Abstract: An apparatus and method for imaging using microwave or terahertz radiation are described. The apparatus comprises: a cell comprising a vapour of atoms; one or more laser beams propagating through said cell, said one or more laser beams defining a sensing region in said cell; an imaging beam for illuminating an object receiving area for receiving an object to be imaged, said imaging beam comprising microwave or terahertz radiation; an imaging system for focusing the imaging beam to form, in use, an image of said object at said sensing region in said cell; wherein respective frequencies of said one or more laser beams and said imaging beam are such that at least some of said atoms, when subjected to radiation of both said one or more laser beams and said imaging beam, are excited to a final excited state which decays to a lower energy state by emission of optical fluorescence.

Abstract: A circuit, e.g., a CMOS sensor, with individually addressable transfer transistors and individually addressable reset transistors is described. Through the individually addressable transistors, pixels within different regions of interest, of the same or different size and/or the same or different exposure times, can be efficiently processed. Different regions of interest may be exposed concurrently and read out independently.

Abstract: A switchable grill grate assembly for a cooking or barbecue grill includes a main frame configured to rest on top of a cooking grill. The main frame provides an open support framework for a horizontal slide track which extends from one end of the support framework to the other. Separate grill grate sections engage with the slide track in a manner that allows one grill grate section to be constrained to sliding back and forth on the slide track and the other grill grate section to be lifted upwardly off of the slide track and rotated up and over the other grill grate section as the first grill grate section slides underneath the second grill grate section.

Abstract: An electrifiable projectile for an insect zapper gun is capable of killing a target insect at a distance from the user. The projectile includes a pattern of electric wires forming a front-facing conductive contact structure having a breadth sufficient to allow the projectile to intercept an insect when propelled in a forward trajectory toward an insect. When the projectile's pattern of electric wires comes into contact with the target insect, an electric charge on the projectile is transmitted to the insect rendering the insect deceased.

Abstract: A high availability aircraft network architecture incorporating smart points of presence (SPoP) is disclosed. In embodiments, the network architecture divides the aircraft into districts, or physical subdivisions. Each district includes one or more mission systems (MS) smart network access point (SNAP) devices for connecting MS components and devices located within its district to the MS network. Similarly, each district includes one or more air vehicle systems (AVS) SNAP devices for connecting AVS components and devices within the district to the AVS network. The AVS network may remain in a star or hub-and-spoke topology, while the MS network may be configured in a ring or mesh topology. Selected MS and AVS SNAP devices may be connected to each other via guarded network bridges to securely interconnect the MS and AVS networks.

Abstract: An insect zapper gun is capable of killing a target insect at a distance from the user. The zapper gun incudes an electrifiable projectile fired from a handheld base. When the projectile comes into contact with the target insect, an electric charge on the projectile is transmitted to the insect rendering the insect deceased.

Abstract: A smart network access point (SNAP) device is disclosed. In embodiments, the SNAP device includes trunk ports for accepting a network trunk cable (e.g., fiber optic trunk) and thereby connecting the SNAP device to an aircraft-based network of SNAP devices. The SNAP device includes switch ports for incorporating physical connections to mission systems (MS) or air vehicle systems (AVS) components and devices, providing a local smart point of presence (SPoP) throughout a physical subdivision (e.g., network district) of an aircraft. The SNAP device is configured for monitoring data exchanges between local MS/AVS components and the aircraft network. The SNAP device includes a cybersecurity module for connecting to local security components (e.g., data guards and multiple levels of security (MLS) encryption/decryption) or for providing built-in data guard and encryption/decryption services. The SNAP device includes power control components for managing power distribution to the connected local network components.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a package delivery person's device for receiving and reporting a voice confirmation of a package delivery is described. In an example, a package label is scanned, by an operator using a portable scanning and communications device, to identify the package and begin the delivery confirmation process. A time-limited audio recording of a recorded voice proof of delivery that records audio for a determined short period of time is recorded, where a duration of the time-limited audio recording is configurable. The time-limited audio recording is stored at the portable scanning and communications device and is sent from the portable scanning and communications device to a central storage.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for imaging using microwave or terahertz radiation are described. The apparatus (10) comprises: a cell (12) comprising a vapour of atoms; one or more laser beams (14) propagating through said cell (12), said one or more laser beams (14) defining a sensing region (15) in said cell (12); an imaging beam (16) for illuminating an object receiving area for receiving an object (18) to be imaged, said imaging beam (16) comprising microwave or terahertz radiation; an imaging system (20, 22) for focussing the imaging beam (16) to form, in use, an image of said object (18) at said sensing region (15) in said cell (12); wherein respective frequencies of said one or more laser beams (14) and said imaging beam (16) are such that at least some of said atoms, when subjected to radiation of both said one or more laser beams (14) and said imaging beam (16), are excited to a final excited state which decays to a lower energy state by emission of optical fluorescence (24).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and methods for assessing the surface of a target cardiac tissue and for delivering a tissue anchor to cardiac tissue at a preselected depth within the myocardium in a beating heart procedure. In one variation, an anchor delivery device comprises an elongate body, a tissue anchor disposed within a first longitudinal lumen of the elongate body, and a tissue depth indicator slidable within a second longitudinal lumen of the elongate body. The tissue depth indicator has a first configuration that indicates the boundary of the surface of the target tissue and a second configuration that indicates when the distal tip of the elongate body has been advanced to a preselected depth into the target tissue. In some variations, a tissue depth indicator may also be configured to resist or limit the penetration of the delivery device into tissue after a preselected depth has been reached.

