Abstract: A method for use by a trusted intermediary to electronically transfer funds associated with a transaction between first and second parties, such as a customer and a seller, both of whom have accounts with financial institutions with respective established relationships with the trusted intermediary such that funds which are transferred can clear in real-time, that is virtually immediately, comprises steps of (i) electronically receiving, from a financial institution associated with a customer, the funds associated with the transaction, and holding the funds in a trust account; (ii) releasing control of the funds held in the trust account subject to confirmation that conditions of the transaction have been fulfilled; (iii) electronically transferring the funds released to a selected account at one of the financial institutions; and (iv) generating respective journal entries for the customer and the seller for posting the transaction to respective ledgers associated with the customer and the seller.

Abstract: A container assembly includes a container configured to contain a plurality of individually dispensable goods. The container assembly further includes an adhesive assembly having at least two layers, where a first outermost surface of the at least two layers forms a first adhesive side and a second outermost surface of the at least two layers forms a second adhesive side opposite the first adhesive side. The first adhesive side is configured to adhere to a side of the container and the second adhesive side is configured to adhere to a substrate, the substrate configured to support the container. The adhesive assembly is configured to prevent separation of the container from the substrate during removal of at least one of the plurality of individually dispensable goods.

Abstract: A system includes a first antenna and a second antenna. The first antenna includes an antenna section. The antenna section includes a first antenna segment, a second antenna segment adjacent to the first antenna segment, and a notch circuit disposed within a notch between the first antenna segment and the second antenna segment. The notch circuit prevents a first frequency of a signal from passing from the first antenna segment to the second antenna segment while allowing a second frequency from the signal to pass from the first antenna segment to the second antenna segment. The second antenna is disposed proximate to the first antenna. The first antenna occupies a second near field region of the second antenna and the second antenna occupies a first near field region of the first antenna.

Abstract: A system includes a first antenna and a second antenna. The first antenna includes an antenna section. The antenna section includes a first antenna segment, a second antenna segment adjacent to the first antenna segment, and a notch circuit disposed within a notch between the first antenna segment and the second antenna segment. The notch circuit prevents a first frequency of a signal from passing from the first antenna segment to the second antenna segment while allowing a second frequency from the signal to pass from the first antenna segment to the second antenna segment. The second antenna is disposed proximate to the first antenna. The first antenna occupies a second near field region of the second antenna and the second antenna occupies a first near field region of the first antenna.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for improving performance of a vehicle operating in a cruise control mode where a controller adjusts torque output from a vehicle to maintain vehicle speed within a desired range. The methods and systems include adapting a vehicle dynamics model and a vehicle fuel consumption map that provide input to nonlinear model predictive controller.

Abstract: Closed-loop metal powder management methods for additive manufacturing. Virgin metal powder is provided in a closed powder container comprising at least one sensor, tracker, or optical device. The metal powder is transferred to an additive manufacturing system, a portion of a metal powder layer is consolidated, and excess metal powder is transferred from the additive manufacturing system to the powder container, a second powder container, or an internal powder container. Virgin metal powder or a second metal powder are added to the excess metal powder, a quality of the mixed powder is validated, the process is repeated at least once, and powder physical transfer data associated with at least one of the steps is collected and stored in a data repository. Powder material parameters may be measured and assessed, and may be also be stored in the data repository.

Abstract: A system includes a first antenna and a second antenna. The first antenna includes an antenna section. The antenna section includes a first antenna segment, a second antenna segment adjacent to the first antenna segment, and a notch circuit disposed within a notch between the first antenna segment and the second antenna segment. The notch circuit prevents a first frequency of a signal from passing from the first antenna segment to the second antenna segment while allowing a second frequency from the signal to pass from the first antenna segment to the second antenna segment. The second antenna is disposed proximate to the first antenna. The first antenna occupies a second near field region of the second antenna and the second antenna occupies a first near field region of the first antenna.

Abstract: A system includes a first antenna and a second antenna. The first antenna includes an antenna section. The antenna section includes a first antenna segment, a second antenna segment adjacent to the first antenna segment, and a notch circuit disposed within a notch between the first antenna segment and the second antenna segment. The notch circuit prevents a first frequency of a signal from passing from the first antenna segment to the second antenna segment while allowing a second frequency from the signal to pass from the first antenna segment to the second antenna segment. The second antenna is disposed proximate to the first antenna. The first antenna occupies a second near field region of the second antenna and the second antenna occupies a first near field region of the first antenna.

