Abstract: A new and distinct plum tree variety, Prunus salicina, cv. ‘Suplumfortyeight’ is characterized by late season harvest and fruit having a pure yellow skin and a cling stone. The fruit is high in sugar and has medium-low acidity. The fruit of the new variety ‘Suplumfortyeight’ is also abundant in juice and has a sweet-neutral flavor. The harvest of fruit from the new variety starts about 27 days earlier than ‘Flavor Queen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,420) and about 5 days later than ‘Suplumsix’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,747).

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree (Prunus persica var. nucipersica). The following features of the tree and its fruit are characterized with the tree budded on ‘Nemaguard’ Rootstock (non-patented), grown on Handford sandy loam soil with Storie Index rating 95, in USDA Hardiness Zone 9, near Modesto, Calif., with standard commercial fruit growing practices, such as pruning, thinning, spraying, irrigation and fertilization. Its novelty consist of the following combination of desirable features: 1. Tree with vigorous, upright growth. 2. Regular and productive bearer of large size fruit. 3. Fruit with a high degree of red skin color. 4. Fruit with firm, white flesh and excellent eating quality. 5. Fruit with good handling and shipping quality.

Abstract: A new and distinct hybrid wine grapevine plant named ‘BN5-4’, characterized by the following unique combination of characteristics: Very vigorous with extremely high disease resistance in the southeastern United States, including resistance to bacterial Pierce's disease and a host of fungal diseases. Average- to high-yielding vines, with dark, purple-skinned, seeded berries. Wine from the variety may be produced to be light red with a pleasant character and low residual sugar, or with a foxy character.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Crapemyrtle plant named ‘G2X133143’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; bright green-colored leaves; numerous inflorescences with bright pink to rose-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named ‘Extrewhiteye’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant form; moderately vigorous growth habit; palmately-lobed leaves; large white-colored flowers with red purple-colored centers; and good flower longeity.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Phedimus plant, ‘Nonsitnal’ characterized by its foliage that emerges with light green centers and creamy white edges with the coloration retained throughout summer and fall and dropping the majority of the foliage by winter, its flower buds that are pinkish cream in color, its leaf buds that are cherry red in color, its rounded, upright oriented inflorescences with flowers that are bright canary yellow in color during early summer, and its dense, low growing habit with foliage that reaches 10 cm in height.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Catharanthus plant named ‘Suncatha 2460’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; relatively small light red purple-colored flowers with a distinct eye zone; and good garden performance.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALFYQDHA’, particularly characterized by having yellow flowers with small white center and purple lip, 1 to 4 peduncles, an inflorescence that is long and sturdy, leaves that are narrow obovate, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture is disclosed.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALDOQAH’, particularly characterized by having white flowers with stripes, 1 to 3 peduncles, an inflorescence that is long and sturdy, leaves that are obovate, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture is disclosed.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALFLABAL’, particularly characterized by having white flowers, 1 to 3 peduncles, an inflorescence that is short and moderate, leaves that are narrow oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture is disclosed.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALIFSIB’, particularly characterized by having white flecked flowers with a small light purple center with the intensity of the flecks depending on the temperature, 1 to 2 peduncles, an inflorescence that is long and sturdy, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture is disclosed.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALFENCK’, particularly characterized by having dark purple flowers with a lilac edge, 1 to 2 peduncles, an inflorescence that is long and sturdy, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture is disclosed.

Abstract: A new and distinct plant cultivar of garden phlox named Phlox ‘Opening Act Blush’ with sweet-smelling white flowers on broad strong mostly upright stems over a long period beginning early June and reblooming into October. The foliage is highly powdery mildew resistant and the new plant is especially suitable in the garden as a specimen or en masse, potted plant or patio, for color, fragrance and attracting hummingbirds and butterflies, and for cut flower arrangements.

Abstract: A new and distinct plant cultivar of garden phlox named Phlox ‘Opening Act Blush’ with sweet-smelling flowers of light lavender-pink flowers on broad strong stems over a long period, that has powdery mildew resistant foliage, especially suitable in the garden as a specimen or en masse, potted plant or patio, for color, fragrance and attracting hummingbirds and butterflies, and for cut flower arrangements.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘Fiunupfimp’, characterized by its upright to spreading and mounded plant habit; relatively compact habit; freely basal branching habit; dark bronze-colored leaves; freely and continuously flowering habit; and single-type flowers that are bright orange red in color.

