Abstract: The apparatus and method for testing the ability of materials to protect photolabile materials provides an accurate measurement by directly observing the degradation level in a photolabile material. The apparatus is an assembly having primary and secondary cells and a light source. The primary and secondary cells are arranged in different configurations with respect to one another such that any light that reaches the photolabile materials must first go through the protective material under test. The method includes placing a protective material under test in the primary cell; placing a photolabile material in the secondary cell; subjecting the assembly to a light source for a predetermined amount of time; and removing and testing the photolabile material for degradation.

Abstract: The measuring cup includes numerous embodiments configured for a user to precisely determine the cup contents without need to lift the cup to one's eye level or to lower the eye level to the level of the cup contents. The various embodiments include folding cups; cups having transparent passages in the wall; cups having adjustably positionable bottoms; cups having level indicator rods in the cup interior extending upward from the cup bottom; cups having one or more filaments extending across the cup interior; cups having rigid level indicators spanning the cup interior; cups having adjustably positionable level indicator tabs therein; cups having buoyant level indicator tabs adjustably positionable in the cup interior; and cups having removable clip-on scales extending down along the interior of the cup wall, the scales having a plurality of attachment points for the removable attachment of a level indicator tab at a desired attachment point.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a cell layer, a first metal layer, and a first conductive via. The cell layer includes first and second cells, each of which is configured to perform a circuit function. The first metal layer is above the cell layer and includes a first conductive feature that extends from the first cell into the second cell and that is configured to receive a supply voltage. A first conductive via interconnects the cell layer and the metal layer.

Abstract: The measuring cup includes numerous embodiments configured for a user to precisely determine the cup contents without need to lift the cup to one's eye level or to lower the eye level to the level of the cup contents. The various embodiments include folding cups; cups having transparent passages in the wall; cups having adjustably positionable bottoms; cups having level indicator rods in the cup interior extending upward from the cup bottom; cups having one or more filaments extending across the cup interior; cups having rigid level indicators spanning the cup interior; cups having adjustably positionable level indicator tabs therein; cups having buoyant level indicator tabs adjustably positionable in the cup interior; and cups having removable clip-on scales extending down along the interior of the cup wall, the scales having a plurality of attachment points for the removable attachment of a level indicator tab at a desired attachment point.

Abstract: The measuring cup includes numerous embodiments configured for a user to precisely determine the cup contents without need to lift the cup to one's eye level or to lower the eye level to the level of the cup contents. The various embodiments include folding cups; cups having transparent passages in the wall; cups having adjustably positionable bottoms; cups having level indicator rods in the cup interior extending upward from the cup bottom; cups having one or more filaments extending across the cup interior; cups having rigid level indicators spanning the cup interior; cups having adjustably positionable level indicator tabs therein; cups having buoyant level indicator tabs adjustably positionable in the cup interior; and cups having removable clip-on scales extending down along the interior of the cup wall, the scales having a plurality of attachment points for the removable attachment of a level indicator tab at a desired attachment point.

Abstract: The measuring cup includes numerous embodiments configured for a user to precisely determine the cup contents without need to lift the cup to one's eye level or to lower the eye level to the level of the cup contents. The various embodiments include folding cups; cups having transparent passages in the wall; cups having adjustably positionable bottoms; cups having level indicator rods in the cup interior extending upward from the cup bottom; cups having one or more filaments extending across the cup interior; cups having rigid level indicators spanning the cup interior; cups having adjustably positionable level indicator tabs therein; cups having buoyant level indicator tabs adjustably positionable in the cup interior; and cups having removable clip-on scales extending down along the interior of the cup wall, the scales having a plurality of attachment points for the removable attachment of a level indicator tab at a desired attachment point.

