Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing cooled clean filtered air to the wearer of this device while allowing them to remain inconspicuous and to do so using inexpensive easily obtainable filtration supplies.

Abstract: A device charging system may include a battery module configured to supply a type of power to at least one load device. A device charging system may include a central charging station configured to charge the battery module, the central charging station including a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to lock the battery module to the central charging station in response to an electronic command, and wherein the locking mechanism is configured to be physically overridden via a user.

Abstract: A switchable magnetic device comprising a first ferromagnetic material or layer comprising or consisting of a first rare earth nitride alloy, the first rare earth nitride alloy including at least two lanthanide species; a second ferromagnetic material or layer comprising or consisting of a second rare earth nitride alloy, the second rare earth nitride alloy including at least two lanthanide species; a blocking material or layer located between the first and second ferromagnetic materials or layers.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for powering a fleet of local use vehicles using batteries, the batteries being removable from the local use vehicles for charging. The system and method include moving one of the local use vehicles in a battery exchange location when the battery in the local use vehicle is in an uncharged state, removing the battery in the uncharged state from a battery compartment in the local use vehicle using a robotic device, and placing the battery in the uncharged state into a first charging bay within a charging repository using the robotic device, the charging repository configured with a plurality of the charging bays to simultaneously hold and to charge a plurality of the batteries, removing a battery in a charged state from a second bay in the charging repository using the robotic device, and placing the battery in the charged state into the battery compartment in the local use vehicle.

Abstract: A battery assembly for a local use vehicle has outer walls, electrical contacts, and a communication connection, the battery providing a quantity of energy to power the local use vehicle, the electrical contacts of the battery configured and located for electrical contact with the first electrical contacts within the battery compartment when the battery is in a fully-inserted position within the battery compartment, the communication connection of the battery configured and located for wireless non-contact communication with the communication connection within the battery compartment when the battery is in a fully-inserted position within the battery compartment. The battery further includes a grasping point extending from one of the outer walls of the battery, the grasping point configured for being grasped by the end effector of the robotic device to thereby move the battery back and forth between the fully-inserted position and a removed position outside of the local use vehicle via the opening.

Abstract: A system and method for selectively charging removable batteries used for powering a fleet of local use vehicles may include placing and selectively charging batteries in a charging repository. Batteries are charged to an at least threshold charge level at which the batteries may be used to power a vehicle in a duty cycle. Charging can be managed based on at least one of fleet battery replacement needs and electrical cost optimization. The repository includes at least one rack in which batteries may be charged and a robotic device for moving batteries back and forth between the rack and the vehicles. Charging batteries within the repository and supplying them to vehicles that drive to the repository for battery exchange provides efficient spatial usage.

Abstract: A wireless communication system for batteries removably mountable in local use vehicles and chargeable in a charging repository includes a plurality of batteries, each battery having a housing; a first wireless communication device attached to an outer surface of the housing for receiving and transmitting data; and electrical contacts attached to the housing for selectively providing power to or from the battery. A plurality of second wireless communication devices is mountable to either a one of the local use vehicles or to a location in the charging repository for communication with one of the first wireless communication devices when in an adjacent communication orientation.

Abstract: An aircraft includes external structures, and one or more thermal emitters integrated with one or more of the external structures. The one or more thermal emitters are configured to generate heat to deice the one or more external structures. The one or more thermal emitters are configured to receive electrical power from one or more of an auxiliary power unit of the aircraft, a power distribution system of the aircraft, one or more engines of the aircraft, or an external power cart that is separate and distinct from the aircraft.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a vortex hybrid motor are described herein. In some embodiments, the vortex hybrid motor may include a housing with a solid propellant positioned within the housing, and an injector ring positioned at a proximal end of the housing. The injector ring can include a plurality of angled injector units each including a first injector and a second injector angled towards an impingement point. A first fluid stream of a liquid propellant dispensed from the first injector can collide with a second fluid stream of the liquid propellant dispensed from the second injector to atomize the liquid propellant and form a spray fan formation. At least one of the first injector and the second injector can be positioned at an injection angle relative to the sidewall to create a swirl flow of the atomized injector fluid.

Abstract: A back light unit includes a plurality of light emitting diodes positioned on a substrate and a plurality of flat lenses. A respective one of the plurality of flat lens are positioned a distance above a respective one of the plurality of light emitting diodes. Each of the plurality of flat lenses includes a plurality of annular segments having a common center. Each of the plurality of annular segments includes a prism shape microstructure having a first facet configured to refract the light in a desired direction and a second facet oriented in a plane that is parallel to a plane of an emitting surface of respective ones of the plurality of light emitting diode.

