Abstract: Non-invasive apparatus and methods are disclosed for treatment of soft-tissues of a human or animal body, and, more particularly, non-invasive treatment apparatus and methods for destruction of adipose tissues of a patient using focused delivery of ultrasonic energy in a group of focal zones.

Abstract: A wearable band with an adjustable size or length. The band includes a base band element with an elongated, thin body extending a first length from a first sidewall to a second sidewall. The body may include a user identification member that stores user ID information for a wearer of the band. The band includes a band sizing assembly with one, two, three, or more band sizing segments that are detachable linked together such as via a tongue and groove interlocking mechanism. The band sizing assembly extends a second length from first sidewall to a second sidewall, and these sidewalls are configured for coupling or linking with the sidewalls of the base band element body so as to form a closed loop or bracelet with a third length. A user may size the band by selecting the number and size of the sizing segments used in the band sizing assembly.

Abstract: Non-invasive apparatus and methods are disclosed for treatment of soft-tissues of a human or animal body, and, more particularly, non-invasive treatment apparatus and methods for destruction of adipose tissues of a patient using focused delivery of ultrasonic energy in a group focal zone.

Abstract: A system and method of spread-spectrum fan control for an air-cooled system is provided for reducing the vibrational and acoustical noise associated with the air-cooled system. The method includes generating a first control signal that controls a blade-passing frequency of a first cooling fan and a second control signal that controls a blade-passing frequency of a second cooling fan, wherein the first and second control signals may be pulse width modulated (“PWM”) signals. One or more noise generators independently vary duty cycles for the first and second PWM signals within a range around respective first and second blade-passing frequency set points. As a result, the blade-passing frequencies for the first and second cooling fans are independently and randomly modulated within a range around the respective first and second blade-passing frequency set points.

Abstract: A system is provided for visually enhancing a game structure having a game surface and objects that move on the game surface. The system includes a projector that projects digital augmentation content or themed images onto the game surface, with the images including static and animated images. The system includes a tracking mechanism that generates tracking data from the game surface and game objects, with the tracking data defining positions of the game objects relative to the game surface. The system includes a controller that processes the tracking data to determine the positions of the game objects. The controller modifies the augmentation images in response to the determined positions of the game objects. The augmentation images include a video stream made up of a base image that is mapped to the game surface and an object enhancing image mapped to one of the game objects and its current position.

Abstract: Ultrasound stimulation devices and related techniques are disclosed. An ultrasound transducer for generating ultrasound energy is carried by a transducer housing that seals the transducer and may also include a positioning element for positioning the transducer proximate an application area to which generated ultrasound energy is to be applied. The transducer housing may also carry such components as a battery, a wireless receiver, and a controller. The same housing or a separate sensor housing may include an ultrasound sensor that provides feedback to the ultrasound transducer or its controller, illustratively through a wireless transmitter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rapidly and accurately identifying and quantifying analytes in a complex mixture is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an ultra-sensitive cavity-enhanced spectrometer coupled to data-collection and analysis devices. The method comprises the use of a database containing the absorption cross-sections of various analytes to numerically determine the composition of the sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for use as a flying entertainment vehicle. The apparatus includes a lift system, such as a parawing, that is inflated by air to generate lift and further includes a vehicle frame attached to the lift system such as by suspension lines that also space the lift system apart from the vehicle frame. The apparatus includes a thrust assembly supported on the vehicle frame that is operable to propel the vehicle at a flight speed at which the lift system is operated, e.g., the parawing is inflated, to generate lift to suspend the vehicle frame above the ground. The apparatus includes show elements that may be supported on or by the vehicle frame and be configured to be lift neutral. The show elements function to distract observers away from the lift system such as by appearing to provide the lift or features that cause the vehicle frame to fly.

Abstract: A display system for use in winter and other low temperature venues. The system includes a projection screen generation assembly that includes a snow making machine. The snow making machine receives an input flow of a liquid, such as water plus one or more additives to increase opacity and/or reflectivity of the snowflakes. The machine forms snow from the input flow and discharges a volume of flowing snow as a sheet or curtain providing a projection screen. The system includes a high-brightness projector directing light onto the projection screen to provide an image on surfaces of the flowing snow. In some embodiments, the snow making machine includes a nozzle configured such that the flowing snow is output in a substantially planar sheet, e.g., with the use of a diffuser or the like for increasing the laminar nature of the flow and the sheet may be relatively thin.

