The invention provides a M.2 interface memory device and a M.2 interface connection seat insertedly provided thereof. The M.2 interface memory device comprises a M.2 interface card and a housing provided with at least one guide groove. The M.2 interface connection seat is disposed on a circuit board, and comprises two arms and a base comprising a M.2 interface slot. At least one arm is provided with a guide rail. An opening direction of the M.2 interface slot is horizontal to a surface of the circuit board. When the M.2 interface card is inserted into the M.2 interface slot in a horizontal direction, the M.2 interface memory device will be fixed within the M.2 interface connection seat by embedding between the guide groove and the guide rail. Thus, M.2 interface memory devices of a variety of specification lengths are able to be inserted into the M.2 interface connection seat.

A method and system for estimating uncertainties in radar based precipitation estimates is provided. In an embodiment, gauge measurements at one or more gauge locations are received by an agricultural intelligence computer system. The agricultural intelligence computer system obtains precipitation estimates for the one or more gauge locations that correspond to the gauge measurements and computes the differences between the precipitation estimates and the gauge measurements. Using the precipitation estimates and the computed differences, the agricultural intelligence computer system then models a dependence of the uncertainty in the precipitation estimates on the value of the precipitation estimates. When the agricultural intelligence computer system receives precipitation estimates for a location where gauge measurements are unavailable, the agricultural intelligence computer identifies an uncertainty for the precipitation estimate based on the value of the precipitation estimate and the model of the dependence of the uncertainty on the precipitation estimate values.

An integrated circuit (IC) of a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) coded aperture radar (CAR) configured to step through a range of frequencies in each sweep and a method of assembling the FMCW CAR are described. The IC includes an antenna element to transmit and receive at a given time duration, a transmit channel to process a signal for transmission, the transmit channel including a transmit switch to change a state of a transmit phase shifter between two states based on a first code, and a receive channel to process a received signal, the receive channel including a receive switch to change a state of a receive phase shifter between two states based on a second code. The IC also includes a switch controller to control the first code and the second code, wherein the switch controller controls the first code to remain constant within the sweep.

A blind spot detection system for a motorcycle, which includes an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a detection device for detecting the presence of a vehicle in at least one blind spot. The accelerometer detects a gravity force vector, and the gyroscope detects the position of the motorcycle relative to the gravity force vector such that a lean angle of the motorcycle is calculated. The detection device is then configured to maintain the same position of the motorcycle relative to the gravity force vector and compensate for the position of the motorcycle if the lean angle is greater or less than 90°, such that the detection device is able to detect the presence of the vehicle in the at least one blind spot, independent of the lean angle of the motorcycle.

A vertical planting tray comprising a plurality of substantially horizontal shelves held together by outer side walls and a plurality of vertical struts located therebetween with the struts connected to and supporting the shelves, the struts being substantially thin and narrow an defining a plurality of planting stations with the horizontal shelves in which vertical plants may be grown. The substantial open wall structure between stations permits improved plant performance.

A composite particle and a population of particles comprising a water-insoluble polyphosphate composition, methods of producing, and methods of using the same are provided. The polyphosphate composition may comprise at least one alkaline earth metal selected from calcium and magnesium and optionally at least one nutrient ion selected from the group consisting of potassium, ammonium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, boron, chlorine, iodine, molybdenum, selenium or sulfur.

Method and apparatus for growing plants in vertical stacks by providing vertically stacked, interconnected pairs of plant platforms and light trays carrying growth promoting light sources. Each light tray is suspended below the underside of the next above plant platform. The stack is vertically raised in succession whereby the plant platforms are suspended and vertically spaced from each other. Thereafter, plants are placed between suspended platforms under the light trays which are regulating during periods of plant growth and non-growth.

Embodiments are described for a closed-loop, vertical garden system for growing plants and filtering air and water comprising: a support structure; a composite, grow media configured to physically support the growth of plants and distribute water to the roots of the plants through capillary action through the area of the grow media; a water source coupled to the grow media through a pump and plumbing system, wherein the plumbing system is configured to draw water from the water source through the grow media and back to the water source in substantially closed loop aquatic system; and an air flow subsystem configured to draw outside air through the plants and transmit filtered air back out of the support structure.

