Abstract: According to certain aspects, a computer-implemented method for operating an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be provided. With the customer's permission, an identity of a vehicle operator may be identified and a vehicle operator profile may be retrieved. Operating data regarding autonomous operation features operating the vehicle may be received from vehicle-mounted sensors. When a request to disable an autonomous feature is received, a risk level for the autonomous feature is determined and compared with a driver behavior setting for the autonomous feature stored in the vehicle operator profile. Based upon the risk level comparison, the autonomous vehicle retains control of vehicle or the autonomous feature is disengaged depending upon which is the safer driver—the autonomous vehicle or the vehicle human occupant. As a result, unsafe disengagement of self-driving functionality for autonomous vehicles may be alleviated.

Abstract: In a computer-implemented method, alert responsiveness data indicating how responsive a driver is to one or more types of vehicle alerts is received. The method also includes generating or modifying a driver profile associated with the driver, the driver profile including alert responsiveness profile information based upon the alert responsiveness data, and identifying, based at least upon the generated or modified driver profile, a suggested vehicle type. Identifying the suggested vehicle type includes determining that the generated or modified driver profile meets a set of one or more matching criteria associated with the suggested vehicle type at least in part by determining that the alert responsiveness profile information meets one or more criteria indicative of reliability of the suggested vehicle type. The method also includes causing an indication of the suggested vehicle type to be displayed to a user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the engineering an animal model, preferably mammalian models, more preferably a rat model representing Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 2A (CMT2A) harboring the p.Arg364Trp or p.His361Tyr Mfn2 mutation, whose human counterpart results in a severe, early-onset axonal neuropathy. A model having the p.Arg364Trp Mfn2 mutation is based on a mutation made using zinc finger endonuclease technology in fertilized rat eggs. Cohorts of mutants and wild type littermates were characterized behaviorally and shown to develop multiple motor deficits that worsened over time. Separate cohorts of mutant and wild type rats sacrificed at 7, 40, and 48 weeks and analyzed by light microscopy showed a reduced density of myelinated axons and active axonal degeneration in distal but not proximal nerves, as well as axonal degeneration in the fasciculus gracilis of the cervical spinal cord at 40 and 48 weeks.

Abstract: A system and method may include: providing to a device user in response to one of a user request for troubleshooting assistance and a mobile telecommunications user device monitoring software conclusion that a problem exists, a diagnostic application specific to the mobile telecommunication user device of the device user; receiving from the device user an indication of a problem with the mobile telecommunication user device experienced by the device user; selecting an application update; providing to the device user the application update updating an application running on the mobile telecommunication user device; and determining whether the problem has been solved. If determining indicates that the problem has not been solved the method may further include deleting the application and further determining whether the problem has been solved, and if so forwarding problem solution data to a knowledge database.

Abstract: A system and method may include: providing to a device user in response to one of a user request for troubleshooting assistance and a mobile telecommunications user device monitoring software conclusion that a problem exists, a diagnostic application specific to the mobile telecommunication user device of the device user; receiving from the device user an indication of a problem with the mobile telecommunication user device experienced by the device user; selecting an application update; providing to the device user the application update updating an application running on the mobile telecommunication user device; and determining whether the problem has been solved. If determining indicates that the problem has not been solved the method may further include deleting the application and further determining whether the problem has been solved, and if so forwarding problem solution data to a knowledge database.

Abstract: A system and method may comprise providing to a device user in response to one of a user request for troubleshooting assistance and a mobile telecommunications user device monitoring software conclusion that a problem exists, a diagnostic application specific to the mobile telecommunication user device of the device user; receiving from the device user an indication of a problem with the mobile telecommunication user device experienced by the device user; selecting an application update; providing to the device user the application update updating an application running on the mobile telecommunication user device; and determining whether the problem has been solved. If determining indicates that the problem has not been solved the method may further include deleting the application and further determining whether the problem has been solved, and if so forwarding problem solution data to a knowledge database.

