Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to intraocular lens systems having a plurality of materials therein, with at least some of the materials having a diffraction pattern therein and an electrically-modifiable index of refraction collectively configured to selectively alter an effective focal length of the intraocular lens system. Methods of modifying a focal length of an intraocular lens system are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are antenna systems and related methods. An antenna system includes a plurality of near-end electromagnetic (EM) radiating elements, a tunable medium, and control circuitry. The tunable medium is positioned relative to the plurality of near-end EM radiating elements and a plurality of far-end EM radiating elements to scatter EM radiation transmitted between the plurality of near-end EM radiating elements and the plurality of far-end EM radiating elements. The control circuitry includes a controller operably coupled to the tunable medium. A method includes modifying EM properties of the tunable medium to modify the EM radiation transmitted between the plurality of near-end EM radiating elements and the plurality of far-end EM radiating elements.

Abstract: A soil detection and planting apparatus. The apparatus includes a vehicle and a controller coupled to the vehicle. The apparatus further includes a planting device coupled to the vehicle, the planting device configured to plant seeds or plants into a soil material. The apparatus includes a ground penetrating radar sensor coupled to the vehicle. The ground penetrating radar soil sensor is configured to scan the soil material up to a designated depth beneath a surface of the soil material, wherein the ground penetrating radar soil sensor is further configured to provide a sensor feedback signal to the controller with respect to an intrinsic characteristic of the soil material. The controller is configured to instruct placement of a seed or a plant into the soil material based on the feedback signal.

Abstract: An unmanned pruning vehicle includes a pruning device configured to prune plant material from a plant. The unmanned pruning vehicle also includes a processing circuit is configured to control operation of the pruning device to prune a plant.

Abstract: Computationally implemented methods and systems include identifying one or more services configured to be provided to a user of a device, said identifying at least partly based on data regarding one or more properties of the device, requesting access to data collected by one or more portions of the device, in exchange for providing at least a portion of one of the one or more identified services, and providing at least a portion of the one or more services after receiving access to the data collectable by one or more portions of the device. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.

Abstract: An improved heat engine includes at least one heat pipe containing a working fluid flowing in a thermal cycle between vapor phase at an evaporator end and liquid phase at a condenser end. The heat pipe may have an improved capillary structure configuration with a continuous or stepwise gradient in pore size along the capillary flow direction. The heat engine may have an improved generator assembly configuration that includes an expander (e.g. rotary/turbine or reciprocating piston machine) and generator along with magnetic bearings, magnetic couplings, and/or magnetic gearing. The expander-generator may be wholly or partially sealed within the heat pipe. A heat engine system (e.g. individual heat engine or array of heat engines in series and/or in parallel) for converting thermal energy to useful work (including heat engines operating from a common heat source) is also disclosed. The system can be installed in a vehicle or facility to generate electricity.

Abstract: A coded aperture sensing system includes a tunable coding aperture positioned relative to one or more electromagnetic (EM) detectors and voxels to scatter EM radiation traveling from the voxels towards the EM detectors. The system also includes a controller configured to determine EM fields at each of the voxels. A method includes determining a desired aggregate coding matrix of the tunable coding aperture, determining control parameters corresponding to the desired aggregate coding matrix, applying sequentially each of the control parameters to tunable inputs of the tunable coding aperture, and determining the EM fields at each of the voxels. Determining the EM fields includes determining the EM fields at least in part as a function of EM fields detected at the EM detectors responsive to each of the controls being applied to the tunable inputs of the tunable coding aperture.

Abstract: Methods and system for performing magnetic induction tomography imaging of an object are provided. An apparatus includes an array of unit cells and a control circuit coupled to the array of unit cells. The array of unit cells can generate a first magnetic field using an excitation pattern in the direction of a target object and sense a second magnetic field induced in the target object by the first magnetic field. The control circuit can determine a minimum of the first magnetic field. The minimum may correspond to a higher conductivity region of the target object. The control circuit can adjust the excitation pattern based on the higher conductivity region of the target object.

Abstract: Computationally implemented methods and systems are described herein that are designed to, among other things, receiving a level-two encrypted output of a surveillance device; decrypting at least a part of the level-two encrypted output of the surveillance device with a level-two decryption key that is practicably inaccessible by a level-two encryption entity; and transmitting a level-one encrypted output of the surveillance device.

Abstract: Computationally implemented methods and systems include acquiring user preference information of a user that indicates one or more customized food preferences of the user including at least one or more ingredient integrity preferences related to integrity of one or more ingredients; determining that there is no capable automated customized food generation machine present in nearby vicinity of the user that is able to currently generate one or more customized food items in compliance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user; and identifying one or more substitute automated customized food generation machines present in the nearby vicinity of the user that are able to currently generate at least one substitute customized food item that is only in partial compliance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.

