Abstract: An apparatus and method for aggregating and supplying energy includes a plurality of power modules for inverting a first type of electrical power, which is supplied to the power modules from multiple sources of power, to a second type of electrical power at an output of the power modules for delivery of the inverted power to a storage device for future use, or to an electrical load, or to a regional or central utility grid. A microcontroller (the “power microcontroller”) is carried by and incorporated within each of the power modules and each is configured for controlling the power inversion operations. A microcontroller (the “control microcontroller”) carried by the control module is configured for monitoring voltage levels within the at least one energy storage device and for rebalancing voltage within the energy storage device and for correcting lead and lag power factor. Means for selectively supplying power received from said multiple disparate sources of power to the destination are provided.

Abstract: A compilation system using an energy model based on a set of generic and practical hardware and software parameters is presented. The model can represent the major trends in energy consumption spanning potential hardware configurations using only parameters available at compilation time. Experimental verification indicates that the model is nimble yet sufficiently precise, allowing efficient selection of one or more parameters of a target computing system so as to minimize power/energy consumption of a program while achieving other performance related goals. A voltage and/or frequency optimization and selection is presented which can determine an efficient dynamic hardware configuration schedule at compilation time. In various embodiments, the configuration schedule is chosen based on its predicted effect on energy consumption. A concurrency throttling technique based on the energy model can exploit the power-gating features exposed by the target computing system to increase the energy efficiency of programs.

Abstract: The invention provides a computer system for interacting with a user. A set of concepts initially forms a target set of concepts. An input module receives a language input from the user. An analysis system executes a plurality of narrowing cycles until a concept packet having at least one concept has been identified. Each narrowing cycle includes identifying at least one portion of the language and determining a subset of concepts from the target set of concepts to form a new target subset. An action item identifier identifies an action item from the action items based on the concept packet. An action executer that executes an action based on the action item that has been identified.

Abstract: A system and method includes a test container for detecting a target substance in a consumable sample, where the test container includes a test container body defining a test container top, a test container bottom opposing the test container top, a first chamber proximal the test container top, and a second chamber proximal the test container bottom, a magnetic diaphragm situated between the first chamber and the second chamber, the magnetic diaphragm obstructing flow of the consumable sample, and the magnetic diaphragm including a magnetic element embedded in the magnetic diaphragm, and a driving element geometrically complementary to the first chamber, the driving element including a consumable sample grinding feature protruding from a surface of the driving element.

Abstract: A phone stand includes a phone holder for coupling to a phone conducting a voice session, a plurality of directional speakers positioned to project sound to a focused audio area corresponding to a location where a user is expected to be positioned, other speaker(s), and a system controller. The system controller is configured to receive audio signals of the voice session from the phone, separate the audio signals into speech signals and non-speech signals, obtain output mixing attributes, generate mixed signals by combining the speech signals and the non-speech signals according to the output mixing attributes, and send the mixed signals to the plurality of directional speakers. The other speaker(s) can include non-directional speakers, and the system controller is further configured to send the speech signals in the mixed signals to the plurality of directional speakers and the non-speech signals in the mixed signals to the other speaker(s).

Abstract: A single chip multi-voltage or multi-brightness LED lighting device having at least two LED circuits. Each of the at least two LED circuits having at least two LEDs connected together in series. Each of the at least two LED circuits are electrically unconnected to each other in a parallel relationship, have a forward operating drive voltage of at least six volts and are monolithically integrated on a single substrate. A method of manufacturing a single chip with two or more LED circuits configurable by means of connecting the circuits so as to provide optional operating voltage level and/or desired brightness level wherein the electrical connection may be achieved and/or completed at the LED packaging level when the single chips are integrated into the LED package. Alternatively, the LED package may have external electrical contacts that match the integrated chips within.

Abstract: Isolation between vertical thyristor memory cells in an array is improved with isolation regions between the vertical thyristor memory cells. The isolation regions are formed by electrically isolating cores surrounded by insulating material, such as silicon dioxide, in trenches between the memory cells. The electrically isolating cores may be tubes of air or conducting rods. Methods of constructing the isolation regions in a processes for manufacturing vertical thyristor memory cell arrays are also disclosed.

Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may include an imager, an inertial measurement unit, and a processing system. The imager may be configured to capture an image. The inertial measurement unit may have an output. The processing system may be configured to collect positional information indicating a position of the computing device in response to the output from the inertial measurement unit. Further, the processing system may be configured to determine a selected structure captured in the image. Further, the processing system may be configured to identify information corresponding to the selected structure based on the positional information.

Abstract: A method of determining the presence of a mobile computing device in a vehicle includes: moving the mobile computing device into a vehicle; establishing a data communications connection to the mobile computing device over a data network; collecting at least one identifying factor through the data communications connection which at least partially identifies the vehicle; using an electronic processor, executing at least one software rule to make a vehicle determination which identifies the vehicle based on the at least one identifying factor; and storing the result of the vehicle determination for further use.

