A fuel injector (10) has an inlet (12), an outlet (14), and a passageway (16) providing a fuel flow conduit from the inlet to the outlet. A valve structure (22, 24) is movable in the passageway between first and second positions. A seat (26) is provided at the outlet and has at least one seat passage (28) in communication with the passageway. Movement of the valve structure between the first and second positions controls the flow of fuel through the seat passages. The seat includes an outer tip surface (30) through which the least one seat passage extends. A catalytic coating (32) is provided on at least a portion of the outer tip surface. The coating causes oxidation of fuel on the coating to occur at a temperature lower than if the coating was not provided.

An application tip and method for dispensing a fluid into a hole, the tip having a hollow housing or body with an open end and a closed end, the open end configured to be removably attached to and in fluid communication with a fluid source, the closed end including a nozzle having at least one passage or fluid outlet opening.

A paintball or other gelatin capsule has a printed image applied to its shell before encapsulation using a gelatin ribbon printing machine. The printing machine includes a motor driven cylindrical casting drum, a cylindrical print roll having a pattern formed on and around its outer periphery, said print roll being positioned relative to said casting drum so that said gelatin ribbon is sandwiched in between and in contact with both said casting drum and said print roll and so that the print roll is rotary driven by said casting drum solely through frictional contact with the gelatin ribbon. A rotary ink roller is in contact with the print roll to drives the ink roller solely through frictional contact between said print roll the inking roller. A doctor blade is configured to scrape excess ink from said inking roller. A method of printing on a gelatin capsule is also provided.

Provided are a data structure including a header area, and a payload area comprising data, a method of generating the data structure, and extracting information from the data structure. At least one of the header area and the payload area includes at least one sub-area in which one or more signal fields are included. At least one signal field among the signal fields includes information for signalling presence or absence of one or more information fields located at least partly in the data structure, the one or more information fields corresponding to the one or more signal fields.

A pump cartridge for mounting on a drive rotor includes a roller assembly having first and second hubs maintained in a spaced apart relationship and defining an axis, and a plurality of planetary rollers arranged in a circumferentially spaced orientation about the axis, the rollers mounted to the hubs displacement radially outward. One or more compressible tubing lines are interposed between the rollers and an interior wall of the pump cartridge housing. The housing and the first and second hubs collectively define a passageway through which a spreader on the drive rotor extends and may be rotated relative to the roller assembly to displace the rollers radially outward to thereby compress the tubing lines against the interior wall. A coupling feature on the first hub engages a roller driving feature of the rotor, so that rotation of the rotor causes rotation of the roller assembly about the axis.

Compound action snips includes include first and second handles pivotally connected to each other, and first and second blades. The first handle includes first and second walls arranged opposite to each other. The second wall includes a recess. The first blade is mounted to the first handle. The second blade is mounted to the second handle. A fastener inserts through the first wall, the first blade, and the second wall. A fixing element is received into the recess and threaded onto the fastener, so that a top surface defined on the fixing element is not exposed out of the second wall of the first handle.

An industrial fluid circulating system having at least one fluid circulation circuit, includes a plurality of pumps connected in parallel to circulate the fluid through each of the fluid circulation circuit, a separate motor driving each pump, a load detector to sense operating loads on the system and each circuit, and a speed control to vary the speed of each motor to thereby vary the pumping capacity of each pump in response to the detected load on the system, each pump of each respective circuit running simultaneously at a substantially similar speed or a predetermined equal reduced speed of the respective circuit or an almost equal reduced speed or a similar reduced speed.

An apparatus includes a substrate, a classical computing processor formed on the substrate, a quantum computing processor formed on the substrate, and one or more coupling components between the classical computing processor and the quantum computing processor, the one or more coupling components being formed on the substrate and being configured to allow data exchange between the classical computing processor and the quantum computing processor.

A data processing system comprising: a host computer system supporting a software entity and a receive queue for the software entity; a network interface device having a controller unit configured to provide a data port for receiving data packets from a network and a data bus interface for connection to a host computer system, the network interface device being connected to the host computer system by means of the data bus interface; and an accelerator module arranged between the controller unit and a network and having a first medium access controller for connection to the network and a second medium access controller coupled to the data port of the controller unit, the accelerator module being configured to: on behalf of the software entity, process incoming data packets received from the network in one or more streams associated with a first set of one or more network endpoints; encapsulate data resulting from said processing in network data packets directed to the software entity; and deliver the network data packets to the data port of the controller unit so as to cause the network data packets to be written to the receive queue of the software entity.

