Methods for creating customized children's storybooks with fingerprint art using fingerprint-ready templates stored in association with a software application on a desktop computer, a tablet computer, or a smart phone. The methods include the use of preconfigured templates and prompted discussions that elicit responses from the child to create text for the storybook. The text may be generated by speech recognition software processing digital audio recordings of the child's responses. A digital image of the child's fingerprint is acquired and the fingerprint image and/or the storybook scenes are scaled to fit each other. Fingerprint-ready image templates are used to facilitate the creation of fingerprint art. A completed page image is formed by digitally inserting a fingerprint into the fingerprint-shaped area, and if desired, coloring the image or drawing a scene around the image. When the scenes are completed the software application compiles the book pages and prints the same.

A counter includes a buffer unit and a ripple counter. The buffer unit generates at least one least significant signal of a count by buffering at least one clock signal until a termination time point. The ripple counter generates at least one most significant signal of the count by sequentially toggling in response to at least one of the least significant signal. The counter performs multiple data rate counting with enhance operation speed and reduced power consumption.

An output thin film transistor threshold voltage offset compensation circuit, a GOA circuit, and a display. The circuit includes: a first capacitor, comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode being connected to the gate of an output thin film transistor and receiving a charge signal, the second electrode being connected to the drain of the output thin film transistor, the first capacitor being used for, under the action of the charge signal, making the first electrode and the second electrode have a same voltage, so that a voltage difference between the drain and the source of the output thin film transistor is equal to a threshold voltage thereof; a first switch unit, connected to the drain and the source of the output thin film transistor, and opening under the action of a first clock signal, so that a voltage difference between the gate and the source of the output thin film transistor is equal to the threshold voltage thereof.

A vehicle restraint system includes a strap assembly configured to be positioned on a portion of a tire of a vehicle to secure the vehicle to a deck of a transport. The strap assembly is also configured to be coupled to the deck of the transport on a first side of the tire of the vehicle. The system also includes a mandrel assembly operable to be coupled to the strap assembly on a second side of the tire of the vehicle, opposite the first side. The system further includes a winch assembly configured to be coupled to the deck of the transport and the mandrel assembly on the second side of the tire of the vehicle, the winch assembly configured to rotate the mandrel assembly to produce a tightening force to tighten the strap assembly around the portion of the tire. The system still further includes a release mechanism disposed between the winch assembly and the mandrel assembly and configured to create a coupling between the winch assembly and the mandrel assembly in a manner that transmits the tightening force from the winch assembly to the mandrel assembly. The release mechanism is configured to release the coupling between the winch assembly and the mandrel assembly when a force greater than or equal to a predetermined force is produced against the release mechanism.

An improved captive beam decking system is disclosed for use in a cargo trailer. The system includes a beam assembly and a foot assembly that is selectively engagable to a vertical sliding track system. The sliding track system is attached to the sidewall of a trailer vertically. The beam can be easily moved at different heights that are selected based upon the configuration of the cargo trailer.

A box stop device includes a base member and a raised member attached to the base member. The base member has a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface may be flat. The bottom surface may be adapted to attach to a desired surface. The raised member may be attached to the base member and may extend approximately vertically from the top surface. The raised member may include a first side and a second side. The first side and the second side may be attached together at an angle of approximately 90 degrees.

A novel configurable integrated circuit (IC) that has several configurable circuits for configurably performing different operations is provided. During the operation of the IC, each particular configurable circuit performs a particular operation that is specified by a particular configuration data set for the particular configurable circuit. While the IC operates and a first set of configurable circuits performs a first set of operations, configuration data is loaded from the outside of the IC for configuring a second set of configurable circuits. The configurable IC includes a configuration network for rapid loading configuration data in the IC from outside of the IC. The configuration network is a pipelined network.

The present invention relates to a method for downloading a binary configuration file in a programmable circuit implemented in a device. The device comprises at least one central processing unit, a plurality of connectors, and a programmable circuit enabling all or a part of the signals received by said connectors to be processed and transmitted to at least one other circuit of the device. The device analyzes the signals present on the connectors in order to define what other devices are connected and whether the connections are operational. Then, a configuration file is selected from among a set of configuration files according to the operational connections and is downloaded from a memory of the device into the programmable circuit. The invention also relates to a device having a component programmed according to the method previously described.

