Abstract: A carrier card for reduced width circuit card assemblies are described. The carrier card includes a U-shaped design. A daughter card mounts in a void in the carrier card in a co-planar fashion. The carrier card includes an upper member; a lateral member, a lower member and a front panel with optional snout. The lateral member or other member includes a carrier card electrical and/or optical connector. The lower member or other member includes a mating electrical and/or optical connector to connect with the daughter card. The upper member, the lateral member, and the lower member form or define the void. A front panel connects with the upper and lower member and, optionally, the daughter card to provide structural integrity and provides additional I/O for the assembly.

Abstract: An actuator system includes an actuator with a deformable shell defining a pouch, a fluid dielectric contained within the pouch, and first and second electrodes disposed over opposing sides of the pouch, each electrode having two long edges and two short edges. The system also includes a power source for providing a voltage between the electrodes. The electrodes cover 50 to 90% of the first and second sides, respectively, of the pouch, and a gap is defined between long edges of the pouch and the electrodes such that, upon application of the voltage at one of the short edges of the electrodes, respectively, the electrodes selectively zip together from the one of the short edges toward an opposing one of the short edges. The system may also include a support structure for enabling the actuator to maintain its shape regardless of the voltage provided by the power source.

Abstract: A cargo restraint system may comprise an inner shaft and a first outer tube coaxially configured to rotate about an axis and a first restraint located about the first outer tube and configured to rotate about the axis. A second outer tube coupled to the inner shaft configured to rotate about the axis and a second restraint located about the second outer tube and configured to rotate about the axis. The first restraint and the second restraint may include a head configured to rotate about the axis and a plunger configured to translate between an engaged state and a disengaged state.

Abstract: A cargo restraint system may comprise a restraint and an actuator shaft configured to rotate the restraint between a raised position and a stowed position. The restraint may include a head configured to rotate about an axis and a plunger configured to translate between an engaged state and a disengaged state. When the plunger is in the engaged state, the head is rotationally coupled to the actuator shaft. When the plunger is in the disengaged state, the head can rotate independently of the actuator shaft.

Abstract: An improved crutch includes an improved shock absorbing mechanism, lighting components, and an improved tip component. The improved shock absorber mechanism utilizes compressible spheres that are compressed when a person supports all or partial of their body weight onto the crutch and are uncompressed when the weigh is removed. This compression of the spheres absorbs any impact from the walking surface to the person's body. The elasticity of the compressible spheres is adjusted by forming a central through-opening through the sphere, varying the number of the sphere, their diameter and material.

Abstract: A cargo restraint system includes a driving shaft, a first restraint, and a second restraint. The first restraint is operatively coupled to the driving shaft via a first indexing mechanism arrangement. The second restraint is operatively coupled to the driving shaft via a second indexing mechanism arrangement. The first and second indexing mechanism arrangements are arranged such that rotation of the driving shaft in a first rotational direction causes the first restraint to rotate between a lowered position and a raised position, and further rotation of the driving shaft in the same rotational direction causes the second restraint to rotate between the lowered position and the raised position. The first restraint may be axially offset from the second restraint to allow sequential loading and unloading of cargo.

Abstract: A cargo restraint system includes a driveshaft having a plurality of drive pins and a plurality of first restraints each configured to actuate between a lowered position and a raised position. Each of the plurality of first restraints includes a head to actuate between the lowered position and the raised position, a drive disk rotatably coupled to the head and having a notch to receive a respective drive pin of the plurality of drive pins, and a locking disk to be received by the drive disk in response to the head being in the raised position. The cargo restraint system further includes a handle coupled to the driveshaft and configured to translate the driveshaft and to actuate such that the respective drive pin is received by the notch of the respective first restraint to move the respective first restraint between the lowered position and the raised position.

Abstract: A cargo restraint system includes a driveshaft having a plurality of drive pins and a plurality of first restraints each configured to actuate between a lowered position and a raised position. Each of the plurality of first restraints includes a head to actuate between the lowered position and the raised position, a drive disk rotatably coupled to the head and having a notch to receive a respective drive pin of the plurality of drive pins, and a locking disk to be received by the drive disk in response to the head being in the raised position. The cargo restraint system further includes a handle coupled to the driveshaft and configured to translate the driveshaft and to actuate such that the respective drive pin is received by the notch of the respective first restraint to move the respective first restraint between the lowered position and the raised position.

Abstract: A system for controlling access to priority access wireless resources divides a radio spectrum into first wireless resources for use by general access devices and second wireless resources for use by priority access devices. A base station receives, from a server, information concerning the first and second wireless resources, including resource entries corresponding to each of the first and second wireless resources. Upon receiving a request for available wireless resources from a general access device, the base station provides one of the resource entries corresponding to the second wireless resources. The system includes a general access device which aggregates resource entries for the first and second resources for communication with another general access device. When the general access device detects priority access to the second resource, the general access device either releases the second resource or reduces transmission power on the aggregated first and second resources.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a class of diol-based, unsaturated aliphatic polyesters that biodegrade into monomers capable of mitigating infection. These poly(diol fumarates) (PDFs) and poly(diol fumarate-co-succinates) (PDFSs), can be crosslinked to form networks of scaffolds with antimicrobial degradation products. Both the diol carbon length and the degree of available double bonds are tunable, resulting in a highly controllable class of antimicrobial polymers useful for cell scaffolds and drug delivery systems and devices.