Includes a low flow-rate region (R2) that is disposed on an upstream side of a combustion region (R1) within a second pipe (2), and that has a relatively slow flow-rate of combustion gas (G1) within the second pipe, and a flame kernel formation unit (3a) is disposed in the low flow-rate region.

The invention relates to a capsule for the preparation of a beverage. The capsule includes first and second covering walls connected for forming a cavity containing a beverage ingredient and a contactless identifying element for identifying the capsule by detecting the identifying element using the detector of a beverage producing device. The identifying element is preferably disposed in the cavity.

This disclosure relates to combination therapies comprising anti-Pseudomonas Psl and PcrV bispecific binding molecules and related compositions, for use in prevention and treatment of Pseudomonas infection.

Specific binding members that bind the ED-A isoform of fibronectin for use in methods of diagnosis, detection, imaging and/or treatment of endometriosis, and/or for use in delivery to the neovasculature of endometriotic tissue of a molecule conjugated to the specific binding member. Specific binding members that bind tenascin-C, especially the A1, A2, A3, A4 and/or D domain tenascin-C large isoform, for use in methods of diagnosis, detection, imaging and/or treatment of endometriosis, psoriatic arthritis or psoriasis, and/or for use in delivery to the neovasculature of endometriotic, psoriatic arthritic or psoriatic tissue of a molecule conjugated to the specific binding member.

The invention relates to a capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage preparation device. The capsule has a flange which is partially made of paper and partially made of polymer. The polymer is essentially arranged on the flange to cover at least partially the paper part and so to improve the inside tightness of the capsule, in particular, to prevent air enters inside the capsule via folds and creases.

A brewing system includes a brewing apparatus and a capsule containing a substance for brewing. The capsule has an opening on one side and a base on an opposite side. The base includes a light input surface, a light-output surface and a light conductor to conduct light from the light input surface to the light output surface. The apparatus includes: a brewing chamber including an inlet for heated water, an outlet for the brewed beverage, and an opening in communication with the opening of the capsule. A light source on the brewing apparatus emits light into the base via the light inlet surface of the capsule. The light conductor conducts the light to the light-output surface. A light detector of the brewing apparatus detects light emitted by light-output surface on the base of the capsule. A method of operating the brewing system and a capsule system are also described.

A capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product is disclosed. The capsule includes a circumferential first wall, a second wall closing the circumferential first wall at a first end, and a flexible sheet-shaped third wall closing the circumferential first wall at a second, open, end opposite the second wall, the third wall being at least one of perforate and porous. The first, second and third wall enclose an inner space including the extractable product. The third wall forms an outermost boundary of the capsule in an axial direction thereof. The third wall includes a filtering material. The second wall is one of a flexible porous sheet, a flexible foil provided with a plurality of entrance openings, and a substantially rigid wall that comprises a plurality of entrance openings.

A forceps includes first and second shafts, each having a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof. At least one jaw member is moveable from an open to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. At least one jaw member is configured for reciprocation of a blade therethrough. A trigger assembly includes a trigger and at least one linkage coupled to the trigger and to the blade such that rotation of the trigger translates the blade between the retracted and the extended position. An interference member moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position is also provided. The interference member is configured to engage the linkage(s) when in the locked position to inhibit translation of the blade from the retracted to the extended position.

An engineered topsoil for use in soil reclamation and a method of producing the same are disclosed that seek to replicate undisturbed native reference topsoil from near the site in need of land reclamation. The engineered topsoil is formed from a base amount of subsoil and amendment comprised of an effective amount of surrogate humin material sufficient to replicate the estimated humin organic carbon content of the native reference topsoil, and an effective amount of plant residue material sufficient to replicate the estimated non-humin organic carbon content of the native reference topsoil.

