Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically igniting fuel within a fuel source hopper of a grill are disclosed. In one form, a fire starter tray of a fuel source hopper is positioned beneath a stack of fuel, wherein when a starter block of the fire starter tray is ignited, the starter block ignites the stack of fuel. A heating element of the fuel source hopper is configured to ignite the starter block and a fan of the fuel source hopper is configured to provide an airflow to an area beneath the stack of fuel where the starter block ignites the stack of fuel. A controller in communication with display and user controls and the heating element and the fan is configured to operate the heating element and the fan to automatically ignite the stack of fuel based on information received from the user via the display and user controls.

Abstract: Resistive bridges can connect many ring electrodes in an electro-active lens with a relatively small number of buss lines. These resistors are usually large to prevent excessive current consumption. Conventionally, they are disposed in the same plane as the ring electrodes, which means that the ring electrodes are spaced farther apart or made discontinuous to accommodate the resistors. But spacing the ring electrodes farther apart or making them discontinuous degrades the lens's optical quality. Placing the ring electrodes and resistors on layers separated by an insulator makes it possible for the ring electrodes to be closer together and continuous with resistance high enough to limit current consumption. It also relaxes constraints on feature sizes and placement during the process used to make the lens. And because the resistors and electrodes are on different planes, they can be formed of materials with different resistivities.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include headphone devices with spatially diverse antennas employing multiple operational modes and antenna switching policies. The headphone device may identify a current mode of operation and wirelessly communicate with at least one external device based at least in part on the current mode of operation. Further, operating in a first mode of operation, the headphone device may cause switching circuitry to selectively couple a first antenna to the common port in accordance with a first antenna switching policy. While operating in the second mode of operation, the headphone device may cause circuitry to selectively couple a second antenna to the common port in accordance with a second antenna switching policy that is different from the first antenna switching policy.

Abstract: A temperature indicator includes a housing having a temperature detection assembly, switch circuitry, and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) module coupled to the switch circuitry. Responsive to the temperature detection assembly being subjected to a temperature exceeding a threshold, the switch circuitry causes a change in a value output by the RFID module when activated.

Abstract: The disclosed technology is directed towards selecting and returning a user interface, such as of a streaming media service, that is based on a child user's age. As a child ages, the child receives a generally more sophisticated user interface, such that a younger child needs only simple interaction to select a desired (for example age-appropriate) content offering, while an older child can use more complex interaction to locate and select a desired content offering. Profile data associated with the user is sent with each request for content, including the request for a user interface, starting with a home page. The age of the user can be determined from the profile data with any request, whereby a user interface can appear to adapt based on user age over time. The profile data can be locked to a device to retain the profile data after a logoff/new login operation.

Abstract: The inventive subject matter includes an antimicrobial peptide vectored composition made of a bacterial protein expression vehicle expressing one or more recombinant antimicrobial peptide effector molecules. More specifically these novel recombinant antimicrobial peptide effector molecules exhibit preferential antimicrobial activity. In some embodiments, the antimicrobial activity is facilitated via interaction with the lipid bilayer of the parasitic cell form, leading to membrane pore formation and resulting in cell lysis. The utility of the current inventive subject matter has demonstrated a reduced viability of Eimeira acervulina sporozoites was shown in vitro using a sporozoite killing assay.

Abstract: A beam steering device includes a substrate with a first refractive index that defines a cavity, an electroactive material in the cavity that has a variable refractive index, and two sets of opposing overlays. The overlays in one set of opposing overlays are parallel to each other, while the overlays in the other set are tilted with respect to each other. This allows one or more electric fields between the overlays to be used to align the electroactive material in two different directions to change its refractive index, allowing for a faster speed of beam steering through refraction than conventional approaches.

Abstract: A method is provided of parallel gathering of structured light patterns in multi-projector systems, comprising sequentially projecting images from each of a plurality of projectors on a surface; capturing the sequentially projected images on the surface via at least one sensing device; creating one or more sensing device/projector masks for limiting the images projected by each of the plurality of projectors to portions that do not conflict with images projected by other ones of the plurality of projectors; using the one or more projector masks to create a graph of projectors whose projections conflict; and creating from the graph a plurality of gather groups wherein projectors within a group do not conflict with each other for simultaneously gathering structured light patterns from projectors in each of the gather groups.