Abstract: Techniques for spread spectrum wireless over non-contiguous channels are described. In at least some embodiments, a set of channels is selected for wireless communication, with at least some of the channels being non-contiguous (e.g., non-adjacent) from one another. A spreading sequence is selected, such as based on attributes of a selected set of channels. Communication data that is to be transmitted over the set of channels is combined with the spreading sequence to generate a spread spectrum signal. The spread spectrum signal is then divided into multiple sub-signals for transmission over the set of channels.

Abstract: A Venturi device for introducing a second fluid into a first fluid includes a T-joint, a converging component, and a diverging component. The T-joint component includes a first elongated tube extending along a first direction and a second elongated tube extending along a second direction being perpendicular to the first direction. The converging component is shaped and dimensioned to slip fit within a first through-opening of the first elongated tube through a first inlet port and has a cross-section that decreases along the first direction from the first inlet port to an inner section of the first though-opening. The diverging component is shaped and dimensioned to slip fit within the first through-opening of the first elongated tube through an outlet port and has a cross-section that increases along the first direction from the inner section of the first though-opening to the outlet port. The converging component is coaxially aligned with the diverging component along the first direction.

Abstract: A Venturi device for introducing a second fluid into a first fluid includes a T-joint, a converging component, and a diverging component. The T-joint component includes a first elongated tube extending along a first direction and a second elongated tube extending along a second direction. The converging component is shaped and dimensioned to slip fit within a first through-opening of the first elongated tube through a first inlet port and has a cross-section that decreases along the first direction from the first inlet port to an inner section of the first though-opening. The diverging component is shaped and dimensioned to slip fit within the first through-opening of the first elongated tube through an outlet port and has a cross-section that increases along the first direction from the inner section of the first though-opening to the outlet port. The converging component is coaxially aligned with the diverging component along the first direction.

Abstract: A method for facilitating communication between a mobile object and a remote system may include obtaining channel information indicating which wireless channels are available in a plurality of locations along a route to be traveled by the mobile object. The channel information may be used to select one or more available wireless channels for communicating with at least one relay station while the mobile object travels along the route. One or more messages may be sent to the remote system via the at least one relay station. Wireless communication between the mobile object and the at least one relay station may occur via the one or more available wireless channels.

Abstract: A system for controlling access to priority access wireless resources divides a radio spectrum into first wireless resources for use by general access devices and second wireless resources for use by priority access devices. A base station receives, from a server, information concerning the first and second wireless resources, including resource entries corresponding to each of the first and second wireless resources. Upon receiving a request for available wireless resources from a general access device, the base station provides one of the resource entries corresponding to the second wireless resources. The system includes a general access device which aggregates resource entries for the first and second resources for communication with another general access device. When the general access device detects priority access to the second resource, the general access device either releases the second resource or reduces transmission power on the aggregated first and second resources.

Abstract: Techniques for priority access to a priority access channel are described. In at least some embodiments, a portion of the radio spectrum is divided into general access (GA) channels and priority access (PA) channels. Levels of access to the different channels are controlled based upon priority levels of devices attempting to access the channels. For instance, embodiments employ a channel database that tracks available GA channels and PA channels, and notifies various devices of the available channels. The channel database may also track keys for PA channels that enable authentication of devices for priority access to PA channels. In at least some embodiments, tracking available GA channels and PA channels enables underutilized radio channels to be identified for various uses, such as for wireless broadband communication.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for providing information related to a shared frequency spectrum to a wireless network that lacks Internet connectivity. The system may include one or more processors and memory including instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to perform operations. The operations may include receiving registration of the wireless network when a vehicle is within a communication range of the wireless network, querying a database on behalf of the wireless network when an Internet connection is available, receiving query results including the information related to the shared frequency spectrum, and communicating the information related to the shared frequency spectrum to the wireless network when the vehicle or a proxy of the vehicle is again within the communication range of the wireless network.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for providing information related to a shared frequency spectrum to a wireless network that lacks Internet connectivity. The system may include one or more processors and memory including instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to perform operations. The operations may include receiving registration of the wireless network when a vehicle is within a communication range of the wireless network, querying a database on behalf of the wireless network when an Internet connection is available, receiving query results including the information related to the shared frequency spectrum, and communicating the information related to the shared frequency spectrum to the wireless network when the vehicle or a proxy of the vehicle is again within the communication range of the wireless network.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a class of diol-based, unsaturated aliphatic polyesters that biodegrade into monomers capable of mitigating infection. These poly(diol fumarates) (PDFs) and poly(diol fumarate-co-succinates) (PDFSs), can be crosslinked to form networks of scaffolds with antimicrobial degradation products. Both the diol carbon length and the degree of available double bonds are tunable, resulting in a highly controllable class of antimicrobial polymers useful for cell scaffolds and drug delivery systems and devices.

Abstract: Techniques for spread spectrum wireless over non-contiguous channels are described. In at least some embodiments, a set of channels is selected for wireless communication, with at least some of the channels being non-contiguous (e.g., non-adjacent) from one another. A spreading sequence is selected, such as based on attributes of a selected set of channels. Communication data that is to be transmitted over the set of channels is combined with the spreading sequence to generate a spread spectrum signal. The spread spectrum signal is then divided into multiple sub-signals for transmission over the set of channels.