Abstract: An apparatus is provided for transmission of acoustic signals between a transmitter and a receiver. The apparatus includes an electrical signal generator for generating low frequency electrical signals. The apparatus also includes a transmitter comprising a first retroreflector having a first array of subwavelength retroreflective elements at one end of an open cavity for transmitting the low frequency electrical signals and a first electroacoustic transducer adjacent to the first retroreflector for converting the low frequency electrical signals to acoustic signals. The apparatus further includes a receiver comprising a second retroreflector having a second array of subwavelength retroreflective elements at an opposite end of the open cavity, the acoustic signals being in form of a beam directed toward the receiver.

Abstract: Measuring ramp friction in a disk drive including receiving a lift tab ramp load time profile for a voice coil motor and determining a load torque profile for a lift tab on the ramp based at least on the received ramp load time profile. The measuring also includes receiving a lift tab ramp unload time profile for the voice coil motor and determining an unload torque profile for the lift tab on the ramp based at least on the received ramp unload time profile. The measuring also includes calculating a ramp friction torque component based on the determined load torque profile and unload torque profile.

Abstract: In a method of treating erectile dysfunction in a patient, a predetermined course of external counter-pulsation treatment is applied to a lower body portion of the patient. After the predetermined course of external counter-pulsation treatment is applied, a predetermined course of low intensity shockwave treatment is applied to a penile area of the patient. After the course of low intensity shockwave treatment, a predetermined course of carboxy therapy is applied to a corpora cavernosa of the patient.

Abstract: A projectile launching device includes self-timing without cam lean. The projectile launching device may include a frame, energy storing components, such as two limbs, two cam assemblies, a launch string, and at least one cable. The ends of the launch string are attached to the two cams. The cam assemblies are made having a cam body and a pivoting shaft with integrated cable track(s) coupled to each other. The two cam assemblies are built as mirror images of each other, or identical from side to side.

Abstract: In a first step of a two step content selection operation, initial content can be selected by detecting movement of a content selection object with respect to a computing device. The selection area can be calculated based on the object movement that is detected. The content within the selection area can be selected and displayed in a second display area overlaying the original content. The initial content can be copied into the second display area. All or part of the initial content can be enlarged, enabling the second step of the selection operation in which a subset of the initial content is selected.

Abstract: Techniques for automatically linking pages in a web site are provided. In one technique, training data for a machine-learned scoring model is generated that comprises a plurality of features related to content items. The training data comprises multiple entries, each corresponding to a different content item in a first set of content items. For each entry, a corresponding label is based on a ranking of the corresponding content item in one or more search engine results. The machine-learned scoring model is trained based on the training data. For each content item in a second set of content items, multiple attribute values associated with that content item are input into the machine-learned scoring model, which generates a result. Based on multiple results, determining, for a particular web page, a strict subset of the second set of content items to which the particular web page will include one or more links.

Abstract: An activity thread is displayed with display elements that represent different activities that correspond to a common identifier. The display includes filter user input mechanisms that are actuated to filter the display elements based on filter criteria.

Abstract: An intelligent sign, such as an exit or other informational sign, is equipped with control circuitry, at least one sensor, and in certain embodiments, a communication interface. The control circuitry can monitor sensor data from the associated sensors. The sensor data bears on various conditions or events associated with the area that is associated with the exit sign. Based on the sensor data, the intelligent sign can provide one or more operations. A sign operation may include any operation provided by the intelligent sign. When equipped with the communication interface, the intelligent sign may control its own internal operation and/or control the operation of other entities based on the sensor data, the type of sensor data, the content of the sensor data, and the like. The intelligent sign may also share sensor data or other information derived from the sensor data with other entities.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing trick play functionality using trick play streams during adaptive bitrate streaming in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes requesting a video container index from a video container file containing a video stream from a plurality of alternative streams of video; requesting at least one portion of the video stream using at least one entry from the video container index; decoding the at least one portion of the video stream; receiving at least one user instruction to perform a visual search of the media; requesting a trick play container index from a trick play container file containing a trick play stream; requesting at least one frame of video from the at least one trick play stream; and decoding and displaying the at least one frame of video from the trick play stream.

Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions such that the processor is programmed to determine a potential loading of a radio frequency communications channel in an area by vehicle short-range communications based on data collected by sensors on an infrastructure device. The processor is further programmed to activate or deactivate a Wi-Fi device in the area based on the determination of the potential loading of the radio frequency communications channel.