A tip insert for a cue shaft having a cavity at the tip has a tip disc to support a tip for striking a ball and an inwardly extending section for bonding to the inside surface of the cavity. The inwardly extending section includes one or more centering flanges and a bonding surface, the centering flanges interfacing with the inner surface of the cavity and enabling a substantially consistence bond distance between the bonding surface and the inner surface of the cavity. The tip insert can be machine from a single piece of material comprising glass fiber-reinforced epoxy laminate sheets, where the individual sheets of the material are oriented perpendicular to the longitude axis of the tip insert to increase the durability and performance of the tip insert when transferring the force from the tip striking a ball.

An outer plastic tube has water connections through the wall into an annular space defined by an O-ring spacer-gasket positioned between the wall and the perimeter margin of an inner cylinder rolled from a single-layer of sheet metal. A metal drainpipe with a removable bullet-shape at one end is forced through the cylinder to expand it and to thereby compress the gasket sealing the annular space. Thermal contact conductance is increased by the compressive force of water pressure. Water flow through the heat exchanger is both annular and turbulent to optimize heat transfer.

A digital down converter with an equalizer translates an ADC output signal to a low frequency spectral region, followed by decimation. All operations of correction of the processed signal are carried out with a reduced sampling rate compared with sampling rates of the prior art. Equalization is performed only in a frequency pass band of the down converter. The achieved reduction of the required computation resources is sufficient to enable the down converter with equalization to operate in a real time mode.

A circuit includes a time delta detector configured to receive an input clock signal and a reference clock signal and generate a delta pulse signal and a reference pulse signal. A comparison circuit is configured to receive the delta pulse signal and the reference pulse signal. The comparison circuit generates an output indicative of a bit of a time difference between the input clock signal and the reference clock signal. A control circuit is configured to receive the output from the comparison circuit. The control circuit maintains a count of the time difference between the input clock signal and the reference clock signal.

A level shifter circuit includes a level shifting unit configured to receive signals that may vary in a first range via a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal, respectively and to output signals that may vary in a second range to a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal, respectively, where the second range is larger than the first range, a first pre-charging unit configured to pre-charge the positive output terminal to a predetermined level when a clock is in a first level, and a second pre-charging unit configured to pre-charge the negative output terminal to the predetermined level when the clock is in the first level.

An input buffer for an ADC is provided. The input buffer includes a receiving circuit and an impedance circuit. The receiving circuit is coupled between a power supply and a sample-and-hold circuit of the ADC, and receives an analog input signal and generating an analog signal. The impedance circuit is coupled to the receiving circuit, and selectively provides a variable impedance. When the sample-and-hold circuit of the ADC is operated in a first phase, the impedance circuit provides a small impedance, and when the sample-and-hold circuit of the ADC is operated in a second phase, the impedance circuit provides a large impedance.

A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and a high-voltage tolerance circuit are provided. The DAC includes a high-voltage tolerance circuit. The high-voltage tolerance circuit is configured to generate a reference voltage, and select the reference voltage or a first power-source voltage to control the node voltage of each branch of an operational amplifier circuit of the high-voltage tolerance circuit according the logical signal level of an input signal.

An ultrasound device including an asynchronous successive approximation analog-to-digital converter and method are provided. The device includes at least one ultrasonic transducer, a plurality of asynchronous successive-approximation-register (SAR) analog-to-digital converters (ADC) coupled to the at least one ultrasonic transducer, at least one asynchronous SAR in the plurality having a sample and hold stage, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a comparator, and control circuitry, wherein a DAC update event following at least one bit conversion is synchronized to a corresponding DAC update event of at least one other ADC in the plurality of ADCs.

Methods and systems for time interleaved analog-to-digital converter timing mismatch calibration and compensation may include receiving an analog signal on a chip, converting the analog signal to a digital signal utilizing a time interleaved analog-to-digital-converter (ADC), and reducing a blocker signal that is generated by timing offsets in the time interleaved ADC by estimating complex coupling coefficients between a desired digital output signal and the blocker signal utilizing a decorrelation algorithm on frequencies within a desired frequency bandwidth. The decorrelation algorithm may comprise a symmetric adaptive decorrelation algorithm. The received analog signal may be generated by a calibration tone generator on the chip. An aliased signal may be summed with an output signal from a multiplier. The complex coupling coefficients may be determined utilizing the decorrelation algorithm on the summed signals. A multiplier may be configured to cancel the blocker signal utilizing the determined complex coupling coefficients.