Abstract: The eye imaging system for producing images with reduced speckle artifacts may comprise a laser diode for providing a beam of radiation to the eye; a detector for collecting light returning from the eye and generating output signals in response thereto, the detector having a sensor integration time; a driver circuit for applying a modulated drive signal to the laser diode, the modulated drive signal inducing a spectral broadening of the beam of radiation during the sensor integration time. The laser diode may be a single-mode laser designed to operate at a fixed current and wavelength. The drive signal may be modulated by shaping a drive current pulse. The drive signal may be modulated by imposing an RF modulation on a drive current pulse. The drive signal may be further modulated by shaping a drive current pulse.

Abstract: A suspension system for supporting a body relative to at least four points, including: a respective front left, front right, back left and back right support arrangement between the respective point and the body, each respective support arrangement including a respective resilience arrangement and a respective control ram, each respective control ram including a respective compression chamber forming at least part of a respective compression control volume; a control arrangement including a first and a second diagonal reversible pump for displacing fluid between diagonally opposite compression control volumes. Each respective resilience arrangement can include a respective damping arrangement to restrict and/or selectively prevent compression and/or expansion of at least a portion of the respective resilience arrangement. Each respective control ram can further include a respective rebound chamber, the front control rams being cross connected and the back control rams being cross connected.

Abstract: An insert for an arthropod trapping device. The insert comprising a substrate and a frame for supporting the substrate, where a surface of the substrate has an adhesive disposed thereon, an optional mounting bracket spaced apart from the adhesive surface of the insert and located at a first end of the insert, and an optional graspable tab extending from the frame at a second end of the insert.

Abstract: The invention describes peptide ligands specific for human plasma Kallikrein.

Abstract: Provided herein include various examples of a flow cell and methods for forming aspects of flow cell. The method may include applying a first adhesive to a substrate. The method may include orienting a die on the first adhesive. The method may also include orienting a package on the first adhesive. The package includes a die and a top surface of the die comprises an active surface and electrical contact points. Surfaces adjacent to the active surface on at least two opposing sides of the active surface form fanout regions for utilization in a fluidic path of the flow cell. The method further may include applying a second adhesive to a part of the package and attaching a lid to the second adhesive to define a fluidic flow-cell cavity below the lid and above a surface comprising the active surface and the fanout regions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for creating printed tags for use in connection with a heated food item placed into a hot holding unit. System components may include a user interface, a printer, and a controller. The controller is programmed to instruct the user interface to display a prompt for an operator to input information identifying one or more characteristics of a food item positioned within or to be placed into a hot holding unit. The controller receives the information from the user interface and instructs the printer to generate a tag identifying the food item and the time at which the food item is to be removed from the hot holding unit and discarded. The tag may include a display area to display the printed information and a support area with a slit that allows the tag to be supported by a rack of the hot holding unit.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a sub-reflector assembly for a point-to-point antenna. The sub-reflector assembly includes a main body configured to hold an antenna, a sub-reflector supported by a plurality of support members extending axially outwardly from the main body, and an adjustment mechanism coupled to the sub-reflector and at least two of the support members, the adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the position of the sub-reflector relative to the main body to steer an antenna beam from the antenna. Related antenna assemblies are also described herein.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring an activity. The system may include a mobile device and a control center being in at least transient electronic communication with each other, the system further including a first user profile accessed via the mobile device and a chronograph and global positioning system (GPS) tracking feature. The tracking feature is used to monitor a geographical location of a first user against passage of time and is configured to activate the first user profile when the first user is within a first predetermined distance from a location and to deactivate the first user profile when the user is within a second predetermined distance from the location. The invention extends to a method.

Abstract: An exploration method includes: a step of exploring a natural resource on a satellite, a minor planet, or a planet; a step of acquiring the natural resource detected by the exploration; and a step of storing the acquired natural resource.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vessel (1) having at least one left hull (11), at least one right hull (12) and a chassis portion (10), the suspension system including supports (20) for at least partially supporting the chassis portion relative to the left and right hulls, and a front left and back left damping ram (31, 33) connected between the chassis portion and longitudinally spaced points on the at least one left hull, a front right and back right damping ram (32, 34) connected between the chassis portion and longitudinally spaced points on the at least one right hull. The suspension system further includes a deck attitude control system (250) comprising a controller (252), sensors, and a respective actuator arrangement for each of at least two orthogonally spaced damper rams. The actuators control a position of at least one point on the chassis relative to at least one reference.