Abstract: A system includes a first server and a second server. The second server receives a value from a first device, possibly via the first server, and stores the value. In response to a request from a second device, the second server then determines the value and sends the value to the second device. In this fashion, verification can be made that the first device is in communications with the first server.

Abstract: When routing light on photonic integrated circuit (PIC) chips optical back-reflection and scattering can be highly detrimental to the desired application. Unused ports of optical devices, such as MMI, DC, Y-junction, PD, etc. are a cause for back-reflection and scattering, whereby the scattered light could get picked up by adjacent components, e.g. photodetectors. Management of stray light on the PIC is needed to prevent the undesired coupling between various components and to reduce noise. A dump taper may be used to guide and scatter stray light away from sensitive components or fully absorb the light while maintaining very low reflection from the taper. A doped dump taper may be used to passively absorb light reaching the unused port, thereby eliminating unwanted reflection and scattering. Alternatively, an undoped taper may be used to scatter light away from sensitive components while maintaining very low back-reflection.

Abstract: An application platform configurable for processing a plurality of retail-branded credit cards is provided. Embodiments include a configurable front end comprising a graphical user interface layer that is configurable to a specific one of a plurality of retail-branded credit cards, a backend layer comprising credit card functionality for directly performing credit card transactions associated with a specific one of the plurality of retail-branded credit cards and a location service coupled with said front end and coupled with said backend for determining location information associated with a user of said specific one of said plurality of retail-branded credit cards.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology relate to temperature regulation for high altitude, long duration balloons, such as balloons that operate in the stratosphere for weeks, months or longer. A balloon covering overlays the balloon envelope. The material properties and configuration of the balloon covering are selected to enable it to automatically cover or expose portions of the envelope depending on environmental conditions. The covering has multiple layers of materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE). The layers are chosen to have significantly different CTEs, and flaps are created in the envelope such that depending on the temperature, the flaps will either lie flat on the envelope or curl away from the envelope. In the former case, the flaps help to retain heat in the envelope, such as during nighttime operation. Conversely, in the latter case, the flaps permit heat to escape from the envelope, such as during daytime operation.

Abstract: An improved fastener comprising a fastener body having a tool-engaging portion, a threaded fastening portion and a shroud-receiving body portion; a shroud concentrically mounted on the shroud-receiving body portion and having an inner surface facing an outer surface of the shroud-receiving body portion; the inner surface of the shroud comprising an annular groove and the shroud-receiving body portion comprising a substantially arch-shaped axially-buckled radially-extending annular protrusion extending outwardly transverse to the central axis and disposed in the annular groove of the shroud; and the annular protrusion and annular groove of the shroud forming a shroud-retaining element restraining the shroud from movement in at least a first axial direction along the central axis such that the shroud will rotate relative to the fastener body under an applied external torque prior to the fastener body rotating when the fastener is engaged with an external structure at a design installation torque.

Abstract: A novel soybean variety, designated 5PQYD12 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety 5PQYD12, cells from soybean variety 5PQYD12, plants of soybean 5PQYD12, and plant parts of soybean variety 5PQYD12. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety 5PQYD12 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety 5PQYD12, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety 5PQYD12, and methods of characterizing soybean variety 5PQYD12. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety 5PQYD12 are further provided.

Abstract: A paint brush accessory for a paint brush having a handle with an axis, a ferrule mounted to the handle, bristles extending from a heel of the ferrule, the bristles comprise a belly and a toe that is distal to the belly. The accessory can include a sleeve configured to be slidably mounted to the paint brush in an axial direction about the ferrule. The sleeve can include a continuous body that is hollow in the axial direction. The hollow can be configured to receive and conform to a shape of the ferrule, frictionally engage the ferrule, and be slidably repositionable on the ferrule along the axial direction. A distal end of the hollow can be configured to engage the belly of the bristles to conform an outer shape of the belly of the bristles to a desired uniform pattern.

Abstract: A method includes providing frames of video data for being displayed by a head mounted display (HMD). Pixel data is encoded in a pixel of at least some of the video data frames, the encoded pixel data defining a focal state of an optics block of the HMD for displaying the respective frame of the video data to a user. The predetermined focal state is determined from a plurality of available focal states of the optics block, each focal state corresponding to a different focal plane of a virtual image generated based on the video data. The pixel used for encoding may be disposed outside a region of the frame that is displayable by the HMD.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for processing images using an image processing neural network system. One of the systems includes a domain transformation neural network implemented by one or more computers, wherein the domain transformation neural network is configured to: receive an input image from a source domain; and process a network input comprising the input image from the source domain to generate a transformed image that is a transformation of the input image from the source domain to a target domain that is different from the source domain.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to techniques for laser ablating/scribing peripheral edges of a coating (e.g., a low-emissivity, mirror, or other coating) on a glass or other substrate in a pre- or post-laminated assembly, pre- or post-assembled insulated glass unit, and/or other product, in order to slow or prevent corrosion of the coating. For example, a 1064 nm or other wavelength laser may be used to scribe lines into the metal and/or metallic layer(s) in a low-emissivity or other coating provided in an already-laminated or already-assembled insulated glass unit or other product, e.g., around its periphery. The scribe lines decrease electron mobility from the center of the coating to the environment and, thus, slow and sometimes even prevent the onset of electrochemical corrosion. Associated products, methods, and kits relating to same also are contemplated herein.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a production content server system with a computing device processing operations include causing a content reader server to couple to a content source with content using a wired or wireless link, and downloading at least one content file associated with content retrieved from the content source, where content file includes audio and/or a video. The operations include transcoding at least a portion of the at least one content file with a dynamic range compression to a specified dynamic range, equalization and duration, and processing at least one content audio file from the at least one content file. The operations further include storing the at least one content audio file to a production content database. Some embodiments include processing a production break audio file including blending the at least one production break audio file with at least one other content file.