Abstract: A new and distinct turf grass cultivar of Festuca arundinacea plant named ‘KT12’, characterized by the combination of a large number of rhizomes, long rhizomes, and a dense growth habit; characteristics which translate to a highly aesthetic turf grass that exhibits improved environmental tolerances and lower production and maintenance input costs.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Senecio plant named ‘Sunseneslipi’, characterized by its upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; and daisy-type inflorescences with pale pink-colored ray florets and red purple-colored disc florets; ray florets with acute or deeply incised apices.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Senecio plant named ‘Sunseneslilav’, characterized by its upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; and daisy-type inflorescences with lavender-colored ray florets and purple-colored disc florets; ray florets with acute or deeply incised apices.

Abstract: A tissue adhesives and sealant formed by reacting a polyglycerol aldehyde with a water-dispersible, multi-arm amine is described. The tissue adhesive and sealant may be useful for medical and veterinary applications, including, but not limited to, wound closure, supplementing or replacing sutures or staples in internal surgical procedures such as intestinal anastomosis and vascular anastomosis, tissue repair, preventing leakage of fluids such as blood, bile, gastrointestinal fluid and cerebrospinal fluid, ophthalmic procedures, drug delivery, and to prevent post-surgical adhesions.

Abstract: A process for the flotation of non-sulfidic minerals or ores, is disclosed in which crushed crude minerals or ores are mixed with water and a collector to form a suspension, air is introduced into the suspension in the presence of a reagent system, and a floated foam containing the non-sulfidic mineral or ores is formed therein along with a flotation residue comprising the gangue polymeric esterquats as the collector polymeric esterquats. The polymeric esterquats are obtained by reacting alkanolamines with a mixture of monocarboxylic acids and dicarboxylic acids and quaternizing the resulting esters, optionally after alkoxylation.

Abstract: A hybrid manual/programmable thermostat for a furnace or air conditioner offers the simplicity of a manual thermostat while providing the convenience and versatility of a programmable one. Initially, the hybrid thermostat appears to function as an ordinary manual thermostat; however, it privately observes and learns a user's manual temperature setting habits and eventually programs itself accordingly. If users begin changing their preferred temperature settings due to seasonal changes or other reasons, the thermostat continues learning and will adapt to those changes as well. For ease of use, the thermostat does not require an onscreen menu as a user interface. In some embodiments, the thermostat can effectively program itself for temperature settings that are set to occur at particular times daily or just on weekends, yet the user is not required to enter the time of day or the day of the week.

Abstract: A method, a mobile device arid a computer program product for acquiring GPS on a mobile device possessing GPS capability are disclosed. The method comprises the step of setting a current value of the period of the power-up phase of the GPS dependent upon adaptive predictions of when the GPS should be powered on to meet specifications on positioning accuracy and GPS acquisition time.

Abstract: A method of programming a nonvolatile memory device comprises applying a program voltage to a selected wordline to program selected memory cells, and performing a verify operation by applying a verify voltage to the selected wordline to determine the programming status of the selected memory cells. The verify operation applies the verify voltage to the selected wordline at least two different times to divide the selected memory cells into at least three regions corresponding to different threshold voltage ranges.

Abstract: A motion sensor is used to sense the movement of the camera during an exposure period. The camera has an image sensor to form one or more exposures. When the movement is within a certain range, the exposures are used to provide one or more frames so that an image can be constructed based on the frames. In one embodiment, the exposure period is divided into several short intervals in order to capture several image frames and only the image frames captured when the position of the camera is within a predetermined range are used to form the final image. The exposure time for each frame is small in order to reduce the motion blur degradation of the individual frames. If the camera is stable and substantially stationary relative to the scene, then all or many of the shorter frames are used to form the final image.

Abstract: An agricultural tillage implement includes a main section including a hitch extending in a travel direction, a plurality of foldable wing sections coupled with the main section, a plurality of ground engaging tilling elements, a plurality of wheel assemblies and a control system. The tilling elements are coupled to the main section and wing sections. Each of the wheel assemblies include an actuator. The wheel assemblies include a first plurality of wheel assemblies associated with the main section and a second plurality of wheel assemblies associated with the plurality of wing sections. The actuators of the first plurality of wheel assemblies being independent of the actuators of the second plurality of wheel assemblies. The control system is configured to actuate the actuators to control a depth of tilling elements in each of the sections when the implement is in a field mode.

