Abstract: Systems and methods may use a low speed controller in addition to an economic optimizer to achieve long-term objectives without significantly disrupting or destabilizing an electrical system. Specific long-term objectives include maximizing a capacity factor incentive and regulating battery degradation, but the methods and systems herein can be extended to more long-term objectives. A low speed controller can adjust one or more parameters of a cost function based on the relation between the projected state of the electrical system and the one or more parameters to effectuate a change to the electrical system to attempt to comply with the long-term objective.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure, the method comprises: providing a non-planar surface in the manufacturing of a silicon carbide (SiC) device; depositing a reflowable dielectric material on said non-planar surface; and heating said reflowable dielectric material to a temperature and for a time sufficient to cause reflowing of said reflowable dielectric material and thereby provide a dielectric layer comprising a substantially planar surface, wherein said dielectric layer is substantially free of voids.

Abstract: A method of forming an oxide layer in an in-situ steam generation (ISSG) process, including providing a silicon substrate in a rapid thermal process (RTP) chamber and injecting a gas mixture into the RTP chamber. The method further includes heating a surface of the silicon substrate to a reaction temperature, so that the gas mixture reacts close to the surface to form steam and thereby oxidize the silicon substrate to form the oxide layer on the surface, and wherein the gas mixture comprises hydrogen (H2), oxygen (O2) and nitrous oxide (N2O).

Abstract: A printed structure comprises a device comprising device electrical contacts disposed on a common side of the device and a substrate non-native to the device comprising substrate electrical contacts disposed on a surface of the substrate. At least one of the substrate electrical contacts has a rounded shape. The device electrical contacts are in physical and electrical contact with corresponding substrate electrical contacts. The substrate electrical contacts can comprise a polymer core coated with a patterned contact electrical conductor on a surface of the polymer core. A method of making polymer cores comprising patterning a polymer on the substrate and reflowing the patterned polymer to form one or more rounded shapes of the polymer and coating and then patterning the one or more rounded shapes with a conductive material.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for creating a design for a physical device is provided. A computing system receives a design specification. The computing system generates a proposed design based on the design specification. The computing system determines a vector of loss values based on the proposed design. The computing system determines a scalar loss value based on a distance between the vector of loss values and a volume representing desired characteristics of the physical device. The computing system updates the proposed design based on the scalar loss value.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for improved image segmentation using hyperspectral imaging. In some implementations, a system obtains image data of a hyperspectral image, the image data comprising image data for each of multiple wavelength bands. The system accesses stored segmentation profile data for a particular object type that indicates a predetermined subset of the wavelength bands designated for segmenting different region types for images of an object of the particular object type. The system segments the image data into multiple regions using the predetermined subset of the wavelength bands specified in the stored segmentation profile data to segment the different region types. The system provides output data indicating the multiple regions and the respective region types of the multiple regions.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure a headwear article for obtaining data from a wearer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing acid deficient uranyl nitrate from a dilute uranyl nitrate solution are disclosed. In one form, the present disclosure provides a system comprising a feed evaporation system and a diffusion dialysis system. The feed evaporation system is configured to receive a feed stream and to boil off water, under vacuum, from the feed stream to produce a concentrated uranyl nitrate solution and a distilled water product. The diffusion dialysis system is configured to counter flow the concentrated uranyl nitrate solution and the distilled water product across a plurality of membrane vessels to promote nitrate migration from the concentrated uranyl nitrate solution to the distilled water, and to produce a dialysate stream and a recycle acid stream. The feed stream may include a product of a solvent extraction process used to recycle spent nuclear fuel and/or a recovery stream from other fuel fabrication activities.

Abstract: An example of a cavity structure comprises a cavity substrate comprising a substrate surface, a cavity extending into the cavity substrate, the cavity having a cavity bottom and cavity walls, and a cap disposed on a side of the cavity opposite the cavity bottom. The cavity substrate, the cap, and the one or more cavity walls form a cavity enclosing a volume. A component can be disposed in the cavity and can extend above the substrate surface. The component can be a piezoelectric or a MEMS device. The cap can have a tophat configuration. The cavity structure can be micro-transfer printed from a source wafer to a destination substrate.

Abstract: A system for analyzing electrophysiological signals comprises a plurality of electrodes which are adherable to a skin of a subject, and which comprises a ground electrode and a set of signal electrodes. The system also comprises a processor in communication with the electrodes. The processor has a circuit configured to receive from the signal electrodes a first set of signal channels when the ground electrode is disconnected and a second set of signal channels when the ground electrode is active, to compare powers above baseline among the first and the second set of signal channels, and to determine an attachment state of each electrode based on the comparison.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems, apparatuses, and methods for controlling an electrical system using setpoints. Some embodiments include systems that receive a meter read schedule comprising anticipated meter read occurrences. The systems may set a demand setpoint representing a desired upper limit of demand of the electrical power system and adjust the demand setpoint during a billing period. The system may also reset the demand setpoint multiple times at different reset points around each of the anticipated meter read occurrences.