A hybrid SAR-ADC that uses a combination of voltage-based signal processing and time-based signal processing to convert an analog input signal to a digital output signal is disclosed. In some embodiments, the hybrid SAR-ADC has a voltage-based signal processing element configured to convert an analog input signal to a first digital signal having a plurality of MSBs and to generate a residue voltage from an input voltage and the first digital signal. A voltage-to-time conversion element is configured to convert the residue voltage to a time domain representation. A time-based signal processing element is configured to convert the time domain representation to a second digital signal comprising a plurality of LSBs. By determining the plurality of MSBs using voltage-based signal processing and determining the plurality of LSBs using time-based signal processing, the hybrid SAR-ADC is able to achieve low power and compact area.

A converter includes: a terminal that receives code-modulated power that has been generated with a modulation code; and a circuit that intermittently converts the code-modulated power with a conversion code based on the modulation code. The code-modulated power is alternating-current power.

Typically, complex systems require a separate and expensive equalizer at the output of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Rather than providing a separate equalizer, the effective Signal Transfer Function (STF) of a Multi-stAge noise SHaping (MASH) ADC can be modified by leveraging available digital filtering hardware necessary for quantization noise cancellation. The modification can involves adding calculations in the software previously provided for computing digital quantization noise cancellation filter coefficients, where the calculations are added to take into account equalization as well. As a result, the signal transfer function can be modified to meet ADC or system-level signal-chain specifications without additional equalization hardware. The method is especially attractive for high-speed applications where magnitude and phase responses are more challenging to meet.

An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is a device that can include a reference shuffler and a loop filter. An ADC can achieve better performance with incremental adjustment of a pointer of the reference shuffler, changing coefficients of the loop filter, and storing calibration codes of the ADC in a non-volatile memory. By incrementally adjusting a pointer of the reference shuffler, a calibration can be performed more efficiently than with a random adjustment of the pointer. By temporarily changing the loop filter coefficients, a greater amount of activity can be introduced into the loop filter. This activity can allow the calibration to proceed more efficiently. By storing the calibration codes in a non-volatile memory, a search space for calibration codes can be reduced. Thus, a calibration can occur more quickly, and the calibration itself can be improved.

An analog to digital converter includes an error integration circuit configured to receive an input charge from a detector and to integrate a difference between the input charge and one or more feedback charge pulses to create an error voltage. A quantizer is in operable communication with the error integration circuit and is responsive to the created error voltage. An accumulator having a mantissa component and a radix component is in operable communication with the quantizer. A charge feedback device in operable communication with the quantizer and the radix component of the accumulator. The charge feedback device is configured to generate the one or more feedback charge pulses proportional to the radix component of the accumulator and an output of the quantizer. Digital focal plane read out integrated circuits including the analog to digital converter are also disclosed.

The disclosure relates to a circuit for stabilizing a digital-to-analog converter reference voltage. One example embodiment is a circuit for stabilizing a voltage on a reference node. The circuit includes a digital-to-analog converter that includes an array of capacitors and arranged for: receiving an input voltage via an input node, receiving a voltage via a reference node and a digital-to-analog code via a controller node, and outputting a digital-to-analog output voltage. The circuit also includes a capacitive network on the reference node comprising a fixed capacitor arranged to be pre-charged to an external reference voltage and a variable capacitor arranged to be pre-charged to an external auxiliary voltage. Further, the circuit includes a measurement block. In addition, the circuit includes a calibration block arranged for determining an updated setting of the variable capacitor based on the digital-to-analog code and the measured voltage on the reference node.

