Abstract: A heat transfer device includes three plates sandwiched together to form a vapor chamber or similar device. The three plates may be sealingly joined at a closed periphery to define a closed volume that contains a working fluid. One or more of the three plates may include structure to support capillary or other working fluid flow in the closed volume, e.g., a center plate may include openings and/or other structure to permit working fluid flow through and/or along the plate. An outer one of the plates may include an opening through which working fluid may be introduced into the closed volume. After filling with working fluid, the plates may be sealingly joined at one or more joints that extend chordwise across the closed periphery, e.g., so a portion of the plate that defines the opening can be removed from the device.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system for resource transportation comprises a routing command subsystem. In some embodiments, the routing command subsystem is configured to be communicably coupled to a first input device at a first location, the first input device configured to determine a first resource factor of a resource at the first location and a location input device associated with a transporter, the transporter configured to transport the resource, the location input device configured to determine a transporter location. In some embodiments, the routing command subsystem is further configured to change a first endpoint of a transporter route to a first alternate location based at least in part on the first resource factor and the transporter location.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for training a neural network accelerator using quantized precision data formats are disclosed, and, in particular, for adjusting floating-point formats used to store activation values during training. In certain examples of the disclosed technology, a computing system includes processors, memory, and a floating-point compressor in communication with the memory. The computing system is configured to produce a neural network comprising activation values expressed in a first floating-point format, select a second floating-point format for the neural network based on a performance metric, convert at least one of the activation values to the second floating-point format, and store the compressed activation values in the memory. Aspects of the second floating-point format that can be adjusted include the number of bits used to express mantissas, exponent format, use of non-uniform mantissas, and/or use of outlier values to express some of the mantissas.

Abstract: A computer-aided method of educating a plurality of music students in an ensemble, including: (i) receiving search parameters from a client device for searching a multidimensional database of songs, the multidimensional database of songs being compiled to include dimensions of at least (a) instrument parts which indicate a music component being played by a particular type of instrument, (b) educational concepts present, (c) one or more proficiency levels for each of the instrument parts; (ii) searching the multidimensional database of songs to retrieve one or more songs that match the received search parameters, the one or more songs being songs that match proficiency levels of the plurality of music students in the ensemble; (iii) receiving an indication from the client device of a selected song in the one or more songs; and (iv) providing to the client device method books associated with educational concepts of the selected song.

Abstract: A method of performing at least de-reverberation and noise-reduction of an input sound signal of at least one input channel includes: performing, using at least one filter element, at least one of de-reverberation and noise-reduction of the input sound signal to generate a clean output sound signal; and determining, by a non-intrusive measure (NIM) estimation element, at least one non-intrusive measure (NIM) from the sound signal, wherein the at least one NIM includes at least one of voice activity detection (VAD) posterior, reverberation time, clarity index, direct-to-reverberant ratio (DRR), and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR); the de-reverberation is achieved by applying at least one channel shortening (CS) filter component of the at least one filter element in conjunction with the at least one NIM; and the noise reduction is performed in combination with the de-reverberation by the channel shortening (CS) filter component.

Abstract: Described herein are improved thermoplastic composites, which demonstrate excellent physical properties, such as yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, toughness, elongation, and, optionally, superior tunable biodegradability when compared to known thermoplastics. The composite comprises minimally a thermoplastic polymer, at least one phenolic compound, and, optionally, a filler.

Abstract: In an aspect, a process of forming an electronic device can include patterning a substrate to define a trench having a sidewall and forming a first semiconductor layer within the trench and along the sidewall. In an embodiment, the process can further include forming a barrier layer within the trench after forming the first semiconductor layer; forming a second semiconductor layer within the trench after forming the barrier layer, wherein within the trench, first and second portions of the second semiconductor layer contact each other adjacent to a vertical centerline of the trench; and exposing the second semiconductor layer to radiation sufficient to allow a void within second semiconductor layer to migrate toward the barrier layer. In another embodiment, after forming a semiconductor within the trench, the process can further include forming an insulating layer that substantially fills a remaining portion of the trench.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a laser device configured to detect material contamination and respond accordingly, thereby minimizing contaminant ignition and damage resulting therefrom. The laser device includes a laser source, an optical waveguide with first and second ends, and control circuitry that includes a photodetector and a comparator. The optical waveguide is configured to transmit a laser beam received from the laser source and further configured to receive light caused by contaminant ignition. The control circuitry is configured to detect an amount of said light after it is received by the optical waveguide, transmitted therethrough, and finally received at the photodetector. The control circuitry is further configured to determine whether the amount of light satisfies a shutdown threshold and then cause the laser source to stop emitting the laser beam if the shutdown threshold is satisfied.

