Abstract: An EMF shield is disclosed. The EMF shield includes a scattering layer and a reflective layer having an exterior surface and an interior surface opposite the exterior surface. The scattering layer includes a metal coating disposed at the exterior surface. The reflective layer includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side of the reflective layer being coupled to the interior surface of the scattering layer, wherein the reflective layer comprises a dielectric material. The metal coating includes an adhesive coating for coupling to an electronic device. The EMF shield is configured to scatter and reflect the EMF signal. After the EMF signal is initially scattered by the metal coating, the reflective layer causes the EMF signal to reflect.

Abstract: A security system for a fluid filtration device and, more particularly, a security system that is adapted to pair a filter with a fluid filtration device, log an effectiveness of each individually serialized filter, prevent re-usage of a filter in more than one filtration device and prevent usage of a filter for greater than its preprogrammed lifespan.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: providing a semiconductor substrate; epitaxially growing a first semiconductor layer coupled to the semiconductor substrate; epitaxially growing a second semiconductor layer coupled to the first semiconductor layer, wherein the second semiconductor layer comprises a contact region and a terminal region surrounding the contact region; forming a mask layer on the second semiconductor layer, wherein the mask layer is patterned with a tapered region aligned with the terminal region of the second semiconductor layer; implanting ions into the terminal region of the second semiconductor layer using the mask layer to form a tapered junction termination element in the terminal region of the second semiconductor layer; and forming a contact structure in the contact region of the second semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) antenna array system in the form of a phased array antenna having a first antenna array and a second antenna array, a calibration circuit including an external signal generator, and a hinged power transformer is described. The external signal generator is electrically connected to the first antenna array, and the first antenna array is electrically coupled to the second antenna array via the hinged power transformer. The hinged power transformer mechanically joins the first antenna array to the second antenna array in one of a first position and a second position, with the first antenna array being disposed at an angle in relation to the second antenna array when the hinged power transformer is disposed in the first position.

Abstract: A protective enclosure for an electronic control unit (ECU) to minimize risk of environmental intrusion includes a base portion, a first housing, a second housing, a first gasket, a vibration attenuating insert, a first electrical connector, a second electrical connector, a third electrical connector, and a tether. The first housing is sealably assembled onto the base portion, and the first housing and the base portion define a first chamber to house the telematics module. The second housing and the base portion define a second chamber. The tether attaches the base portion and the second housing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a dual-pathway model that includes a deterministic word graph that operates in parallel with a semantic autocomplete model. The system generates outputs first using the deterministic word graph, and the system then uses the output of the deterministic word graph to determine whether to invoke the functionality of the semantic autocomplete model. By doing so, the semantic autocomplete model is used only sparingly, thus reducing aggregate latency in the system, but still allowing for increased scalability and customizability in the overall system as the deterministic word graph and the semantic autocomplete model may be updated and trained in parallel in the dual-pathway model.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a valve having an actuator configured to translate a mass in a plane and a valve element located out of the first plane and configured to translate along a first linear axis. In an illustrative example, at least one of the mass and the valve element may include a magnetic source providing a persistent magnetic field and the other may include a non-magnetized, magnetically permeable mass. Reluctance-induced forces may, for example, translate the valve element towards the mass along the first linear axis when the mass is brought into register with a second linear axis. The first linear axis and the second linear axis may, for example, be colinear. Various embodiments may advantageously provide a valve requiring low energy input for operation.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include inventive methods for preparing perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In certain embodiments, the method comprises dissolving a functionalized material (e.g., a material that is functionalized with one or more functionalizing compounds) in a solvent, depositing a deposit composition on a perovskite layer where the deposit composition comprises the dissolved functionalized material, heating the deposit composition, and optionally removing some or all of the one or more functionalizing compounds from the deposit composition. Additional embodiments of the invention are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: An aversive electroshock device useful for the evaluation of effects on pain tolerance or pain sensation by pharmaceutical compounds or other substances or conditions, and methods for applying aversive stimuli to organisms and measuring pain perceived by organisms, are described. The aversive electroshock device can be used to measure the organism's ability to learn.

Abstract: Various arrangements for performing radar-based measurement of vital signs. Waveform data may be received then filtered of data indicative of static objects to obtain motion-indicative waveform data. The motion-indicative waveform data may be analyzed to determine one or more frequencies of movement present within the motion-indicative waveform data. A spectral analysis may be performed on the motion-indicative waveform data to determine a spectral-analysis state of a monitored region. The spectral-analysis state of the monitored region may be determined to match a predefined spectral-analysis state during which vital sign monitoring is permitted. One or more vital signs of a monitored user present within the monitored region may be determined and output based on analyzing the motion-indicative waveform data.