Abstract: To manage dynamic adjustment of the refresh rate of a computer display, the operating system defines at least two playback modes: one or more custom modes that can be selected by applications, and a standard mode which is a default setting for the system that can be expected by applications. The operating system provides an application programming interface that enables an application to request using a custom mode. If approved to use the custom mode, then the application presents frames for display based on the custom mode. The operating system stores timing data for each buffered frame indicating how to play the frame in both standard mode and the custom mode. If a transition back to the standard mode occurs, the operating system uses the timing data to properly present frames of video until the application stops generating frames of video in the custom mode.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed for increasing light extraction efficiency in a light guide optical system. The light guide optical system may comprise a light emitting source. The light emitting source may be, for example, a light-emitting diode (LED) or plurality of LEDS. The light guide optical system may also comprise a light guide plate (LGP). The LGP may include light extraction features located on surfaces of the LGP. The LGP may also include a shaped injection surface on an input surface of the LGP. The shaped injection surface may be angled to deviate near-parallel light emitted from the LED to enable the near-parallel light emitted from the LED to be extracted from the LGP via the light extraction features. The shaped injection surface may be a split edge (i.e., a V-groove) or a curved edge.

Abstract: A method includes: placing a first physical object at each of a first plurality of locations on a trackpad; while the first object is at each of the first plurality of locations, registering respective first readings from each of a second plurality of force sensors of the trackpad, the first plurality greater than the second plurality; selecting a first plurality of sensitivity parameters for the trackpad based at least in part on the first readings; and providing the first plurality of sensitivity parameters to force sensing circuitry of the trackpad, the force sensing circuitry coupled to the second plurality of force sensors.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing and/or operating a pipeline system including a pipe segment, in which the pipe segment includes tubing that defines a pipe bore and fluid conduits in a tubing annulus, a pipe fitting secured to the pipe segment, in which the pipe fitting includes a vent port connected to the fluid conduits in the tubing annulus, and a testing apparatus. The testing apparatus includes a fluid valve connected to the vent port, an upstream sensor fluidly connected between the vent port and the fluid valve, in which the upstream sensor determines a fluid parameter associated with fluid within the fluid conduits in the tubing annulus, and a downstream sensor connected between the fluid valve and external environmental conditions, in which the downstream sensor determines another fluid parameter associated with fluid released from the fluid conduits in the tubing annulus while the fluid valve is in an opened state.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an imaging system illuminates a surface of tissue with one or more spots of near-infrared (NIR) light within a field of view of a camera of the imaging system. The imaging system captures an image of the one or more spots of NIR light within the field of view of the camera of the imaging system. The imaging system calculates, for each of the one or more spots of NIR light in the captured image, a spot diameter, spot position, or spot shape in the captured image. The imaging system determines a distance between the imaging system and the surface of tissue, based on the calculated spot diameter, spot position, or spot shape of the one or more spots of NIR light in the captured image. The imaging system provides data indicative of the determined distance between the imaging system and the surface of tissue to an electronic display.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer readable media applicable to robots, such as balancing robots. Some implementations are directed to determining multiple measures of a property of a robot for a given time and determining a final measure of the property of the robot for the given time based on the multiple measures. One or more control commands may be generated based on the final measure of the property and provided to one or more actuators of the robot.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fiber encapsulation mechanism for energy dissipation in a fiber amplifying system. One example embodiment includes an optical fiber amplifier. The optical fiber amplifier includes an optical fiber that includes a gain medium, as well as a polymer layer that at least partially surrounds the optical fiber. The polymer layer is optically transparent. In addition, the optical fiber amplifier includes a pump source. Optical pumping by the pump source amplifies optical signals in the optical fiber and generates excess heat and excess photons. The optical fiber amplifier additionally includes a heatsink layer disposed adjacent to the polymer layer. The heatsink layer conducts the excess heat away from the optical fiber. Further, the optical fiber amplifier includes an optically transparent layer disposed adjacent to the polymer layer. The optically transparent layer transmits the excess photons away from the optical fiber.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media described herein can be operable to facilitate transitioning a device from a first state to a second state. A switch described herein allows for the use of an electronic circuit to perform the toggle and persistence functions while simultaneously giving more flexibility to the industrial design and physical switch implementation. The switch allows this preserving of the state using only a toggle on a voltage and thus allowing for a hardware only solution. The switch described herein allows for the use of smaller and less complicated mechanical switches allowing for more compact industrial designs. The switch uses a programmable voltage reference as a 1 bit non-volatile memory cell that is programmed by means of a logic pulse to the device. This allows a software independent setting of the state of the privacy switch. This state will remain through power cycles.

Abstract: A fastener delivery system including a feed tube coupled to a delivery location at a second end of the feed tube. The fastener delivery system includes a fastener feed mechanism comprised of a coil wound around a coupler. The coupler is coupled to the feed tube at a first end of the feed tube. The fastener delivery system includes a fastener positioning device configured to receive a fastener. The fastener positioning device is connected to the coupler and operates to inject the fastener into the coupler. A current is applied through the coil to generate a magnetic field. The magnetic field interacts with the fastener and thereby projects the fastener through the feed tube towards the delivery location.