Abstract: Nanofibrous articles can be manufactured by a process (100) that includes preparation of a surface (203, 405) of a substrate (200, 404) to provide an adhesion mechanism (306, 410) for securing the nanofibers (402) to the surface. The nanofibers (402) can be dispersed in an area near the substrate (200, 404) for the purpose of being adhered to the surface (203, 405). If an ordered arrangement of nanofibers (402) is required, an electric field can be provided in the area where the nanofibers (402) are dispersed to selectively control an ordering of the nanofibers (402) as they are adhered to the surface by the adhesion mechanism (306, 410).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (300) and system (110) for electronically generating random responses in a portable electronic device (110). The method includes the steps of detecting (316) motion of the portable electronic device, in response to the detecting step, generating (318) the random response and outputting (320) the random response to a user of the portable electronic device. The method can further include the steps of prompting (312) the user to ask a question and following a predetermined time period after prompting the user to ask the question, prompting (314) the user to shake the portable electronic device. The prompted question can be answerable with a yes or no.

Abstract: A method and apparatus form electrical connections between electronic circuits and conductive threads (102, 104, 106, 108) that are interwoven into textile material (130). Electronic circuits (128), such as semiconductor dies, are connected to a carrier (132) and electrical connections (136) are made to conductive connection areas (110, 112, 114, 116) on the carrier (132). Conductive stitching (202, 204, 206, 208) provides electrical contacts for both the conductive connection areas (110, 112, 114, 116) on the carrier (132) and the conductive threads (102, 104, 106, 108) that are interwoven into the textile material (130). Optionally, a thin, flexible substrate material (132) is perforated during the stitching process.

Abstract: A modular communication system (10) can include an adaptable communication module (12) having a transceiver (13) coupled to a processor (14) and memory (20), and a first interface block (24) coupled to the processor, and a host device (30) having a power source (36), a user interface (34), and a second interface block (46). The host device can be among a plurality of host devices having different user interfaces and the processor is adaptable to control the different user interfaces when the first interface block recognizes the second interface block. The module can further include a DSP (16) and a display (18) coupled to the processor as well as an antenna (11). A host device can be a phone, a wristwatch, a camera or video phone, an MP3 player, a heart rate monitor, a game controller, a toy, a stroller, or a crib among other devices.

Abstract: A milled carbon fiber reinforced polymer having increased abrasion resistive characteristics. The reinforced polymer comprises a base resin selected from the group consisting of polyolefins and polyamides. The base resin is combined with an amount of milled carbon fibers and further may be combined with polytetrafluoroethylene. The resulting composite materials have excellent friction and wear characteristics and are useful in the production of injection molded parts. The molded parts have a high impact strength, exhibit dimensional stability, are abrasion resistive, and are static dissipative, with the composite materials having particular utility as support fixtures for semiconductors during certain processing operations.