Abstract: Optical absorber-containing thermoplastic polymer particles (OACTP particles) may be produced by methods that comprise: mixing a mixture comprising a thermoplastic polymer, a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the thermoplastic polymer, and optionally an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polymer and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the thermoplastic polymer in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polymer to form solidified particles comprising the thermoplastic polymer; separating the solidified particles from the carrier fluid; and exposing the solidified particles to an optical absorber to produce the OACTP particles.

Abstract: Methods for producing a polyamide having an optical absorber pendent from the polyamide's backbone (OAMB-polyamide) may comprise: esterifying a hydroxyl-pendent optical absorber with a halogen-terminal aliphatic acid to yield a halogen-terminal alkyl-optical absorber; and N-alkylating a polyamide with the halogen-terminal alkyl-optical absorber to yield the OAMB-polyamide. Other methods for producing an OAMB-polyamide may comprise: esterifying a carboxyl-pendent optical absorber with a halogen-terminal aliphatic alcohol to yield a halogen-terminal alkyl-optical absorber; and N-alkylating a polyamide with the modified optical absorber to yield a polyamide having the OAMB-polyamide.

Abstract: A heating circuit having an array of switching heating elements (e.g., field effect transistors, thin film transistors) provides a transient heat pattern over a surface (e.g., substrate, imaging member surface, transfer roll surface) moving relative to the heating circuit, to produce a pixelated heat image and heat a target pattern on the surface. Heat is generated by current flow in the heating elements, and the power developed by the heating circuit is the product of source-drain voltage and current in the channel. Digital addressing may accomplished by matrix addressing the array. Current may be supplied along data address lines by an external voltage controlled by digital electronics understood by a skilled artisan to provide the desired heat at a respective heating element pixels addressed by a specific gate line. The circuit may include a current return line that may be low resistance, for example, by using a 2-dimensional mesh.

Abstract: Techniques for operating a digital printer that includes a media transport and an electronic imager disposed in a path of the media transport are presented. The techniques include: receiving an electronic image of a media sheet obtained by the electronic imager; identifying, from the electronic image of the media sheet, a print-prohibited region of the media sheet; generating a mask representing the print-prohibited region of the media sheet; and electronically storing in electronic persistent memory, in association with an identification of a type of the media sheet, a template comprising information regarding the media sheet type, where the template includes an identification of the print-prohibited region represented by the mask.

Abstract: A system includes a sensor network comprising at least two optical fibers coupled to a pavement. Each optical fiber includes one or more optical sensors installed a predetermined distance from one or more adjacent optical fibers. The one or more optical sensors are configured to produce a wavelength shift signal. A processor is configured to determine one or both of one or more attributes of one or more objects travelling on the pavement and a traffic condition of the pavement based on the wavelength shift signal. A transmitter is configured to transmit the one or more attributes to a predetermined location.

Abstract: A kiosk is disclosed. For example, the kiosk includes a graphical user interface (GUI), a payment processing module to receive payment, a processor, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations. The operations include receiving a plurality of job requests, providing a total cost of the plurality of job requests on the GUI, receiving confirmation of the total costs via the GUI, receiving a single payment for the plurality of job requests via the payment processing module, and executing the plurality of job requests.

Abstract: A nonlinear dynamic control system is defined by a set of equations that include a state vector and one or more control inputs. Via a machine learning method, a sub-optimal controller is derived that stabilizes the nonlinear dynamic control system at an equilibrium point. The sub-optimal controller is retrained to be used as a stabilizing controller for the nonlinear dynamic control system under general operating conditions.

Abstract: A print management service facilitates the secure exchange of print job information between a client who requests a print job and multiple candidates who may wish to bid on the job. The service generates a smart contract that includes some information about the print job but that omits other information, such as the content to be printed. When a print service provider submits a qualifying bid to a processor that executes the smart contract, the smart contract will award the job to that provider, and the print service provider will then receive access to the full content of the print job. The smart contract may require proof of work to trigger payment from the client to the service provider upon completion of the print job.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a system for facilitating dynamic assistance to a user in an augmented reality (AR) environment of an AR device. During operation, the system detects a first element of an object using an object detector, wherein the object is associated with a task and the first element is associated with a step of the task. The system then determines an orientation and an alignment of the first element in the physical world of the user, and an overlay for the first element. The overlay can distinctly highlight one or more regions of the first element and indicate how the first element fits in the object. The system then applies the overlay to the one or more regions of the first element at the determined orientation in the AR environment.

Abstract: A method of producing thermoplastic particles may comprise: mixing a melt emulsion comprising (a) a continuous phase that comprises a carrier fluid having a polarity Hansen solubility parameter (dP) of about 7 MPa0.5 or less, (b) a dispersed phase that comprises a dispersing fluid having a dP of about 8 MPa0.5 or more, and (c) an inner phase that comprises a thermoplastic polyester at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polyester and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the thermoplastic polyester in the dispersed phase; and cooling the melt emulsion to below the melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polyester to form solidified particles comprising the thermoplastic polyester.

Abstract: Digitized media is received that records a conversation between individuals. Cues are extracted from the digitized media that indicate properties of the conversation. The cues are entered as training data into a machine learning module to create a trained machine learning model. The trained machine learning model is used in a processor to detect other misalignments in subsequent digitized conversations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a toner composition, developer and additive for a toner composition. The toner composition includes toner particles having at least one resin, an optional colorant, an optional wax, and a crosslinked polymer particle on at least a portion of an external surface of the toner particles. The crosslinked polymeric particle on a surface of the toner particles includes at least a hydrophobic monomer comprising a non-fluorinated monomer having a carbon to oxygen (C/O) ratio of 3 or greater or a fluorinated monomer. The crosslinked polymer particle includes a second monomer comprising two or more vinyl groups present in an amount from about 8 wt % to about 40 wt % of the copolymer, a metal oxide and optionally a charge control agent monomer.

Abstract: A nonlimiting example method of forming polyamide polymer particles having pigments therein may comprising: mixing a mixture comprising a polyamide having a pigment pendent from a backbone of the polyamide (PP-polyamide), a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the PP-polyamide, and optionally an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the PP-polyamide and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the PP-polyamide in the carrier fluid; and cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature of the PP-polyamide to form solidified particles comprising the PP-polyamide and, when present, the emulsion stabilizer associated with an outer surface of the solidified particles. Said solidified particles may be used in additive manufacturing to make a variety of objects like containers, toys, furniture parts and decorative home goods, plastic gears, automotive parts, medical items, and the like.

Abstract: Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component present therein. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions comprising a polymer matrix comprising a first polymer material and a second polymer material that are immiscible with each other, and a plurality of piezoelectric particles located in at least a portion of the polymer matrix. The piezoelectric particles may remain substantially non-agglomerated when combined with the polymer matrix. The compositions may define an extrudable material that is a composite having a form factor such as a composite filament, a composite pellet, a composite powder, or a composite paste. Additive manufacturing processes using the compositions may comprise forming a printed part by depositing the compositions layer-by-layer.