Abstract: A method for forming a metal flow module includes forming a flux retention feature on a first major surface of a first metal plate and then applying flux to the first major surface. The flux retention feature is configured to retain the flux at least in part on the first surface. The method further includes positioning a second major surface of a second metal plate against the first major surface of the first metal plate. The second metal plate has one or more flow channels defined at least in part in the second major surface. The flux is positioned between first contacting portions of the first and second major surfaces. The method further includes heating the first and second metal plates in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to thermally bond the first contacting portions.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical fiber, the method including drawing a bare optical fiber from an optical fiber preform along a draw pathway. The method further includes during the drawing step, moving a first fluid bearing from a first position to a second position, the first position being removed from the draw pathway and the second position being disposed in the draw pathway such that the movement of the first fluid bearing to the second position causes at least a first portion of the draw pathway to change direction.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for heating moving continuous glass ribbons at desired lines of separation and/or for separating glass sheets from continuous glass ribbons are disclosed. An apparatus includes a translatable support portion and a heating apparatus coupled to the support portion. The heating apparatus is configured to contact the continuous glass ribbon across at least a portion of a width of the continuous glass ribbon at the desired line of separation as the support portion moves in a draw direction, thereby preferentially applying heat to a first side of the continuous glass ribbon at the desired line of separation as the continuous glass ribbon moves in the draw direction.

Abstract: A method for forming a metal flow module includes stacking together a first metal plate having opposing first and second major surfaces and one or more flow channels defined at least in part in the first major surface with a second metal plate having opposing first and second major surfaces, the plates stacked together with their respective first major surfaces facing each other and with a layer of flux positioned in between contacting portions of the respective first major surfaces defined as those portions of the respective first and second major surfaces which would be in contact absent the flux; then heating the plates together in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to thermally bond the contacting portions of the respective first major surfaces of the first and second metal plates. Resulting modules are also disclosed.

Abstract: A patterned article that includes: an alkali silicate glass substrate comprising a thickness and a primary surface, the substrate having a bulk composition; a patterned region defined by at least a portion of the primary surface; and a compressive stress region that extends from the at least a portion of the primary surface to a first depth within the substrate. The patterned region comprises a surface roughness (Ra) from about 1 nm to about 600 nm and at least one of a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of depressions. Further, each of the compressive stress region and the patterned region comprises a concentration of at least one alkali metal ion that is different than the concentration of the at least one alkali metal ion in the bulk composition.

Abstract: An automated sandwich lidding tool is provided and comprises means for placing one slice of bread on top of another.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical fiber, the method including drawing a bare optical fiber from an optical fiber preform along a draw pathway. The method further includes during the drawing step, moving a first fluid bearing from a first position to a second position, the first position being removed from the draw pathway and the second position being disposed in the draw pathway such that the movement of the first fluid bearing to the second position causes at least a first portion of the draw pathway to change direction.

Abstract: A patterned article that includes: an alkali silicate glass substrate comprising a thickness and a primary surface, the substrate having a bulk composition; a patterned region defined by at least a portion of the primary surface; and a compressive stress region that extends from the at least a portion of the primary surface to a first depth within the substrate. The patterned region comprises a surface roughness (Ra) from about 1 nm to about 600 nm and at least one of a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of depressions. Further, each of the compressive stress region and the patterned region comprises a concentration of at least one alkali metal ion that is different than the concentration of the at least one alkali metal ion in the bulk composition.

Abstract: Food manipulation apparatus (10) is provided and comprises manipulation means (20) which moves two parts of a food item (30) between a first relative disposition and a second relative disposition. Furthermore, a robot (70) may be provided to place the food item (30) into a container (85).

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure generally relates to a wearable physiological device comprising: (a) a first housing assembly comprising: a first housing body; a first circuit assembly removably coupled to the first housing body; a user interface assembly communicatively connected to the first circuit assembly; and (b) a second housing assembly removably coupled to the first housing assembly, the second housing assembly comprising: a second housing body; a second circuit assembly removably coupled to the second housing body, the second circuit assembly comprising a set of physiological sensors; a removable battery disposed on the second circuit assembly; and a flexible connector communicatively connecting the second circuit assembly to the first circuit assembly, wherein the set of physiological sensors are configured for measuring physiological signals from a user wearing the wearable physiological device, the physiological signals communicable to the user interface assembly.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for heating moving continuous glass ribbons at desired lines of separation and/or for separating glass sheets from continuous glass ribbons are disclosed. An apparatus includes a translatable support portion and a heating apparatus coupled to the support portion. The heating apparatus is configured to contact the continuous glass ribbon across at least a portion of a width of the continuous glass ribbon at the desired line of separation as the support portion moves in a draw direction, thereby preferentially applying heat to a first side of the continuous glass ribbon at the desired line of separation as the continuous glass ribbon moves in the draw direction.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for heating moving continuous glass ribbons at desired lines of separation and/or for separating glass sheets from continuous glass ribbons are disclosed. An apparatus includes a translatable support portion and a heating apparatus coupled to the support portion. The heating apparatus is configured to contact the continuous glass ribbon across at least a portion of a width of the continuous glass ribbon at the desired line of separation as the support portion moves in a draw direction, thereby preferentially applying heat to a first side of the continuous glass ribbon at the desired line of separation as the continuous glass ribbon moves in the draw direction.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for heating moving continuous glass ribbons at desired lines of separation and/or for separating glass sheets from continuous glass ribbons are disclosed. An apparatus includes a translatable support portion and a heating apparatus coupled to the support portion. The heating apparatus is configured to contact the continuous glass ribbon across at least a portion of a width of the continuous glass ribbon at the desired line of separation as the support portion moves in a draw direction, thereby preferentially applying heat to a first side of the continuous glass ribbon at the desired line of separation as the continuous glass ribbon moves in the draw direction.

Abstract: A video processing system (10) for automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) provides an interface between video cameras (14, 16) and a host computer (20) through a single high speed USB connection (18). The system (10) supports four simultaneous composite video channels (28A, 28B, 28C, 28D) with two channels dedicated to an IR monochrome video and two channels dedicated to color video. Compression software incorporates a high speed memory for buffering and stripping unnecessary data from a digitized data stream. Monochrome channel data and color channel data are marked with an incrementing index to tag them with frame identification. As a result, processing software in the host computer can re-align the monochrome and color video information after processing a license plate image, regardless of the order of data arrival. Color overview and monochrome recognition images are provided at the same time, and thus show the same plate or vehicle.

Abstract: A video processing system (10) for automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) provides an interface between video cameras (14, 16) and a host computer (20) through a single high speed USB connection (18). The system (10) supports four simultaneous composite video channels (28A, 28B, 28C, 28D) with two channels dedicated to an IR monochrome video and two channels dedicated to color video. Compression software incorporates a high speed memory for buffering and stripping unnecessary data from a digitized data stream. Monochrome channel data and color channel data are marked with an incrementing index to tag them with frame identification. As a result, processing software in the host computer can re-align the monochrome and color video information after processing a license plate image, regardless of the order of data arrival. Color overview and monochrome recognition images are provided at the same time, and thus show the same plate or vehicle.

Abstract: An integrated platform is provided for digitizing checks and other documents, including the processing of the digitized checks in accordance with Check 21 standards and requirements, and for reading and decoding optical codes. The integrated platform includes a document scanner or digitizer for digitizing checks and other documents, and a data capture device for imaging and scanning optical codes, and sensing RFID optical code signals. The processor executes application software for processing the digitized checks in accordance with Check 21 standards and requirements and for operating the data capture device.