Abstract: An apparatus configured to perform a prescribed burn of vegetative ground fuel comprises a movable platform configured to traverse ground that contains the vegetative ground fuel, and a burn chamber disposed on the movable platform. An ignition source is disposed in the burn chamber and configured to ignite vegetative ground fuel within a prescribed burn region of the ground. A containment arrangement is situated relative to the burn chamber and configured to confine burning of the vegetative ground fuel to the prescribed burn region. A discharge apparatus is positioned relative to the burn chamber and configured to expel residual effluent from the burn chamber. An extinguisher system can be included to extinguish residual flames and embers. A smoke filtration system can be included to filter residual effluent expelled from the burn chamber.

Abstract: An optical reader apparatus is configured to detect epidermal ridges of a body part using specular reflection contrast detection. The optical reader apparatus comprises a display comprising a transparent cover and a substrate comprising an array of active pixels. The active pixels serve as an illuminator of the optical reader apparatus. The apparatus also comprises a pinhole array and an optical sensor optically coupled to the display via the pinhole array. The optical sensor comprises an array of photosensors arranged on a substrate. The array of photosensors is configured to detect light reflected via specular reflection by the transparent cover. A processor, coupled to the display and the optical sensor, is configured to control reading of signals from the photosensors and to control illumination of selected active pixels in accordance with a predefined scanning pattern that covers a sensing region of the transparent cover during a body part reading operation.

Abstract: A mobile communications device includes a display, a plurality of sources which may comprise at least one microphone and/or at least one camera, a wireless communications module, a main processor, and a secured processor inaccessible by the main processor. A housing of the device is configured for hand-held manipulation and to support the display, the sources, the communications module, the main processor, and the secured processor. A switch is actuatable by a user of the device and coupled to at least the sources, the main processor, and the secured processor. The switch is configured to divert signals produced by the sources away from the main processor when activated, and couple signals produced by the sources to the main processor when deactivated.

Abstract: An optical fingerprint reader apparatus is configured to detect skin features of a finger using Frustrated Total Internal Reflection contrast detection. The apparatus comprises a display comprising a transparent cover and a substrate comprising an array of active pixels that serve as an illuminator of the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a pinhole array which can be affixed to a transparent display or integrated within an opaque display. An optical sensor is optically coupled to the display via the pinhole array and comprises an array of photosensors. A processor is coupled to the display and the optical sensor. The processor is configured to control reading of signals from the photosensors and to control illumination of selected active pixels in accordance with a predefined scanning pattern that covers a finger sensing region of the transparent cover during a fingerprint reading operation.

Abstract: A mobile communications device includes a display, one or more sources comprising at least one microphone and at least one camera, a wireless communications module, a main processor, and a secured processor inaccessible by the main processor. A housing supports components of the device and is configured for hand-held manipulation. A shutter is supported by the housing, and comprises a lens shutter situated within the housing and configured to obscure a lens of the at least one camera when activated. A user actuatable switch is coupled to at least the one or more sources, the main processor, the secured processor, and the shutter. The switch is configured to selectively activate and deactivate the lens shutter. The switch is also configured to divert signals produced by the sources away from the main processor when activated, and couple signals produced by the sources to the main processor when deactivated.

Abstract: An optical reader apparatus is configured to detect epidermal ridges of a body part using specular reflection contrast detection. The optical reader apparatus comprises a display comprising a transparent cover and a substrate comprising an array of active pixels. The active pixels serve as an illuminator of the optical reader apparatus. The apparatus also comprises a pinhole array and an optical sensor optically coupled to the display via the pinhole array. The optical sensor comprises an array of photosensors arranged on a substrate. The array of photosensors is configured to detect light reflected via specular reflection by the transparent cover. A processor, coupled to the display and the optical sensor, is configured to control reading of signals from the photosensors and to control illumination of selected active pixels in accordance with a predefined scanning pattern that covers a sensing region of the transparent cover during a body part reading operation.

Abstract: A magnetic valve comprises an axially magnetized valve body comprising a bore and an axially magnetized gate moveable relative to the bore. The gate is dimensioned to cover the bore in a closed state and expose the bore in an open state. The valve body and the gate are configured to self-align along their central axes.

Abstract: An optical fingerprint reader apparatus is configured to detect skin features of a finger using Frustrated Total Internal Reflection contrast detection. The apparatus comprises a display comprising a transparent cover and a substrate comprising an array of active pixels that serve as an illuminator of the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a pinhole array which can be affixed to a transparent display or integrated within an opaque display. An optical sensor is optically coupled to the display via the pinhole array and comprises an array of photosensors. A processor is coupled to the display and the optical sensor. The processor is configured to control reading of signals from the photosensors and to control illumination of selected active pixels in accordance with a predefined scanning pattern that covers a finger sensing region of the transparent cover during a fingerprint reading operation.