A circuit and a method for converting an analog signal to a digital value representation is disclosed. In one aspect, the circuit includes an incremental sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The circuit further includes a first input line for providing a primary analog signal representing a sensor measurement to the incremental sigma-delta ADC. The circuit further includes a second input line for providing a secondary analog signal to the incremental sigma-delta ADC. The incremental sigma-delta ADC receives the primary and secondary analog signals during a first period (TADC1) and a second period (TADC2), respectively. The circuit further includes a filter configured to weight the digital values in a sequence of digital values output by the incremental sigma-delta ADC, and to output a single digital value representing the sensor measurement.

System and methods for input path matching in pipelined continuous-time Analog-to Digital Converters (ADCs), including pipelined Continuous-Time Delta Sigma Modulator (CTDSM) based ADCs, includes an input delay circuit disposed in a continuous-time input path from an input of an analog input signal to a first summing circuit of the continuous-time ADC. At least one digital delay line is disposed between an output of an earlier stage sub-ADC (of a plurality of pipelined sub-ADCs) and a sub-digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that is coupled to the first summing circuit, and between the earlier stage sub-ADC and a digital noise cancellation filter. The digital delay line(s) is configured to enable calibration of delay of output of the earlier stage sub-ADC provided to the sub-DAC and the digital noise cancellation filter in accordance with process variations of the input delay match circuit to minimize residue output at first summing circuit.

A multi-layered garment may comprise components that are affixed using integrated belt loops. In particular, shorts belt loops of a shorts component may pass through an opening created when single-layer skirt belt loops of a skirt component are oriented outwards. Both the skirt belt loops and the shorts belt loops may be fully functional and aesthetically pleasing belt loops. Additionally, the shorts belt loops may be combined with the skirt belt loops to form integrated belt loops, thereby allowing a belt to pass beneath both sets of belt loops simultaneously to affix the shorts component to the skirt component.

A method for converting textual messages to musical messages comprising receiving a text input and receiving a musical input selection. The method includes analyzing the text input to determine text characteristics and analyzing a musical input corresponding to the musical input selection to determine musical characteristics. Based on the text characteristic and the musical characteristic, the method includes correlating the text input with the musical input to generate a synthesizer input, and sending the synthesizer input to a voice synthesizer. The method includes receiving a vocal rendering of the text input from the voice synthesizer and generating a musical message from the vocal rendering and the musical input. The method includes generating a video element based on a video input, incorporating the video element into the musical message, and outputting the musical message including the video element.

A folded planar antenna device for radio frequency identification (RFID) reading is provided. The folded planar antenna device includes an RFID chip, a conductor member comprising a binocular-shaped slot; and a substrate. The conductor member is mounted on the substrate and the substrate is connected to the RFID chip through the binocular-shaped slot. The folded planar antenna device can be mounted on different objects, such as metal, meat, or liquid container, without being completely de-tuned.

An insert for a catheter system can include an insert housing which defines a portion of a fluid pathway of the catheter system, a cartridge positioned within the insert housing in a manner to allow fluid flow along the fluid pathway such that fluid contacts the insert during the fluid flow, and an active agent associated with the cartridge. The active agent and the cartridge can be adapted to release active agent from the cartridge during the fluid flow.

Measuring system for measuring the properties of an organic material, e.g. meat, comprising a light source unit emitting light within at least one chosen range of wavelengths, the light source unit being coupled to a light guide in a ferrule being adapted to be introduced into said material, the system also comprising detector means for being adapted to receive light within said at least two wavelength ranges comprised within said emitted range of wavelengths, having passed through a chosen length in said material, and analyzing means for evaluating the condition of the material based on the measured absorption in the material in said at least two ranges of wavelengths

Measurements are taken of moisture, BTU/lb (British Thermal Units per pound), ash, forms of sulfur, volatile material, grindability, and absorption properties of any of a wide variety of mine-run solid fuels. Using that information, a dry electromagnetic process technology has been developed that can be controlled and monitored to selectively alter and enhance metallurgical solid fuel properties. Specific changes include altering the mechanical structure and chemical composition of solid fuels such as coal, coal coke or petroleum coke, increasing the BTU/lb to optimum levels, decreasing all forms of sulfur, and decreasing ash, while maintaining the BTU/lb of the fuels. A new family of solid fuel designer coals not found in nature can be produced via these methods and apparatus.