An embodiment of the invention provides a method that identifies GPS shifting fields for road segments, the GPS shifting fields including areas around the road segments that include false GPS readings of objects that traveled on the road segments. The GPS shifting fields can be revised with a road segment attribute and/or at a driver preference. The road map network can be partitioned into space units, where the road map network can include at least two GPS readings of the object. For each space unit that includes a road segment, a probability that the object was located on the road segment can be calculated for each road segment based on the GPS readings of the object and the GPS shifting fields. The trajectory of the object can be determined based on the computing of the probabilities.

Described herein are methods and systems for generating shared collaborative maps for planting or harvesting operations. A method of generating a collaborative shared map between machines includes generating a first map for a first machine based on a first set of data and generating a second map for a second machine based on a second set of data. The method further includes generating at least one shared collaborative map for at least one of the first and second machines based on the first and second maps.

A self-supporting, rigid, and collapsible reusable bag made from flexible material and having a bottom, two first sidewalls, two second sidewalls, a top opening, and rigid insert. A rigid full-wall board is embedded in each of the two first sidewalls. A rigid insert comprised of at least one pair of sidewalls and bottom with substantially similar dimensions to the second sidewalls and bottom of the bag are placed in the interior and in frictional contact with the second sidewalls and bottom of the bag. The rigid insert sidewalls are held in place with securing devices located on the interior upper corners of the sidewalls of the bag. The bag can be collapsed by moving the rigid insert away from the second sidewalls and bottom to allow the second sidewalls to fold either inward or outward. A full-wall pocket is provided for each first sidewall to receive the full-wall board.

An expandable and collapsible enclosure is provided for a garment refreshing appliance. The appliance has at least either a top or a bottom rigid housing structure. The enclosure comprises a wall structure extending substantially an entire height of the enclosure. The wall structure is made of a flexible material. An opening is provided in the wall structure through which garments can be introduced into or removed from the enclosure. A zipper is attached at the opening to selectively open and close the opening. A snap attachment mechanism is located at either or both of the top and a bottom of the wall structure for securing the wall structure to the top and/or bottom rigid housing structures.

The present document describes a container for storing and drying garments or sport equipment, the container comprising an external envelope comprising a resistant material; and a ventilation structure through which air can be blown for drying the garments or sports equipment, the ventilation structure supporting the external envelope, the ventilation structure comprising hanging elements for hanging the garments or sports equipment thereon, the ventilation structure capable of adopting a retracted position and an extended position in which the ventilation structure occupies more space than in the retracted position.

A stretching system to stretch a canvas or material on a frame without the use of stretching pliers and staples. Special purpose corner clamps are used to secure the stretcher bars into an initial open miter frame to orient the double sided adhesive strip on the side of the stretchers towards the canvas or material while maintaining the adhesive strip from touching the canvas or material. After alignment, the stretching bars are pressed down and attached onto the canvas or material and the corners are released. The corner clamps are removed and canvas or material corners are cut and folded into the open miter ends which also have adhesive strips. By rotating the stretchers axially 90 degrees into the final frame, thus closing the miters, and upon inserting U-shaped fasteners into the grooves placed on the back of the stretcher, the canvas or material is stretched and ready to display.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a modular, portable, and adjustable wheelchair ramp that provides advantages and benefits over current wheelchair ramps. The ramp may be sold in a kit with individual elements, but it is also designed to provide a frame substructure that can be used with conventional decking materials, railings, and handrails.

A device is provided for collapsing a stented bioprosthetic valve, including first section and second sections, each spanning between first and second ends of the device. The second section of the device is associated with the first section to at least partially enclose an internal cavity formed by the first and second sections, the internal cavity tapering from an open insertion portion at a first end of the device to an open exit portion at a second end of the device. The insertion portion has a larger dimension than the exit portion. When the first section and second section are substantially enclosing the internal cavity, a stented bioprosthetic valve may be inserted into the insertion portion and collapsed as it is moved toward and through the exit portion. The valve may then be loaded on an apparatus for insertion into the body.

A method for forming a piece of a sheet metal is performed by positioning a consumable body, made of metal, proximate to the piece of the sheet metal. The consumable body is rapidly vaporized, and the gas pressure generated thereby is directed into the piece of the sheet metal. This results in acceleration of the piece of sheet metal, and it is collided into a stationary body at a velocity, generally in excess of 200 m/s. Depending upon the type of stationary body, the piece of sheet metal is deformed into a predetermined shape or is welded onto the stationary body. The vaporization is accomplished by passing a high current of electricity into the consumable body. The effect of the vaporized metal may be augmented by additional components in the consumable body.