Abstract: Disclosed example welding or cutting circuits include: an input leg including a capacitor coupled between a high bus and a low bus; a buck converter coupled in parallel with the input leg, the buck converter having a first transistor, a second transistor, and an output electrically coupled to a node between the first transistor and the second transistor, and wherein the buck converter is configured to convert input voltage to current in an inductor coupled to the output of the buck converter; and a steering leg coupled in parallel with the input leg, wherein the steering leg is configured to control a rate at which the current in the inductor decreases, and wherein a current detector provides current level indications to a hysteretic controller, the hysteretic controller providing signals to the first and second transistors that control the first and second transistors to control the voltage applied to the inductor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to communicate via a weld cable are disclosed. An example welding accessory includes a first port to receive input power via a first weld cable, a power converter to convert the input power to output power, a second port to output the input power via a second weld cable, and one or more output switches to selectively divert the input power from the power converter to the second port.

Abstract: Bright ambient light can wash out a virtual image in a conventional augmented reality device. Fortunately, this problem can be prevented with a variable electro-active beam splitter whose reflect/transmit ratio can be varied or switched on and off rapidly at a duty cycle based on the ambient level. As the ambient light gets brighter, the beam splitter's transmit/reflect ratio can be shifted so that the beam splitter reflects more light from the display and transmits less ambient light to the user's eye. The beam splitter can also be switched between a highly reflective state and a highly transmissive state at a duty cycle selected so that the eye spends more time integrating reflected display light than integrating transmitted ambient light. The splitting ratio and/or duty cycle can be adjusted as the ambient light level changes to provide the optimum experience for the user.

Abstract: A method includes receiving first material property data for a first material in one or more second materials, detecting material sensor data from at least one sensor, and applying an inverse model and a forward model to the first material property data to provide, at least in part, synthetic sensor measurement data for the one or more second materials.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, manufacture, circuit, composition of matter, and/or user interface adapted for and/or resulting from, and/or a method and/or machine-readable medium comprising machine-implementable instructions for, activities that can comprise and/or relate to, via a device implanted in a mammal, sensing a ciliary muscle movement and/or force and/or converting the ciliary muscle movement and/or force to a signal and/or a predetermined form of power.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a discriminator, comprising a signal interface configured to receive an input signal that is read out from a quantum qudit comprising a number d of states, a multi-state discriminator comprising a number of weighted integration units, wherein the number of weighted integration units is equal to (d?1), a one-vs-one classifier that is coupled to the weighted integration units, and a number of pairwise difference units that in addition couple the one-vs-one classifier indirectly with the weighted integration units, wherein the number of pairwise difference units is (d?1)*(d?2)/2, wherein the one-vs-one classifier is configured to determine a state of the quantum qudit based on the output of the weighted integration units and the pairwise difference units. The present disclosure further provides a multi-qudit multi-state discriminator and a respective method.

Abstract: An internally braced permanent formwork for concrete foundation construction is provided in order to achieve a quick and simple assembly. The formwork comprises a base member laid on the ground having a perimeter recess on an upper surface for receiving components of the formwork. One or more permanent outer boards forming an outer periphery of the foundation are provided and coupled to a plurality of spaced internal bracing components to prevent collapse under the pressure of wet concrete.

Abstract: A plant-based alternative to animal-sourced collagen offering a sustainable, animal-friendly option for use in nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals by creating a biomimetic of the human collagen (by mimicking its unique amino acid profile) and optionally adding inductors to promote the human collagen production.

Abstract: A method includes receiving fluid property data of a fluid and receiving material property data for materials in the fluid. The method includes detecting material sensor data from at least one sensor and applying an inverse model and a forward model to the fluid property data and the material property data to provide at least in part synthetic spectral channel data for the materials.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to communicate via a weld cable are disclosed. An example welding accessory includes a first port to receive input power via a first weld cable, a power converter to convert the input power to output power, a second port to output the input power via a second weld cable, and one or more output switches to selectively divert the input power from the power converter to the second port.

Abstract: An electro-active lens is presented which utilizes a surface relief structures and an electro-active material, with a change in refractive index facilitating the change in optical properties. A molded structure and a liquid crystal are used to form a diffractive lens. In addition to the classical approach of utilizing diffractive optics and multiple Fresnel zones to form a lens, an additional structure is placed between Fresnel zones in order to improve the diffraction efficiency across the visible spectrum and reduce chromatic aberration.