A method for controlling the manufacture and certification of an oxygenated gasoline product is carried out by manufacturing a gasoline Basestock for Oxygenate Blending (BOB) at a refinery site in accordance with an empirical relationship, valid for at that site under typical manufacturing conditions, between (i) a property value of the BOB stream such as octane as determined by an on-site online process analyzer and (ii) the corresponding instantaneous value or FPAPV property value as determined by the test method mandated by the product specification for the final gasoline stream when blended with the required proportion of oxygenate. The quality of fit of this empirical relationship is calculated according to the standard deviation of the residuals of the relationship and a confidence level is fixed so that the final oxygenated gasoline formulated with the BOB will meet the required property specification when measured by the test method mandated by the specification. The final oxygenated gasoline blend is certified as having a property value conforming to the required specification based on the predicted property value for the finished gasoline.

The present invention concerns a process for producing synthetic coal and aqueous liquid plant fertilizing solution products from a fermentation residue such as is left over from the corn based process of producing ethanol. The synthetic coal has a high heat value commensurate with naturally occurring coals and is lower in ash and sulfur content and thus has value as a clean burning energy source. The aqueous fertilizer includes commercially useful amounts of phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen in solution. The process of the invention is also energy efficient in that the products produced thereby involve the use of substantially less energy as compared to the traditional methods of processing fermentation residues in the corn based ethanol production industry.

Methods for converting petroleum based oil into fuel generally include forming a conversion mixture of an alcohol and a base, and adding the conversion mixture to petroleum based oil, such as used motor oil, to form a reaction mixture. The methods can also include adding a high nitrate compound and an amino acid to the reaction mixture and ozonizing the reaction mixture. The result of the methods can include a three phase system in which the bottom phase is asphalt oil, the middle phase is diesel fuel or jet fuel, and the top phase is sulfuric acid. The three phases can be separated to obtain the final diesel fuel or jet fuel product.

The present invention refers to a process for classifying tumor samples of unknown and/or uncertain primary origin, specifically including the steps of obtaining patterns of biological activity modulation of tumor of unknown and/or uncertain primary origin and comparing them to an specific and unique group of biomarkers which determine the profiles of biological activity modulation of known origin tumors. The present invention belongs to the molecular biology and genetics field.

The diagnosis of male infertility is based predominantly on the results of standard semen analysis for concentration, total motility, progressive motility, volume, pH, viscosity and/or morphology. When sperm enter the female reproductive tract, they must undergo a series of physiological changes, known as capacitation, in order to fertilize an egg. This process involves plasma membrane changes that occur in response to stimuli within the female tract. These changes include removal of sterols and redistribution of the ganglioside GM1. Semen analysis identifies only half the cases of male infertility due to standard semen analysis providing little information on sperm functional competence. Previous data demonstrated that localization of the ganglioside, GM1, identifies sub-populations of sperm capable of undergoing the functional maturation process known as capacitation and tracks strongly with fertility.

A catalytic converter for an internal combustion engine includes a tubular member which defines a volume within which a catalytic converter substrate is located, the volume communicates with an inlet portion for receiving exhaust gas emissions and with a first outlet portion for discharging emissions after catalytic conversion. The catalytic converter may also include a pipe member within the tubular member, which connects the inlet portion with the volume and guides emissions from the inlet portion in a first direction. The pipe member opens into a deflector member which deflects emissions into the volume in a second direction, and the catalytic converter includes a second outlet portion connected to the deflector member and a valve to control gas flow through the second outlet portion to guide emissions away from the pipe member and out of the catalytic converter prior to reaching the catalytic converter substrate when the valve is open.

A sensor mounting table for mounting sensors to an aftertreatment system may include a sensor mounting plate having a substantially flat mounting surface for mounting one or more sensors associated with the aftertreatment system. The substantially flat mounting surface may be offset from a heat shield of the aftertreatment system. The sensor mounting table may further include an insulative material disposed between at least a portion of the substantially flat mounting surface of the sensor mounting plate and the heat shield. The sensor mounting plate may be configured to be attached to the aftertreatment system to secure the insulative material between the substantially flat mounting surface of the sensor mounting plate and the heat shield.

