Abstract: A display system comprising a steerable display having a monocular field of view of at least 1 degree, positioned within a scannable field of view of at least 20 degrees, the steerable display positioned for a user. In one embodiment, the steerable display is positioned for the user's fovea.

Abstract: A verification system configured to determine when customers respond to a real-world ad unit is disclosed. The system comprises: a first camera, a second camera, and a processor. The first camera is mounted at a billboard promoting an associated merchant. The second camera is installed at the merchant where it is configured to capture images of people present at the merchant. The processor is configured to: receive images of a first set of people from the first camera at the billboard; receive images of a second set of people from the second camera at the merchant; and identify a subset of people that appear in the first set and then in the second set. The processor can then generate a conversion rate based on the first set of people and the third set of people. The advertising system is therefore a close-loop system for measuring the effectiveness of advertising.

Abstract: An automated food preparation and delivery robot is disclosed. The automated food preparation and delivery robot comprises a communications system configured to receive a food order and address from a customer, a navigation system configured to automatically drive the vehicle to the address, and an automated food preparation system configured to prepare food in accordance with the food order while en route to the customer address. The automated food preparation system is configured to determine a drive time to travel to the customer address, and determine a preparation time to prepare the food in accordance with the food order. If the drive time is greater than the preparation time, the robot waits and then begins preparing the food after a delay substantially equal to the drive time minus the preparation time. In this manner, preparation of the food coincides with arrival at the customer address.

Abstract: The dental coating composition of the present invention is suitable to coat dental prosthetics. The composition is a mixture of a (meth)acrylate dimer, a (meth)acrylate crosslinker, a photoinitiator, and a silicone surfactant, and optionally, a (meth)acrylate monomer with a heteroalkyl group, a colorant, special effects pigment, particles, and other additives. Incorporating particles in the dental coating formulation provides a “character” to the surface of the dental prosthetic, increasing the esthetic appeal of the prosthetic. The dental coating thus may make the parts of the dental prosthetic appear to approximate gingivae, or gum. The dental coating composition may be applied to a surface of an unfinished dental prosthesis prior to curing, to a partially cured prosthesis, or fully cured prosthesis.

Abstract: A detection system for estimating a weight of one or more items in a refrigerator is disclosed. The system comprises at least one shelf; at least one transducer configured to transmit a sonic or ultrasonic wave into the at least one shelf and capture the reflected or refracted wave from the shelf; and a processor configured to estimate the weight of the one or more items on the shelf from the sonic or ultrasonic wave received from the at least one transducer. The system further comprises a plurality of cameras configured to capture images of the one or more items on the shelf. The cameras are configured to capture images of the items while on the shelf and off the shelf, which are then used to identify the items and the changes in weight of those items. Items may be automatically reorder based on their weight or change in weight.

Abstract: A method of providing Internet commercialization services to a content owner may include obtaining rights from an owner of Web page contents on a Web page to commercialize the Web page contents, obtaining an ad from an advertiser for placement on the Web page, the advertiser agreeing to pay for placement of the ad, paying for traffic to the Web page based on a bid to a traffic partner and sharing profits with the owner of the Web page contents, if any, from payments by the advertiser above payment to the traffic partner for the traffic. The content owner may be a publisher of content on the Internet. The traffic partner may be a search engine. The method may include automatically providing Internet commercialization services to an Internet publisher. Various aspects of the method may be modified in a closed loop fashion to optimize profits.

Abstract: The invention relates to integrated methods for direct capture of carbon dioxide and water from the atmosphere and their conversion into value-added products in an economical and carbon negative fashion. In one embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the water captured in a DAC process is treated, bottled, and sold as value-added drinking water, thereby offsetting the cost of the capture process. Preferably the drinking water is bottled in low carbon footprint packaging to offer cost benefit while maintaining overall carbon neutrality or negativity. In other embodiments of the invention, a portion of the captured water is split by photovoltaic electrolysis into hydrogen and oxygen as further value-added products. In other embodiments of the present invention, a portion of the captured carbon dioxide is chemically reduced, preferably utilizing hydrogen from the aforementioned photovoltaic-electrolysis process, to produce methanol for use as a carbon-advantaged fuel.

