Abstract: An apparatus for treating the interior of containers includes a chamber for holding a container and provides precursor materials via an annulus formed by coaxially arranged electrodes at which plasma is created upon application of voltage and the container is treated.

Abstract: Selection criteria updates are described in an asset recovery workflow. In one example, a description of a physical asset that is to be recovered for lack of payment is received. The description is applied to a pre-defined set of criteria to select a recovery agent to recover the physical asset. The candidate recovery agents have values assigned to the criteria, such as location, recovery rate, and time to recover. Recovery status information is received as to whether the asset has been recovered by the selected agent. A recovery rate value for the selected recovery agent is then updated using the recovery status information.

Abstract: Selection criteria with preference adjustments are described in an asset recovery workflow. In one example, a description of a physical asset that is to be recovered for lack of payment is received. First and second properties of the description are applied to pre-defined criteria to select a set of candidate recovery agents to recover the physical asset. A preference is applied to the scores of at least a portion of the recovery agents to adjust the scores. The recovery agent of the set of candidate recovery agents with the highest adjusted score is selected and the physical asset is assigned to the selected recovery agent for recovery.

Abstract: Recovery agents are assigned and reassigned in an asset recovery workflow. In one example, a description of a physical asset that is to be recovered for lack of payment is received. The description is applied to a pre-defined set of criteria to select a recovery agent to recover the physical asset. The candidate recovery agents have values assigned to the criteria. The physical asset is assigned to the selected recovery agent for recovery. A timer is started after assigning the physical asset, and if recovery status information is not received that the asset has been recovered before expiration of the timer, then a second recovery agent is selected and the physical asset is assigned to the second selected recovery agent for recovery.

Abstract: An electrically controlled spectacle includes a spectacle frame and optoelectronic lenses housed in the frame. The lenses include a left lens and a right lens, each of the optoelectrical lenses having a plurality of states, wherein the state of the left lens is independent of the state of the right lens. The electrically controlled spectacle also includes a control unit housed in the frame, the control unit being adapted to control the state of each of the lenses independently.

Abstract: An electrically controlled spectacle includes a spectacle frame and optoelectronic lenses housed in the frame. The lenses include a left lens and a right lens, each of the optoelectrical lenses having a plurality of states, wherein the state of the left lens is independent of the state of the right lens. The electrically controlled spectacle also includes a control unit housed in the frame, the control unit being adapted to control the state of each of the lenses independently.

Abstract: A thin film deposition system for depositing a thin film on a moveable substrate using atmospheric pressure atomic-layer deposition includes a chamber and a moveable substrate having a levitation stabilizing structure located on the moveable substrate that defines an enclosed interior impingement area of the moveable substrate. A stationary support, located in the chamber, supports the moveable substrate. The stationary support extends beyond the enclosed interior impingement area. A pressurized-fluid source provides a fluid flow through the stationary support that impinges on the moveable substrate within the enclosed interior impingement area of the moveable substrate sufficient to levitate the moveable substrate and expose the moveable substrate to the fluid while restricting the lateral motion of the moveable substrate with the levitation stabilizing structure.

Abstract: An electrically controlled spectacle includes a spectacle frame and optoelectronic lenses housed in the frame. The lenses include a left lens and a right lens, each of the optoelectrical lenses having a plurality of states, wherein the state of the left lens is independent of the state of the right lens. The electrically controlled spectacle also includes a control unit housed in the frame, the control unit being adapted to control the state of each of the lenses independently.

Abstract: Data comprising a compressed image frame and temporal redundancy information is received. The image frame is decompressed. A plurality of bridge frames that are visually dissimilar to the image frame are generated. The image frame and the plurality of bridge frames are blended, generating a plurality of blended frames, and the plurality of blended frames are displayed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a bus coupled includes a voltage control circuit configured to selectively conduct a current from the first current source away from an output of the coupler to regulate a voltage drop across the another current source to a first value. An embodiment of a method of forming a bus coupler may include configuring a circuit to store energy from the input into a first storage element in response to receiving an active portion of an input signal, and to transfer energy from the storage element to the output after termination of the active portion of the input signal.

Abstract: A method of making a filled large-format imprinted structure includes providing a substrate, locating a curable layer over the substrate, imprinting the curable layer, and curing the curable layer to form a cured layer including a layer surface and one or more imprinted micro-cavities. Each micro-cavity has a micro-cavity depth and a micro-cavity width and one or more ribs extending from the bottom of the micro-cavity toward the top of the micro-cavity. Each rib has a rib width that is less than one half of the micro-cavity width, a rib height that is less than the micro-cavity depth, and each rib separates the micro-cavity into portions, each portion having a portion width less than or equal to 20 microns. A curable material is located in each micro-cavity and cured to form cured material located in each micro-cavity, thereby defining a filled large-format imprinted structure.