A method in a circuit comprises providing a first clock by a resistor-capacitor (RC) oscillator; demodulating a plurality of input signals to form a plurality of demodulated input signals; discriminating frequency ranges of the plurality of demodulated input signals according to the first clock; determining whether a first predetermined number of consecutive demodulated input signals among the plurality of demodulated input signals fall into a first predetermined frequency range; triggering a crystal oscillator to provide a second clock to calibrate the first clock if the first predetermined number of consecutive input signals fall into the first predetermined frequency range.

A method for operating a collection system for printed products includes drawing off the printed products from discharge device(s) disposed at corresponding discharge point(s) in the collection system. The printed products are deposited on a collection section during a cycle period of the discharge device(s) so as to form a bundle of printed products. The bundle is transferred to a subsequent conveying mechanism having receiving pockets. It is determined whether at least one missing printed product exists due to an incorrect drawing off from the discharge point(s). A repair process is initiated and controlled in which the at least one missing printed product is drawn off from the corresponding discharge point(s) at a time corresponding to a subsequent recurrent pocket-related cycle of the subsequent conveying mechanism in a subsequent cycle period of the discharge device(s). The at least one missing printed product is inserted in the relevant receiving pocket.

A method and device for the production of books, including: moving book blocks successively along a conveying section of a book production line; supplying a stack of book cases to the book production line; identifying a marking on each of the book blocks and the book cases; transmitting an identified marking on at least one book case to a machine control of the book production line; assigning a dataset stored in the machine control for a sequence of book cases to the supplied stack; determining a sequence in the machine control for book blocks positioned on the conveying section; comparing the dataset for the sequence of the book cases to the sequence of the book blocks; and removing and/or supplying at least one book block from or to the conveying section if the sequence of the book blocks deviates from the sequence of the book cases using the machine control.

In various embodiments, a chip arrangement is provided. The chip arrangement may include a chip carrier and a chip mounted on the chip carrier. The chip may include at least two chip contacts and an insulating adhesive between the chip and the chip carrier to adhere the chip to the chip carrier. The at least two chip contacts may be electrically coupled to the chip carrier.

In a semiconductor device, where, with respect to a parasitic resistor in a current mirror circuit, a compensation resistor for compensating the parasitic resistor is provided in the current mirror circuit, the current mirror circuit includes at least two thin film transistors. The thin film transistors each have an island-shaped semiconductor film having a channel formation region and source or drain regions, a gate insulating film, a gate electrode, and source or drain electrodes, and the compensation resistor compensates the parasitic resistor of any one of the gate electrode, the source electrode, and the drain electrode. In addition, each compensation resistor has a conductive layer containing the same material as the gate electrode, the source or drain electrodes, or the source or drain regions.

This invention provides recombinant DNA constructs and methods for manipulating expression of a target gene that is regulated by a small RNA, by interfering with the binding of the small RNA to its target gene. More specifically, this invention discloses recombinant DNA constructs encoding cleavage blockers, 5-modified cleavage blockers, and translational inhibitors useful for modulating expression of a target gene and methods for their use. Further disclosed are miRNA targets useful for designing recombinant DNA constructs including miRNA-unresponsive transgenes, miRNA decoys, cleavage blockers, 5-modified cleavage blockers, and translational inhibitors, as well as methods for their use, and transgenic eukaryotic cells and organisms containing such constructs.

A method and apparatus for use in a digitally tuning a capacitor in an integrated circuit device is described. A Digitally Tuned Capacitor DTC is described which facilitates digitally controlling capacitance applied between a first and second terminal. In some embodiments, the first terminal comprises an RF+ terminal and the second terminal comprises an RF− terminal. In accordance with some embodiments, the DTCs comprise a plurality of sub-circuits ordered in significance from least significant bit (LSB) to most significant bit (MSB) sub-circuits, wherein the plurality of significant bit sub-circuits are coupled together in parallel, and wherein each sub-circuit has a first node coupled to the first RF terminal, and a second node coupled to the second RF terminal. The DTCs further include an input means for receiving a digital control word, wherein the digital control word comprises bits that are similarly ordered in significance from an LSB to an MSB.

A data processing apparatus is monitoring the first port of itself and the second port of itself. If the data processing apparatus receives data via the second port, it conducts a specific process to the data regardless of a data format of the data so as to convert the data into the data format that can be processed regardless of a data format of the data and sends converted data to the first port.

