Abstract: An accelerometer arrangement and method are described for determining accelerations of an inground tool. First and second triaxial accelerometers are supported such that a normal sensing axis of the first triaxial accelerometer is at least generally orthogonal to the normal sensing axis of the second triaxial accelerometer for determining the accelerations along the three orthogonal axes based on a combination of sensing axis outputs from one or both of the triaxial accelerometers. A weaker sensing axis of one triaxial accelerometer can be supported at least approximately normal to a weaker sensing axis of another triaxial accelerometer such that the weaker axes are not used. The triaxial accelerometers can be supported such that one axis of one accelerometer can be redundant with respect to another axis of another accelerometer. One triaxial accelerometer can be mounted on a tilted plane with respect to another triaxial accelerometer.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include applying, via a sound reproduction system, sound cancellation that reduces an amplitude of various sound signals. The method further includes identifying, among the sound signals, an external sound whose amplitude is to be reduced by the sound cancellation. The method then includes analyzing the identified external sound to determine whether the identified external sound is to be made audible to a user and, upon determining that the external sound is to be made audible to the user, the method includes modifying the sound cancellation so that the identified external sound is made audible to the user. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A transmitter is powered by a regulated battery voltage and is installable in one of a plurality of different housings, each housing is characterized by a different design and each can form part of an inground tool for performing an inground operation in which a drill string extends from a drill rig to the inground tool. An antenna driver drives an antenna based on the regulated voltage to emanate an electromagnetic signal for remote reception. A controller limits power consumption from the regulated voltage so as not to exceed a power consumption threshold, irrespective of installation of the transmitter in any one of the housings when the transmitter would otherwise exhibit a different power consumption for each housing design. A corresponding method is described. Features relating to power consumption threshold modification based on temperature as well as mechanical shock and vibration are described.

Abstract: A method for audio beam steering, tracking, and audio effects for an immersive reality application is provided. The method includes receiving, from an immersive reality application, a first audio waveform from a first acoustic source to provide to a user of a headset, identifying a perceived direction for the first acoustic source relative to the headset based on a location of the first acoustic source, and providing, to a first speaker in a client device, an audio signal including the first audio waveform, wherein the audio signal includes a time delay and an amplitude of the first audio waveform based on the perceived direction. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause a system to perform the above method, and the system, are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are sugar-based composites that are a recyclable and environmentally friendly replacement for plastics. The sugar-based composites are a renewable, recyclable, degradable, energy-efficient, and lightweight replacement of plastics in short term use applications. The sugar-based composites comprise small molecule sugar compounds. Methods of preparing and methods of recycling the sugar-based composites are also disclosed.

Abstract: A transmitter for inground use controls a depth signal transmit power in relation to a data signal transmit power such that one reception range of the depth signal at least approximately matches another, different reception range of the data signal. A portable device can form a system with the transmitter in which the portable device scans a plurality of frequencies within at least one low frequency depth signal range to measure the electromagnetic noise at each one of the plurality of frequencies and identify at least one of the frequencies as a potential depth frequency for the transmitter. The portable device can include a dual mode filter having a rebar mode and a normal mode filter. The depth signal frequency is dynamically positionable in relation to low frequency noise.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include applying, via a sound reproduction system, sound cancellation that reduces an amplitude of various sound signals. The method further includes identifying, among the sound signals, an external sound whose amplitude is to be reduced by the sound cancellation. The method then includes analyzing the identified external sound to determine whether the identified external sound is to be made audible to a user and, upon determining that the external sound is to be made audible to the user, the method includes modifying the sound cancellation so that the identified external sound is made audible to the user. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A transmitter is powered by a regulated battery voltage and is installable in one of a plurality of different housings, each housing is characterized by a different design and each can form part of an inground tool for performing an inground operation in which a drill string extends from a drill rig to the inground tool. An antenna driver drives an antenna based on the regulated voltage to emanate an electromagnetic signal for remote reception. A controller limits power consumption from the regulated voltage so as not to exceed a power consumption threshold, irrespective of installation of the transmitter in any one of the housings when the transmitter would otherwise exhibit a different power consumption for each housing design. A corresponding method is described. Features relating to power consumption threshold modification based on temperature as well as mechanical shock and vibration are described.

Abstract: A transmitter for inground use controls a depth signal transmit power in relation to a data signal transmit power such that one reception range of the depth signal at least approximately matches another, different reception range of the data signal. A portable device can form a system with the transmitter in which the portable device scans a plurality of frequencies within at least one low frequency depth signal range to measure the electromagnetic noise at each one of the plurality of frequencies and identify at least one of the frequencies as a potential depth frequency for the transmitter. The portable device can include a dual mode filter having a rebar mode and a normal mode filter. The depth signal frequency is dynamically positionable in relation to low frequency noise.

