Abstract: High cell density anaerobic fermentation for protein expression. A method for producing a protein is described, including providing a modified Butyribacterium methylotrophicum (Bme) strain host; providing a fermentation medium including a carbon source and a nitrogen source; culturing the modified host in the fermentation medium under anaerobic conditions, where the carbon source is metabolized and a fermentation broth including at least one protein is formed and optionally separating the protein; where the Bme cell density in the fermentation broth is greater than 15 g/L.

Abstract: Solid-state battery structures and methods of manufacturing solid-state batteries are disclosed. More particularly, embodiments relate to solid-state batteries having one or more subdivided electrode layers. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An air maintenance system for use with a pneumatic tire is described. The air maintenance system includes a pumping mechanism that is preferably mounted on the interior surface of a wheel rim to keep the pneumatic tire from becoming underinflated. The pumping mechanism includes at least one dual chamber pump, preferably at least two dual chamber pumps configured in series. More preferably, the dual chamber pumps are driven by an external mass that moves as the tire rotates. The tire's rotational energy operates the pump to ensure the tire cavity is maintained at the desired pressure level. An optional control valve shuts off airflow to the pumping mechanism when the tire cavity pressure is at the desired level.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to test acoustic emission sensors are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a process control device, an acoustic emission sensor coupled to the process control device, where the acoustic emission sensor detects an operational condition of the process control device, and a piezoelectric tuning fork acoustically coupled to the acoustic emission sensor to test the operational condition of the acoustic emission sensor.

Abstract: An integrated wet-mill method for the production of ethanol and single cell protein. An integrated method for the production of ethanol and a single cell protein product is described including providing corn kernels, which kernels comprise germ, fiber, protein and starch and which method includes, among other things, steeping said corn kernels and separating said steeped kernels from a steep liquor.

Abstract: Solid-state battery structures and methods of manufacturing solid-state batteries are disclosed. More particularly, embodiments relate to solid-state batteries having one or more subdivided electrode layers. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Methods for producing a bioproduct selected from acetone, isopropanol and a combination thereof with a microorganism in a fermentor are disclosed. The methods include separating cells of the microorganism from a fermentation broth to form separated cells and recycling at least a fraction of the separated cells to the fermentor to achieve one or more of the following: (1) cell concentration in said fermentor greater than 2 g/L; mass yield on a first feedstock greater than 32%; productivity greater than 0.12 g/L/h; and bioproduct titer greater than 10 g/L.

Abstract: Solid-state battery structures and methods of manufacturing solid-state batteries, such as thin-film batteries, are disclosed. More particularly, embodiments relate to solid-state batteries having a current collector tab between multiple electrochemical cells each having an electrolyte layer between an anode layer and a cathode layer in a vertical direction. The anode layer, the electrolyte layer, and the cathode layer include respective sidewalls exposed along a cell sidewall, and the cell sidewall has a non-zero, non-vertical slope.

Abstract: A method of controlling a mobile device is described, the method comprising: receiving a time varying current or voltage of a signal generated on the terminals of an acoustic transducer of the mobile device, the time varying current or voltage being generated in response to a tapping and/or sliding motion on a surface of the mobile device performed by a user; comparing the time varying signal characteristics with a set of predetermined signal characteristics; and generating at least one user command in dependence of the comparison. The mobile device may reliably detect complex user commands using an acoustic transducer.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture to monitor health information of a valve are disclosed. An example system includes a field device in a process control network to monitor a valve, and a valve health monitor to be communicatively coupled to the field device to obtain operational health information from the field device when the valve is commanded to move from a first position to a second position, the first position opposite the second position, identify a condition of the valve based on the operational health information, and send an alert via the process control network based on the condition of the valve.

Abstract: An aerosol valve movable from a closed position to an open position for retaining a product in, and spraying the product from, a container, comprising: a valve cup positioned on a first end of the container that orients the aerosol valve in the container, wherein the valve cup has a lip that defines a valve cup opening into the container; a valve stem disposed in the valve cup opening so that a first portion of the valve stem is disposed above the lip and a second portion of the valve stem is disposed below the lip within the container, the valve stem having an open first end, a closed second end and defining a longitudinal passageway therebetween with the open first end defining an outlet from the passageway of the valve stem, a side of the valve stem defining at least one inlet into the passageway near the closed second end; a resilient seal disposed in the valve cup opening between the valve stem and the lip, wherein the resilient seal comprises a seal body having a first portion disposed above the lip and