A container data center includes a container, a plurality of power supplies, an electric switch system, a plurality of normally closed switches, an alarm device, and a controller. The electric switch system is received in the container. The plurality of normally closed switches are connected between the power supplies and the electric switch system. Each normally closed switch is connected with a corresponding one of the power supplies in series. The controller is connected to the normally closed switches and the alarm device, configured for receiving earthquake information containing an earthquake intensity, and configured for controlling the alarm device to activate alarms and controlling some of the normally closed switches or all the normally closed switches to open when the earthquake intensity is equal to or greater than a predetermined earthquake intensity.

A system for lifting a vehicle via multiple slings comprises a vehicle not engineered with structural facility to withstand lifting forces, including a frame which unmodified will deform in response to vertically imposed lifting forces, frame reinforcing elements affixed to the frame at selected locations which are subject to lifting deformation, at least two lifting members at spaced-apart forward frame locations, at least two lifting members at spaced-apart rearward frame locations, and a plurality of elongate slings extending respectively between each lifting member and a common lifting vertex. Each lifting member has an enlarged lower base portion rigidly affixed to the frame and an upper lifting portion. The frame reinforcing elements resist deformation of the frame in response to vertically imposed lifting forces. The enlarged base portions of the lifting members apply forces over a correspondingly enlarged area of the frame and the reinforcing elements without deforming the frame.

A gripper (1) for a contact lens (CL) includes a gripper head (10) having a bearing surface (11), the bearing surface (11) having at least one opening (110) through which underpressure can be applied in order to suck the contact lens (CL) against the bearing surface (11) and through which overpressure can be applied in order to release the contact lens (CL) from the bearing surface (11). The gripper further includes a detection opening (111) in the bearing surface (11) through which a separate underpressure can be applied.

A grooved supporting member for assisting in the construction of a card structure is provided. Specifically, the grooved supporting member provides support for the beginning foundational planar stackable members. The grooved supporting member includes a planar base member, top surface, bottom surface, at least one edge, and at least one groove. Preferably, the groove is cut completely through the planar base member and provides lateral support for a planar stackable member. In the preferred embodiment, the grooved supporting member has four edges and four grooves, thus providing support for four planar stackable members to create the cell of a card structure. The user may employ one or more of the grooved supporting members of the present invention in a card structure. Further disclosed is a kit including a grooved supporting member of the present invention and a plurality of stackable planar members.

A method, system and an interactive device for interaction with the electric field of touch-sensitive electronic display of a computing device is provided. The interactive device includes a housing for positioning on the top of the touch-sensitive electronic display, a first electrode determines the touch position, an energy harvester for receiving the electrical energy and transforming the received electrical energy into a DC voltage, a controller generates a serial identification number for identifying the housing through the touch-sensitive electronic display of the computer, an electronic switch transmitting the serial identification number, a second electrode forms a close electrical circuit from the electric field generated by the touch-sensitive electronic display to operate the energy harvester, the controller and the electronic switch; and a third electrode for receiving the serial identification number and the processor of the computer determines the distance and angle in between the first electrode and the third electrode.

A graphic may include a consumable and having optically encoded information.

A mobile device utilizes an embedded near field communication (NFC) capability to interact with a contactless transaction card to automatically obtain information from the card, e.g. reducing or eliminating the burden of manual user entry of the account information or the like into the mobile device. The mobile device, for a financial account transaction example, may read the information from the card at the time of a transaction, e.g. to facilitate an on-line purchase, an in-store purchase, ATM transaction or the like. The mobile device may store the information from one or more contactless transaction cards, for use in future transactions of various types. The mobile device and/or a server in communication with the mobile device may track various user activities on the mobile device that also utilize information obtained from the contactless transaction card.

A system and method for transmitting visual data by displaying a synchronization video that includes synchronization code sequences on a first device, capturing the synchronization video using a video camera of a second device, parsing and decoding the synchronization code sequences on the second device, displaying an indication of which of the synchronization code sequences are compatible for visual data transmission on the second device, receiving a selected synchronization code sequence of the synchronization code sequences on the first device, and displaying a data code sequence corresponding to the selected synchronization code sequence on the first device, wherein the data code sequence includes encoded data, and capturing and decoding the data code sequence on the second device.

