Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for unloading articles from a container of items for use in an automatic stack feeder are disclosed. The automatic stack feeder may comprise a belt, a moveable lower paddle, and a moveable upper paddle, wherein the lower paddle is configured to partially extend through a belt of the automatic stack feeder. The movement of the belt, the lower paddle, and the upper paddle are coordinated such that there is no need to interrupt the operation of the automatic stack feeder to unload the container.

Abstract: Directive projection screens described herein are configured to selectively direct incident light depending upon an angle of incidence of the light. Such direction improves projection screen gain. Incident light within an acceptance cone is configured to be presented to a viewer. Light outside of the acceptance cone is directed away from the user or absorbed. As a result of this selectivity and the gain, presentation of images on the directive projection screen is improved in the presence of non-projector light sources.

Abstract: An electronic device employed in vehicles, such as automobiles, to ascertain whether the vehicle has stopped at a stop point, such as a stop sign. The operation of the alert device is that it monitors the status of the vehicle's speed or wheel sensor (that it is outputting or not) and if a minimum pulse rate is present, then the vehicle is in motion. A further conclusion can be reasoned is that if there has been no pulse activity over a finite period of time that the vehicle is stopped. The alert device monitors a pulse derived voltage to determine that the vehicle has fully stopped. When the device has detected that the vehicle has come to a full stop an approximately one second tone or chime, and or a visual annunciation is generated and if enabled declare that the vehicle has come to a stop. The alert device also signals when vehicle motion initially occurs by a different tone and flash. The alert device automatically resets for the next stop or initial vehicle movement notification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for protecting crop of useful plants from the harmful effects of certain pyridine derivative herbicides as well as methods for protecting crops of useful plants from the harmful effects of these herbicides and methods for combating weeds in crops of useful plants.

Abstract: An apparatus for accumulating one or more lift cords used to lift an architectural opening covering comprises a base portion and a front portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of the base portion. The base portion has an opening configured to receive a rod that rotates in a first direction when the one or more lift cords are actuated to raise the architectural opening covering. The apparatus also comprises an outer surface having a plurality of grooves configured to receive at least one of the one or more lift cords when the one or more lift cords are actuated to raise the architectural opening covering and to allow the at least one of the one or more lift cords to accumulate on one or more of the plurality of grooves next to itself rather than on top of itself.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing information relating to recycling activities are described. One embodiment described herein is directed to a method for accessing aggregated recycling information for use and/or display in connection with an account-based recycling program. The method comprises receiving first and second container information, the first container information concerning a plurality of first containers for a first recycling transaction and the second container information concerning a plurality of second containers for a second recycling transaction. The first and second container information is stored and associated account information concerning at least one to consumer account. The method further comprises accessing, in response to receiving a query relating to a plurality of recycling transactions, information relating to at least the first and second containers so as to enable the use and/or display of aggregated recycling information.

Abstract: A portable encryption device with logon access controlled by an encryption key, with an on board cryptographic processor for reconstituting the encryption key from a plurality of secrets generated by a secret sharing algorithm, optionally shrouded with external secrets using an invertible transform resistant to quantum computing attacks. Another embodiment provides file decryption controlled by a file encryption key, with the on board cryptographic processor reconstituting the file encryption key from a version of the file encryption key which has been shrouded with a network authorization code. A method for encryption of a plaintext file by hashing, compressing, and encrypting the plaintext file, hashing the ciphertext, hashing the plaintext hash and the ciphertext hash, and sealing the ciphertext together with the resulting hash. A portable encryption device for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for transitioning an electronic device between device states. In one example, a voice-controlled device is configured to transition from a sleep state to an awake state in response to identifying a user speaking a predefined utterance. The techniques may determine whether the user has spoken the predefined utterance with reference to traditional speech-recognition techniques, as well as with reference to changes in the volume of a user's voice.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to an immunogenic composition (e.g., a vaccine) and, in particular, to a polyvalent immunogenic composition, such as a polyvalent HIV vaccine containing nucleic acids encoding HIV-1 gag mosaic proteins, and to methods of using same. The invention further relates to methods that use a genetic algorithm to create sets of polyvalent antigens suitable for use, for example, in vaccination strategies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for developing a social hierarchy for a user from a plurality of contacts includes, for each contact, tracking communications occurring between the user and the contact; determining, from the tracked communications, a rate of change for communications between the user and the contact; and identifying, based on the rate of change, a position in the social hierarchy for the contact. Another method and apparatus includes tracking communications occurring between the user and a contact in the plurality of contacts, wherein tracking a communication comprises identifying a method of communication and a time the communication occurred; determining, from the tracked communications, that repeated communication attempts were made between the user and the contact; and identifying, based on the repeated communication attempts, a position in the social hierarchy for the contact.

Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for generating and using user specific keys to execute one or more secure application in a trusted security zone of a mobile device. The user specific keys may be used in place of a trusted security zone master key and may be generated based on the trusted security zone master key. The trusted security zone master key and the user specific keys may be stored in the trusted security zone. A trusted security zone key may be used to verify the identity of a user and/or mobile device when executing in the trusted security zone. It may be tied to a particular user and may be known by a trusted service manager in communication with the mobile device.

Abstract: A skylight system including a support frame and an apex patch fitting that together support a plurality of glass pieces joined together in a selectable shape. The support frame includes a sill and a setting chair that are arranged to support the base portions of the glass pieces. The apex patch fitting may be of selectable shape and includes an upper and lower member to retain the peaks or corners of the glass therebetween. The apex patch fitting includes one or more positioning keys to align and secure the glass pieces. A method of making the skylights includes the use of an apex retainer tool to maintain the apex patch fitting in a fixed position while placing glass pieces on it. Multiple apex patch fittings can be used for a skylight, including a skylight that is ridge shaped or hipped ridge shape.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems, methods, and computer-readable media for auditing electronic freight bills are disclosed. For example, one embodiment of the present invention is a method including the steps of receiving a first data source comprising a first set of data; receiving a second data source comprising a second set of data; generating a record comprising at least a portion of the first data set and at least a portion of the second data set; and conducting an audit of the record. In another embodiment, a computer-readable media comprises code for carrying out such a method.

Abstract: A tile saw includes a base, a frame assembly disposed on the base, a first rail disposed on the frame assembly, the first rail having a longitudinal axis. A table is slidingly disposed on the first rail and a support assembly is disposed on the base. A saw assembly is supported by the support assembly and includes a motor within a motor housing, and a cutting wheel driven by the motor. The motor housing has an inlet for allowing air into the motor housing, a serpentine path within the motor housing, between the inlet and the motor, for directing air through the motor housing, and a filter within the motor housing.

Abstract: A medical device is disclosed comprising a diaphragm having at least one slit valve disposed therein, and a valve housing configured to secure the diaphragm at a peripheral portion of the diaphragm, wherein a central portion of the diaphragm is positioned relative to the peripheral portion of the diaphragm such that compressive forces acting on the peripheral portion of the diaphragm create moment forces which bias the slit valve in a closed position. A method is disclosed for using the device in connection with a catheter for regulation of fluids to and from a patient.

Abstract: A system may include a vehicle system including at least one vehicle, wherein the at least one vehicle includes at least one handbrake. The system may also include a handbrake setting determination unit configured to determine a handbrake setting control input indicating whether the at least one handbrake is to be set in order to park the vehicle system at a particular location without moving. A handbrake setting suggestion may be based on the handbrake setting control input.

Abstract: A method of operating a cartridge chip installed in an imaging device includes: causing, by the cartridge chip, the imaging device to enter an error condition; monitoring the timing or sequence of communication signals received from the imaging device during at least a portion of the error condition; and operating, based on the timing or sequence of the communication signals received from the imaging device during at least a portion of the error condition, in a first mode of operation compatible with a first type of imaging device not having a list of banned serial numbers or in a second mode of operation compatible with a second type of imaging device having a list of banned serial numbers.

Abstract: A water-dispersible polyurethane polymer useful in coating applications preferably includes a backbone having urethane linkages and at least one cycloaliphatic group having a closed aliphatic ring structure. Ethylenically unsaturated groups are preferably provided on the polyurethane polymer.

Abstract: The system and method described herein relates to managing multiple network device connections, collecting event source data from one or more network devices with one or more collectors, filtering the event source data, continuously monitoring the network device connections, controlling raw data collection from the one or more network devices, parsing the event source data into normalized data structures, and managing configurations for the collectors, among other things. Event sources may be physical or logical network devices distributed across a network, including but not limited to, firewalls, routers, biometric devices, mainframes, databases, and applications. The network devices may be sources from which the collectors may receive or request the event source data.