Abstract: A heliostat includes an optical member (e.g., a mirror), a mounting frame under the optical member, a support stand and a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly allows the optical member to pivot about two orthogonal directions relative to the support stand. A drive mechanism adjusts one or both of an elevation angle and a roll angle of the optical member.

Abstract: A system and method for localization and calibration of a heliostat is disclosed. The system comprises a controller and a camera configured to acquire images of a plurality of heliostats. The controller and camera are configured to acquire a first image of the plurality of heliostats, move one of the plurality of heliostats, acquire a second image of the plurality of heliostats, generate a difference image by subtracting the second image from the first image, identify the heliostat that was moved based on the difference image, and calibrate the position or orientation of the heliostat based on the difference image. The difference image is generated by pixel-wise subtraction of the second image from the first image. The pixel-wise subtraction exposes the heliostat and enables the calibration of the position and/or orientation of known heliostat positions.

Abstract: A heliostat for tracking the sun is disclosed. The heliostat comprises a frame (104) with legs (102); an optical assembly (120) configured to hang between the legs of the frame by means of a plurality of wires (130); and a plurality of actuators (520) configured to change the orientation of the optical assembly via the plurality of wires. The optical assembly may include a mirror (122) or photovoltaic panel that tracks the sun, and concrete backing (610). The optical assembly may further include a tracking controller (150) to energize the plurality of actuators, photovoltaic cell (252) configured to power the tracking controller and actuators, cleaning assembly (1710), and reservoir (770) for capturing rain water on the optical assembly. The optical assembly may further include a camera (254) for capturing images of the frame and determining the orientation of the optical assembly based on the images.

Abstract: A solar collector system comprising at least one heliostat and an inflatable cover configured to protectively conceal the at least one heliostat while it tracks the sun. The inflatable cover comprises a flexible membrane, which is transparent and colorless so that sunlight is transmitted through the cover. The cover may comprise an elastomeric material such as ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE). The solar collector system may further include a pump for inflating the inflatable cover, a pressure relief valve configured to prevent air pressure in the inflatable cover from exceeding a predetermined threshold, and a pressure sensor configured to automatically turn on the pump when the internal pressure falls below a predetermined threshold. The inflatable cover effectively removes wind loading from the heliostats, thus enabling the heliostats to use low-power, less-expensive actuators.

Abstract: A heliostat includes an optical member (e.g., a mirror), a mounting frame under the optical member, a support stand and a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly allows the optical member to pivot about two orthogonal directions relative to the support stand. A drive mechanism adjusts one or both of an elevation angle and a roll angle of the optical member.

Abstract: The invention relates to integrated methods for direct capture of carbon dioxide and water from the atmosphere and their conversion into value-added products in an economical and carbon negative fashion. In one embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the water captured in a DAC process is treated, bottled, and sold as value-added drinking water, thereby offsetting the cost of the capture process. Preferably the drinking water is bottled in low carbon footprint packaging to offer cost benefit while maintaining overall carbon neutrality or negativity. In other embodiments of the invention, a portion of the captured water is split by photovoltaic electrolysis into hydrogen and oxygen as further value-added products. In other embodiments of the present invention, a portion of the captured carbon dioxide is chemically reduced, preferably utilizing hydrogen from the aforementioned photovoltaic-electrolysis process, to produce methanol for use as a carbon-advantaged fuel.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are provided that may include Stirling cycle configurations and/or linear-to-rotary mechanisms in accordance with various embodiments. Some embodiments include a Stirling cycle device that may include a first hot piston contained within a first hot cylinder and a first cold piston contained within a first cold cylinder. A first single actuator may be configured to couple the first hot piston with the first cold piston such that the first hot piston and the first cold piston are on different thermodynamic circuits. The different thermodynamic circuits may include adjacent thermodynamic circuits. The Stirling cycle configuration may be configured as a single-acting alpha Stirling cycle configuration. Some embodiments include a linear-to-rotary mechanism device. The device may include multiple linkages. The device may include a cam plate coupled with the multiple linkages utilizing a cam and multiple cam followers. The linkages may include Watt linkages.

