Abstract: A computer-implemented method for designing a dispersive optical component includes: (i) defining a loss function within a simulation space composed of multiple voxels, the simulation space encompassing optical interfaces of the component, the loss function corresponding to a target dispersion profile for the component including a relationship between a scattering angle and a wavelength of an incident electromagnetic field for different operative wavelengths; (ii) defining an initial structure for the optical interfaces, at least some of the voxels corresponding to each optical interface having a dimension smaller than a smallest operative wavelength of the component; and (iii) determining, using a computer system, a structure for each optical interface using a finite-difference time domain solver to solve Maxwell's equations so that a loss determined according to the loss function is above a specified threshold.

Abstract: A cardholder authentication method includes receiving, at an authentication network, an authentication request involving an account. The method further includes determining, based at least in part on a portion of an account identifier associated with said account, an authentication service. In addition, the method includes determining, based at least on said authentication service and a portion of said account identifier, an authentication response. The method also includes transmitting, to a merchant associated with a transaction involving said account, said authentication response.

Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer for a boat includes a flywheel shaft having a first end and an opposite second end. The flywheel shaft has first and second open-ended cavities formed on opposing ends. A first uneven seal encloses the first cavity, and a second uneven seal encloses the second cavity. The first and second uneven seals are both configured to provide asymmetric sealing such that greater resistance is provided against flow in a primary sealing direction, from a first side toward a second side, than in a secondary sealing direction, from the second side toward the first side. The first side of the second seal faces inward toward the second cavity, and the second side of the first seal faces inward toward the first cavity. The first and second seals are functionally inverted relative to each other. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved spectral signature strategies for use in a wide range of product and service applications. The present invention encodes spectral signature features into one or more optical brightener compounds and/or one or more infrared absorbing compounds. Equipment is modified with appropriate ultraviolet/violet or infrared LED illumination sources and corresponding detectors, optionally optical filters, and optionally mask elements, in order to read the spectral responses. These features desirably are used in combination with one or more other luminescent taggant compounds.

Abstract: Methods for designing a mode-selective optical device including one or more optical interfaces defining an optical cavity include: defining a loss function within a simulation space encompassing the optical device, the loss function corresponding to an electromagnetic field having an operative wavelength within the optical device resulting from an interaction between an input electromagnetic field at the operative wavelength and the one or more optical interfaces of the optical device; defining an initial structure for each of the one or more optical interfaces, each initial structure being defined using a plurality of voxels; determining values for at least one structural parameter and/or at least one functional parameter of the one or more optical interfaces by solving Maxwell's equations; and defining a final structure of the one or more optical interfaces based on the values for the one or more structural and/or functional parameters.

Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a fertilizer section. The fertilizer section includes a first interface configured to engage a three-point hitch, and a second interface configured to engage an interface of a planter section. Further, the interface of the planter section is configured to engage the three-point hitch.

Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer for a boat includes an enclosure mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure, and a flywheel assembly including a flywheel and flywheel shaft, with the flywheel assembly rotatably mounted inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer also includes a motor operative to rotate the flywheel assembly and disposed inside the enclosure. A motor cooling circuit is configured to transfer heat away from the motor. The motor cooling circuit has a closed fluid pathway for recirculating cooling fluid therein. The fluid pathway includes a fluid channel jointly defined by the motor and the enclosure and having the cooling fluid therein. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer is configured to transfer heat away from the motor to the cooling fluid. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer includes an enclosure, a flywheel assembly, and a motor. The enclosure is mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure. The flywheel assembly is rotatably mounted inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis. The flywheel assembly includes a flywheel and flywheel shaft. The flywheel shaft has a first end and an opposite second end; a first cavity formed in the first end and facing away from the second end; and a second cavity formed in the second end and facing away from the first end. The flywheel shaft has a longitudinal passage connecting the first cavity and the second cavity. This longitudinal passage may be used for inspection of one of the cavities and/or an associated seal, from the direction of the other cavity. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Protocol detection circuits for detecting the field device protocol of a field device attached to a channel having a data line are sequentially connected to the data line by a controller that communicates to the field device through the protocol detection circuits. The protocol detection circuits are disconnected from the field device after protocol detection is completed. The channel may be one of a number of channels; the controller may also connect and disconnect the protocol detection circuits from the one channel whereby the protocol detection circuits can be used with any channel. After the protocol of the field device is identified a protocol adapter can be inserted into the channel to enable data conversion between the field device protocol and an another protocol used by the channel for data transmission.

Abstract: A diverter system for a closing assembly includes a diverter configured to couple to an arm of the closing assembly. The diverter has an engagement surface configured to engage an obstacle within a field, and the diverter is configured to drive the arm upwardly in response to contact between the engagement surface and the obstacle to direct a closing disc of the closing assembly over the obstacle.