The present disclosure provides methods and devices for testing a connection between speakers and a power amplifier. The disclosed methods and devices solve a problem that, upon a connection test for a power amplifier which has a booster power source, when a midpoint potential of the power amplifier and the voltage of the speaker connection terminal are compared, and it is determined that short-circuiting occurs on a ground side when the potential of the speaker connection terminal is lower than the midpoint potential, a wrong test is conducted if a midpoint potential is higher than a battery voltage.

The invention relates to a catalytic reactor including: at least one first architecture/microstructure including a ceramic and/or metal cellular architecture having a pore size of 2 to 80 ppi and a macroporosity of more than 85%, and a microstructure having a grain size of 100 nm to 5 microns, and skeleton densification of more than 95%, and a catalytic layer; and at least one second architecture/microstructure including a spherical or cylindrical architecture having a pore size of 0.1 to 100 μm and a macroporosity of less than 60%, and a microstructure having a grain size of 20 nm to 10 μm and a skeleton densification of 20% to 90%, and a catalytic layer; the first and second architecture/microstructure being stacked inside said reactor.

An exhaust system for a compression ignition engine comprising an oxidation catalyst for treating carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HCs) in exhaust gas from the compression ignition engine, wherein the oxidation catalyst comprises: a platinum group metal (PGM) component selected from the group consisting of a platinum (Pt) component, a palladium (Pd) component and a combination thereof; an alkaline earth metal component; a support material comprising a modified alumina incorporating a heteroatom component; and a substrate, wherein the platinum group metal (PGM) component, the alkaline earth metal component and the support material are disposed on the substrate.

A method for extending the service life of a Collective Protection (CP) filter includes: providing at least one CP filter comprising a filter bed; and passing an airstream through a guard bed configured to protect the filter bed by removing one or more of airborne contaminants and battlefield contaminants. An apparatus for extending the service life of a CP filter includes: a CP filter comprising a filter bed; and a guard bed configured to protect the filter bed by removing one or more of airborne contaminants and battlefield contaminants.

A semi-continuous process and system thereof, for the synthesis of a narrow particle size distribution Zeigler Natta procatalyst for use in the manufacture of polyolefins. The process comprises: (a) mixing a reaction mixture containing a titanium compound; (b) charging a first reactor with said reaction mixture; (c) removing excess reactants from said first reactor as a filtrate; (d) feeding said filtrate to at least one further reactor; and continuously removing excess reactants from said at least further reactor.

The present invention relates to a method of preparing a spherical mesoporous silica structure containing silver nanoparticles dispersed therein by adding a silver nitrate solution to an aqueous surfactant solution and performing a sol-gel process and to spherical mesoporous silica prepared thereby. The spherical mesoporous silica is cost-effective compared to a conventional method that uses silver nanoparticles as a raw material, because the silver nitrate solution that is inexpensive compared to silver nanoparticles is used. Also, the spherical mesoporous silica can be with high productivity in large amounts, and thus is easily commercialized. Moreover, because silver nanoparticles are incorporated into the pores of the mesoporous silica, the silver nanoparticles are used stably and do not change color and odor. In addition, the spherical mesoporous silica exhibits various additional effects, including far-infrared ray emission and deodorization, attributable to silica.

A closure assembly for a container having a housing with a fluid passage, a retaining ring attached to an inner surface of a wall of the housing and having a sloping centering flange, and a valve positioned in the housing and sealing the fluid passage.

A card body for a portable data carrier, in particular a chip card or magnetic strip card, and a method for manufacturing a card body. The card body includes at least a coextruded foil having at least two areas with different material properties. By using coextruded foils a card body consisting of a plurality of alternating opaque and transmissive strips as well as a card body with a window can be formed in a simple fashion.

The invention relates to a fixing device for a vertically movable closing element (1) for the at least partial closing of an opening (2) of a room. According to the invention, the fixing device for fixing of the closing element (1) in a closed state comprises at least one first fixing unit (6), arranged on the closing element (1), and an engaging unit (7), corresponding to the first fixing unit (6), in an opening bottom (2.1) and at least one second fixing unit (11), which is arranged on a guide (3), arranged to the side of the opening (2), for the closing element (1) and has a tensioning hook (11.1), which in the closed state of the closing element (1) can be latched in the closing element (1) in the area of an upper side of the closing element (1).