Abstract: A system and method may comprise providing to a device user in response to one of a user request for troubleshooting assistance and a mobile telecommunications user device monitoring software conclusion that a problem exists, a diagnostic application specific to the mobile telecommunication user device of the device user; receiving from the device user an indication of a problem with the mobile telecommunication user device experienced by the device user; selecting an application update; providing to the device user the application update updating an application running on the mobile telecommunication user device; and determining whether the problem has been solved. If determining indicates that the problem has not been solved the method may further include deleting the application and further determining whether the problem has been solved, and if so forwarding problem solution data to a knowledge database.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to use a shielded enclosure for exchanging secure data. One embodiment comprises an enclosure formed of electromagnetically shielding material that prevents an electromagnetic field from entering an interior of the enclosure or emitting from the interior of the enclosure, the enclosure sized to house a mobile electronic device; a receiver within an interior of the enclosure to receive data transferred wirelessly from a mobile electronic device placed within the enclosure; and a hardware interface having a first end external to the enclosure and a second end within the interior of the enclosure and coupled to the antenna, the hardware interface to transfer data wirelessly received by the receiver to a separate device exterior to the enclosure.

Abstract: A rectangular-to-circular mode combiner/divider is provided. In one aspect of the invention, a power combiner is provided that comprises a plurality of rectangular waveguide ports arranged in an integral arrangement. Each rectangular waveguide port is operative to operate in a rectangular mode. The power combiner is also includes a circular waveguide port operative to operate in a circular mode, and a transition body that couples the plurality of rectangular waveguide ports to the circular waveguide port. The transition body has an inner transition cavity and an outer body operative to convert radio frequency (RF) signals between the rectangular mode and the circular mode, and provide a combined output signal at the circular waveguide port from RF signals received at the plurality rectangular waveguide ports.

Abstract: A phased array antenna structure capable of operation at millimeter-wave frequencies and having multiple ring slot radiator elements (10). The RF feed structure for each radiator element includes a feed via (28) extending part-way through a multi-layer structure (FIG. 3) on which the radiator elements (10) are formed and a strip line feed probe (30) extending from the via (28) toward the radiator element. A key feature facilitating high-frequency operation is the inclusion of multiple mode suppressors (32) surrounding the via (28) and providing a smooth transition from a coaxial mode of RF transmission to a strip line mode of RF transmission. The feed probe (30) is tailored to provide either a narrow-band or a wideband frequency characteristic.

Abstract: A compact inline waveguide power divider is provided that comprises a primary waveguide in communication with two parallel waveguides. The two parallel waveguides are stacked on top of one another and each parallel waveguide further comprises an output port. Accordingly, an input signal is transmitted through the primary waveguide and split between the two parallel waveguides. A resistive slot is formed in each of the parallel waveguides, thereby increasing output port isolation through dissipation of reflected power from one output port to the other. Further, a stepped or tapered impedance transformation is applied in each parallel waveguide to provide wide band frequency matching. Alternately, the primary waveguide and the parallel waveguides may be configured as a waveguide power combiner rather than a divider, wherein the parallel waveguides comprise input ports and the primary waveguide comprises an output port.

Abstract: A compact inline waveguide power divider is provided that comprises a primary waveguide in communication with two parallel waveguides. The two parallel waveguides are stacked on top of one another and each parallel waveguide further comprises an output port. Accordingly, an input signal is transmitted through the primary waveguide and split between the two parallel waveguides. A resistive slot is formed in each of the parallel waveguides, thereby increasing output port isolation: through dissipation of reflected power from one output port to the other. Further, a stepped or tapered impedance transformation is applied in each parallel waveguide to provide wide band frequency matching. Alternately, the primary waveguide and the parallel waveguides may be configured as a waveguide power combiner rather than a divider, wherein the parallel waveguides comprise input ports and the primary waveguide comprises an output port.

Abstract: A high density electronic switching matrix (ESM) includes several splitting modules (200) arranged along a first axis, each including a signal input (202) and several splitter outputs (204). The ESM (500, 600) further includes several switching modules (400) arranged along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Each switching module (400) includes switching inputs (402) coupled individually to an output of each of the splitting modules (200). The ESM (500, 600) is further characterized by couplings between the splitter modules and the switching modules. The couplings are formed by mating male and female connectors (300) integrated into the splitting modules and the switching modules. The couplings support extremely high frequency operation. The splitting modules (200) and the switching modules (400) may thus be coupled closely together to form a dense, high frequency, switching matrix, and may be stacked upon one another.