Abstract: A disclosed computer-implemented method may include directing a display device included in a head-mounted display worn by a user to illuminate, via a projection of a line at an illumination time, a portion of a cornea of the user. The method may further include detecting, via an image sensor at a detection time, a portion of the projection of the line reflected by the portion of the cornea of the user and identifying a distortion of the projection of the line reflected by the portion of the cornea of the user. The method may also include determining a shape of the cornea of the user based on the illumination time, the detection time, and the distortion of the projection of the line reflected by the portion of the cornea. Various other methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed herein that relate to delivering electronic messages to intended recipients based on detected contextual events. One example provides a computing system, comprising a logic subsystem, and a storage subsystem comprising instructions executable by the logic subsystem to receive an input of a message, store the message in a data store for delivery to an intended recipient, determine contextual information for the message and store the contextual information for the message in the data store, detect a contextual event that matches a triggering condition for delivery of the message based upon the contextual information for the message, and based upon the contextual event matching the triggering condition, send the message to a device associated with the intended recipient.

Abstract: Floating seal assemblies having a seal element, a support band, and at least two loading springs that produce different spring forces to apply different sealing loads at the first and second sealing flanges of the seal element. The seal assembly is without a locking ring to enable the seal assembly to float along an axis of one of the components to be sealed. The different sealing loads allow the seal assembly to grip against one surface to prevent relative rotation and to enable sealing and relative rotation with another surface.

Abstract: A cutting device for engaging a rock face includes a disc body supported for rotation about an axis of rotation, and a plurality of peripheral portions removably secured to the disc body. Each of the peripheral portions including a plurality of cutting bits positioned on a peripheral edge. The peripheral edge of each peripheral portion is aligned with the peripheral edges of adjacent peripheral portions.

Abstract: A system configured to leverage a social graph of a social networking site may be provided. A social graph of a social networking site may be interfaced with to obtain size data from a guardian's account for at least one minor, the minor's size data being one or more letters or numbers representative of a series of measurements for manufactured article. The minor's size data may be provided to one or more users who are authorized by the guardian account to access the minor's size data. The minor's size data may be provided to one or more ecommerce partners. Offers, from the one or more ecommerce partners, may be generated directed to the one or more authorized users, for commercially available manufactured articles that match the minor's size data. When a guardian posts data about the minor on the social network using the inventive system, the posted data is automatically packaged as a scrapbook and sent to authorized users outside of the social network.

Abstract: Finger control handles for conventional syringes are disclosed. The finger control handles may be configured to be assembled with a hand-held syringe, to be secured in place on a proximal portion of the barrel of the syringe and, when secured in place, to rotate freely about a circumference of the proximal portion of the barrel of the syringe. Systems that include the finger control handles and a hand-held syringe that is configured to capture the finger control handles are also disclosed, as are various methods of use, including methods for assembling the finger control handles with the syringe and methods for connecting the syringe to an elongated medical instrument, such as a catheter.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment provides a non-combustible smoking system or kit, comprising: a cartridge having a first end and a second end; and a tobacco containing section having a third end and a fourth end. The cartridge includes: a pre-vapor formulation reservoir element and a pre-vapor heating element coupled to the pre-vapor formulation reservoir element. The tobacco containing section includes a tobacco housing and a tobacco heating element. The first end of the cartridge is configured to be connected to the fourth end of the tobacco containing section, and the second end of the cartridge is configured to be connected to the third end of the tobacco containing section.

Abstract: An accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL) for implantation within a capsular bag of a patient's eye comprises first and second components coupled together to define an inner fluid chamber and an outer fluid chamber. The inner region of the AIOL provides optical power with one or more of the shaped fluid within the inner fluid chamber or the shape of the first or second components. A surface treatment or coating may be applied to one or more surfaces of the first and second components. The surface treatment is expected to decrease the roughness of the machined surfaces of the boundary surfaces of the first and second components, and thereby reduce the mass of water coalescing at such boundary surfaces. The disclosed surface treatments are also expected to increase the hydrophobicity (i.e., decrease the surface energy) of the corresponding surface(s), thereby decreasing the “wettability” of these surfaces.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for processing a data portion to divide the data portion into a plurality of data chunks; performing an entropy analysis on each of the plurality of data chunks to generate a plurality of data chunk entropies; and determining an average data chunk entropy from the plurality of data chunk entropies.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a stator includes the steps of: (1) providing a stator core module having a first stator fixture disposed on a first side of the stator core module, the first stator fixture is configured to support a first set of stator core junction portions in a fixed position; (2) providing a first crown module having a set of first crown junction portions and a first crown fixture to support the first set of first crown junction portions; (3) aligning the first stator fixture with the first crown fixture so that the first set of stator core junction portions are aligned with the first crown junction portions; and (4) joining the first set of stator core junction portions with the first crown junction portions.