A plain stepped splice lay-out scheme is presented that can be used for splicing strips to one another that comprise longitudinally arranged cords. The strips can take the form of a conveyor belt, transmission belt, timing belt, elevator belt, a rubber track or a reinforcing strip. The splice is optimised for uniform bending stiffness and maximum strength retention. The cross section of the strip and the splice are substantially equal: there is no increase in thickness or width at the splice. The splice lay-out is characterised by the fact that the abutments (130)—those positions where cord ends (111, 121) meet—are positioned sufficiently far away from one another and by preference as far away from one another as possible. Preferred embodiments in terms of length common between cords of the different strips and local strength are given.

A method for providing an encapsulated flavorant or chemesthetic agent in a smoking article includes forming an emulsion including: (i) a first aqueous solution, comprising one or more cross-linkable polysaccharides; and (ii) a hydrophobic additive comprising one or more flavorants or chemesthetic agents. The method also includes extruding the emulsion into a second aqueous solution in the form of an elongated structure, cross-linking at least a portion of the one or more cross-linkable polysaccharides, removing the cross-linked elongated structure from the second aqueous solution, introducing the cross-linked elongated structure into a filter, or into a rod including a smoking composition, or both; and forming the filter or the rod of the smoking composition into a smoking article. The method can include a drying step.

The present invention provides an electronic device (100) having smaller number of drive chips and including a timing controller (10), a gate and a source drive chips (20, 30), a pixel cells matrix (60) and a multiplexer (40). The multiplexer (40) includes a plurality of first signal outputs connected to the pixel cells matrix (60). The timing controller (10) might generate enable signals for the multiplexer (40). In this way, the multiplexer (40) could output scan signals to the pixel cells matrix by a corresponding signal end. The number of the drive chips could be reduced by the present invention.

A ladder system is disclosed which allows for stabilizing a ladder on multiple surfaces without the need for a second person or a great deal of setup time. The collapsible ladder system includes a larger ladder section and a smaller ladder strut section which are pivotally connected at a point which is at or below the midpoint of the larger ladder section. The larger ladder section and smaller ladder strut section are connected by a rigid adjustable linkage, or spreader, at a point that is below the pivotable connection. The ladder further includes a means for stability on a variety of surfaces. At the ground contact point, the point where the ladder side rail ends and the ground meet, there are adjustable gripping feet, which can be independently or in combination vertically or angularly adjusted for maximum stability.

A portable apparatus is removably and communicatively connectable to a network device to communicate authentication or authorization credentials of a user in connection with the user logging into or entering into a transaction with a network site. The apparatus includes a communications port to connect and disconnect the apparatus to and from the network device and to establish a communication link with the network device when connected thereto. A processor receives a secure message from the network security server via the port. The message has a PIN for authenticating the user to the network site, and is readable only by the apparatus. The processor either transfers, via the port, the received PIN to an application associated with the network site that is executing on the network device or causes the apparatus to display the received PIN for manual transfer to the application associated with the network site.

A phase-locked loop circuit and method for providing for compensation for an offset. A phase-locked loop circuit comprises a phase detector, a compensation circuit, a loop filter, and a VCO. The phase detector is coupled to receive a first input signal and a second input signal. The phase detector is configured to output one or more of a plurality of output signals indicative of a difference between the first input signal and the second input signal. The compensation circuit is coupled to receive the output signals and to reduce a voltage offset between the output signals. The compensation circuit is further configured to provide a plurality of compensated output signals. The loop filter is coupled to receive the compensated control signals. The loop filter is configured to output a first control signal. The VCO is coupled to receive the first control signal and to output the second input signal based on the first control signal. A method of operating a phase-locked loop circuit comprises receiving and comparing a first input signal and a second input signal and providing output signals indicative of the comparison. The method compensates for a voltage offset between the output signals and provides compensated output signals indicative of the compensation. The method filters the compensated control signals and provides a control signal indicative of the filtration. The method provides the second input signal based on the first control signal. Lower skew between the input and output may be achieved.

