Abstract: Systems and method are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes: an imaging device, a ranging device, a data storage element to maintain calibration data associated with a relationship between the imaging device and the ranging device, one or more actuators, and a controller. The controller obtains image data from the imaging device, classifies portions of the image data as ground, obtains ranging data from the ranging device, identifies a ground subset of the ranging data corresponding to the portions of the image data using the calibration data; and operates the one or more actuators onboard the vehicle in a manner that is influenced by the ground subset of the ranging data.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle control device provided in a vehicle and a method of controlling the vehicle. A vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a communication unit formed to acquire the location information of the vehicle and perform communication with at least one of an external server and another vehicle, a sensing unit configured to sense information associated with the vehicle, and a processor configured to control the communication unit to receive map information from the external server and the location information of the another vehicle from the another vehicle, wherein the processor merges the acquired location information of the vehicle and the received location information of the another vehicle into the received map information to control the vehicle based on at least one of the merged map information and the information associated with the vehicle sensed through the sensing unit.

Abstract: A vehicle control facility for the automated control of an electrical road vehicle for a route system with an energy-supply system that includes a lane-bound energy supply line, in particular an overhead line system. A position-determining unit determines a geographical position of the electrical road vehicle. A specific-lane-determining unit determines position data for a specific lane assigned to the lane-bound energy supply line. A communication interface transmits current relative positions of infrastructure features with respect to the electrical road vehicle to an external central specific-lane-determining facility and receives position data. A vehicle-control unit controls the electrical road vehicle with respect to the determined specific lane in dependence on the determined relative position of the specific lane.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments involving use of a multi-scale fiducial by an autonomously controlled aerial vehicle. A first image at a first location is captured, and a first fiducial at a first scale of a multi-scale fiducial is recognized within the first image. The autonomously controlled aerial vehicle is piloted relative to the multi-scale fiducial based at least in part on information contained within the first fiducial. A second image at a second location is captured, and a second fiducial at a second scale of the multi-scale fiducial is recognized within the second image. An action is then performed based at least in part on information contained within the second fiducial.

Abstract: A method for dynamically converting the attitude of a rotary-wing drone that includes a body including an electronic board controlling the piloting of the drone and four link arms forming lift-producing wings, each arm including a rigidly connected propulsion unit. The method includes executing, on reception of an instruction allowing a conversion between flight using the rotary wings and flight using the lift of the wings, the conversion being defined by a pitch angle to be achieved ?ref, of a repeated sequence of steps until the pitch angle ?ref is achieved, including estimating the current pitch angle ?est of the drone, determining an angular trajectory depending on the pitch angle to be achieved ?ref, and sending one or more differentiated commands based upon the angular trajectory and the current estimated pitch angle ?est to one or more propulsion units such that the drone is rotated about the pitch axis.

Abstract: Some embodiments include methods performed by a processor associated with a wireless communication device for enabling an unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) to operate in an automatic user tracking mode. Such embodiments may include capturing image data of surroundings by a camera while the UAV is operating in the automatic user tracking mode, calculating estimated position information for the wireless communication device based on captured image data, and transmitting estimated position information to the UAV for use in tracking a user of the wireless communication device. Some embodiments include methods performed by a processor of a UAV for enabling the UAV to automatically follow a user. Such embodiments may include calculating a current position of the UAV, receiving from a user's wireless communication device estimated position information derived from image data captured by a camera of the wireless communication device, and determining whether an update to the UAV motion is required.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a rotor-based remote flying vehicle platform such as a quadrotor, and to methods for controlling intra-flight dynamics of such rotor-based remote flying vehicles. In one case, a rotor-based remote flying vehicle platform is provided that includes a central frame. The central frame has a control center that is configured to control motors mounted to the vehicle platform. The central frame also has a communication port configured to interface with functionality modules. The communication port is communicably connected to the control center. The rotor-based remote flying vehicle platform further includes at least a first arm that is connected to the central frame and extends outward, as well as a first motor mounted to the first arm, where the first motor is in communication with the control center. The method for controlling intra-flight dynamics may be performed on such a rotor-based remote flying vehicle.