Abstract: Outcoupling elements are disposed with a transparent layer. A transparent waveguide structure receives non-visible light and delivers the non-visible light to the outcoupling elements. The outcoupling elements outcouple the non-visible light as non-visible illumination light.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving assay results obtained by silicon photomultiplier devices are provided. Systems may include assay devices including silicon photomultiplier devices and computing systems. Systems may further include processing components and storage units configured for receiving silicon photomultiplier device input and output information and for determining silicon photomultiplier device temperatures.

Abstract: An audience measurement computing system for monitoring a media presentation device in a monitored environment is described and includes a network interface, at least one processor, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable by the processor(s). The computing system is configured to obtain, via a cable connected to an input port of the media presentation device, a voltage signal generated by the media presentation device based on an operational state of the media presentation device; compare voltage indicated by the voltage signal to a threshold; based on the comparing, generate timestamped operational state data comprising a record indicative of when the media presentation device is in an on-state; obtain audience measurement data representing one or more media signals communicated to the media presentation device; and transmit, via the network interface over a network and to a central facility, the timestamped operational state data and the audience measurement data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an identity network that provides a universal, digital identity for users to be authenticated by an identity provider for relying parties upon sign-in to the relying party. The identity network receives the sign-in request from a relying party for a user using a user device. The identity network can provide a session identifier to the relying party for the request and launch an identity provider application associated with the user via a software development kit in the relying party application. The user may sign-in to the identity provider via the software development kit, thereby authenticating the user for the relying party. Additionally, the identity provider may generate a risk validation score and provide it to the relying party that provides a confidence value that the user is validly using the user device and a risk score based on device activity on the identity network.

Abstract: Example local devices disclosed herein include memory including a set of reference fingerprints corresponding to media, the set of reference fingerprints from a remote device different from the local device and one or more processor circuits to execute machine readable instructions to generate a monitored fingerprint of the media presented at a location and compare the monitored fingerprint to at least some of the set of reference fingerprints from the remote device. Additionally, the one or more processor circuits are to determine an amount of time that has passed since the media started and after a match between the monitored fingerprint and one or more reference fingerprints of the set of reference fingerprints, cause transmission of audience measurement information to identify the media, the audience measurement information including data indicative of the amount of time that has passed since the media started.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting facial expressions in digital images and applications therefore are disclosed. Analysis of a digital image determines whether or not a smile and/or blink is present on a person's face. Face recognition, and/or a pose or illumination condition determination, permits application of a specific, relatively small classifier cascade.

Abstract: A gas block for AR-platform firearms is provided which is easier to install and index on a barrel of the firearm by utilizing a wedge (e.g., collet) system. The body of the gas block may therefore be relatively precisely circular, allowing for easy movement into position on the barrel of the firearm. The gas block is stronger, tighter, more durable, and more reliably stays in place than prior art gas blocks. In one embodiment, the gas block eliminates forward gas leakage from between the gas block and barrel. The gas block is interchangeable with standard prior art gas blocks commonly found on barrels of existing AR-platform firearms. The gas block is also compatible with low profile and MLOK handguards for AR-platform firearms.

Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive radar data including a radar pixel having a radial velocity from a radar; receive camera data including an image frame including camera pixels from a camera; map the radar pixel to the image frame; generate a region of the image frame surrounding the radar pixel; determine association scores for the respective camera pixels in the region; select a first camera pixel of the camera pixels from the region, the first camera pixel having a greatest association score of the association scores; and calculate a full velocity of the radar pixel using the radial velocity of the radar pixel and a first optical flow at the first camera pixel. The association scores indicate a likelihood that the respective camera pixels correspond to a same point in an environment as the radar pixel.

Abstract: A thermal therapy pod adapted to maintain a desired therapeutic temperature and change temperature on the fly without needing to be heated or chilled by an external thermal source. The therapy pod is self-contained and uses an electric powered thermal transferring element that can provide both heat and cold therapy. The temperature and duration of use may be controlled using an application on a mobile device. The therapy pod can be positioned on a user using straps, wraps, sleeves, or other wearable therapy pod retaining devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition comprising an acidic formulation containing ?-hydroxy-?-methylbutyrate (HMB), preferably in the free acid form, Vitamin D and a stabilizing excipient, wherein the Vitamin D is stabilized against degradation.