Abstract: An improved system for receiving and storing a radioactive salt solution includes a tank configured to receive the radioactive salt solution while preventing criticality accidents, a solution inlet for carrying the radioactive salt solution to the tank, an overflow bottle, and a cap sealing the top end of the tank. The cap includes a lateral wye fitting having a lateral pipe configured to direct the radioactive salt solution from the solution inlet into the tank, a vertical pipe configured to direct gases from the tank to a ventilation system, and an overflow line configured to carry excess radioactive salt solution from the tank to the overflow tank. An air gap between the lateral pipe and the solution inlet prevents backflow of the radioactive salt solution into the solution inlet.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods of apportioning an aggregate maneuver is disclosed. An aggregation engine receives aggregation opportunity information requesting an aggregate change in power of one or more sites. The aggregation engine transmits participation opportunity information to a plurality of site controllers. The participation opportunity information indicates a site benefit for providing a site change in power. The aggregation engine also receives commitment information from the plurality of site controllers, the commitment information indicating levels of commitment of the plurality of site controllers to contribute site change in power to a target change in power of the aggregation opportunity.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for an infrared and visible imaging system. In some implementations, Image data from a visible-light camera is obtained. A position of a device is determined based at least in part on the image data from the visible-light camera. An infrared camera is positioned so that the device is in a field of view of the infrared camera, with the field of view of the infrared camera being narrower than the field of view of the visible-light camera. Infrared image data from the infrared camera that includes regions representing the device is obtained. Infrared image data from the infrared camera that represents the device is recorded. Position data is also recorded that indicates the location and pose of the infrared camera when the infrared image data is acquired by the infrared camera.

Abstract: Putting clothes on a robot is facilitated. A robot includes an operation control unit that selects a motion, a drive mechanism that executes the selected motion, a mode setting unit that sets a mode of the robot, and a power supply control unit. The operation control unit restricts a torque of an actuator included in the drive mechanism when a clothes changing mode is set, and the power supply control unit maintains energization of an electronic circuit that realizes a function of the operation control unit, even while in the clothes changing mode.

Abstract: A photonic device is provided. The photonic device may include an input region and a dispersive region optically coupled with the input region. The dispersive region may include a first material and a second material anisotropically distributed to form a plurality of interfaces that each correspond to a change in a refractive index of the dispersive region. The plurality of interfaces may collectively structure the dispersive region to generate an output optical signal from an input optical signal. The photonic device may also include an output region, optically coupled with the dispersive region. The plurality of interfaces may form a material interface pattern in the dispersive region that is characterized by a defect distribution to introduce one or more spectral artifacts into the output optical signal that collectively define a unique spectral signature of the photonic device.

Abstract: An optical phased array (OPA) photonic integrated chip includes a plurality of array elements, a plurality of phase shifters, a plurality of combiners, and an edge coupler configured to couple to a single mode waveguide. The plurality of phase shifters includes a layer of phase shifters that has a phase shifter connected to each array element in the plurality of array elements. The plurality of combiners is configured to connect the plurality of phase shifters to the edge coupler. The plurality of combiners includes a first combiner that has a first output that is connected to a second combiner or the edge coupler, and a second output of the first combiner is connected to a photodetector. An in-phase light portion at the first combiner is output through the first output, and an out-of-phase light portion at the first combiner is output through the second output.

Abstract: A method of transmitting a covert message over a network from an origin device to a destination device includes using selection a plurality of network paths, network channels, and network tunnels to signal to the destination device symbols. Sequences of the symbols are interpreted by the destination device as values in an n-based number system. The values are decoded by the destination device to obtain the covert message. Some preferred implementations use a binary number system and some use a hexadecimal number system. Some utilize network path selection and incorporate network watermarks, by which the network path that was selected for each received packet is determined. Network paths preferably are differentiated from one another by redirects that are storage servers in an overlay network. Network communications can be opened between the origin device and destination device for continuously communicating packets without signaling symbols when no covert message is being transmitted.

Abstract: An LED backlight driving circuit based on low-potential-end switch control and a backlight driving method are provided. The LED backlight driving circuit includes a plurality of LED strings, a channel control switch device, a constant current module, a channel switching control module, a signal control unit, and an SPI interface unit. Each of the LED strings has a high-potential-end directly connected to an LED driving voltage VLED and a low-potential-end connected to one channel control switch device and one constant current module, and a plurality of channel control switch devices in each group of LED strings are connected to one channel switching control module; and the channel switching control module is used to control the on-state duty cycle of the LED strings in the group.