Abstract: An autonomous aerial system for delivering a payload to a waypoint. The autonomous aerial system may comprise an aerial vehicle to transport the payload to the waypoint and an onboard supervisory control system operatively coupled with the aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle may be configured to navigate to the waypoint and to land at a designated touchdown zone within a landing zone at the waypoint. The onboard supervisory control system having a processor operatively coupled with a non-volatile memory device and a sensor package. The processor may be configured to generate flight control signal data based at least in part on data received via the sensor package, the sensor package configured to (1) dynamically sense and avoid obstacles along a flight route to the waypoint, and (2) perceive physical characteristics of the landing zone.

Abstract: A flow-rate regulator unit (1) has an insert housing (2) which is insertable into a fluid line and in which a plurality of throughflow paths are provided, in at least one throughflow path of which in each case one flow-rate regulator (3, 4, 5) which regulates the amount of fluid flowing therethrough per time unit to a pressure-independent determined throughflow value is disposed, and in at least one further throughflow path of which in each case one closing valve (6) which under the pressure of the inflowing fluid is movable counter to a restoring force from an open position into a closing position is provided.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for water balancing are described herein. An example device can include a memory and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory. The instructions can be executed to send a command from a building controller to balance a subset of a plurality of valves. The instructions can be executed to simultaneously balance the subset of the plurality of valves associated with a plurality of building systems, based on the command, and without accessing any of the plurality of valves individually.

Abstract: A system for exerting forces on a user. The system includes a user-mounted device having one or more masses disposed along one or more tracks. The system further includes a processor configured to generate a first actuator control signal to configure a first actuator to move a first mass included in the one or more masses at a first acceleration in a first direction along a first track included in the one or more tracks. The processor is further configured to generate a second actuator control signal to configure at least one of the first actuator and a second actuator to move the first mass at a second acceleration in the first direction along the first track. A magnitude of the first acceleration is above a threshold acceleration, and a magnitude of the second acceleration is below the threshold acceleration.

Abstract: A mixing valve (10) includes a valve body (12) having a hot fluid inlet (14), a cold fluid inlet (16), a mixed fluid outlet (18), and a cavity (20) in the valve body (12) between the inlets (14, 16) and the outlet (18). Mixing valve (10) includes a liner (30, 130, 230, 430, 530, 630, 730, 830) positioned in valve body (12) and a valve member (40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840) movable therein between a first position restricting the flow of hot fluid and a second position. Liner (30, 130, 230, 430, 530, 630, 730, 830) includes a downstream valve seat (74, 174, 274, 474, 574, 674, 774) that, when engaged by valve member (40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840), restricts flow of hot fluid past valve member (40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840).

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric system, comprising an electric equipment (1) having a control line (2) arranged to be connected to impedance means (3) as well as to substituting means (7). The substitution means provides an impedance controlled by a first output (8) of a control unit (6), the control unit having polarity probing means (13) arranged to obtain an indication whether a connection of the substituting means to the control line (2) results in a voltage with a positive or negative polarity. The connection of the substituting means (7) is made in dependence on that indication and under influence of a second output (14) of the control unit. According to the invention, the substituting means (7) comprise a series connection of two equivalent impedance networks (15, 16) provided each one with by-pass switching means (17, 18) for a plurality of impedance means (19, 20), each having series connected semiconductor switching means (21, 22) arranged in opposite directions.

Abstract: There is provided a power management device including a load current control unit configured to set an upper limit on a load current supplied from a connected feeding device and to control the load current on the basis of the upper limit, and a determination unit configured to, when the load current control unit has reset the upper limit to a higher value, determine if the upper limit has exceeded a current capacity of the feeding device on the basis of a voltage drop level of an input voltage. The load current control unit may reset the upper limit in increments or decrements of a predetermined value, and the load current control unit may, when the determination unit has determined that the upper limit had exceeded the current capacity of the feeding device, control the load current by resetting the upper limit to a value not exceeding the current capacity.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes a current source, to sink or source an output current, in response to a control signal, and a switch-capacitor resistor coupled to the current source. The apparatus further includes a controller coupled to derive the control signal from a voltage across the switch-capacitor resistor, the controller further to provide a switch control signal to the switch-capacitor resistor.