Casting jigs, methods, and kits that may be used in manufacture of anatomical healing caps. A casting jig may include a body having one or more wells within the body, each well being open at a proximal end thereof and having a negative shape corresponding to an anatomical healing cuff body of a given tooth position. Each respective anatomical healing cuff body negative shape includes an asymmetrical cross-section and an irregular surface so that an anatomical healing cuff body having said shape is configured to provide substantially custom filling of at least an emergence portion of a void where a natural tooth once emerged or should have emerged from the void (e.g., in the case of a congenitally missing tooth). The casting jig may further include a socket at a distal end of each well that is configured to receive therein a dental implant or dental implant analog.

This application relates to methods and apparatus for phase locked loops. A phase-and-frequency detector (101) receives a reference clock signal (CKref) and a feedback signal (SFB) and outputs a first adjustment signal (U) that is modulated between respective first and second signal levels to provide control pulses indicating that an increase in frequency required for phase and frequency lock, and a second adjustment signal (D) that is modulated between respective first and second signal levels to provide control pulses indicating that a decrease in frequency required for phase and frequency lock. First and second time-to-digital converters (201-1 and 201-2) receive the first and second adjustment signals respectively and output respective first and second digital signals indicative of the duration of said control pulses. Each time-to-digital converter comprises a controlled-oscillator (401, 801) configured so as to operate at a first frequency when the respective adjustment signal is at the first signal level and operate at a second frequency when the respective adjustment signal is at the second signal level and a counter (403) configured to produce a count value of the number oscillations of the controlled-oscillator in each of a succession of count periods defined by a count clock signal. The first and second digital signals are based on the count values output from the respective counters. The difference between the first and second digital signals may be determined and input to digital loop filter (203) before driving numerically-controlled-oscillator (204) to produce the output signal.

A system includes an optical fiber and an interrogator to provide source light to the optical fiber. The system also includes a receiver coupled to the optical fiber. The receiver includes at least one fiber optic coupler that receives backscattered light and that produces optical interferometry signals from the backscattered light. The receiver also includes photo-detectors that produce an electrical signal for each of said optical interferometry signals. The system also includes at least one digitizer that digitizes the electrical signals. The system also includes at least one processing unit that calculates I/Q data from the digitized electrical signals, corrects the I/Q data based on ellipse fitting, determines phase values based on the corrected I/Q data, and determines distributed sensing parameter values based on the phase values.

A boot accessory for limiting how far a user can push his/her boot into a stirrup comprises an arch for hugging a front edge of the boot; a first hook disposed on the first end of the arch and a second hook disposed on the second end of the arch. The first hook curves outwardly from the first end of the arch and further a first end of the first hook curves back toward the front edge of the boot. The second hook curves outwardly from the second end of the arch and further a first end of the second hook curves back toward the front edge of the boot. A gap exists between the first end of the first hook and the arch and between the first end of the second hook and the arch, wherein the gaps are for engaging sides of the stirrup.

A bitless bridle with double cross under reinstraps for riding, driving, and training horses and similar animals that achieves improved control, comfort, and communication with the animal. The bridle is composed of a solid crownpiece that bifurcates, after a brow band attachment, into a cheek strap and an elongated reinstrap. The cheek strap connects to two nosebands which have solid rings attached to each end. The elongated reinstraps cross under the horse's jaw and pass through the first set of rings then cross under the jaw a second time and pass through the second set of rings to continue back to the rider's hands. Pulling on a single reinstrap applies pressure to the horse's nose and poll causing it to turn in the direction pulled. Pulling on both reinstraps cinches the noseband in place, causing the horse to slow down or stop.

A mask plate for laser irradiation and a method of laser encapsulation using the same are disclosed to improve the display effect of the encapsulated display panel and also the utilization of substrate thereof, so as to reduce the cost. The mask plate includes a laser blocking region and a laser transmitting region surrounding the laser blocking region, wherein the laser blocking region is configured to block laser having a predetermined wavelength; and the laser transmitting region is configured to allow the laser having the predetermined wavelength to transmit there-through; along a direction perpendicular to a surface of the mask plate, a width of a cross-section of the laser transmitting region is smaller than a diameter of a light spot of the laser having the predetermined wavelength.