Abstract: An H-plane waveguide probe includes a microstrip formed on a dielectric substrate with a loop conductor generally configured in the shape of waveguide on one side and adapted to capture an incoming H-plane signal. A transition conductor formed on an opposing side of the substrate with a first leg and a second leg, connected together by a bend portion. The first leg of the transition conductor is generally parallel to the H-plane for coupling microwave energy from the waveguide to the microstrip. The second leg of the transition conductor is parallel to the E-field and is used to change the direction of the captured microwave energy along the H-plane direction to the E-plane direction. In order to optimize power transfer, the impedance of the loop conductor is selected to be about the same as the waveguide. The transition conductor is used to convert the E-field energy to a 50&OHgr; impedance, for example, for connection to an external microwave circuit.

Abstract: A circuit module construction and method for its fabrication, in which radio-frequency (RF) or millimeter-wave circuit components (10) are electromagnetically isolated in a circuit module (12), to allow for location of multiple circuit components in close proximity without concern for signal loss or interference between components. Multiple RF or millimeter-wave circuit components (10) are installed on a dielectric substrate (14) and are separated by at least one metal isolation wall (20), which extends in depth all the way through the dielectric substrate (14) to a metal layer (16) formed under the substrate. Each isolation wall (20) is formed by first cutting a channel through the dielectric substrate (14), preferably using a laser that selectively removes the dielectric material but not the metal layer (16). Then the channel is filled with metal by electroplating, to provide continuous electromagnetic isolation in a lateral direction, parallel to the plane of the substrate (14).

Abstract: A waveguide structure (10) that provides a transition from a polymeric waveguide (26) to a coaxial connection (48). The coaxial connection (48) includes an outer conductor (50) electrically connected to a top ground plate (36) of the waveguide (26) and an inner conductor (52) that extends into the polymeric material within the waveguide (26). The inner conductor (52) is electrically connected to a capacitive plate (56), and the capacitive plate (56) is electrically connected to an elongated conductive probe (58). The conductive probe (58) is electrically connected to a conductive post (60), which is electrically connected to a bottom ground plate (38) opposite to the top ground plate (36). The conductive probe (58) extends in a direction transverse to the propagation direction of electromagnetic waves, and acts to pick up the energy in the electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing low cost hermetic Integrated Module Assembly (IMA) packaging, where an aluminum coating (24) is deposited on a poly-tetrafluoral-ethaline substrate (20), the aluminum coating (24) is selectively etched to form a waveguide window (26) and the substrate (20) is selectively treated over the waveguide window (26) to produce a non-conductive hermetic seal. The substrate (20) is then joined to a metal carrier (28) containing the waveguide (30). As a result of using selectively treated low cost substrates to produce hermetic seals, more expensive substrates are not required to form hermetic seals over substrate to waveguide interconnections.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing low cost hermetic Integrated Module Assembly (IMA) packaging, where an aluminum coating (24) is deposited on a poly-tetrafluoral-ethaline substrate (20), the aluminum coating (24) is selectively etched to form a waveguide window (26) and the substrate (20) is selectively treated over the waveguide window (26) to produce a non-conductive hermetic seal. The substrate (20) is then joined to a metal carrier (28) containing the waveguide (30). As a result of using selectively treated low cost substrates to produce hermetic seals, more expensive substrates are not required to form hermetic seals over substrate to waveguide interconnections.

Abstract: An improved millimeter wave device package design in which the package includes a dielectric substrate disposed upon a supporting base such that the substrate extends substantially along the peripheral edge of the base, defining a central aperture. A solid conductive layer substantially covers the first surface of the dielectric substrate and a series of conductive transmission lines are formed on an opposing second surface of the substrate. A dielectric layer is disposed upon and substantially covers the transmission lines and the second surface of the substrate upon which they are formed. A seal ring is disposed upon and the dielectric layer and a conductor electrically connects the device to the transmission lines. A lid is sealed atop the seal ring completes the hermetical seal for the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new and effective method for the sealing and electrical testing of electronic devices; and particularly for surface acoustic wave devices. In accordance with the present invention, the cost and size of making hermetically sealed packages for electronic devices and of electrically testing each device is significantly reduced over the prior art by making use of mass simultaneous sealing and electrical connection at the wafer level, and by using substrates with hermetically sealed and electrically conductive via holes. Further, cost reduction is effected by making use of final electrical testing with wafer probe test techniques before dicing.