Abstract: A current to be supplied to a load driven by the current is linearly controlled in accordance with a voltage. A voltage-current converter according to the present invention includes a differential amplifier, a first current mirror, and a voltage setting unit. The differential amplifier receives an input voltage from an input terminal and outputs a voltage in accordance with a difference between the input voltage and a threshold voltage. The first current mirror receives the voltage from the differential amplifier and outputs an output current to an output terminal. The voltage setting unit sets the threshold voltage.

Abstract: Systems, methods, circuits and computer-readable mediums for regulators, e.g., low-dropout (LDO) regulators, with load-insensitive compensations are provided. An example regulator includes an amplifier operable to receive an input voltage and a feedback voltage, a follower responsive to an output voltage of the amplifier and operable to supply a regulated voltage to a load coupled to the follower, and a feedback circuit coupled to the load and the amplifier and operable to provide the feedback voltage. The amplifier is operable to have a substantially unity gain beyond a resonant frequency of the amplifier.

Abstract: A voltage regulator comprising an error amplifier, a pass transistor and a buffer circuit arranged between the error amplifier and the pass transistor. The buffer circuit comprises a load detector configured to detect a load current of the regulator by monitoring an output signal of the error amplifier. The buffer circuit further comprises a load compensator configured to receive a load signal from the load detector. The load signal indicates the load of the regulator. The load compensator is further configured to change its output impedance based on the load signal such that variations of the load of the voltage regulator are compensated. There is additionally provided a corresponding system, a corresponding method and a corresponding design structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a low dropout linear voltage regulator, including: an amplifier, configured to have a first input end receiving a reference voltage, a second input end configured to receive a feedback voltage, and an output end connected to a first node; an output transistor, having a control end connected to the first node, a first end connected to a first power source potential, and a second end connected to a second node and configured to provide an output voltage; a feedback circuit, connected to the second node and configured to provide the feedback voltage according to the output voltage; and a compensation circuit, comprising at least one of a first compensation amplifier, a second compensation amplifier and a first variable current source. The compensation circuit detects and suppresses a voltage transient generated when a load switching from light to heavy occurs at the second node.

Abstract: Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of a power converter are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is an electrical power conversion system comprising a first converter stage, a second converter stage, a third converter stage, and a control system. The first converter stage is operable to boost DC power received from a DC power source. The second converter stage is operable to boost DC power received from the first converter stage. The third converter stage includes an inverter. The control system is structured to receive as input voltage (Vpv) and current (Ipv) output by the DC power source, voltage (Vdc) output by the second controller stage, and voltage (Vac) and a current (Iac) which are output by the third stage to an AC electrical power system, provide a control command for the first converter stage, and process the information of Vdc, Vac and Iac to provide control commands for the inverter switches.

Abstract: An actuator release mechanism comprising an axially moveable member such as a piston biased in a first axial position by a bias spring and driven to a second axial position by an actuation means such as a solenoid arranged in substantially the same axis as the axially moveable member.

Abstract: A dongle couples an electrophysiologic catheter and a navigational system, including a patient interface unit (PIU). The dongle permits hardware normally carried on catheter control handle to be relocated onto the dongle to render catheter “greener” and less costly to manufacture use. The dongle having a support portion with flexibility, shape memory and/or varying degrees of stiffness also advantageously allows a user more control over the placement, position and orientation of the dongle. The dongle has a body with a first electrical interface unit, and a support portion with a second electrical interface unit, the support portion having an outer flexible tubular member with shape memory. In one embodiment, the support portion comprises a gooseneck tubing. In another embodiment, the support portion comprises a coiled spring.

Abstract: A monitor assembly having an electronic monitor with a frame and a display area and a support assembly configured to act between the monitor frame and a support for the electronic monitor. The support assembly has at least one link member configured to be movable: a) relative to the monitor frame around a first axis with the support assembly in operative relationship with the monitor frame; and b) relative to the support around a second axis with the support assembly in operative relationship with the support. The first and second axes are non-parallel to each other. The electronic monitor is guided in movement relative to the electronic monitor support around the first and second axes to thereby reposition the monitor display area relative to the support.