An improved organic photoconductor drum having a protective overcoat layer and method to make the same is provided. The protective overcoat layer is prepared from a curable composition including a crosslinkable hole transport molecule containing four radical polymerizable functional groups in combination with a crosslinkable acrylate having at least 6 functional groups.

An apparatus, computer-readable medium, and computer-implemented method for visualizing relationships between pairs of columns, comprising identifying a relationship classification corresponding to two columns in a plurality of columns based on a data type of each column in the two columns, applying one or more statistical measures to data in the two columns to generate association data quantifying a plurality of relationships between data values in a first column of the two columns and data values in a second column of the two columns, wherein the one or more statistical measures are determined based at least in part on the relationship classification, and transforming the association data into a visualization, wherein the visualization comprises one or more indicators corresponding to one or more relationships in the plurality of relationships and wherein a layout of the visualization is determined based on the relationship classification.

Systems and methods are provided for combined cycle power generation while reducing or mitigating emissions during power generation. Recycled exhaust gas from a power generation combustion reaction can be separated using a staged complementary swing adsorption process so as to generate a high purity CO2 stream while reducing/minimizing the energy required for the separation and without having to reduce the temperature of the exhaust gas. This can allow for improved energy recovery while also generating high purity streams of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

A staged complementary pressure swing adsorption system and method for low energy fractionation of a mixed fluid. Two beds in a four-column PSA system are selective for component A, and another two columns are selective for component B. The cycle creates an intermittent A and B product, using the purge effluent from the complementary product fed at an intermediate pressure. This intermittent product is used as purge gas for low-pressure purged elsewhere in the cycle using appropriate storage tanks. The use of an intermediate pressure in this cycle enables continuous production of purified component A and B without the use of compressors. Columns may also be configured to enable pressure to equalize between complementary columns.

A harvesting header includes a cutter bed having a plurality of cutting elements arranged transverse to the header and a crop chopping and conditioning region having a crop chopping device and a crop conditioning device. The crop chopping device is configured to chop crop cut by the cutter bed into smaller lengths and the crop conditioning device is configured to crimp the crop to aid in drying. The first chopping roller has a tubular, cylindrically-shaped body and a plurality of parallel knife-mounting lugs extending radially outward along substantially the full length of the body. A plurality of chopping knives are attached to the knife-mounting lugs and arranged around the body, each chopping knife having a length that is shorter than the length of the knife-mounting lug to which it is attached such that each chopping knife covers only a portion of the lateral length of the first chopping roller.

A crop lifter apparatus has a base member adapted to be attached to a cutting header guard finger about a lifter pivot axis. A plurality of lifter tips with different configurations are releasably attachable to the base member at a mounting position such that the attached lifter tip extends forward from the base member. A bias element is operative to exert a bias force on the base member urging a front portion of the base member forward of the lifter pivot axis to pivot downward about the lifter pivot axis, and the bias force urges the base member to bear against a stop. The tips can be configured to suit various conditions of soils and crops.

A first photoresist pattern and a second photoresist pattern are formed over a substrate. The first photoresist pattern is separated from the second photoresist pattern by a gap. A chemical mixture is coated on the first and second photoresist patterns. The chemical mixture contains a chemical material and surfactant particles mixed into the chemical material. The chemical mixture fills the gap. A baking process is performed on the first and second photoresist patterns, the baking process causing the gap to shrink. At least some surfactant particles are disposed at sidewall boundaries of the gap. A developing process is performed on the first and second photoresist patterns. The developing process removes the chemical mixture in the gap and over the photoresist patterns. The surfactant particles disposed at sidewall boundaries of the gap reduce a capillary effect during the developing process.

The invention relates to encapsulation structures for OLED displays, wherein the structure provides sufficient barrier properties against oxygen and moisture as well as anti-reflection properties. The structure includes a layer comprising a photo-aligned substance which in a synergistic manner controls both barrier and anti-reflection properties.

Flexible retaining structures for body jewelry and method for their use.

A removable device for holding or clipping at least two pieces of paper, cardboard, plastic film or other sheets of material together. The paper clip includes a self biasing spring member for providing spring tension to hold an article to a flat substrate such as a piece of paper or papers and may include locking elements for removable engagement and holding of sheets of paper or the like together.