Abstract: Solid-state battery structures and methods of manufacturing solid-state batteries, such as thin-film batteries, are disclosed. More particularly, embodiments relate to solid-state batteries having a current collector tab between multiple electrochemical cells. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for analyzing effects of friction on process control devices are disclosed herein. An example method includes determining, by executing an instruction with at least one processor, a first value corresponding to friction associated with at least one of an actuator or a process control device to be operated by the actuator; determining a second value indicative of an effect of the friction on operation of the process control device via the actuator based on the first value corresponding to the friction and a first threshold value; and changing a force input to move a plug of the process control device 1) a distance or 2) a distance within a time period when the second value satisfies a second threshold value.

Abstract: Aspects include performing online condition monitoring. Online condition monitoring includes compiling the digital sensor data to produce compiled data and processing the compiled data via a signal analysis operation to produce digitally analyzed data. Further, online condition monitoring includes comparing the digitally analyzed data to at least one threshold to output corresponding values and utilizing the corresponding value to determine whether to issue an event notification.

Abstract: A system for producing a mechanical haptic pattern based on linear resonance actuator (LRA) signal is disclosed. The system includes an actuator displacement sensor, the actuator displacement sensor configured to apply an alternating measurement signal at a predetermined frequency to an actuator motor. The actuator displacement sensor configured to use a measure of a voltage across and a current through the actuator motor to determine its impedance at the predetermined frequency and determine an estimated displacement of the actuator motor using said impedance and a predetermined displacement-impedance function. The system also includes a controller configured to accept the LRA signal and the estimated displacement, wherein the controller is configured to alter the input LRA signal according to the estimated displacement to limit excursion of a moving part of the actuator motor.

Abstract: Mixotrophic fermentation method performed to make one or more bioproducts such as alcohols, organic acids of less than 7 carbons, acetone, 2,3-butanediol and mixtures thereof with a microorganism. The mixotrophic fermentation method includes providing an isolated organism and providing a first feedstock and a second feedstock for use in a fermentation medium. The first feedstock includes a carbon source that is metabolized by the native form of the organism at a rate of less than 0.01 g/hr/g cell mass, and the second feedstock includes CO, CO2, carbonate, bicarbonate, H2, glycerol, methanol, formate, urea or mixtures thereof. The mixotrophic fermentation method also includes culturing the organism in the fermentation medium, whereby both feedstocks are metabolized and a fermentation broth is formed, the broth having at least one bioproduct. Optionally, the bioproduct may be separated from the broth.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to monitor health information of a valve are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a parameter calculator to calculate an operational value for a health parameter of a valve, a difference calculator to calculate a difference between the operational value for the health parameter and a baseline value for the health parameter, and an alert generator to generate an alert to identify a condition of the valve based on the difference.

Abstract: Solid-state battery structures and methods of manufacturing solid-state batteries, such as thin-film batteries, are disclosed. More particularly, embodiments relate to solid-state batteries having an intermediate adhesive layer between several electrochemical cells. In an embodiment, an anode current collector at least partially fills a notch in a periphery of the intermediate adhesive layer. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An approach is disclosed for achieving improved sound quality from mobile ‘hifi’ playback devices by driving compatible headphones in ‘balanced’ or ‘differential’ mode via standard size headphone connectors, while retaining full compliance with legacy jack connections and allowing use of a microphone. When a headphone is connected, a smartphone may determine whether the headphone is one capable of accepting balanced audio signals, or one that uses a conventional 4-pole CTIA or OMTP jack. For a headphone that accepts balanced audio signals, the four poles of a 4-pole jack are used to drive left and right audio channels, and inverted left and right audio channels. For conventional 4-pole jacks, switches in the smartphone adapt the audio output signals to the configuration expected by the headphone and allow the smartphone to receive input from the microphone. A switch may be used to alternate between the balanced and conventional CTIA or OMTP mode.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for analyzing effects of friction on process control devices are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a housing; a processor disposed in the housing, the processor to: determine a first force or torque corresponding to friction of a process control device and an actuator operatively coupled to the process control device via a stem or shaft; in response to the first force or torque, determine a first command to operate the process control device via the stem or shaft to obtain a first response of the actuator; determine a second force or torque corresponding to friction of the process control device and the actuator; and in response to the second force or torque, determine a second command to operate the process control device via the stem or shaft to obtain a second response of the actuator.