Abstract: Disclosed are a flexible screen extension structure, a flexible screen assembly, and a terminal. The flexible screen extension structure may include a first panel, a first sliding element, a second panel, a second sliding element, and a first elastic element. The first panel may include a first guiding mechanism. The first sliding element is slidably connected to the first guiding mechanism along a first direction. The second panel may include a second guiding mechanism. The second sliding element is slidably connected to the second guiding mechanism along a second direction. The second direction is parallel to the first direction. The first elastic element is arranged between the first sliding element and the second sliding element.

Abstract: A peripheral device for use with a user terminal, the peripheral device comprising: a first section; a second section; the first and second sections being arranged relative to each other in a clamshell manner, and the first and second sections being movable relative to each other between a first, closed configuration of the peripheral device, and a second, open configuration of the peripheral device; the peripheral device comprising a flexible tether portion connecting the first section to the second section; the flexible tether portion being biased so as to maintain a tension in the tether.

Abstract: A computing device may have a number of ports that can be connected to different peripheral devices and the availability, capability and/or functionality available through different ports may change depending on a mode of operation of the computing device. A user will not generally be aware of which ports can be used as they are all, in theory, available and the usability of an individual port is likely to change if a different host device is connected to the docking station or according to the mode the computing device is operating in. This is especially the case if the ports can all accept the same plug, for example, a USB Type-C plug.

Abstract: A dock for a portable electronic device includes a base; an arm extending from the base; a receiving arrangement coupled to the arm and including contacts disposed on a surface of the receiving arrangement for mating with contacts disposed on the portable electronic device or a cover disposed over a portion of the portable electronic device; and a cable extending from the receiving arrangement configured and arranged to couple the dock to a device for charging or providing data to or from the portable electronic device.

Abstract: In some examples, an electronic device includes an electronic component, a battery pack that is dockable to the electronic component, and a lock to lock a docked battery pack to the electronic device. In some examples, the lock is to move to a locked state in which the docked battery pack is to be locked to the electronic device and electrically coupled to the electronic component to power the electronic component using the docked battery pack and the lock is to move to an unlocked state in which the docked battery pack is to be unlocked from the electronic device and electrically isolated from the electronic component.

Abstract: A display device includes a display panel including a bendable display panel including a substrate and a plurality of pad portions on the substrate. The substrate includes a cutout between adjacent pad portions of the plurality of pad portions.

Abstract: A flexible display apparatus includes a display panel, a case and a plurality of driving circuits. The display panel is configured to display an image. The display panel includes a first display part, a second display part and a hinge display part. The hinge display part is interposed between the first and second display parts. The hinge display part is configured to be foldable. The case is configured to cover the display panel. The case forms a hinge thickness with the hinge display part and it also forms a peripheral thickness at an end of the case facing away from the hinge display part. The peripheral thickness is greater than the hinge thickness. The driving circuits are disposed between a rear surface of the first display part and the case. Therefore, thickness of the display panel is decreased and its portability is improved.

Abstract: A modular portable storage system includes a portable storage device with a housing having a cuboid geometry. The housing retains a processor, a storage module in electronic communication with the processor, and a wireless communication module. A circuit may communicate electronically with the portable storage device. The portable storage device may be removably coupled to the circuit board. A power supply may be in electronic communication with the circuit board. The power supply may also be removably coupled to the circuit board. The portable storage device and the power supply may be removably retained within the external housing. The circuit board may be mechanically coupled to the external housing. A case for a mobile device may define a cavity to retain the portable storage device.

Abstract: A pivoting mechanism for an electronic device includes a pivot shaft, a first connecting member disposed on the pivot shaft for being connected with a support of the electronic device, a second connecting member disposed on the pivot shaft for connected with a main body of the electronic device, and a torque adjusting assembly. The torque adjusting assembly includes four sleeves and an elastic member through which the pivot shaft is disposed. Each of the sleeves includes at least one protrusion. The protrusion of one of the four sleeves is slidable relative to the protrusion of another sleeve for adjusting an amount of deformation of the elastic member. A portable electronic device including a main body, a support and the pivoting mechanism is provided.

