Abstract: High spherical particles for use in piezoelectric applications may be produced mixing a mixture comprising a graphene oxide-polyvinylidene fluoride (GO-PVDF) composite, a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the PVDF, and optionally an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature equal to or greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the PVDF to disperse the GO-PVDF composite in the carrier fluid, wherein the GO-PVDF composite has a transmission FTIR minimum transmittance ratio of ?-phase PVDF to ?-phase PVDF of about 1 or less; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature of the PVDF to form GO-PVDF particles; and separating the GO-PVDF particles from the carrier fluid, wherein the GO-PVDF particles comprise the graphene oxide dispersed in the PVDF, and wherein the GO-PVDF particles have a transmission FTIR minimum transmittance ratio of ?-phase PVDF to ?-phase PVDF of about 1 or less.

Abstract: One embodiment can provide a method and a system for detecting change points within a conversation. During operation, the system can obtain a signal associated with the conversation and extract a one-dimensional (1D) feature function from the signal. The system can apply Gaussian smoothing on the 1D feature function, identify zero-crossing points on the smoothed 1D feature function, and determine a set of change points within the conversation based on the identified zero-crossing points.

Abstract: A method of automatically displaying a predetermined set of print attributes of a print job, the method including receiving an image of a first printed sheet, the first printed sheet including one or more at least partial machine-readable codes, the one or more at least partial machine-readable codes encoded with data related to the predetermined set of print attributes, decoding the data from the one or more at least partial machine-readable codes, determining if the data includes all of the print attributes in the predetermined set of print attributes, and if the data includes all of the print attributes in the predetermined set of print attributes, displaying the data using augmented reality (AR) over the first printed sheet.

Abstract: A printing system comprises an ink deposition assembly and a media transport assembly. The ink deposition assembly comprises a printhead arranged to eject a print fluid to a deposition region of the ink deposition assembly. The media transport assembly comprises a vacuum source and a movable support surface. The movable support surface comprises valves having holes through the media support surface. The media transport assembly is configured to hold one or more print media against the movable support surface by vacuum suction communicated from the vacuum source through valves. The valves are each configured to transition between a closed state in which airflow through the hole of the respective valve is prevented and an open state in which airflow through the hole of the respective valve is allowed.

Abstract: A pressure-activated membrane switch and methods of use are provided. The pressure-activated membrane switch includes an electrically-conductive membrane, and a compliant conductive material having an electrically-conductive inner surface, wherein contact between the electrically-conductive membrane and the electrically-conductive inner surface of the compliant material is configured to cause an electrical circuit, of which the switch is a part, to close. The pressure-activated membrane switch further includes a plurality of spacers dispersed between the electrically-conductive membrane and the compliant conductive material. The plurality of spacers form one or more gaps between the electrically-conductive membrane and the compliant conductive material, and, with an application of pressure against the compliant conductive material, the compliant conductive material is configured to deform between the one or more gaps to contact the electrically-conductive membrane.

Abstract: A build plate is configured for use in a 3D printer. The build plate comprises a base comprising a base material and one or more vacuum channels. A removable plate is disposed proximate the base so as to be in fluid communication with the vacuum channels.

Abstract: A printing system comprises one or more printheads arranged to eject ink to a deposition region. Print media are held by vacuum suction against a movable support surface, which transports the print media though the deposition region. The vacuum suction is communicated from a vacuum source to the movable support surface via a vacuum plenum. An airflow control system comprises one or more dampers arranged in the vacuum plenum to control airflow between the vacuum source and the movable support surface. The dampers have an adjustable impedance to airflow through the damper. The airflow control system is configured to adjust the impedance of the damper based on a detected condition of the printing system. A detected condition of the printing system may include, for example, a sensed pressure in the vacuum plenum.

Abstract: A fluorescent yellow toner including a core comprising a first solvent yellow 160-incorporated amorphous polyester; a second solvent yellow 160-incorporated amorphous polyester; wherein the first amorphous polyester and the second amorphous polyester are different; and a crystalline polyester; a shell disposed over the core, the shell comprising at least one amorphous polyester; wherein the toner provides printed images having an L* value of greater than 90, an a* value of from about less than ?40 to about ?20, and a b*value of greater than 75. A process of printing the fluorescent yellow toner.

Abstract: A device includes a first transistor having a first source, a first gate, a first drain, and one or more electrodes. The first transistor serves as an inverter. The device also includes a second transistor having a second source, a second gate, and a second drain. The first and second sources are connected together. The first and second drains are connected together. The second transistor serves as an output, a driver, or both. The one or more electrodes, the second gate, or a combination thereof serve as tapped drains that are configured to sample a stepped voltage of the second transistor.

Abstract: When making parts by additive manufacturing, particularly by fused filament fabrication, it is sometimes necessary to include a removable support during part fabrication due to the shape of the part. An overhang, for instance, may be fabricated using a support structure, which is subsequently eliminated following polymer matrix consolidation. Elimination of a removable support following part fabrication may be problematic in some instances. Polymer filaments suitable for forming removable supports during additive manufacturing may comprise at least one imide polymer having at least partial solubility in aqueous fluids. Imide polymers may include, for example, polyimides and polyesterimides. Additive manufacturing processes may comprise forming a supported part by depositing a build material and a removable support comprising an imide polymer, wherein at least a portion of the build material is deposited upon the removable support.