Abstract: An energy storage system includes a crane and a plurality of blocks, where the crane is operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation (via stacking of the blocks) to store electrical energy as potential energy of the blocks, and then operable to move blocks from a higher elevation to a lower elevation (via unstacking of the blocks) to generate electricity based on the kinetic energy of the block when lowered (e.g., by gravity). The energy storage system can, for example, store electricity generated from solar power as potential energy in the stacked blocks during daytime hours when solar power is available, and can convert the potential energy in the stacked blocks into electricity during nighttime hours when solar energy is not available, and deliver the converted electricity to the power grid.

Abstract: An energy storage system includes a crane and a plurality of blocks, where the crane is operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation (via stacking of the blocks) to store electrical energy as potential energy of the blocks, and then operable to move blocks from a higher elevation to a lower elevation (via unstacking of the blocks) to generate electricity based on the kinetic energy of the block when lowered (e.g., by gravity). The energy storage system can, for example, store electricity generated from solar power as potential energy in the stacked blocks during daytime hours when solar power is available, and can convert the potential energy in the stacked blocks into electricity during nighttime hours when solar energy is not available, and deliver the converted electricity to the power grid.

Abstract: An energy storage system includes a crane and a plurality of blocks, where the crane is operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation (via stacking of the blocks) to store electrical energy as potential energy of the blocks, and then operable to move blocks from a higher elevation to a lower elevation (via unstacking of the blocks) to generate electricity based on the kinetic energy of the block when lowered (e.g., by gravity). The energy storage system can, for example, store electricity generated from solar power as potential energy in the stacked blocks during daytime hours when solar power is available, and can convert the potential energy in the stacked blocks into electricity during nighttime hours when solar energy is not available, and deliver the converted electricity to the power grid.

Abstract: An energy storage system includes a crane and a plurality of blocks, where the crane is operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation (via stacking of the blocks) to store electrical energy as potential energy of the blocks, and then operable to move blocks from a higher elevation to a lower elevation (via unstacking of the blocks) to generate electricity based on the kinetic energy of the block when lowered (e.g., by gravity). The energy storage system can, for example, store electricity generated from solar power as potential energy in the stacked blocks during daytime hours when solar power is available, and can convert the potential energy in the stacked blocks into electricity during nighttime hours when solar energy is not available, and deliver the converted electricity to the power grid.

Abstract: A method of providing Internet commercialization services to a content owner may include obtaining rights from an owner of Web page contents on a Web page to commercialize the Web page contents, obtaining an ad from an advertiser for placement on the Web page, the advertiser agreeing to pay for placement of the ad, paying for traffic to the Web page based on a bid to a traffic partner and sharing profits with the owner of the Web page contents, if any, from payments by the advertiser above payment to the traffic partner for the traffic. The content owner may be a publisher of content on the Internet. The traffic partner may be a search engine. The method may include automatically providing Internet commercialization services to an Internet publisher. Various aspects of the method may be modified in a closed loop fashion to optimize profits.

Abstract: A method of providing Internet commercialization services to a content owner may include obtaining rights from an owner of Web page contents on a Web page to commercialize the Web page contents, obtaining an ad from an advertiser for placement on the Web page, the advertiser agreeing to pay for placement of the ad, paying for traffic to the Web page based on a bid to a traffic partner and sharing profits with the owner of the Web page contents, if any, from payments by the advertiser above payment to the traffic partner for the traffic. The content owner may be a publisher of content on the Internet. The traffic partner may be a search engine. The method may include automatically providing Internet commercialization services to an Internet publisher. Various aspects of the method may be modified in a closed loop fashion to optimize profits.