Abstract: An arrangement for securing a touch sensor assembly within a mobile communication or other device with at least one touch button defined within a touch button area. The touch sensor assembly includes a touch sensor (such as a sense inductor coil), and multiple back-side spring clips attached at the back-side of the sensor assembly. A touch sensor pocket integral with the device case is disposed at an interior-side of the touch button area, the sensor pocket to position the sensor assembly relative to the associated touch button. The touch sensor assembly can be secured within the touch sensor pocket by the back-side spring clips, spring-urged toward the front-side of the sensor pocket, and spaced from the device case by spacer elements (which can be attached to the sensor assembly, or integrated into the device case). The touch sensor pocket can include back-side alignment elements for aligning the spring clips.

Abstract: An apparatus to secure a touch sensor assembly for a device touch button (such as for a mobile communications device). A touch sensor slot IS integral with the device at the touch button area. A touch sensor assembly includes a touch flex sensor, and at least three alternating front-side and back-side flexible spacer elements attached to the touch flex sensor. The touch flex sensor can be secured within the touch sensor slot, and spaced from the front-side and back-side slot walls by respectively the front-side and back-side spacer elements. An elastic insulator material is introduced into the touch sensor slot surrounding the touch flex sensor. The sensor slot can be formed in a device wall, or formed by a touch sensor slot structure attached to the device at the touch button area, with an interior surface of the device forming a front-side wall of the touch sensor slot.

Abstract: An expansion slot interface may include a low-profile interface card to engage with an expansion slot, a linking device fixed to the interface card, and an expansion component connector to operably engage with an expansion component. The expansion component may be disposed apart from the interface card. The low-profile interface card may fit underneath a doublewide expansion component that is engaged with an adjacently disposed expansion slot, and the linking device may operably engage the interface card with the expansion component connector.

Abstract: A storage drive riser may comprise a riser board. The riser board may include an edge connector, a storage drive connector to operably engage with a storage drive, and a retention aperture. The retention aperture may be longitudinally aligned with the storage drive connector. The storage drive riser may also include a storage drive retainer to insertably engage with the retention aperture and to retain the storage drive to the riser board with a retention protrusion.

Abstract: A processor can be damaged by a heat sink. If the heat sink is improperly installed, the heat sink may damage the processor and/or the motherboard. Sequential tightening of mechanical fasteners is thus recommended, but the sequential tightening is challenging to implement. Sequential tightening of fasteners helps reduce damage to a processor. When a heat sink is fastened over the processor to a motherboard, mechanical fasteners are tightened in a sequence to reduce damage to the processor. To ensure sequential tightening of the mechanical fasteners, the heat sink is first secured with only two of the mechanical fasteners preinstalled in two of four holes in the heat sink and sequentially tightened into a bolster plate on a bottom side of the motherboard. A cover is then installed over the heat sink, and the cover has two mechanical fasteners that align with a remaining two of the four holes in the heat sink. A remaining two of the mechanical fasteners may then be sequentially tightened into the bolster plate.

Abstract: Examples herein disclose a plenum. The plenum includes an enclosed structure to deliver cool air to multiple enclosures within a rack and multiple cables to route to the multiple enclosures within the rack. The plenum further includes a connector to attach the multiple cables in the plenum to one of the multiple enclosures.

Abstract: A cooling system is provided for a 3D integrated circuit (IC) to deliver fluid in x, y, and z dimensions to interior regions of the IC as a means to regulate heat. An IC includes a microfluidic network of channels, at least one sensor and at least one microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based device that is disposed within the network of channels and that is configured to regulate a flow of fluid within the network of channels. Each sensor monitors a state of the IC. Each MEMS-based device receives control signals based on a state of the IC and regulates a flow of fluid within the network of channels based on control signals that area received on a real-time basis based on changes detected in a state of the IC.

