportation and immediately after use. The apparatus creates an enclosure around the bristles of the brush. Being made of a shape retaining material, especially silicone or other such durable semirigid materials, the desired protective function can be achieved without damaging a carrying bag or purse. The apparatus prevents the bristles from receiving damage due to the ambient environment in which the bristles are stored while simultaneously allowing the contained portion of the brush head to retain in its desired shape. This method of storage will allow the brush to stay free of environmental irritants, thus requiring less frequent washing practices. The apparatus will increase the longevity of the brush bristles by protecting them from being displaced during storage.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. A first ferroelectric memory cell may be initialized to a first state and a second ferroelectric memory cell may be initialized to a different state. Each state may have a corresponding digit line voltage. The digit lines of the first and second ferroelectric memory cells may be connected so that charge-sharing occurs between the two digit lines. The voltage resulting from the charge-sharing between the two digit lines may be used by other components as a reference voltage.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cartridge body for use in a cartridge associated with a beverage preparation system includes extruding a tubular structure, forming the tubular structure into a desired shape, and cutting the tubular structure at intervals to separate the tubular structure into individual cartridge bodies.

Abstract: A device and method for the insertion of an analyte-selective microneedle array sensor into a dermal stratum of a user is disclosed herein. The device comprises a body portion, a recessed actuation portion, a carrier, a gating feature, and a disengagement feature. A user-directed application of a specified force to the actuation area causes the carrier to overcome the gating feature, thereby to effect the acceleration of the microneedle array sensor device towards the skin surface of a user with a specified impact force and velocity.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses related to a reprogrammable non-volatile latch are described. A latch may include ferroelectric cells, ferroelectric capacitors, a sense component, and other circuitry and components related to ferroelectric memory technology. The ferroelectric latch may be independent from (or exclusive of) a main ferroelectric memory array. The ferroelectric latch may be positioned anywhere in the memory device. In some instances, a ferroelectric latch may be positioned and configured to be dedicated to single piece of circuitry in the memory device.

Abstract: A spectroscopic detection system includes a sensor configured to reflect light of a first wavelength associated with a presence of a reference substance on the sensor and configured to reflect light of a second wavelength associated with a presence of a monitored substance on the sensor, wherein the monitored substance flows to the sensor from a circulating fluid. The spectroscopic detection system further includes a detector that has first and second channels for respectively receiving the light of the first and second wavelengths reflected from the sensor and one or more processors in electrical communication with the detector and configured to identify an excess condition of the monitored substance with respect to the circulating fluid based on a ratio of a second amount of the light of the second wavelength received at the detector to a first amount of the light of the first wavelength received at the detector.

Abstract: In one aspect, a dialysis fluid cassette includes an inlet fluid line, multiple outlet fluid lines, and a valve including an actuation feature by which the valve can be rotated to fluidly communicate the inlet fluid line with a selected fluid line of the multiple outlet fluid lines.

Abstract: A package for a product that contains a first and a second thermoform container body that are configured to support the product. The first container body includes a first outer wall extending along a side of the first container body and defining a first mating surface and a first interlocking structure proximate the first outer wall and including an outer surface. The second container body includes a second outer wall extending along a side of the second container body, an inner wall disposed inwardly of the second outer wall and defining a second mating surface, and a second interlocking structure intermediate the second outer wall and the inner wall. The first and second interlocking structures are configured to interlock with one another when the outer surface of the first interlocking structure is placed in facing engagement with the inner surface of the second interlocking structure.