Abstract: A tool including a pair of rails is attachable to the inside surface of the skin panel. A housing is pivotally and slidably connected between the pair of rails. The housing is pivotable about a first axis and is slidable along grooves in the pair of rails. The housing has a first end and a second end opposite each other. The tool includes a rod having a third end and a fourth end, the third end attached to and extending from the first end of the housing. The tool also includes a pressure foot attached to the fourth end of the housing. The pressure foot includes a curved ankle integrally formed with a flat flange, the curved ankle curving into the flat flange. The pressure foot is configured to apply pressure along a portion of the inside surface of the skin panel when the housing is in a vertical position.

Abstract: A method of making a filled large-format imprinted structure includes providing a substrate, locating a curable layer over the substrate, imprinting the curable layer, and curing the curable layer to form a cured layer including a layer surface having one or more areas. Each area has a plurality of imprinted micro-cavities, wherein each micro-cavity has a micro-cavity width less than or equal to 20 microns. A rib separates each micro-cavity from an adjacent micro-cavity by a rib width that is less than the micro-cavity width, the rib extending from a bottom of the micro-cavity to the layer surface. A common curable material is located in each micro-cavity and cured to form common cured material in each micro-cavity, thereby defining a filled large-format imprinted structure.

Abstract: An electrically controlled spectacle includes a spectacle frame and optoelectronic lenses housed in the frame. The lenses include a left lens and a right lens, each of the optoelectrical lenses having a plurality of states, wherein the state of the left lens is independent of the state of the right lens. The electrically controlled spectacle also includes a control unit housed in the frame, the control unit being adapted to control the state of each of the lenses independently.

Abstract: Assistance may be provided to a first user of a first device by monitoring sensors of the first device and providing assistance via a character presented by the device. Sensor data, such as audio, video, or biometric data, may be transmitted to a server, and a server may process the sensor data to determine a state of the first user. The server may determine to request assistance based on the state of the first user. The server may then send a request to a second device of a second user to guide the character presented by the first device. The second user may then provide assistance to the first user by guiding the character presented by the first device.

Abstract: A service may be provided that allows interacting users to interact with characters presented by devices of the interacting users. The operation of the character presented to an interacting user may be customized for that interacting user. For example, a first controlling user may specify first information for configuring or controlling the operation of the character when the character is interacting with a first interacting user, and a second controlling user may specify second information for configuring or controlling the operation of the character when the character is interacting with a second interacting user. The information provided by a controlling user may be used to select a segment to be used for a session between an interacting user and the character.

Abstract: A first user of a first device may interact with a character presented on the first device where the character presented on the first device is guided by a second user of a second device. To begin a communications session, the first user may request to communicate with the character. A server may process the request to speak with the character and identify the second user from a plurality of guiding users, where the second user is identified by comparing profile information of the first user with profile information of the second user. The server may then send a request to the second device of the second user to guide the character presented by the first device. The first user may then communicate with the character with the guidance of the second user.

Abstract: A user of a device may interact with a character presented by the device. A session between the user and the character may be started by a user, may be triggered by an event, or may be started in other ways. The user of the of the device may be associated with one or more trigger events. Information about the trigger events may be obtained and processed to determine when a trigger event has occurred. When a trigger event has occurred, a session may be started on the device with the character. A segment may be selected to be presented during the session, and an interaction corresponding to the segment may be presented by the character to the user. For example, the character may speak a phrase using a text-to-speech voice.

Abstract: The invention is an anchor point device for use with a bra support underwire comprising: a unitary interface sleeve comprising a distal paraboloid section with an underwire cavity passing therethrough; a cylindrical section extending from the distal paraboloid section, the cylindrical section having the underwire cavity terminating therein; a proximal paraboloid section extending from the cylindrical section; and an anchor tab, configured as a geometric shape, a threaded component, a ribbed component, or a reinforced thread, attached to the interface sleeve. The invention provides reduced kinetic friction and kinetic wear between support underwires and ultra thin tubular fabric casings.

Abstract: An electrically controlled spectacle includes a spectacle frame and optoelectronic lenses housed in the frame. The lenses include a left lens and a right lens, each of the optoelectrical lenses having a plurality of states, wherein the state of the left lens is independent of the state of the right lens. The electrically controlled spectacle also includes a control unit housed in the frame, the control unit being adapted to control the state of each of the lenses independently.