Abstract: Provided are methods of extracting lithium from a lithium containing solution, as well as the resulting compositions. The method includes supplying a lithium containing solution to a lithium capture step, the lithium capture step being operable to capture lithium from the lithium salt containing solution. The method further includes recovering lithium from the lithium capture step to produce a lithium rich stream. In especially preferred methods, the lithium capture step is performed to increase the lithium to sodium ratio above at least 1:1. Optionally, the lithium rich stream can be purified to remove divalent ions and borate ions. The lithium rich stream is then concentrated by supplying the lithium rich stream to a reverse osmosis step to produce a concentrated lithium rich stream.

Abstract: A system is described and includes a motherboard; a switch for connecting the motherboard to an autonomous vehicle (AV) ethernet network; a system manager connected to the motherboard for distributing power to the motherboard and the ethernet switch; and a safehold system connected to the system manager, wherein the safehold system is powered independently of the system manager; wherein the safehold system obtains from the motherboard a firmware image, provides the firmware image to the system manager, and monitors the system manager to determine whether updating of the firmware image on the system manager was successful.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-program product includes obtaining application configuration data; computing, via an execution of a designed experiment, a plurality of application usability tests based on the application configuration data; generating a computer-executable application based at least on the plurality of application usability tests; and deploying the computer-executable application to a target computing environment for execution by one or more users.

Abstract: An electronic data document (EDD) and related system and method for use in a computerized clinical trial verification system is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the EDD is authenticated by the creator and validated by the receiver, and comprises an image of a source document (SD) that comprises a masked record of at least one interaction between a clinical trial investigator and a patient enrolled in a clinical trial, at least one revealed portion of the SD that includes evidence relevant to at least one question in a clinical trial questionnaire, and at least one annotation connecting the revealed portion to the at least one question. A computerized system and method for allowing a clinical trial investigator to answer questions from a clinical trial questionnaire pertinent to a clinical trial of a medical treatment using encrypted and partially masked electronic documents comprising images of original patient records is provided.

Abstract: A mower that is towed behind an agricultural vehicle. The mower has an integrated lateral transport mechanism that initiates deployment by concurrently activating both a transport actuator to move a transport frame and a transport swing actuator to rotate the trail frame.

Abstract: A system is presented for use in masturbation wherein the states, movement and climactic action of a simulated phallic object are related to the states, movement and climactic action of a phallus depicted in associated media, such as video, images, software, gaming, etc. The system is provided where the morphological state and position of a simulated male sex organ varies over time in synchrony with a corresponding male sex organ depicted in associated media such that the simulated male sex organ dispenses a fluid that relates to climax of a male sex organ in the associated media.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to the construction of handgrips and the method of assembly onto a handlebar. In one disclosed embodiment, the handgrip comprises a substrate configured to receive a clamp, and a guard configured to protect the clamp. Further, the handgrip comprises an overmold grip configured to conceal the clamp and guard and also receive the hand of an operator or user. The clamp is engaged onto the handlebar and acts as a coupling mechanism so that the handgrip is more easily removable from handlebar. Among other things, the present disclosure solves problems related to manufacturing and assembly.

Abstract: A coating composition for improving the sag resistance of a gypsum panel or a fibrous panel, the composition including 25 to 100 wt. % alkali metal polyborate silicate inorganic binder, based on the total weight of the dry coating. The inorganic binder includes alkali metal polyborate silicate resulting from combining alkali metal polyborate and alkali metal silicate. Further provided are fibrous panels having a backing side and an opposing facing side including a coating of the inorganic binder, and methods of preparing same. Further provided are gypsum panels having a backing side and an opposing facing side including a coating of the inorganic binder, and methods of preparing same.

Abstract: Vehicles, e.g., autonomous vehicles, can have sophisticated networked systems onboard. A networked system for a vehicle may include many edge devices, such as sensors, network devices, microcontrollers, boards, operating systems, etc. Many edge devices may report health status information to help vehicles achieve a certain integrity level and safety goals. The health status information may be collected and processed by a compute system to assess whether certain flags or alerts should be raised, and whether the vehicle should enter a degraded state of operation. It is not trivial to implement an effective and efficient framework that can manage many edge devices in a networked system reporting a high volume of health status information. An edge devices diagnostics framework may ensure reliable transmission of health status information, mechanisms for fault injection, and the use of configuration templates to standardize and simplify configuration of monitors for various edge devices.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining if a player has reached a certain level of gameplay-performance while playing a game within a virtual reality, VR, environment. The player wears a headset having a display for viewing the VR environment and an object tracking system. The headset's object tracking system is capable of tracking movement of a portion of the player in 3-D space to establish an actual-response path by the player during gameplay. The method includes calculating, at a first time, an ideal-response path of gameplay for the tracked portion of the player in 3-D space. The ideal-response path is the path that will achieve the certain level of gameplay performance. The method then compares, at a second time, the actual-response path with the calculated ideal-response path, and finally indicates, in response to a match in the comparing step, that the play has reached a certain level of gameplay performance.