Abstract: Systems, devices, methods, and software are described for biometric sensors that permit a reduction in the size of the sensing area without significant reduction in biometric functionality of the sensor. A skin site of an individual is illuminated, and light scattered from the skin site is received. An image of a locally consistent feature of the skin site is formed from the received light. The locally consistent feature is analyzed to perform a biometric function.

Abstract: An interactive entertainment system that includes a universal puzzle piece for each game or activity participant. The puzzle piece includes an updatable display displaying a first graphic image. The system includes an interactive display device with a display surface with an update mechanism that is operable such as by a controller, when the puzzle piece is in a predefined proximate position, to program the updatable display to update the first graphic image into a second graphic image. The updatable display includes an electrophoretic display layer storing the second graphic image. A transparent electrode layer is provided on a first side of the electrophoretic display layer. The update mechanism includes a puzzle piece update pad for receiving a second side of the electrophoretic display. The update pad includes a conductor layer or bottom conductor providing an electrical connection with the second side to provide the update to the first graphic image.

Abstract: A method for accurately tracking fault status in a computer system. The method includes storing a prior state for a sensor associated with a component of the computer system and receiving a sensor reading. When the prior state indicates the sensor was unavailable or unreadable such as when the component was removed, the method includes resending or re-emitting a faulty event to the fault diagnosing module, e.g., after reinsertion of the component in the computer system while it is still faulty. The method may include, prior to the triggering of the resending of the faulty event, determining that the sensor is in a non-nominal state. The method may also include storing in the data storage a definition of a nominal state for the sensor such that the determining the sensor is in the non-nominal state includes comparing one or more sensor readings with the nominal state definition.

Abstract: A wine rack for storing a plurality of wine bottles comprising one or more pairs of front and rear horizontal supports connected to a pair of vertical side supports. A plurality of support member pairs, extend between each pair of horizontal supports to support a wine bottle. The support members are perpendicularly oriented to front and rear horizontal supports, which secure the wine bottles and prevent their longitudinal movement toward the front and back of the wine rack. In various arrangements, the horizontal supports are arcuate to provide improved, accessibility and viewing of wine bottles stored on the rack.

Abstract: A passive heat sink for cooling an electronic component such as a high-performance processor. The heat sink includes a shell with a surface that is positionable adjacent a heat generating surface of the electronic component. The shell includes a heat exchanger portion with cooling fins extending outward and positioned in a fan-provided airflow. A generator compartment is provided within the shell with a generator vessel for containing an absorbent, and the generator compartment is maintained at a pressure lower than ambient. The generator compartment conducts heat away from the electronic component to the absorbent in the generator vessel. An absorber compartment, at a pressure lower than the generator compartment, is provided within the shell above the generator compartment, and, in use, an absorption refrigeration cycle contained within the shell is activated by heat from the electronic component. A bubble pump moves absorbent from the generator compartment to the absorber compartment.

Abstract: A wearable band with an adjustable size or length. The band includes a first band element and a second band element with a planar body extending from a first to a second end. The second band element body is greater in length than the first band element body and includes a hole for receiving the first band element body. The band includes a coupling mechanism that detachably connects an outer sidewall of the first band element body to the inner sidewall of the second band element body, e.g., to allow the two band elements to be selectively disconnected and reassembled without tools. The coupling mechanism includes a first coupling component extending along the outer sidewall of the first band element and a second coupling element extending along the inner sidewall of the second band element such that the two band elements are connected along the periphery of the hole.

Abstract: There is disclosed an interactive display system comprising an interactive surface for displaying an image and for receiving inputs from remote devices, the system being adapted to detect the presence of at least two remote devices proximate the interactive surface.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for position sensing of a medical tracker device are presented. The apparatus and method are designed to constrain, rotate, and track the position of a medical tool. To improve the position sensing of the tracker, a joint that provides two degrees of freedom may use a revolute gear pair together with a rotary sensor for angular motion sensing and a sliding/prismatic assembly together with a linear magnetic sensor for linear position sensing. Thus, the linear motion sensing and the angular motion sensing are decoupled.

Abstract: There is disclosed an interactive display system comprising an interactive surface for displaying an image and for receiving inputs from remote devices, the system being adapted to detect the presence of at least two remote devices proximate the interactive surface.