Abstract: A road sign interpretation system includes a front-facing camera mounted on or in a vehicle collecting image data of multiple road signs. A first convolutional neural network (CNN) receives the image data from the front-facing camera and yields a set of sign predictions including one or more sign text instances. A second CNN defining a text extractor receives the image data from the front-facing camera and extracts text candidates including the multiple sign text instances. Sign and sign data localization is provided in the second CNN to compute a text order from the multiple sign text instances. A sign text synthesizer module receives individual sign text instances from the first CNN and individual ones of the sign text instances in digitized forms from an optical character recognizer (OCR). A semantic encoding and interpretation module receives the sign text instances and identifies semantics of the multiple road signs.

Abstract: A road sign interpretation system includes a front-facing camera mounted on or in a vehicle collecting image data of multiple road signs. A first convolutional neural network (CNN) receives the image data from the front-facing camera and yields a set of sign predictions including one or more sign text instances. A second CNN defining a text extractor receives the image data from the front-facing camera and extracts text candidates including the multiple sign text instances. Sign and sign data localization is provided in the second CNN to compute a text order from the multiple sign text instances. A sign text synthesizer module receives individual sign text instances from the first CNN and individual ones of the sign text instances in digitized forms from an optical character recognizer (OCR). A semantic encoding and interpretation module receives the sign text instances and identifies semantics of the multiple road signs.

Abstract: An equipment drying rack for athletic gear has the form of an A-frame with left and right legs that meet at an apex, and a cross arm. These are joined with removable snap-in pins, so the rack can be quickly assembled and taken down, and stuffed compactly into a bag for travel. The rack can be wall mounted or a back leg can be installed for free-standing floor use. Hanging pegs can be removably plugged into sockets on the side legs, cross arm, and back leg.

Abstract: A flexible inflatable hinge includes curable resin for rigidly positioning panels of solar cells about the hinge in which wrap around contacts and flex circuits are disposed for routing power from the solar cells to the power bus further used for grounding the hinge. An indium tin oxide and magnesium fluoride coating is used to prevent static discharge while being transparent to ultraviolet light that cures the embedded resin after deployment for rigidizing the inflatable hinge.

Abstract: A wrap around contact is disposed on the edge of a solar cell panel for providing electrical connections between a thin film solar cell contact and electrical conductors in a flex circuit for routing electrical energy produced by the solar cells to a power bus. The wrap around contact wraps around an edge of a solar cell on top of which is the solar cell contact. Under the solar cell, power bus conductor traces are laser welded to the wrap around contract so as to connect the flex circuit power bus to the silver contact of the thin film solar cell.

Abstract: An enhanced swim fin is provided comprising a flipper blade having an increased effective surface area during movement in a first direction, and a decreased effective surface area during movement in a second direction. The swim fin preferably comprises a staged opening during movement in the first direction, in which the opened flipper blade provides increased flexion as the effective surface area is increased. The swim fin preferably comprises a staged closing during movement in the second direction, in which the opened flipper blade provides decreased flexion as the effective surface area is decreased. In some embodiments of the staged swim fin, a central hinge, generally located longitudinally along the blade on the fin, provides staged opening and flexion. Various embodiments provide fin opening and closing for either forward or backward kicks. The enhanced swim fin is typically attached to a foot, such as for performance, for training, or for physical therapy.

Abstract: An expandable swim flipper includes a blade having at least an expandable portion thereof. The expandable portion radially expands in response to water resistance directed to a first surface of the blade. The surface area of the flipper is correspondingly increased to propel a swimmer at a faster rate through the water. The expandable portion radially contracts in response to water resistance directed to a second surface of the blade. The surface area of the flipper is correspondingly reduced, and is thereby subject to decreased water resistance. In a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the flipper blade is formed of expandable lateral members joined to a central member having a constant width. In a second, equally preferred embodiment, the flipper blade is formed of lateral members having a constant width and joined to an expandable central member. In a third, equally preferred embodiment of the invention, the flipper blade is expandable over its entire width.

Abstract: An automatic inserting apparatus is provided whereby a primary document and selectively collated secondary documents are assembled and inserted into a mailing envelope. Preferably, the mailing envelope is concurrently imprinted with the name and address of the recipient as shown on the primary document. Each primary document bears a preselected name and mailing address and optionally also a secondary document selecting code. In operation, each primary document is read by an intelligent optical character recognition system, and the information so obtained is used to (a) select all secondary documents designated by the primary document code, after which the primary and secondary documents are combined and folded, and preferably (b) concurrently imprint a mailing envelope using the so-read address.