Abstract: A fully integrated, smart, under/over water speaker system has two dedicated transducers which deliver sound directly to underwater and above water environments. A transducer which is optimized to couple sound to the air is positioned on top of a speaker and another transducer optimized to couple sound below the water is located on the bottom of the speaker. The speaker is watertight and waterproof and is completely sealed and self-righting when thrown into the water. It is wireless, has built-in integrated amplification, communication sensors and signal data processing, and is battery powered. Music streaming can be provided via wireless methods such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, along with solid state storage. Integrated RGV lighting which beats to the music can be optional both above and under the water.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure pertain to an optical modulator including an m*n optical coupler, first and second waveguides coupled or connected to the m*n optical coupler, a first phase shifter coupled to the first waveguide, and first and second loop mirrors at respective ends of the first and second waveguides opposite from the m*n optical coupler. The m*n optical coupler is configured to combine substantially similar or identical continuous light beams (at least one of which may be phase-shifted) returned through the first and second waveguides by the first and second loop mirrors to form a modulated optical signal. A compound optical modulator, a modulated or modulatable laser, and methods of using and manufacturing the optical modulators, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A variable waveguide speaker controls, narrows, and directs the dispersion of the lower driver array to handle far-field listening areas. The widening mid-section of the speaker directs the sound from the mid-driver array to mid-field listening areas. The top of the speaker is the widest, allowing the top array drivers to cover their widest dispersion for near-field listening areas. This form-follows-function design results in a modern shape and elegant enclosure, as well as superior audio performance. A unique laminar flow grill system consisting of a multi-layer sandwich arrangement protects the speaker components from performance damage UV rays, dust, debris, water and ice.

Abstract: A working fluid for use in a heat transfer system, for example of the type used to transfer heat in a heat engine. The working fluid comprises a plurality of nano-particles suspended in a base fluid so as to improve a heat transfer property of the base fluid. Ideally the nano-particles are suspended in the base fluid in a colloidal suspension. A system for manufacturing a nano-fluid is also described. The system includes a plurality of hoppers for containing types of nano-particle and a reservoir that contains a base fluid. A control means controls valves on the hoppers and on the reservoir in order to dispense working fluid and defined amounts of nano-particles into a mixer tank. A mixer mixes the nano-particles with the base fluid to produce a nano-fluid which is in colloidal suspension in the working fluid.

Abstract: A method including providing a nuclear reactor neutron source that includes an enclosure delimiting a chamber, a nuclear reactor core arranged inside the chamber and configured to produce neutrons from a nuclear fuel element inside the nuclear reactor core; installing a beam generator arranged to generate a beam directed into the chamber; and installing, inside the chamber, a target arranged to eject neutrons upon impact of the beam such that neutrons are ejected from the target and emitted from the chamber.

Abstract: An LED lighting fixture includes a housing; a substrate located within the housing; a plurality of LED groups of various colors mounted on the substrate, each LED color group including multiple LED components; at least one circuit communicating with a power supply and adapted for powering the LED components; and an optical component located at an output end of the housing. The LED components are arranged along first and second directions orthogonal to one another, such that no two LED of the same color reside adjacent one another along both of the first and second directions, and each LED component is spaced-apart from an adjacent LED component a distance no greater than 1.0 mm.

Abstract: An improved flameless, non-electric chafing dish and an improved flameless non-electric heat source for use in connection therewith is provided. The chafing dish assembly includes a support frame for supporting the chafing dish on a serving surface, a lower (water) pan positioned on the support frame and having a bottom and one or more side walls, a food pan configured to nest inside the lower pan and having a bottom and one or more side walls, and an air-activated exothermic warming device positioned between the lower pan and the food pan. The warming device comprises a mixture of materials including iron which produce heat from the exothermic oxidation of iron when exposed to air. A support device configured for positioning between the air-activated exothermic warming device and the lower (water) pan is also provided. The support device is configured to permit airflow to the warming device and to elevate the warming device into direct contact with the food pan.

Abstract: A firmware update method for a smart charging device is disclosed. First, firmware of a first board is updated, and the first board then sets work flags to second, third board and fourth boards. The first board queries a firmware version of the second board, and then presets the work flag of a firmware version as false. When the firmware version of the second board is older, the first board sets the work flag as true, and updates the firmware of the second board, and sets the work flag as false. The first board again queries whether the work flag is set as true, when the firmware versions of the second and first boards are the same, the work flag is set as false. According to the above procedures, the firmware of the third and fourth boards is updated, so as to completely update firmware of all boards.

Abstract: A method for training an obfuscation network capable of performing distinct concealing processes for distinct regions of an original image is provided. The method includes steps of: a learning device (a) inputting a training image into the obfuscation network to generate an obfuscated training image by performing a 1-st to an n-th concealing process respectively on a 1-st to an n-th training region of the training image; (b) inputting the obfuscated training image into a 1-st to an n-th discriminator to respectively generate a 1-st to an n-th obfuscated image score on determining whether the obfuscated training image is real or fake, and inputting the obfuscated training image into an image recognition network to apply learning operation on the obfuscated training image to generate feature information for training; and (c) training the obfuscation network such that an accumulated loss is maximized, and an accuracy loss is minimized.

