Abstract: A shared environment is provided for electronic media devices such as game consoles which have Internet connectivity for receiving streaming video content. The shared environment is a virtual world which includes the video content as well as avatars which represent a group of users who have agreed to watch the content together, and scene elements which provide a realistic and eye-catching appearance. The users can enter commands to cause their avatars to emote, such as by cheering. The users can also explore the shared environment from different camera angles. A voice and/or video chat channel can also be enabled to allow the users to speak to and see one another. The video content is synchronized among the electronic media devices of the users so that the users' interactions are more meaningful as they can react to the same portion of the video content in real time.

Abstract: A robotic system that can have a body and four flippers is described. Any or all of the flippers can be rotated. The flippers can have self-cleaning tracks. The tracks can be driven or passive. The robotic system can be controlled by, and send audio and/or video to and/or from, a remote operator control module. The methods of using and making the robotic system are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating electricity by electromagnetic induction, using a magnetic field modulated by the formation, dissipation, and movement of vortices produced by a vortex material such as a type II superconductor. Magnetic field modulation occurs at the microscopic level, facilitating the production of high frequency electric power. Generator inductors are manufactured using microelectronic fabrication, in at least one dimension corresponding to the spacing of vortices. The vortex material fabrication method establishes the alignment of vortices and generator coils, permitting the electromagnetic induction of energy from many vortices into many coils simultaneously as a cumulative output of electricity. A thermoelectric cycle is used to convert heat energy into electricity.

Abstract: Dilatant enclosure systems and methods are provided. A dilatant enclosure system can include an open framework; an electronic device disposed at least partially within the open framework; and a breathable, dilatant material covering at least a portion of the open framework. A dilatant enclosure method can include at least partially covering an open framework with a breathable, dilatant fabric material. The method can further include disposing an electronic device at least partially within the open framework.

Abstract: This is directed to a dome switch that includes a capacitive sensor. A dome switch can include a dome operative to deform to provide tactile feedback to a user. To provide an electrical instruction to the device, the region underneath the dome can define a free space separating conductive regions forming a capacitor. For example, a tip of the dome, a button placed between the dome and a circuit board, or a user's finger can form a first conductor of a capacitor, and a support structure for the dome can include a terminal forming a second conductor completing the capacitor. When the dome deflects, the distance between the conductors can change and provide a measurable capacitance variation, which the device can detect. To protect the dome switch from damage due to contaminants, the terminal can be integrated within a volume of the circuit board such that it is not exposed to the environment of the dome switch. In one implementation, the terminal may not be exposed to air.

Abstract: Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for associating a permission set with one or more users. These mechanisms and methods for associating a permission set with one or more users can enable improved access management, increased efficiency, enhanced security, reduced risk, greater governance, least privilege access, greater auditability, etc.

Abstract: A compound of the formula: and pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment or prevention of pain.

Abstract: A radiant barrier rafter vent defining an elongate radiant heat reflective panel formed from a sheet of aluminum or other heat reflective material having longitudinal creases that permit compressing the panel a selected amount in a direction transverse to its length and panel strengthening spaced apart formations on the remainder of the panel. The panel have a high reflectivity and are installable in various buildings between the rafters or roof supports spaced apart from the roof and optionally coated with a sound absorbing material or include small perforations therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel pyrimidine amines of formula (I) which are potent inhibitors of spleen tyrosine kinase, and are useful in the treatment and prevention of diseases mediated by said enzyme, such as asthma, COPD and rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: Methods of making an assembly are disclosed. The assembly may include a circuit board with a top surface and a circuit component mounted on the top surface of the circuit board. The method may include positioning an inductor coil above the circuit component and the top surface of the circuit board and encapsulating the inductor coil, the circuit component and at least part of the top surface of the circuit board in a magnetic material. Assemblies according to such methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are connecting valves (12, 14) with an interchangeability feature (18, 20) to ensure that the fuel cell fuel matches the fuel cell. Also disclosed are retainer mechanisms (28, 30, 32, 36) capable of releasably connecting the fuel supply to the fuel cell or to the electronic device equipped with a fuel cell. An improvement to the connecting valves to decrease the amount of residual fuel left in the fuel supply is also provided.