Abstract: Systems and methods of use are presented for selecting and displaying media content on a display where the media content is determined by user manual manipulation of the content pages of a book positioned on a book reader. The display includes a video display screen and a media player. The media player has a storage drive configured to accept and store media content, and a processor configured to access the storage drive to transmit selected media content to the video display screen when signaled by the book reader to do so. The book reader includes a plurality of sensors divided into a plurality of right side sensors and a plurality of left side sensors that are configured to detect and determine which content page of the book is currently open and displayed on the book reader. When a content page is displayed and detected, a controller signals the processor.

Abstract: A sonde is receivable in a housing of an inground tool for transmitting an electromagnetic locating signal. The sonde is configured for monitoring a cumulative active run-time of its operation and for external transfer of the cumulative active run-time. A receiver receives the cumulative active run-time and provides at least one indication based on the cumulative active run-time.

Abstract: A performance metrics of a receiver is obtained using frames of an application hosted by a server that are received via a network. The one or more performance metrics include information indicative of a current occupancy of a frame buffer corresponding to the receiver and information indicative of a target occupancy of the frame buffer corresponding to the receiver. The frame buffer of the receiver is used to queue frames of the application for display. A frame rate associated with rendering at least one next frame of the application is adjusted using the one or more performance metrics of the receiver to control population of the frame buffer. Subsequent frames of the application hosted by the server are rendered using the adjusted frame rate. Upon rendering the subsequent frames, the server sends the subsequent frames to the receiver for display.

Abstract: An accelerometer arrangement and method are described for determining accelerations of an inground tool. First and second triaxial accelerometers are supported such that a normal sensing axis of the first triaxial accelerometer is at least generally orthogonal to the normal sensing axis of the second triaxial accelerometer for determining the accelerations along the three orthogonal axes based on a combination of sensing axis outputs from one or both of the triaxial accelerometers. A weaker sensing axis of one triaxial accelerometer can be supported at least approximately normal to a weaker sensing axis of another triaxial accelerometer such that the weaker axes are not used. The triaxial accelerometers can be supported such that one axis of one accelerometer can be redundant with respect to another axis of another accelerometer. One triaxial accelerometer can be mounted on a tilted plane with respect to another triaxial accelerometer.

Abstract: A transmitter for inground use controls a depth signal transmit power in relation to a data signal transmit power such that one reception range of the depth signal at least approximately matches another, different reception range of the data signal. A portable device can form a system with the transmitter in which the portable device scans a plurality of frequencies within at least one low frequency depth signal range to measure the electromagnetic noise at each one of the plurality of frequencies and identify at least one of the frequencies as a potential depth frequency for the transmitter. The portable device can include a dual mode filter having a rebar mode and a normal mode filter. The depth signal frequency is dynamically positionable in relation to low frequency noise.

Abstract: A headset designed for inclusion of users with impairments is provided. The headset includes a frame, two eyepieces mounted on the frame, and at least one microphone and a speaker, mounted on the frame. The headset also includes a camera, a memory configured to store multiple instructions, and a processor configured to execute the instructions, wherein the instructions comprise to provide to a user an environmental context from a signal provided by the microphone and the camera. A method for using the above headset and a system for performing the method are also provided.

Abstract: A smart glass for incorporating speech recognition in an immersive reality environment is provided. The smart glass includes an eyepiece mounted on a frame including a transparent optical component to provide a user a view of a scene in a real world. The smart glass also includes a first camera configured to capture an image of a hand gesture from an interlocutor in the real world, and a processor configured to recognize, in the image of the hand gesture, a textual meaning. A system including memories storing instructions and processors to execute the instructions to perform methods for use of the above smart glass, and the methods, are also provided.

Abstract: An accelerometer arrangement and method are described for determining accelerations of an inground tool. First and second triaxial accelerometers are supported such that a normal sensing axis of the first triaxial accelerometer is at least generally orthogonal to the normal sensing axis of the second triaxial accelerometer for determining the accelerations along the three orthogonal axes based on a combination of sensing axis outputs from one or both of the triaxial accelerometers. A weaker sensing axis of one triaxial accelerometer can be supported at least approximately normal to a weaker sensing axis of another triaxial accelerometer such that the weaker axes are not used. The triaxial accelerometers can be supported such that one axis of one accelerometer can be redundant with respect to another axis of another accelerometer. One triaxial accelerometer can be mounted on a tilted plane with respect to another triaxial accelerometer.