Abstract: A multi-function device (MFD) is disclosed. For example, the MFD includes a local communication interface, a proximity sensor to detect a user within a detection range, a processor, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions. The instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations that include detecting the user within the detection range via the proximity sensor, scanning a mobile device of the user for a device identification via the local communication interface, determining that the device identification is associated with the user that is authorized on the MFD, and automatically logging the user into the MFD.

Abstract: A filament material and a method for producing the same is disclosed. For example, the filament material includes a polymer resin that is compatible with an extrusion based printing process and a marking additive that allows selective portions of the filament material to change color when exposed to a light, wherein the marking additive is added to approximately 0.01 to 25.00 weight percent (wt %).

Abstract: A method includes defining a model for a liquid while the liquid is positioned at least partially within a nozzle of a printer. The method also includes synthesizing video frames of the liquid using the model to produce synthetic video frames. The method also includes generating a labeled dataset that includes the synthetic video frames and corresponding model values. The method also includes receiving real video frames of the liquid while the liquid is positioned at least partially within the nozzle of the printer. The method also includes generating an inverse mapping from the real video frames to predicted model values using the labeled dataset. The method also includes reconstructing the liquid in the real video frames based at least partially upon the predicted model values.

Abstract: An electrochemical device is disclosed and may include an electrolyte composition disposed between the anode and the cathode and a water vapor barrier which may include a biodegradable material, where the water vapor barrier is disposed to prevent water vapor escaping from the electrochemical device. The water vapor barrier further may include poly lactic acid or a metalized coating. The water vapor barrier further may further include multiple layers and have a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) less than or equal to 2 wt % over 24 hours. Embodiments of the water vapor barrier may also include a polymeric biodegradable material or a metalized coating disposed onto the biodegradable material. The water vapor barrier may also include multiple layers and may have a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) less than or equal to 1 mg per cm2 over 24 hours.

Abstract: A system and method of characterizing drops of printing material in a 3D printer is disclosed, which includes ejecting a drop from a nozzle of an ejector in the 3D printer, intersecting the drop with a beam while the drop is in-flight, and determining one or more physical characteristics of the drop. The system and method may include where the drop intersects the beam between the nozzle and a substrate of the 3D printer or the drop intersects the beam between the nozzle and a top surface of a part printed by the 3D printer. The beam is located between an emitter and a detector are each positioned external to one or more side walls of a 3D printer. A physical characteristic of the drop may include drop size, drop shape, or drop mass and comparison with a reference.

Abstract: A structured organic film (SOF) is disclosed. The structured organic film also includes a plurality of segments, a plurality of linkers, and a plurality of ionic capping segments, where at least one or more of the ionic capping segments may include a piperidinium group. Implementations of the structured organic film (SOF) may include where the piperidinium group is a bicyclic piperidinium group. The piperidinium group can be an n-cyclic quaternary ammonium. A total concentration of ionic segments in the SOF is from about 0.1 to about 5.0 molar equivalents based on a total concentration of segments in the SOF. The piperidinium group can be 3-methanol-6-azoniaspiro[5.5]undecane (MeASU). The structured organic film (SOF) has an ion exchange capacity (IEC) of from about 0.25 meq/g to about 5.00 meq/g. An ion-exchange membrane may include the structured organic film (SOF).

Abstract: A method for producing polyimide microparticles may comprise: combining a diamine and a dianhydride in a first dry, high boiling point solvent; reacting the diamine and the dianhydride to produce a mixture comprising poly(amic acid) (PAA) and the first dry, high boiling point solvent; emulsifying the mixture in a matrix fluid that is immiscible with the first dry, high boiling point solvent using an emulsion stabilizer to form a precursor emulsion that is an oil-in-oil emulsion; and heating the precursor emulsion during and/or after formation to a temperature sufficient to polymerize the PAA to form the polyimide microparticles.

Abstract: A printing system and method of inspecting drop ejection in a printing system is disclosed. The method includes capturing an image of each of a plurality of drops of a print material after ejection from an ejector of a printing system, creating a temporally averaged image from each image of the plurality of drops of print material, and classifying one of the plurality of drops of print material based on the temporally averaged image that was created. The use of a pretrained convolutional neural network for classifying one of the plurality of drops and comparing the temporally averaged image to another temporally averaged image to classify one of the plurality of drops may be employed. The printing system also includes a camera with a high-speed shutter where the shutter is synchronized to an ejector pulse, and a video analytic framework coupled to the ejector and the camera configured to generate a jetting result for each of the one or more drops of liquid print material.

Abstract: A method of forming a colorimetric sensor includes depositing a first material onto a substrate, providing porous sensing particles, wherein the sensing particles comprise sensing species dispersed into a porous host structure, and embedding the porous sensing particles onto a surface of the deposited first material, the first material attaching the sensing particles to the substrate with at least a portion of the sensing particles is exposed to an ambient environment.