Abstract: The measuring cup includes numerous embodiments configured for a user to precisely determine the cup contents without need to lift the cup to one's eye level or to lower the eye level to the level of the cup contents. The various embodiments include folding cups; cups having transparent passages in the wall; cups having adjustably positionable bottoms; cups having level indicator rods in the cup interior extending upward from the cup bottom; cups having one or more filaments extending across the cup interior; cups having rigid level indicators spanning the cup interior; cups having adjustably positionable level indicator tabs therein; cups having buoyant level indicator tabs adjustably positionable in the cup interior; and cups having removable clip-on scales extending down along the interior of the cup wall, the scales having a plurality of attachment points for the removable attachment of a level indicator tab at a desired attachment point.

Abstract: The measuring cup includes numerous embodiments configured for a user to precisely determine the cup contents without need to lift the cup to one's eye level or to lower the eye level to the level of the cup contents. The various embodiments include folding cups; cups having transparent passages in the wall; cups having adjustably positionable bottoms; cups having level indicator rods in the cup interior extending upward from the cup bottom; cups having one or more filaments extending across the cup interior; cups having rigid level indicators spanning the cup interior; cups having adjustably positionable level indicator tabs therein; cups having buoyant level indicator tabs adjustably positionable in the cup interior; and cups having removable clip-on scales extending down along the interior of the cup wall, the scales having a plurality of attachment points for the removable attachment of a level indicator tab at a desired attachment point.

Abstract: The measuring cup includes numerous embodiments configured for a user to precisely determine the cup contents without need to lift the cup to one's eye level or to lower the eye level to the level of the cup contents. The various embodiments include folding cups; cups having transparent passages in the wall; cups having adjustably positionable bottoms; cups having level indicator rods in the cup interior extending upward from the cup bottom; cups having one or more filaments extending across the cup interior; cups having rigid level indicators spanning the cup interior; cups having adjustably positionable level indicator tabs therein; cups having buoyant level indicator tabs adjustably positionable in the cup interior; and cups having removable clip-on scales extending down along the interior of the cup wall, the scales having a plurality of attachment points for the removable attachment of a level indicator tab at a desired attachment point.

Abstract: A cover glass of an electronic device may be inspected for defects and damage such as cracks, fractures, scratches, and chips. The electronic device may be placed in an enclosure with a lighting assembly that emits light to the electronic device, and scattered light from defects and damage of the cover glass is captured by an imaging device. A shutter assembly facilitates the capture of scattered light and reduces the capture of reflected light, which enhances the exposure of defects and damage of the captured image of the cover glass. A mirror facilitates the capture of a side surface of the electronic device.

Abstract: Determining an in-plane thermal conductivity of anisotropic materials, such as display stacks, printed circuit boards (PCBs), and composite housings, includes heating a first region of an anisotropic sample, cooling a second region of the sample, and measuring temperature at a first location between the first region and the second region and a second location between the first region and the second region. The in-plane thermal conductivity of the sample is computed based at least in part on the temperature at the first location, the temperature at the second location, the distance from the first region to the second region, a thickness of the substantially planar anisotropic substrate, and an amount of heat applied to the first region.

Abstract: A method of assessing noise involves evacuating air from a vacuum chamber to a pressure less than about 1 Torr and stimulating a device positioned in the chamber by shaking it or by operating a component of the device. Measuring vibrations in a low pressure environment decreases or eliminates propagation of sound waves, thereby enabling isolation and identification of vibrations caused by mechanical noise. These measurements may be useful for more precise acoustic characterization of audio devices containing multiple components.

Abstract: This disclosure describes composite structures and method of making the structures. The structures according to this disclosure may be used in handheld electronics. In example embodiments, holes are formed through a planar polymeric core. A metallic coating is disposed on the core to coat external surfaces of the core as well as internal surfaces of the holes. The metallic coating may entirely occlude the holes. The resulting structure may provide improved strength and rigidity and resist delamination of the metallic coating.

Abstract: A vertically-stacked growing system includes vertical beams and horizontal shelves respectively arranged on different vertical levels, Each horizontal shelf has a length and a width, and includes horizontal structural supports coupled to at least some of the vertical beams, decking coupled to the horizontal structural supports, and multiple walls to form a shallow pond when the horizontal shelf contains a plant nutrient water culture, thereby constituting a growing layer of the growing system. The walls include two side walls along the length and two end walls along the width. Each horizontal shelf further includes a loading and/or unloading apparatus to facilitate loading and/or unloading of a plurality of rafts into and/or out of the shallow pond, via the two end walls, wherein respective rafts of the plurality of rafts include a plurality of germinated plants.