Abstract: A powder including a plurality of particulates, each particulate including a soft magnetic metallic core coated with a continuous dielectric coating having a thickness selected from a range of 100 nanometers to 100 micrometers. The particulates have a mean particle size selected from a range of 100 nanometers to 250 micrometers. Methods for forming the powder are disclosed. A soft magnetic composite component includes a soft magnetic material in a dielectric matrix, wherein (i) the soft magnetic material comprises a plurality of particulates comprising metallic cores, (ii) each metallic core is coated by a continuous dielectric coating covering >90% of a surface area of the metallic core, (iii) the metallic cores are electrically isolated from each other, and (iv) the dielectric coatings of adjacent metallic cores are consolidated together. Methods for formation of the soft magnetic component by additive manufacturing and hot isostatic pressing are disclosed.

Abstract: A dual-band patch antenna includes a first patch antenna for operation at a first frequency and a second patch antenna for operation at a second frequency that is an integer multiple of the first frequency. A dielectric support is provided on which the first and second patch antennas are mounted. A nearest distance defined between the first and second patch antennas is a function of the second frequency and a dielectric constant of the dielectric support. The dielectric support has a feed point adapted to have a transmission line electrically coupled thereto. Electrically-conducting paths are coupled to the dielectric support for electrically coupling the feed point to the first and second patch antennas where at least one such electrically-conducting path has an insertion loss that is greater than 0 dB and less than or equal to 3 dB.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for improving performance of a vehicle operating in a cruise control mode where a controller adjusts torque output from a vehicle to maintain vehicle speed within a desired range. The methods and systems include adapting a vehicle dynamics model and a vehicle fuel consumption map that provide input to nonlinear model predictive controller.

Abstract: A location tracking system is provided for tracking the location of a child or other individual. The location tracking system includes a location server and one or more location tracking devices. Communication protocols are provided for communications between the location server and the location tracking devices. The communication protocols provide a low complexity and low cost solution for location tracking applications.

Abstract: A hollow container or box formed from a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, opposed end panels, and a base panel placing the container or box in a fully assembled position. The second side panel is releasably coupled to the base panel and each of the other panels are hingedly coupled to one another. Upon rotating each of the opposed end panels, the top panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel relative to one another and various axis rotation in combination with releasably detaching the second side panel from the base panel, the container or box is transitioned from a fully assembled position into a flat, parallel orientation, fully collapsed position.

Abstract: Objects can be produced using an additive manufacturing process. The objects can include a plurality of layers of a polymeric material that includes a copolyester ether. The copolyester ether can include units of a diacid component and units of a glycol component. In some implementations, the units of the diacid component can be derived from at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid. Further, in some illustrative examples, the units of the glycol component can be derived from an aliphatic glycol and a polyalkylene ether glycol. In some cases, the polymeric material can also include a thermoplastic elastomer and a resin component.

Abstract: A method and system funding long-term data storage, retrieval, migration, and preservation services accessed over the internet, the services funded by an automated system seeking a target rate of return, input to the system, using pooled, one-time client payments of a client fee, where the rate of return is analyzed and referenced against pre-set criteria in a fund data store, with generated returns calculated and then apportioned so that distributed returns pay expenses incurred providing the data services, and non-distributed returns are reinvested to pay future expenses, all steps performed by a fund manager implemented as software executing on one or more computing devices or servers. A software-implemented database manager manages the data services, controlling data access by establishing an account record per client and then applying identifying information and criteria stored in various data stores.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a tire comprising at least one carcass ply and at least one breaker ply, the carcass and breaker plies each comprising continuous filaments having a tenacity of at least 15 grams force per dtex and a modulus of at least 400 grams force per dtex wherein the carcass ply turn-ups terminate under the at least one breaker ply. The invention further pertains to a tire comprising a plurality of apex components and carcass ply turn-ups that terminate within the apex region of the tire. The invention also discloses a tire wherein the carcass ply turn-ups terminate in the upper sidewall region of the tire and ply spacers are located between ply-turn-ups.

Abstract: An electronic device having a unique interface between the electronic circuitry of the device and an antenna that is external to the device and located in a band. The antenna functionality is achieved externally in the band and includes a conductive path from one or more components of the device to the antenna in the band. The conductive path may extend through an exterior housing of the device to electrically connect the one or more components and the antenna.

Abstract: A location tracking system is provided for tracking the location of a child or other individual. The location tracking system includes a location server and one or more location tracking devices. Communication protocols are provided for communications between the location server and the location tracking devices. The communication protocols provide a low complexity and low cost solution for location tracking applications.

Abstract: A flow control device for dispensing a multi-phase oral composition. The device includes a housing, a restrictor and an insert that fits within and cooperates with the housing and restrictor to dispense the oral composition. A flowpath is formed in and around the insert, as well as in the housing such that the composition passes through one or more channels defined by the cooperative arrangement of the insert and housing. Changes in relative position between the insert and the housing facilitate selective alignment of the various channels with a discharge orifice formed in the housing such that a user can vary the way the proportions of discreet fluids making up the oral composition are dispensed through the orifice.