Abstract: A messaging apparatus for wearable items. The messaging apparatus may comprise a light source, at least one sensor to detect an event, and a controller to control the flashing of the light source in response to the detection of the event. The controlling of the flashing of the light source may generate at least one visible element that is visible to a viewer. Further, the light source may not be adapted in the form of the at least one visible element, but rather, the controlled flashing of the light source may be in the form of the at least one visible element.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a memory cell or memory cells are described. Cells of a memory array may be pre-written, which may include writing the cells to one state while a sense component is isolated from digit lines of the array. Read or write operations may be executed at the sense component while the sense component is isolated, and the cell may be de-isolated (e.g., connected to the digit lines) when write operations are completed. The techniques may include techniques accessing a memory cell of a memory array, isolating a sense amplifier from a digit line of the memory array based at least in part on the accessing of the cell, firing the sense amplifier, and pre-writing the memory cell of the memory array to a second data state while the sense amplifier is isolated. In some examples, the memory cell may include a ferroelectric memory cell.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cooking system for cooking food, the system including a housing defining a hollow chamber configured to receive a food container. The housing has an upper portion defining an opening to the hollow chamber. A food container having a hollow container interior is positionable within the hollow chamber. An end of the food container extends above the upper portion of the housing when the container is installed within the hollow chamber. A lid is moveably attached to the housing and is moveable between a first position that covers the upper portion of the housing and the opening to the hollow chamber when the food container is installed within the hollow chamber and a second position where the lid does not cover the opening to the hollow chamber. At least one heating element is associated with at least one of said lid and said housing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle are described. In one example, a torque that is produced by an engine is adjusted responsive to a transmission oil temperature and a speed of a torque converter impeller so that temperature of oil in a transmission lube circuit may be maintained at a desired temperature.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle are described. In one example, a torque that is produced by an engine is adjusted responsive to a transmission oil temperature and a speed of a torque converter impeller so that temperature of oil in a transmission lube circuit may be maintained at a desired temperature.

Abstract: A method for implementing physical optimizations includes performing physical optimizations on a first reference version of a design, maintaining a computer-readable list of the physical optimizations, and during a subsequent compile for a second version of the design: identifying matching cells, nets, or both between the first reference version of the design and the second version of the design; and restoring at least a subset of the physical optimizations in the second version of the design by reading the computer-readable list of the physical optimizations and applying the subset to a computer-readable description of the second version of the design.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cooking system for cooking food, the system including a housing defining a hollow chamber configured to receive a food container. The housing has an upper portion defining an opening in said hollow chamber. A first lid is connectable to the housing. When the first lid is connected to the housing, the first lid has a first position where the lid is in contact with said upper portion of the housing. A second lid is connectable to the housing. When the second lid is connected to the housing, the second lid is in contact with the upper portion of the housing. The first lid and the second lid are simultaneously contactable with the upper portion of the housing so that each of the first lid and the second lid are in contact with the upper portion of the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cooking system for cooking food, the cooking system being functional in a plurality of cooking modes. The cooking system includes a housing having a hollow chamber, and a cooking lid movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the housing. At least one heating element is associated with said lid. The cooking system is operable in a plurality of modes including a convective cooking mode and a pressure cooking mode. The cooking lid is configurable in the closed position when the cooking system is in both the convective cooking mode and the pressure cooking mode.

Abstract: In one aspect, a dialysis fluid cassette includes an inlet fluid line, multiple outlet fluid lines, and a valve including an actuation feature by which the valve can be rotated to fluidly communicate the inlet fluid line with a selected fluid line of the multiple outlet fluid lines.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to receiving bodily fluid through a device opening. In one aspect, the device includes a flow activator arranged to cause fluid to be released from a subject. A deployment actuator may actuate the flow activator in a deployment direction, which may in turn cause fluid release from a subject. The flow activator may also be moved in a retraction direction by a retraction actuator. In one aspect, the device may include a vacuum source that may help facilitate fluid flow into the opening of the device and/or may help facilitate fluid flow from the opening to a storage chamber. In one aspect, a device actuator may enable fluid communication between the opening and the vacuum source and the flow activator may be actuated after the enablement of fluid communication.

Abstract: A messaging apparatus for wearable items. The messaging apparatus may comprise a light source, at least one sensor to detect an event, and a controller to control the flashing of the light source in response to the detection of the event. The controlling of the flashing of the light source may generate at least one visible element that is visible to a viewer. Further, the light source may not be adapted in the form of the at least one visible element, but rather, the controlled flashing of the light source may be in the form of the at least one visible element.