Abstract: The invention is directed to systems, methods and apparatus for securing documents. The system comprises a server having a processor and a data storage device for storing documents, at least one document provider connected to the server, the at least one document provider operable to provide user documents to the server for storage in the data storage device, the user documents containing at least one object of security concern, and at least one document consumer connected to the server, the at least one document consumer operable to receive the user documents containing the at least one object of security concern from the server.

Abstract: Fabrics made for apparel, tents, sleeping bags and the like, in various composites, constructed such that there is at least one metal layer, forming a radiant barrier to reduce heat loss via radiation from the human body, and insulating this metal layer from heat loss via conduction, and a process for its manufacture.

Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer for a boat includes a flywheel shaft having a first end and an opposite second end. The flywheel shaft has first and second open-ended cavities formed on opposing ends. A first uneven seal encloses the first cavity, and a second uneven seal encloses the second cavity. The first and second uneven seals are both configured to provide asymmetric sealing such that greater resistance is provided against flow in a primary sealing direction, from a first side toward a second side, than in a secondary sealing direction, from the second side toward the first side. The first side of the second seal faces inward toward the second cavity, and the second side of the first seal faces inward toward the first cavity. The first and second seals are functionally inverted relative to each other. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An example method of determining a state of a key performance indicator (KPI) comprises: receiving one or more entity definitions, wherein each entity definition associates an entity with machine data pertaining to the entity; receiving a service definition for a service provided by one or more entities, the service definition including a reference to a corresponding entity definition of the entity definitions, wherein the service definition includes a respective reference for each of the one or more entities; receiving definitions of one or more KPIs, each KPI defined by a respective search query that produces a value derived from particular machine data, wherein the particular machine data is identified by the service definition, wherein each value is indicative of performance of the service at a point in time or during a period of time; deriving, by performing on the machine data a search query associated with the KPI, one or more KPI values for the KPI; selecting, among a plurality of states of the KPI, a

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a system for providing guided instructional design. The system includes at least one processing device and at least one data storage device in communication with the at least one processing device. The at least one data storage device is configured to store information about at least one course. For each course, the at least one processing device is configured to present at least one predetermined course component to a first user, and for the at least one course component: present at least one course parameter, receive at least one first input from the first user in relation to the at least one course parameter, based on the at least one first input and at least one educational design element, present at least one modified course parameter to the first user; and receive at least one second input from the first user in relation to the at least one modified course parameter.

Abstract: A particle delivery assembly of an agricultural row unit includes a particle tube configured to receive a particle and to deliver the particle toward a trench in soil. The particle tube includes a first body portion, a second body portion, and a hinge coupled to the first body portion and to the second body portion. The hinge is configured to enable the first body portion and the second body portion to pivot relative to one another between an open position of the particle tube and a closed position of the particle tube.

Abstract: Method, apparatuses, and computer program products for automatically tracking a heading of an object. An example method comprising receiving, one or more internal measurement values which pertain to an object; determining an internal heading uncertainty value for each internal measurement value of the one or more internal measurement values; generating, using a probabilistic heading model, an estimated heading data object for the object based at least in part on the one or more internal measurement values; and providing the estimated heading data object to one or more associated user devices.

Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer includes an enclosure, a flywheel assembly, and a motor. The enclosure is mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure. The flywheel assembly is rotatably mounted inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis. The flywheel assembly includes a flywheel and flywheel shaft. The flywheel shaft has a first end and an opposite second end; a first cavity formed in the first end and facing away from the second end; and a second cavity formed in the second end and facing away from the first end. The flywheel shaft has a longitudinal passage connecting the first cavity and the second cavity. This longitudinal passage may be used for inspection of one of the cavities and/or an associated seal, from the direction of the other cavity. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer for a boat includes an enclosure mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure, and a flywheel assembly including a flywheel and flywheel shaft, with the flywheel assembly rotatably mounted inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer also includes a motor operative to rotate the flywheel assembly and disposed inside the enclosure. A motor cooling circuit is configured to transfer heat away from the motor. The motor cooling circuit has a closed fluid pathway for recirculating cooling fluid therein. The fluid pathway includes a fluid channel jointly defined by the motor and the enclosure and having the cooling fluid therein. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer is configured to transfer heat away from the motor to the cooling fluid. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a precursor dispenser for dispensing a precursor material into a workspace, one or more acoustic sources configured to direct acoustic waves towards the workspace to provide acoustic fields that arrange the precursor material in a three-dimensional shape in the workspace, one or more sensors configured to detect a distribution of the precursor material in the workspace, and an electronic controller in communication with the precursor dispenser, the one or more acoustic sources, and the one or more sensors, the electronic controller being programmed to cause the one or more acoustic sources to adjust the acoustic fields to reduce deviations in the distribution of the precursor material from the three-dimensional shape in the workspace.