Abstract: The measuring cup includes numerous embodiments configured for a user to precisely determine the cup contents without need to lift the cup to one's eye level or to lower the eye level to the level of the cup contents. The various embodiments include folding cups; cups having transparent passages in the wall; cups having adjustably positionable bottoms; cups having level indicator rods in the cup interior extending upward from the cup bottom; cups having one or more filaments extending across the cup interior; cups having rigid level indicators spanning the cup interior; cups having adjustably positionable level indicator tabs therein; cups having buoyant level indicator tabs adjustably positionable in the cup interior; and cups having removable clip-on scales extending down along the interior of the cup wall, the scales having a plurality of attachment points for the removable attachment of a level indicator tab at a desired attachment point.

Abstract: An electronic device with a e-paper display that internally integrates photovoltaic cells and are not apparent from the exterior of the device. A light source of the device injects light into a light guide to front-light the e-paper. Light that leaks from edges of the light guide is captured by the photovoltaic cells. The plastic light guide is also impregnated with a photoluminescent material that absorbs near infrared energy that is incident on a face of the display and re-emits it isotropically to be guided by the light guide to the photovoltaic cells. By combining multiple techniques to illuminate hidden photovoltaic cells, the utility of the hidden cells is maximized.

Abstract: Techniques are described to determine a thickness of individual layers of a plurality of metal layers that include a first metal layer disposed on a polymer material and a second metal layer disposed on the first layer, such that the first layer is between the polymer material and the second layer. A measurement device may determine a resistance of the plurality of metal layers and calculate (e.g., estimate) a thickness of the individual layers based on the resistance of the individual layers and based on a resistivity of individual metals used in the plurality of metal layers. The measurement device may determine whether the individual thicknesses are within predetermined thickness ranges to determine whether to pass a quality control test.

Abstract: The dispensing device includes a hollow tube having an open upper end and an open lower end, as well as a horizontal bar disposed between the walls of the hollow tube adjacent to the open lower end. A disc is movably positioned within the hollow tube, the disc having a central aperture defined therein. A string or other flexible member has one end secured to the disc. The other end of the string is drawn downward in the tube, looped around the horizontal bar, then drawn upward through the central aperture in the disc and out the open upper end of the tube. A semi-solid medication is loaded in the tube between the disc and the open lower end of the tube. When the string is pulled out of the upper end of the tube, the disc is drawn downward, dispensing the medication.

Abstract: An example method includes positioning a mass at a height opposite a modulator characterized by a particular strain rate and support by a carrier moveably disposed opposite the mass. The method also includes releasing the mass such that the mass impacts the modulator, and an additional component connected to the carrier causes failure of a sample of material. The method further includes determining a displacement of the carrier corresponding to failure of the sample, determining a force applied to the modulator by the mass and resulting in failure of the sample, and determining at least one of a dynamic strength of the sample and a dynamic modulus of the sample. In such a method, the dynamic strength is based on the force applied to the modulator and the strain rate. Additionally, the dynamic modulus is based on the displacement of the carrier and the strain rate.

Abstract: A loudspeaker port may include tunable physical components to tune the port to different frequencies to improve speaker efficiency at those frequencies. The ports may be activated by at least partly opening associated shutters, or disabled by closing the associated shutters. Activated ports may enhance speaker efficiency in a frequency range. However, activated ports may also introduce sound artifacts, thereby reducing sound quality. Therefore, the ports may be disabled when appropriate to reduce their negative impact to sound quality. A Digital Signal Processor (DSP) may determine the frequency components of a played sound to determine when to open the ports and how to tune the ports. Accordingly, a loudspeaker may benefit from the improved efficiency facilitated by the ports while also avoiding typical drawbacks created by the ports.