Abstract: Electrical devices having electrodes containing carbon nanotubes infused to a substrate are described herein. The electrical devices contain at least a first electrode material containing a first plurality of carbon nanotubes infused to a first substrate and a second electrode material containing a second plurality of carbon nanotubes infused to a second substrate. The first electrode material and the second electrode material are wound in a spiral configuration about a central axis. The electrical devices can be supercapacitors, which also contain at least an electrolyte in contact with the first electrode material and the second electrode material, and a first separator material disposed between the first electrode material and the second electrode material. Methods and apparatuses for making the electrical devices are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: In some data communication configurations, data received from a sender may need to be viewed or otherwise processed by more than one entity with a corresponding client. For example, a message sent to a corporate email address may be viewed by either or both a mobile device and a desktop device. For the sender to utilize the strongest algorithm or protocol used by the recipient, it would therefore need to know which algorithms or protocols are supported by both the mobile and desktop mail clients. A system and method are provided to enable the mobile device to know about the capabilities of related mail clients associated with the communication address (e.g. email address) and vice versa such that the intersection of the capabilities (i.e. the strongest algorithm or protocol supported by all parties involved) can be chosen and the messages or data cryptographically processed accordingly.

Abstract: Introducing ultraviolet (UV) light to alter the environment inside a shoe or other footwear destroys microorganisms or inhibits their growth. Visible light can also be used to prevent further growth. Introducing forced air flow through the footwear removes dampness in and thereby deodorizes the footwear. A preferred embodiment comprises an adjustable shoe tree equipped with a UV germicidal light source and electronic safeguards that prevent appreciable leakage of UV radiation outside the shoe.

Abstract: A self-aligning modular accessory storage system comprising a first and a second module, removably connectable to the first module. The first module includes a base, an alignment stud protruding from the base, and a permanent magnet positioned in conjunction with the alignment stud. The second module includes an accessory container for storing one or more accessories, a receptacle adapted to receive the alignment stud on the first module, and a backing plate mounted behind the receptacle providing an aligning magnetic attraction between the first module and the second module when the alignment stud is positioned in proximity to the receptacle.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to an asynchronous down counter, which can be loaded with any value N and then decrement exactly N times. The counter comprises an array of cells, wherein each cell is configured to hold a digit in a redundant base-k representation of a number contained in the array of cells. Each cell further comprises a finite state machine that defines state transitions between states, where these states are held on wires and state transitions are synchronized between neighboring cells. Each cell is further configured to asynchronously borrow, if possible, from a more significant adjacent cell to increase a value of a digit in the cell. This asynchronous borrowing improves performance by ensuring that a decrement operation, which decrements a digit in a least significant cell in the array, will borrow from an adjacent more significant cell, without having to wait for the completion of a rippling sequence of borrows from more significant cells.

Abstract: A balloon holder for helium and air-filled balloons comprises: a base with adequate mass to hold down at least one helium balloon; a housing surrounding the base; a loop member comprised of a sunken portion submerged inside the base and a loop above the base wherein the loop fastens to a line attached to a helium balloon; and a stem comprised of a lower end submerged inside the base and a top end above the base wherein the top end is adapted to receive a balloon cup attached to an air-filled balloon. The loop member may be comprised of a metal wire, and the loop may secure one or multiple helium balloons. The balloon holder may also include a platform on top of the base that includes a central aperture through which the stem passes through and at least one additional aperture through which the loop member passes through.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are interferometric systems having reflective chambers and related methods. According to an aspect, an interferometric system may include a light source for generating an illumination beam that propagates towards a sample. A sample holder may hold the sample and include a partially reflective cover for allowing a first portion of the illumination beam to pass therethrough to interact with the sample to produce a sample beam that propagates substantially along an optical axis. The cover may be oriented at an angle for reflecting a second portion of the illumination beam to produce a reference beam that propagates at a predetermined angle with respect to the optical axis. An imaging module may redirect the reference beam towards the optical axis at a detection plane. A detector may intercept the sample and reference beams and may generate a holographic representation of the sample based on the beams.

Abstract: In a graphics processing device, a plurality of processors write fragment shading results for order-dependent data to a buffer, according to the order in which the data is received. Fragment shading results for order-neutral data is written to the buffer one batch at a time. The order-dependent data comprises spatially overlapping data. Order-neutral data may not overlap. A scheduler controls the order of reception of one batch of data at a time by the processors. The order for receiving the order-dependent data may be determined. The plurality of processors may process the data in parallel. A writing order for writing results to a buffer from the processing in parallel, may be enforced. A portion of the processors may be instructed to wait before writing results to the buffer in a specified order. Processors signal when writing results to the buffer is complete.