A latch selectively secures a compute node enclosure into a chassis bay. The latch comprises a frame securable to a proximal end of the compute node enclosure. A handle is pivotally secured to the frame intermediate a proximal end of the handle and a distal end of the handle so that the handle can be pivoted between a closed position and an open position. A proximal end of a pawl is pivotally coupled at to the distal end of the handle, wherein the pawl includes a landing at a distal end of the pawl and a latch key intermediate proximal and distal ends of the pawl. Movement of the handle positions the pawl into engagement with a slot in chassis bay to assist installation and removal of the compute node enclosure.

A machine tool having a motor-driven machine spindle which can be rotated about a spindle axis. The machine spindle has a tool holder arranged at the face. A tool is exchangeably arranged on the machine spindle. The tool has a coupling element which is compatible with the tool holder of the machine spindle. The coupling element has a rear surface pointing toward the machine spindle. The machine tool has at least one galvanic contact point for the electric current or data transmission, the point being arranged between the machine spindle and the tool and rotating together with the machine spindle. The galvanic contact point has a contact element which is arranged at the face of the tool holder on the spindle side, and a contact element which is arranged on the rear surface of the coupling element on the tool side.

A liner for a composite blade of a gas turbine engine includes a metallic shoe, operable substantially to encase a blade root of a composite blade and defining an inner surface and an outer surface. The liner also includes a retention lug formed on the shoe and has inner and outer keys that project from opposed portions of the inner and outer surfaces. The keys engage corresponding recesses on a dovetail slot and a blade root to resist axial displacement of the composite blade.

An image processing device of a computer tomography system includes an interface and a calibration data determiner. The interface is implemented to receive a first set of X-ray recordings of an object to be examined from first discrete recording angles and to receive a second set of X-ray recordings of the object to be examined from second discrete recording angles. The calibration data determiner is implemented to determine calibration data for the computer tomography system on the basis of the first set. The first set is further recorded during a first rotation run wherein the computer tomography system and the object to be examined rotate relative to each other, wherein the second set is recorded during at least a further rotation run after the first rotation run. On the basis of the calibration data and the first and second sets a computer tomography recording is reconstructable.

A method that utilizes software and hardware mechanisms to meet the FCC requirement for a U-NII antenna to be an integral part of the device in which it operates, while providing wireless ready U-NII devices and CRUable U-NII radios. Enhancements are made to the software BIOS, including the inclusion of a table of approved radio-antenna PCI ID pairs to create an authentication scheme that verifies and authenticates the radio and antenna combination as being an FCC-approved unique coupling during boot-up of the system. The BIOS also comprises an OEM field that stores an encrypted secret key utilized to complete a second check of the radio model placed in the device. During boot up of the device, the PCI ID pairs from the BIOS are compared against the PCI ID of the radio and the secret key is checked against the radio model. Only a system with an approved combination of radio and antenna is allowed to complete the boot process, indicating an FCC approved device-antenna-radio combination under the “integral” requirement.

Secure access to a database of upgrade data is provided by storing an encryption key value in a cable used to interconnect a first device and a second device that is associated with the database of upgrade data. The second device allows access to the database of upgrade data via the cable only when the cable is first positively authenticated by the second device through use of the encryption key value stored in the cable.

A method is provided for improving synchronization and information transmission in a communication system, including: generating a signal with a centrally symmetric part s(k) exploitable for synchronization; and sending the signal over a communication channel. The signal is based on a uniquely identifiable sequence c(l) from a set of sequences exploitable for information transmission. The centrally symmetric part s(k) is centrally symmetric in the shape of absolute value thereof. The centrally symmetric part s(k) is of arbitrary length N.

A method and device that interrogates the availability of a called party before placing a communication from the calling party to the called party. A callback may be initiated so that both communications are completed simultaneously. The routing of communication may take place through any one of a number of different networks and at another time of the day, even if the caller does not otherwise have access to those networks.

In a method for transferring energy between at least two energy storage cells in a controllable energy store that serves to control and to supply electrical energy to an n-phase electric machine, which energy store has n power supply arms which each have at least two series-connected energy storage modules which each include at least one electrical energy storage cell with an associated controllable coupling unit, and are connected to one respective phase of the electric machine, in a charging phase, all coupling units of those energy storage modules which are to be used as an energy source are controlled in such a way that the respectively associated energy storage cells are connected into the respective power supply arm.