Abstract: In a method of using structured communications in an observation platform with cloud computing, a signal from a first communication device is received by a second communication device associated with a first computer system. The second computer system forwards the signal from the first computer system to a second computer system, wherein the second computer system is physically remote from the first computer system and connected with the first computer system via a network. The second computer system derives context information for the signal, the deriving based on a plurality of factors derived from an analysis of the signal, wherein the plurality of factors comprises a speech to text analysis of the signal, and wherein the second computer system is cloud based. The second computer system determines at least one destination for the signal based on the plurality of factors for the context information.

Abstract: A sound producing apparatus is provided. The sound producing apparatus comprises a driving circuit, comprising a pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) module, configured to generate an driving signal according to an audio input signal, wherein the driving signal comprises a pulse amplitude modulated signal generated according to the audio input signal, the pulse amplitude modulated signal comprises a plurality of pulses at a pulse rate, two consecutive pulses among the plurality of pulses are temporally spaced by a pulse cycle, the pulse rate is a reciprocal of the pulse cycle, and the pulse rate is larger than a maximum audible frequency; and a sound producing device, coupled to the driving circuit, configured to produce sound according to the driving signal.

Abstract: Provided is a fragrance discharge apparatus. The fragrance discharge apparatus includes one or more fragrance cartridges configured to store a fragrance material; a body to which the fragrance cartridge is mounted; a controller provided in the body to control the discharge of the fragrance material; and a fan configured to mix air and the fragrance material discharged from the fragrance cartridge and make the mixed air flow to the outside of the body.

Abstract: A particle analyzing apparatus (10) includes a processor (42) and storage (41). The processor (42) acquires a volume magnetic susceptibility of an analyte particle (p). The storage (41) stores reference data (43). The reference data (43) indicates a volume magnetic susceptibility of a reference particle of the same type as a type of the analyte particle (p) for each of possible crystal forms of the analyte particle (p). The processor (42) determines a crystal form of the analyte particle (p) on the basis of the volume magnetic susceptibility of the analyte particle (p) and the reference data (43).

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a removable first container for water for positioning on the body, a boiler within the body receives water from the first container, a heater adjacent to the boiler heats the water in accordance with at least one preparation parameter. The apparatus further includes a removable second container that is a combination milk carafe and boiler for positioning on the body and a separate heater adjacent to the milk carafe and boiler for heating the milk in accordance with at least one preparation parameter. A filter and a dispensing valve are controlled electronically. An interface and display for entering brewing parameters and a microcomputer for the controlling the apparatus.

Abstract: A wireless ultra-low power portable lock may be realized as a lock apparatus including: a locking mechanism having at least locked and unlocked states, the locking mechanism operable to provide physical resistance to being unlocked when in the locked state; an actuator operable to move the locking mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state in response to a received signal; and a controlling unit configured to control the actuator and to receive one or more signals from one or more devices external to the lock apparatus.

Abstract: A headset system is described herein including a number of features including a frame and optical element. The headset system may include different combinations of bumper systems to permit the headset to accommodate different sized or dimensioned mobile device for use with the headset.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting zoom operations using a plurality of optical chain modules, e.g., camera modules, are described. Switching between use of groups of optical chains with different focal lengths is used to support zoom operations. Digital zoom is used in some cases to support zoom levels corresponding to levels between the zoom levels of different optical chain groups or discrete focal lengths to which optical chains may be switched. In some embodiments optical chains have adjustable focal lengths and are switched between different focal lengths. In other embodiments optical chains have fixed focal lengths with different optical chain groups corresponding to different fixed focal lengths. Composite images are generate from images captured by multiple optical chains of the same group and/or different groups. Composite image is in accordance with a user zoom control setting. Individual composite images may be generated and/or a video sequence.

Abstract: Systems and methods for environmental monitoring of a premises. The system includes at least one sensor unit including at least one environmental sensor module for detecting at least one of the environmental variables of the premises. The system includes a base unit located on the premises, which is configured to: detect at least one of the sensor units as being in proximity of the base unit using a short range communication protocol, obtains an identifier of at least one of the sensor units, from that sensor unit, using the short range communication protocol, register, in memory of the base unit, at least one of the sensor units using the identifier of that sensor unit obtained by the base unit from the short range communication protocol, and receive, from at least one of the sensor units, data related to at least one of the environmental variables detected by that sensor unit.

Abstract: A flow monitoring system, which is configured to detect a leak in a water distribution system having appliances, includes a flow sensor. The flow sensor is configured to detect flow data of a flow of water within a conduit configured to fluidly couple to the appliances. The flow monitoring system also includes a processor. The processor is configured to receive the flow data from the flow sensor, determine whether a reference flow pattern (of a plurality of reference flow patterns) is present in the flow data (where the plurality of reference flow patterns correspond with expected water flow patterns to one or more appliance of the appliances), and initiate a shut-down mode configured to stop the flow of water in response to a determination that the reference flow pattern is not present in the flow data.