Abstract: A system for capturing an image of a user includes a mobile device for requesting capture of the image of the user and a camera. The mobile device further includes a communications device configured to broadcast a request, a user input device, and a processing circuit structured to instruct the communications device to broadcast the request in response to an input received via the user input device. The camera is configured to receive the broadcasted request, determine the location of the user, and capture an image of the user.

Abstract: Computationally implemented methods and systems include acquiring an image that includes a depiction of a feature of one or more entities, attaining identification of a particular entity of the one or more entities for which the depiction of the feature is present in the image, and obtaining relationship data that indicates whether the particular entity has a relationship with a device that facilitated acquisition of the image. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.

Abstract: A method of customizing hardware by an end user for a mobile phone is provided. The method includes receiving from an end-user a selection of a mobile phone shell from a set of mobile phone shells, sending to the end-user a subset of interchangeable hardware components having different functions, and receiving from the end-user a selection of at least one hardware component from the subset of interchangeable hardware components. The subset of interchangeable hardware components is generated based on a compatibility between the selected mobile phone shell and the set of available interchangeable hardware components.

Abstract: A autostereoscopic display system includes an autostereoscopic display configured to project images representing a left-eye view and a right-eye view of an image, an emitter configured to emit a tracer beam having a directional relationship to that of the projected images, a sensor configured to detect reflections of the tracer beam, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to control an emission of the tracer beam, receive feedback data from the sensor, use the feedback data to determine an impact site on the viewer corresponding to the tracer beam and adjust a direction of the tracer beam based on the impact site.

Abstract: A system and method for payload management for an unmanned aircraft system is disclosed. The payload management system and method may comprise a containment system configured to contain payload carried by the UAV/aircraft. The UAV/aircraft may be configured to carry payload in an external pod as part of the containment system. The pod carried by the UAV/craft may be fillable/inflatable to contain payload and facilitate aerodynamic performance of the UAV/craft carrying payload (e.g. on a mission from originator to destination for delivery in operating conditions). Systems and methods may provide managing and monitoring for payload carried by UAV/aircraft (e.g. with instrumentation).

Abstract: An embodiment of a device includes at least one sensor, a determiner, and a notifier. The at least one sensor is configured to be located on a body portion of a subject and to sense an object. The determiner is configured to determine, in response to the sensor, whether the body portion may contact the object. The notifier is configured to notify the subject in response to the determiner determining that the body portion may contact the object. Such a device (e.g., attached to, or part of, a shoe) may be useful to warn a subject of a potential collision between an object (e.g., stairs, furniture, door jamb, curb, toy) and a body part (e.g., foot, toes) in which the subject has lost feeling, the ability to feel pain, or proprioception. And such a warning may help the subject to avoid inadvertently and repeatedly injuring the body part.

Abstract: Structures and protocols are presented for signaling a status or decision (processing or transmitting a medical record or other resource, e.g.) conditionally. Such signaling may be partly based on one or more symptoms, regimen attributes, performance indicia (compliance indications, e.g.), privacy considerations (patient consent, e.g.), contextual considerations (being in or admitted by a care facility, e.g.), sensor data, or other such determinants. In some contexts this may trigger an incentive being manifested (as a dispensation of an item, e.g.), an intercommunication (telephone call, e.g.) beginning, a device being configured (enabled or customized, e.g.), data distillations being presented or tracked, or other such results.

Abstract: A hologram system may include a hologram chip comprising a wafer substrate having a first plurality of conductive pads on a hologram surface region connected to a second plurality of conductive pads on an interconnect surface region. The hologram chip may also include an array of sub-wavelength hologram elements integrated with a refractive index tunable core material on the hologram region of the wafer substrate. The hologram system may also include a control circuit chip having a third plurality of conductive pads connected to the second plurality of conductive pads on the interconnect region of the wafer substrate. The interconnect region is on the same side of the wafer substrate as the hologram region. The first plurality of conductive pads is directly connected to the array of sub-wavelength hologram elements.

Abstract: A method of determining a layout for a surface covering includes receiving, with a tool system, layout data that is based on data associated with a surface to be covered with a surface covering, and providing an indication of a pattern of a plurality of covering members included in the surface covering. The layout data provides an indication of a cutting pattern for the surface covering. The cutting pattern is determined based at least in part on a minimum number of surface covering members required for a selected design of the surface covering members.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to intraocular lens devices, systems, and methods that include determining relative tilt and/or vergence rotation of a subject's eyes and focusing one or more intraocular lenses based on the determined vergence rotation.