A discharge device actively discharges a main capacitor in an electric-power system of an electric-drive vehicle and comprises a discharge branch of a circuit connected in parallel to the capacitor and including a discharge transistor biased to “conduction” mode when the capacitor must be discharged. A control device is connected to a “gate/base” terminal of and controls the transistor, biasing the transistor to the mode when the capacitor is required to fee discharged. A control transistor maintains the discharge transistor in a “non-conductive” state when the control transistor is in the mode. The control transistor is in the state for the discharge transistor to be in the mode. A safety capacitor is interposed between the terminal and a power supply and charges when the discharge transistor is in the mode, causing a progressive decrease of current at the terminal, until the discharge transistor is biased to the state.

An evaporator surface structure of a circulating fluidized bed boiler having a furnace that is enclosed by sidewalls and has a bottom and a ceiling. The evaporator surface structure includes at least one vertical and separate evaporator surface unit that is spaced apart from the sidewalls of the furnace. The at least one evaporator surface unit (i) is formed of planar water tube panels that extend from the bottom of the furnace to the ceiling of the furnace, and (ii) consists of two cross-wise joined vertical water tube panels.

A sharpener for sharpening a pencil, in particular a cosmetic pencil, is especially suitable, when used correctly, for producing a particularly uniform outer jacket edge in the region of the pencil tip. The sharpener includes a sharpener body, in which a pencil guide channel is provided. The pencil guide channel has a circular cone-shaped channel section and opens out in a pencil inlet opening on the outer side of the sharpener body. A paring blade is positioned tangentially to the lateral surface of the channel section. The paring blade serves to pare off a pencil tip, which includes a front lead section and a rear outer jacket section. A shaping tool cuts a shoulder into the pencil tip, the shoulder being set back in relation to a circular cone-shaped enveloping surface of the pencil tip. The shaping tool is arranged relative to the pencil guide channel to insert the shoulder into the transition between the lead section and the outer jacket section of the pencil tip.

This application is directed to groove milling devices for milling a groove in a component. In one example, a groove milling device includes a milling disk which is rotatable about a rotational axis, wherein the groove milling device comprises a displacement device for moving the milling disk along the rotational axis during the milling process. In an example, the groove milling device may include a control device which actuates the displacement device automatically when a predetermined depth of the milled groove is reached during the milling process. In an example, the groove milling device may include a switch for activating the displacement device by an operator during the milling process. In an example, the energy required for actuating the displacement device may be generated by a generator coupled to a main drive spindle of the groove milling device.

The present invention relates to a one-touch chamfering-amount adjustment device for a chamfering machine which specifically carries out a chamfering process on the welding bead surfaces of objects to be processed (such as metal sheet materials and pipes). In the present invention, the moment after a chamfering-amount-adjustment piece has been manipulated so as to rotate, a position-setting pin is inserted into a securing recess in the chamfering-amount-adjustment piece and as this happens the chamfering amount is precisely adjusted in units and at the same time locking to the predetermined chamfering amount is automatically maintained, yet nevertheless the adjustment of the chamfering amount is achieved in a straightforward fashion with one touch, and, when the chamfering-amount-adjustment piece is manipulated, a cutter shaft moves vertically and as it does so the chamfering amount is adjusted in such a way that the chamfering amount can be immediately and rapidly adjusted even during working regardless of any cutter rotating action.

A no-till apparatus for application of herbicide and fertilizer, soil preparation, and seeding of a cover crop in a standing crop has inter-row assemblies configured to pass along inter-row areas between adjacent row lines of standing crop plants. Each assembly includes a fertilizer applicator, a no-till soil preparation element, a cover crop seed applicator, and a post-seeding element.

A system for determining a cut location at a work surface includes a position sensor and a controller. The controller stores a final design plane of the work surface and determines an actual profile of the work surface. A plurality of target profiles extending along a path are determined, each corresponding to a cut location. The target profiles are based at least in part upon the cut location, a loading profile, slot parameters, and the actual profile of the work surface. The controller is further configured to determine a lowest cost target profile and the lowest cost target profile defines an optimized cut location. A method is also provided.

A coulter assembly for an agricultural implement. The coulter assembly includes a support structure and a disc blade rotatably mounted to the support structure. The coulter assembly also includes a spring assembly coupled to the support structure and configured to urge the disc blade into soil. The spring assembly includes a variable rate spring.