A convertible swimsuit top may include a top portion, a mid-portion, and a slider. The top portion may include a lower edge and a row of protruding teeth along the lower edge of the top portion. The mid-portion may include an upper edge and a row of protruding teeth along the lower edge of the top portion. The row of protruding teeth along the lower edge of the top portion and the row of protruding teeth along the upper edge of the mid-portion may be configured to engage and disengage one another via the slider. The row of protruding teeth along the lower edge of the top portion and the row of teeth along the upper edge of the mid portion may extend for less than the entire length of the lower edge of the top portion.

An integral helmet, in particular a so-called full-face helmet, that is preferably designed with a shell construction, comprising a helmet upper-shell unit with an integrated neck unit and a chin protection unit with a jaw clamp, wherein the chin protection unit is detachably connectable to the helmet upper-shell unit so as to form the integral helmet, wherein the chin protection unit is designed for connection to the neck unit as an open chin bar unit with end areas that are separated from one another at a distance so that, in the assembled state, the end areas form a completely closed unit together with the neck unit. Also, a method for connecting and/or disconnecting, without the use of tools, a chin protection unit having a jaw clamp to, or from, a helmet upper-shell unit having an integrated neck unit, so as to form an integral helmet, in particular an integral helmet.

A fabric having moisture management properties is disclosed. The fabric can also be made to be fire resistant. The fabric is particularly well suited for being used as an inner lining in protective garments. The fabric contains first yarns and second yarns. The first yarns extend in a first direction and the second yarns extend in the second direction. The yarns are woven together such that the first yarns form a pattern of shapes. The pattern of shapes concentrate the FR cellulose fibers and provide channels for carrying away moisture and improving the moisture management properties of the fabric.

The invention relates to a product for pilgrims performing the rites of Haj and Umrah. Used to reduce the crushes resulting from pilgrims colliding because, for example, pilgrims places their shoes close to the gate from which they entered thinking that it will be easy to return to the same place once they have performed the rites of circumambulation (tawaf) and running (sa'ay). However, in reality the pilgrims must walk against the flow, causing collisions and severe crushes, or he is forced to leave his shoes behind, which is a burden for cleaning staff, looks untidy and is a nuisance for pilgrims, the main figures for the inventions are FIG. 7 before wearing the shoes and FIGS. 8,9,10 and 11 after wearing it.

A footwear ornamentation assembly includes at least one insert and a plurality of design members that can be mounted on the insert or a flip-flop for decoration purposes. The at least one insert is releasably affixed on top of a flip-flop sole. The plurality of design members present different appearances. A method for decorating a flip-flop using the flip-flop ornamentation assembly includes selecting the at least one insert from a plurality of inserts, affixing the selected insert to a top of the flip-flop sole, selecting one or more design members from the plurality of design members, and mounting the selected one or more design members to the at least one of the selected insert and the flip-flop.

The present invention relates generally to a device for supporting the foot and more particularly to a device for relieving pressure from specific areas of the foot, and for relaxing and shortening the musculatures of the foot by raising the arch. Through specific shapes and materials, the design intends to aid in alignment, add comfort, and prevent and relieve many foot problems and other lower extremity ailments. The device is uniquely designed to sit in the midfoot region of an article of footwear to relieve pressure from the heel and forefoot, redistribute pressure more evenly across the foot, and support the foot arches. The device may be constructed from flexible material which allows the orthotic to form to the shape of the shoe it is placed in. The medial wing portion of the orthotic device may utilize the medial wall of a shoe to increase arch support.

According to the present invention, a convertible footwear apparatus can be worn as a shoe or converted to a boot by attaching or removing an upper section from the shoe. The apparatus is configured to allow someone wearing the shoe component to attach or remove the upper section with a single continuous operation and without having to remove the shoe component from the wearer's foot. In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises a zipper. In another embodiment of the invention, the shoe component includes a heel.

IT'S the ultimate fun bus.

FOOTBALL fans across Hampshire were left in utter misery after England lost 2-1 to Uruguay tonight.

If your idea of a beauty regime is normally just a splash of water combined with a bit of soap when you're really making an effort, read on.

THE next online concert from Turner Sims takes place tomorrow night.

A CYCLIST has completed an epic journey of more than 11,000 miles from Hampshire to Hong Kong.