Abstract: Some embodiments of a ground surface treatment system can include a flexible roller system having one or more of rollers arranged in a side-by-side position and include a flexible axle member extending through each row of rollers.

Abstract: An agricultural tillage implement including a main frame section having a pull hitch tube extending in a travel direction is provided, including a tool bar coupled with and extending transverse to the pull hitch tube, and a plurality of wing sections pivotally coupled with the main frame section about generally vertical axes. Each of the plurality of wing sections have at least one pivoting wing front shank frame. A main shank frame straddles the pull hitch tube. The main shank frame, the pivoting wing front shank frames, and the wing sections articulate from an operating configuration to a transport configuration. A controller for controlling the agricultural tillage implement controls the sequence in which the parts articulate.

Abstract: A tilling apparatus and a method of tilling soils which includes the use of a rotational shaft having a number of cutter assemblies located at spaced apart locations on the shaft in which each cutter assembly has a multitude of blades which rotate as the rotary shaft rotates to form a plurality of spaced apart trenches having the same spacing as the spacing of the cutters, and a width caused by the width of the blades. As the blades dig the trench, the soil contacted by the blades is granulated and is tossed about by the spinning blades so that some soil falls back into the trench and some falls along the periphery of the trench to form rows of aerated granules which promote enhanced growth of plants or seeds in the trench and along the edge of the trench to improve the yield of pasture having the trenches. Various attachments can be provided on the tilling apparatus, either in front of or towards the rear of the spinning blades for different purposes, such as rippers, seeders, levelers, or similar.

Abstract: A soil aeration apparatus can include an aeration rotor comprising at least one set of aeration tines configured for movement in a planetary motion about an axis. The apparatus can further include the aeration rotor being configured to remove soil plugs from a ground surface and break the soil plugs into soil particles when the aeration rotor is rotated.

Abstract: An agricultural tillage implement including a carriage frame assembly and pull hitch towed by a tractor and secondary frames supported by the carriage frame assembly. The secondary frames support gangs of disk blades for tilling the soil in a travel direction. Bearing hanger assemblies support the gangs of disk blades below the secondary frames through a C shaped resilient element. Stop elements are mounted on the bearing hanger assemblies and to a cross bar to limit deflection of the C shaped elements by abutting some of the secondary frames.

Abstract: An agricultural system includes an agricultural soil analyzer positioned forward of a ground engaging tool relative to a direction of travel of the agricultural system. The agricultural soil analyzer is configured to output a first signal indicative of a parameter of soil forward of the soil conditioner relative to the direction of travel. The agricultural system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the agricultural soil analyzer. The controller is configured to receive the first signal from the agricultural soil analyzer. Furthermore, the controller is configured to determine a target parameter of the agricultural system based on the first signal and to output a second signal indicative of the target parameter.

Abstract: An adjustable tamping wheel forms a berm of a desired cross section over a recently filled trench. The tamping wheel contains a center spindle, an offset left spindle, an offset right spindle, a freely rotating center basket on the center spindle with transverse tamping members, a freely rotating left basket on the left spindle with inwardly converging transverse tamping members, and a freely rotating right basket on the right spindle with inwardly converging transverse tamping members.

Abstract: A vacuum seeder for dispersing seeds at regular intervals into a seeding mechanism includes a pipe having first and second ends, at least one circumferential row of apertures therethrough, the pipe being rotatably mounted to a frame that moves along the ground. A vacuum mechanism is fixed with the second end of the pipe to produce a negative pressure within the pipe. A drive motor is fixed with the frame and coupled with the pipe for driving the pipe in a first rotational direction. A reservoir is fixed with the frame and holds the seeds positioned adjacent an upwardly-moving side of the pipe. At least one seed removal mechanism, such as a seed scraper, is fixed with the frame and positioned adjacent a downward side of the pipe to divert the seeds away from the pipe and into at least one seed receiver for delivery to the seeding mechanism.

Abstract: A particulate material delivery system is provided that allows for variable rate sectional control while delivering particulate material to an agricultural field. The system may include an air cart and a drill that are towable behind a tractor and that includes a metering system receiving product from the air cart and delivering the product to the drill for distribution to the ground, such as an agricultural field. The metering system includes multiple metering units that receive separate portions of the product from the air cart. Multiple prime movers drive the multiple metering units. A controller is connected to and individually controls the multiple prime movers such that distribution rates of the multiple metering units can be varied independently of each other.