Abstract: A mobile communications device includes a display, a plurality of sources which may comprise at least one microphone and/or at least one camera, a wireless communications module, a main processor, and a secured processor inaccessible by the main processor. A housing of the device is configured for hand-held manipulation and to support the display, the sources, the communications module, the main processor, and the secured processor. A switch is actuatable by a user of the device and coupled to at least the sources, the main processor, and the secured processor. The switch is configured to divert signals produced by the sources away from the main processor when activated, and couple signals produced by the sources to the main processor when deactivated.

Abstract: A mobile communications device includes a display, one or more sources comprising at least one microphone and at least one camera, a wireless communications module, a main processor, and a secured processor inaccessible by the main processor. A housing supports components of the device and is configured for hand-held manipulation. A shutter is supported by the housing, and comprises a lens shutter situated within the housing and configured to obscure a lens of the at least one camera when activated. A user actuatable switch is coupled to at least the one or more sources, the main processor, the secured processor, and the shutter. The switch is configured to selectively activate and deactivate the lens shutter. The switch is also configured to divert signals produced by the sources away from the main processor when activated, and couple signals produced by the sources to the main processor when deactivated.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with an electronic device having a microphone. The apparatus comprises a structure configured to detachably couple to the device, and a generator supported by the structure. The generator is configured to generate a force that acts on the microphone and renders the microphone unresponsive to voice sounds.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with an electronic device having a microphone and a camera. The apparatus comprises a structure configured to detachably couple to the device, and a shutter supported by the structure and comprising a lens shutter configured to obscure a lens of the camera when in an engaged position. A generator is supported by the structure and configured to generate a force that acts on the microphone and renders the microphone unresponsive to voice sounds.

Abstract: An optoelectronic pickup for a musical instrument includes at least one light source which directs light to impinge a sound generating element of the musical instrument in at least one photoreceiver located to detect the reflected light, so as to generate an electrical signal that is responsive to sound generating element movement.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a light emitting diode (LED) and a phototransistor configured to receive light from the LED and generate an electrical signal comprising shot noise. An amplifier is coupled to the phototransistor and configured to amplify the electrical signal. Sampling circuitry is coupled to the amplifier. For a plurality of temporally spaced sample pairs each defined by two consecutive time points in the amplified signal, the sampling circuitry is configured to determine a difference in amplitude of the amplified signal at each of the two consecutive time points and output a differential sample value indicative of the amplitude difference. The differential sample values for the plurality of sample pairs define a plurality of random numbers.

Abstract: A magnetic valve comprises an axially magnetized valve body comprising a bore and an axially magnetized gate moveable relative to the bore. The gate is dimensioned to cover the bore in a closed state and expose the bore in an open state. The valve body and the gate are configured to self-align along their central axes.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a light emitting diode (LED) and a phototransistor configured to receive light from the LED and generate an electrical signal comprising shot noise. An amplifier is coupled to the phototransistor and configured to amplify the electrical signal. Sampling circuitry is coupled to the amplifier. For a plurality of temporally spaced sample pairs each defined by two consecutive time points in the amplified signal, the sampling circuitry is configured to determine a difference in amplitude of the amplified signal at each of the two consecutive time points and output a differential sample value indicative of the amplitude difference. The differential sample values for the plurality of sample pairs define a plurality of random numbers.

Abstract: An optoelectronic pickup for a musical instrument includes at least one light source which directs light to impinge a sound generating element of the musical instrument in at least one photoreceiver located to detect the reflected light, so as to generate an electrical signal that is responsive to sound generating element movement.

Abstract: A system includes a drill string to which a sensor is attached, a rotation unit configured to rotate the drill string, and a displacement unit configured to longitudinally displace the drill string. A processor is coupled to the rotation and displacement units. The processor is configured to coordinate sampling, by the sensor, of three-dimensional space surrounding the sensor while rotating and displacing the drill string. The processor is further configured to coordinate adjusting of at least one of drill string rotation and drill string displacement so that acceptable spatial sampling of the space surrounding the sensor is achieved.

Abstract: A optoelectronic pickup for a musical instrument includes at least one light source which directs light to impinge a string of the musical instrument in at least one photoreceiver located to detect the reflected light, so as to generate an electrical signal that is responsive to string vibrations. A number of dissimilar filter approaches are included to control undesired effects of spurious light, the filter approaches may be structure-based, signal processing-based, and/or optics-based.

Abstract: An optoelectronic pickup for a musical instrument includes at least one light source which directs light to impinge a sound generating element of the musical instrument in at least one photoreceiver located to detect the reflected light, so as to generate an electrical signal that is responsive to sound generating element movement.