Abstract: A method for operating a flowmeter having at least one diagnostic unit, a counter unit and a storage unit with at least one memory for carrying out a plurality of time-limited measuring operations during which the counter unit determines at least the overall volume of a fluid passing through the flowmeter during one measuring operation. The counter unit is operated for the duration of a time-limited measuring operation, and the diagnostic unit recognizes at least one erroneous or error-free state of the flowmeter. The method ensures a particularly high reliability of the measured values determined during an individual measuring operation by the diagnostic unit generating at least one status message based on the state that is transmitted to the storage unit and stored in the memory, and by several status messages being transmitted and cumulatively stored in the memory at least for the duration of the measuring operation.

Abstract: A computer system is rebooted after updating a boot image without running platform firmware with its power-on self-test of system hardware devices and without retrieving all of the modules included in a boot image from an external source and reloading them into system memory. The reboot process includes the steps of loading one or more updated modules of the boot image into the system memory, executing the boot loader module to load for execution modules of the boot image including a system software kernel and the updated modules, and transferring execution control to the system software kernel.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit capable of efficiently suppressing power consumption when a power supply voltage is lowered is provided.

Abstract: A method for controlling a user experience with an application on an electronic device is provided. The method includes the following steps: detecting a temperature of the electronic device; detecting a power of the electronic device; calculating a power-thermal hint according to the detected temperature and the detected power; and adjusting a complexity level of the application according to at least the power-thermal hint so as to control the user experience with the application.

Abstract: An information processing device includes: a state determination unit that determines a change in a state of connection between the information processing device and an external device or a power supply; a cause selection unit that selects from a plurality of choices, a cause of the determined change in the state of connection; and a processing unit that performs a process in accordance with the selected choice.

Abstract: Examples described herein include receiving current values of a power device, determining a spike situation of the power device, determining a power course for the power device, and operating the power device according to the power course. The current values may include a first current value at a first time and a second current value at a second time. The power course may be determined based on a plurality of current change values associated with the spike situation, a total number of spikes associated with the spike situation, and a duration of at least one spike out of the total number of spikes associated with the spike situation.

Abstract: Described is a method and processing apparatus to improve power efficiency by gating redundant threads processing. In particular, the method for gating redundant threads in a graphics processor includes determining if data for a thread and data for at least another thread are within a predetermined similarity threshold, gating execution of the at least another thread if the data for the thread and the data for the at least another thread are within the predetermined similarity threshold, and using an output data from the thread as an output data for the at least another thread.

Abstract: In some examples, an electronic device may determine a target time to which the remaining battery charge is to last, such as based on a user input or historical usage of the electronic device. Additionally, the electronic device may determine a current amount of the battery charge remaining, and may determine user activities likely to occur between the present time and the target time. Based at least partially on the amount of the battery charge remaining and the user activities determined to be likely to occur before the target time, the electronic device may apply one or more power management restrictions to one or more resources of the electronic device.

Abstract: A computer system, comprising a plurality of computers, each of the plurality of computers including at least one processor chip each including a plurality of processor cores, the at least one processor chip constructing a plurality of regions each constructed by at least one processor core, each of the plurality of processor cores carries out calculation processing for executing a predetermined program and inter-core communication processing, which is communication between the plurality of processor cores, the computer system comprising: a regulation module which controls a voltage and a frequency that are supplied to each of the plurality of regions; and a determination module which determines a power mode of each of the plurality of regions, to output an instruction to the regulation module.

Abstract: A microcontroller that can be configured to selectively operate in a synchronous mode or an asynchronous mode, and a method of selectively switching the operating mode is described. The microcontroller can include a processor and a system controller. The processor can be configured to operate synchronously in a synchronous operating mode and asynchronously in an asynchronous operating mode. The processor can also be configured to generate a processor idle status signal indicative of the processor operating in a reduced power mode, and generate a programming signal. The system controller can be configured to generate an asynchronous mode signal based on the programming signal and the processor idle status signal, and provide the asynchronous mode signal to the processor to control the processor to selectively operate in the synchronous operating mode and in the asynchronous operating mode.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention includes an execution unit to execute instructions of a first type, a local power gate circuit coupled to the execution unit to power gate the execution unit while a second execution unit is to execute instructions of a second type, and a controller coupled to the local power gate circuit to cause it to power gate the execution unit when an instruction stream does not include the first type of instructions. Other embodiments are described and claimed.