Abstract: A method of mowing an area with an autonomous mowing robot comprises storing, in non-transient memory of the robot, a set of geospatially referenced perimeter data corresponding to positions of the mowing robot as the mowing robot is guided about a perimeter of an area to be mowed, removing from the set of perimeter data one or more data points thereby creating a redacted data set and controlling the mowing robot to autonomously mow an area bounded by a boundary corresponding to the redacted data set, including altering direction of the mowing robot at or near a position corresponding to data in the redacted data set so as to redirect the robot back into the bounded area.

Abstract: A trimmer head for use with either clockwise or counterclockwise trimmer heads, including the use of a bidirectionally dispensing spool. Various locations of passages straight through the trimmer head and spool are shown along with various locations of components of the ratcheting mechanism to allow for winding of the trimmer line on the trimmer head and for limiting the amount of line dispensed during “bumping” of the trimmer head knob on the ground. Because of the careful arrangement of the components, the trimmer head can have line wound in a single direction on the spool and still dispense line regardless of the direction that the trimmer head rotates by speeding up or slowing down the spool relative to the trimmer head housing to allow line to dispense independent of the direction of the rotation of the trimmer machine drive shaft rotating the trimmer head.

Abstract: The grass mower includes a front wheel unit having a left front wheel and a right front wheel which are mounted to a vehicle body frame, a rear wheel unit having a left rear wheel and a right rear wheel which are mounted to the vehicle body frame and a mower unit disposed between the front wheel unit and the rear wheel unit downwardly of the vehicle body frame, the mower unit including a rotary blade unit that has at least a left blade and a right blade which are disposed side by side in a vehicle body left/right direction. The rotary blade unit is configured such that a tread-on track of the left front wheel is overlapped with a rotation locus portion of the left blade from the front side to the rear side thereof and a tread-on track of the right front wheel is overlapped with a rotation locus portion of the right blade from the front side to the rear side thereof.

Abstract: A deck lift system is adapted to permit at least the cutter deck to be raised and lowered relative to the ground so as to selectively adjust the mower's height of cut. The mower includes a deck lift system for raising and lowering the cutter deck assembly, an engine deck and the engine together as a unit. The deck lift system including at least a deck lift lever for selective operation by an operator of the mower and first and second biasing springs for at least helping raise the cutter deck assembly, engine deck, and engine. Biasing springs collectively provide sufficient biasing force so that operator of the mower has to physically push down on the deck lift lever in order to lower the cutter deck.

Abstract: A self-propelled mower includes a mover main body; a battery, an electric generator, or an engine; a protruding wing that protrudes sideward, the protruding wing being retractable and an extension length of the protruding wing being variable; mowing units protruding from a front face of the mover main body and a front face of the protruding wing, each including a movable blade that reciprocates or rotates to cut grasses driven by an electric motor or the engine, the electric motor being powered by battery or the electric generator. The mover main body moves on a slope face while being towed, via a traction rope, by a straddle-type mover body that moves straddling on a guard rail installed on top of a slope of a bank; or moves on the ground or in the air while being suspended by a suspension rope hung from a spanning cable spanning in the air.

Abstract: A combine harvester grain bulk tank and grain unloading system includes opposed bulk tank augers and an unloading auger formed in a grain bulk tank of a combine harvester. The bulk tank augers are for receiving and conveying grain through the bulk tank to the unloading auger, and the unloading auger is for receiving grain from the bulk tank augers and conveying grain to a grain unloading spout for grain unloading. A primary drive gear is coupled to the unloading auger and to an input, a secondary drive gear is drivingly coupled to the bulk tank augers, and a clutch is coupled between the primary drive gear and the secondary drive gear, which is movable between an engaged position for transferring power from the input to the unloading auger and to the bulk tank augers, and a disengaged position for isolating the bulk tank augers from the primary drive gear.

Abstract: A combine harvester includes a driver assistance system that regulates a spreading on the ground of a crop flow exiting the combine harvester. The driver assistance system includes spreading strategies that can be selected in order to regulate the spreading of the crop flow exiting the combine harvester.

Abstract: A sugarcane harvester may include a chassis with various discreet and laterally separated mounting locations. Crop divider support modules may be configured to separately and fixedly attach to the chassis at various of the mounting locations, in order to support respective crop dividers in a variety of discreet and laterally separated orientations.