Abstract: A method for training an obfuscation network and a surrogate network is provided. The method includes steps of: a 1st learning device (a) inputting original data of a 1st party, corresponding thereto, into the obfuscation network to generate obfuscated data wherein the 1st party owns the original data or is an entity to whom the original data is delegated; (b) transmitting the obfuscated data and the ground truth to a 2nd learning device corresponding to a 2nd party, and instructing the 2nd learning device to (i) input the obfuscated data into the surrogate network to generate characteristic information, (ii) calculate 1st losses using the ground truth and one of the characteristic information and task specific outputs, and (iii) train the surrogate network minimizing the 1st losses, and transmit the 1st losses to the 1st learning device; and (c) training the obfuscation network minimizing the 1st losses and maximizing 2nd losses.

Abstract: A method of a master learning device to train obfuscation networks and surrogate networks is provided. The method includes steps of: a master learning device (a) acquiring obfuscated data and ground truths from learning devices corresponding to owners or delegates of the original data and their ground truths; (b) (i) inputting the obfuscated data into a surrogate network, to apply learning operation thereto and generate characteristic information, (ii) calculating losses using the ground truths and the characteristic information or its task specific output, and (iii) training the surrogate network such that the losses or their average is minimized; and (c) transmitting the losses to the learning devices, to train the obfuscation networks such that the losses are minimized and that other losses calculated using the original data and the obfuscated data are maximized, and transmit network gradients of the trained obfuscation networks to the master learning device for its update.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring data representing one or more transactions between computing nodes of a computer network by at least one intermediary node may include: receiving a transaction request, for transferring ownership of a product from a current owner to a subsequent owner, the transaction request being signed by the current owner; authenticating the signature of the current owner; accessing a product chain associated with the product; extracting from the product chain a list of target user entities and a contract data element; producing an ownership block including an identification of the subsequent owner; appending the ownership block to the product chain, to indicate transfer of ownership from the current owner to the subsequent owner; and transferring data representing one or more transactions between the intermediary node and one or more computing nodes based on the transaction request.

Abstract: In a three-phase, four-wire electrical distribution system, a zig-zag transformer and at least one Cascade Multilevel Modular Inverter (CMMI) is coupled between the distribution system and the neutral. A controller modulates the states of the H-bridges in the CMMI to build an AC waveform. The voltage is chosen by the controller in order to control an equivalent impedance that draws an appropriate neutral current through the transformer. This neutral current is generally chosen to cancel the neutral current sensed in the line. The chosen neutral current may be based on a remotely sensed imbalance, rather than on a local value, determined by the power utility as a critical load point in the system. The desired injection current is then translated by the controller into a desired zero-sequence reactive impedance, based on measurement of the local terminal voltage, allowing the controller to regulate the current without generating or consuming real power.

Abstract: A system and method for defining and using a virtual currency may include associating a fraction of a currency with at least one of: a history, an attribute, and a constraint; and selecting a usage of the fraction, in a monetary transaction, based on the at least one of: the history, the attribute and the constraint.

Abstract: A locomotive headlamp assembly for the thermal control and/or thermal management of heat in a LED lamp enclosure is provided. A seamless retrofit is provided for existing Incandescent (Quartz Halogen) lamps that are in current use. The thermal control of the locomotive headlight generally includes a headlight that has the ability to replace existing Incandescent (Quartz Halogen) lamps with the energy savings of LEDs using interactive circuitry to maximize performance and energy savings and also the thermal management to ensure longer life on LEDs.

Abstract: A wearable audio apparatus used to support multiple audio components, namely, microphones. The audio apparatus can have a single housing that contains the multiple audio components, or can have multiple housings that contain individual audio components. The housing can be easily worn by a user, such as by coupling to a headset, ear mount/hook, user's clothing, or user's body. The microphones can be acoustically matched for rapid swapping without requiring a separate audio setup. The audio components can be mounted astride, offset or near one another in the audio apparatus. The audio components can also be separately wired so that each audio component can be independently activated.

Abstract: A system and method of correcting an anomaly in a split computer network, where the split computer network includes a first subnet, connecting one or more requestor nodes to a first intermediary node, and a second subnet, connecting the first intermediary node to one or more approver nodes may include performing, by at least one processor associated with the first intermediary node: monitoring transactions between the one or more requestor nodes and the one or more approver nodes, via the first intermediary node; analyzing the monitored transactions, to obtain a transaction pattern; probing communication between an examined requestor node and at least one approver node; analyzing the probed communication, in view of the transaction pattern, to identify a suspected transaction anomaly; and producing a suggestion of at least one corrective action, based on the suspected transaction anomaly.

Abstract: A method and a system for determining an optimal authentication scheme for an authenticating system. Embodiments may include: receiving, from the authenticating system an identity of a user requiring access to the authenticating system and a policy of the authenticating system; receiving, from a storage device, data including historical information regarding previous authentication attempts by the user; producing a list including an optimal selection of one or more authentication schemes, each including one or more authentication factors, according to the historical information and the authenticating system policy; and sending the selection list of one or more authentication schemes to the authenticating system.