Abstract:
A technique for preventing damage to ball bearings in a small form factor device where the drive motor has at least one crash stop ring disposed about the shaft and inside the rotor of the motor. The crash stop ring is dimensioned to permit only a small amount of movement of the rotor relative to the shaft. The permitted movement must be less than the minimum movement which would cause damage to the elements of the ball bearing. In an alternative embodiment, a rotor includes a flange extending in the radial direction from the rotor. A piezoelectric ring is rigidly mounted on both sides of the flange to engage one of the planar surfaces of the flange when the piezoelectric ring is in the relaxed state. With two such crash stop rings disposed so that the rings can engage both planar surfaces of the flange, the rotor is effectively clamped between the two piezoelectric crash stop rings whenever the piezoelectric crash stop ting is disconnected from the power source used to contract the piezoelectric material in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor.
Abstract:
An on-board vehicle computing system stores values in a memory of a first engine control unit (ECU) and stores corresponding backup values in a memory of a second ECU. In this way, the second ECU provides data backup functionality for the first ECU's data. The system may retrieve a backup value from the first ECU and restore the corresponding value in the second ECU using the backup value. In one illustrative scenario, if an original engine ECU (EECU) fails and a replacement EECU is installed, the system can retrieve backup values for vehicle speed limiter (VSL) parameters from memory in a cab ECU (CECU) and update the corresponding data in the replacement EECU with the backup values.
Abstract:
Generally described, aspects of the disclosed subject matter are directed to managing the configuration of a vehicle. In accordance with one embodiment, a method of modifying the configuration of a vehicle based on the vehicle's location is provided. The method includes receiving, from a remote Satellite Positioning System (“SPS”) device, positioning data that identifies the location of the vehicle. Then, the positioning data is used to identify one or more regulations that are applicable, given the location of the vehicle. Based on collected vehicle readings, a determination is made regarding whether the configuration of the vehicle should be modified. In turn, the method may cause the configuration of the vehicle to be modified to comply with the one or more regulations.
Abstract:
A method and system for bidding on multiple auctions. The multiple auction bidding system allows a user to define various models for bidding at multiple auctions. The bidding system then automatically places bids on behalf of the user. The bidding rules may specify to win at most one of multiple auctions at the lowest price or to bid at an auction only if successful at bidding at another auction.
Abstract:
An electronic catalog system includes automated processes for detecting and handling specific types of browsing events, such as non-conversion events in which users browse but fail to purchase specific items. In one embodiment, when a user engages in a threshold level of browsing activity with respect to an item without making a purchase of that item or a substitute item, and a favorable change in the item's state thereafter occurs (e.g., the price is reduced or the item becomes available), the user is automatically notified of the state change. In another embodiment, when a user transitions away from an item or item category after engaging in a threshold level of browsing activity, a determination is made whether to present to the user a time-limited purchase incentive that is tied to that item or item category.
Abstract:
A facility for projecting future purchasing activity for a selected item being offered for sale by a merchant is described. The facility retrieves data indicating, during each plurality of past times, an observed level of browsing activity performed at the merchant with respect to the selected item. The facility transforms the retrieved data into a projection of future purchasing activity at the merchant for the selected item.
Abstract:
An nickel hydroxide positive electrode active material which can be made by an ultrasonic precipitation method. The nickel hydroxide active material is characterized by the composition: ##EQU1## where x, the number of water ligands surrounding each Ni cation, is between 0.05 and 0.4 and y is the charge on the anions.
Abstract:
A method of temperature control in a cryogenic temperature control apparatus. The method includes operating the cryogenic temperature control apparatus in a first mode, and delivering a first flow rate of cryogen from a storage tank to an evaporator coil in the first mode. The cryogenic temperature control apparatus is operated in a second mode after operating the cryogenic temperature control apparatus in the first mode for a predetermined time duration. A second flow rate of cryogen that is lower than the first flow rate is delivered to the evaporator coil in the second mode.
Abstract:
Techniques are described for facilitating access of computing system users to restricted functionality, such as internal functionality of a business or other organization (e.g., internal systems and/or confidential information available to some or all business employees or other organization members). The restricted functionality access may in some situations be provided in conjunction with publicly available information from the organization, such as to use that publicly available information as part of a user interface that allows an authorized subset of users to access the restricted functionality. In some situations, the restricted functionality access may be facilitated by an access provider system that executes on a client computing system of an authorized user, such as a program operating in conjunction with another presentation program that presents publicly available information (e.g., as an extension program for the presentation program), and that modifies the interactions available to the user when using the presentation program.
Abstract:
A method and system for managing inventory by expected profitability. In one embodiment, a method may include individually evaluating a respective expected profitability for each of a number of inventory items, and individually determining a disposition of each of the number of items dependent upon its respective expected profitability. In one particular implementation of the method, individually evaluating the respective expected profitability of a given item may include forecasting an estimated date of transaction corresponding to the given item, forecasting an estimated revenue corresponding to the given item as of the estimated date of transaction, estimating accrued costs of holding the given item until the estimated date of transaction, and comparing a total cost of the given item against the estimated revenue, where the total cost may include the accrued costs of holding the given item until the estimated date of transaction.