Abstract: A produce harvester that is operable to utilize a produce collection assembly wherein the produce collection assembly is rotatably moved during the collection of produce from a tree. The produce collection assembly includes a body that is spherical in shape having an upper portion and a lower portion forming an interior volume. The upper portion is rotatably mounted to the lower portion with the lower portion being secured to a conventional mechanical articulating boom that is operable to move the produce collection assembly in three axial directions. The upper portion includes an outer surface that has formed thereon a plurality of longitudinally oriented concave portions. Intermediate the plurality of concave portions are transition ridges. A conical protrusion is integrally formed with the upper portion and extends outward from the upper portion. A plurality of fruit apertures are journaled through the upper portion providing access to the interior volume.

Abstract: A harvester for agricultural products such as fruits such as grapes, berries, vegetables, and the like, and method of harvesting, using an RFID system capable of detecting and interrogating RFID tags associated with objects or conditions along a path of the harvester in a manner to determine both presence and location of the associated object or condition, to enable responsively adapting or altering the operation of harvesting apparatus in a predetermined manner, such as by reducing or interrupting forces exerted thereby when about or proximate the object or condition.

Abstract: A feeder drum used in an agriculture head to force the cut crop through an opening of the head. More specifically, the feeder drum is used to produce the transition from the lateral movement of the crop through the platform to a transverse longitudinal movement (with respect to lateral movement) which directs it to the platform carrier's feeder. Even more specifically, the feeder drum comprises a plurality of fins or blades attached to a cylinder, wherein the fins contain one side with a profile describing a convex curve.

Abstract: A grain-moving arrangement is disclosed for agricultural combines. An elevator is configured to move grain in a first direction along an elevator path, within an elevator housing, and to receive grain from a first auger at a first location on the elevator path. A grain-moving device is configured to receive power from the elevator in order to move grain received from a second auger in a second direction along a device path, within a device housing, to an outlet of the device housing. Grain moved along the device path to the outlet of the device housing passes through the outlet of the device housing to a second location on the elevator path that is upstream of the first location on the elevator path, with respect to the first direction.

Abstract: A lighting fixture for facilitating plant growth and a light emitting component. The fixture includes a single light emission source LED device which provides at least two emission peaks in the wavelength range of 300-800 nm and at least one of the emission peaks has Full Width of Half Maximum (FWHM) at least 50 nm or higher. The emission peaks of the LED match well with a plant photosynthesis response spectrum and is therefore particularly suitable for high efficiency artificial lighting.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for placing cuttings of plants in a cultivation medium. The apparatus has a cuttings supply system for supplying a plurality of cuttings, a camera system for identifying cuttings among the plurality of cuttings that are suitable for individual pick up using pattern recognition, a pick-up tool for picking up cuttings identified by the camera system, and a planting system for simultaneously planting multiple cuttings in the cultivation medium. The planting system and the pick-up tool are separate entities. Furthermore, the pick-up tool is arranged for suitably placing picked-up cuttings in the planting system.

Abstract: An irrigation system for hanging plants in a hanging plant carousel system that includes a frame and a measuring assembly. The frame is fixedly coupled to a substantially stationary structure, such as the building or a portion of a truss system supporting the carousel system. The measuring assembly includes a movable arm, a sensor and a controller. The movable arm has a contact surface with a measuring start and end point, which extends into the path of the basket hook coupled to the cable of the carousel system. The movable arm is displaceable by at least one of the basket hook or a plant pot structure coupled thereto. The sensor coupled to the movable arm and is configured to provide data from which the weight of a plant pot structure can be determined. The controller is configured to control a watering system to provide water to the plant pot structure.

Abstract: A self-contained, low-maintenance planter insert assembly used indoors or outdoors in planters and other containers to provide prolonged self-watering of plants in a tray supported by its fluid-containing base member. A fill-tube and handle combination upwardly-depending from the tray helps lift and position a bottom perimeter notch against an interior rim in the base member for stable but readily-separable connection between them. Plant roots may be in growth/support medium distributed directly into the tray, or in drainable pots. Fluid-permeable material under the support medium allows surplus rainwater to refill the base member, and a wicking member or members extend from the base member to the tray distributing fluid upwardly to plant roots. No connections for power or water are needed for insert assembly function, and its tray has detachable rings for height-adjustment. Applications include, but are not limited to, residential and commercial use, including hotels, convention centers, malls, and schools.