Abstract: A high availability aircraft network architecture incorporating smart points of presence (SPoP) is disclosed. In embodiments, the network architecture divides the aircraft into districts, or physical subdivisions. Each district includes one or more mission systems (MS) smart network access point (SNAP) devices for connecting MS components and devices located within its district to the MS network. Similarly, each district includes one or more air vehicle systems (AVS) SNAP devices for connecting AVS components and devices within the district to the AVS network. The AVS network may remain in a star or hub-and-spoke topology, while the MS network may be configured in a ring or mesh topology. Selected MS and AVS SNAP devices may be connected to each other via guarded network bridges to securely interconnect the MS and AVS networks.

Abstract: A smart network access point (SNAP) device is disclosed. In embodiments, the SNAP device includes trunk ports for accepting a network trunk cable (e.g., fiber optic trunk) and thereby connecting the SNAP device to an aircraft-based network of SNAP devices. The SNAP device includes switch ports for incorporating physical connections to mission systems (MS) or air vehicle systems (AVS) components and devices, providing a local smart point of presence (SPoP) throughout a physical subdivision (e.g., network district) of an aircraft. The SNAP device is configured for monitoring data exchanges between local MS/AVS components and the aircraft network. The SNAP device includes a cybersecurity module for connecting to local security components (e.g., data guards and multiple levels of security (MLS) encryption/decryption) or for providing built-in data guard and encryption/decryption services. The SNAP device includes power control components for managing power distribution to the connected local network components.

Abstract: Provided are loudspeaker systems. Embodiments include a first speaker to provide a direct radiating output from the front of the loudspeaker system and a second speaker to drive a ported side chamber of the loudspeaker system, wherein the first and second speakers share a ported common chamber, and wherein at least one port of the ported common chamber exits the front of the loudspeaker system. In one embodiment, the common chamber includes at least one port that is substantially aligned with the front of the loudspeaker system. In another embodiment, each speaker is coupled to a separate amplifier and signal processing unit.

Abstract: An analytics and device management platform includes a computer processor and instructions executing on the computer processor and causing the platform to obtain metrics from at least one endpoint. Each of the metrics is a quantification of a phenomenon detected in at least one of audio and video data obtained from an endpoint facilitating communication between meeting attendees. The instructions further cause the platform to generate indicators based on the metrics. Each of the indicators is a numeric descriptor derived from at least one of the metrics, and each of the indicators is of potential relevance to a user of the platform to inform a decision by the user. The instructions also cause the platform to determine at least one insight based on the indicators. The at least one insight is an indicator determined to be of relevance to the user to inform the decision.

Abstract: A circuit, e.g., a CMOS sensor, with individually addressable transfer transistors and individually addressable reset transistors is described. Through the individually addressable transistors, pixels within different regions of interest, of the same or different size and/or the same or different exposure times, can be efficiently processed. Different regions of interest may be exposed concurrently and read out independently.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and methods for assessing the surface of a target cardiac tissue and for delivering a tissue anchor to cardiac tissue at a preselected depth within the myocardium in a beating heart procedure. In one variation, an anchor delivery device comprises an elongate body, a tissue anchor disposed within a first longitudinal lumen of the elongate body, and a tissue depth indicator slidable within a second longitudinal lumen of the elongate body. The tissue depth indicator has a first configuration that indicates the boundary of the surface of the target tissue and a second configuration that indicates when the distal tip of the elongate body has been advanced to a preselected depth into the target tissue. In some variations, a tissue depth indicator may also be configured to resist or limit the penetration of the delivery device into tissue after a preselected depth has been reached.

Abstract: A method of shifting an automated transmission in a vehicle comprises tracking vehicle parameters and determining a current gear selection. An upshift threshold can be determined for the current gear selection. Future gradient conditions are determined in a lookahead distance and are processed to determine a first percentage of future conditions that are above a selected gradient threshold. The first percentage of future conditions is compared to a selected first percentage limit to determine that the first percentage of future conditions is within the first percentage limit. The upshift threshold for the current gear selection is adjusted to change the vehicle parameter at which the vehicle transmission shifts from the current gear selection to the adjacent gear. The automated transmission is computer-controlled to shift to the adjacent gear according to the adjusted upshift threshold. A downshift threshold can also be adjusted.

Abstract: A method and system for wrapping meat in containers is provided. The method and system provide a modified atmosphere, other than that which exists as standard air, to a container such that a final sealed product contains an internal volume or atmosphere of modified gas. In-line processing features dispense the desired modified gas such that minimal interruption is provided in an automated or partially automated packing operation.

Abstract: An electrical machine has a nonmetallic housing having a stator band and an endplate, wherein the laminated stator core is in self-locked engagement with the housing. Another electrical machine has a unitary nonmetallic housing with an integral stator band and an integral endplate, wherein the laminated stator core is over-molded with the housing. Yet another electrical machine has a unitary nonmetallic housing with an integral stator band and an integral endplate, wherein the laminated stator core is in engagement with the stator band with an interference fit.

Abstract: A method of shifting an automated transmission in a vehicle comprises tracking vehicle parameters and determining a current gear selection. An upshift threshold can be determined for the current gear selection. Future gradient conditions are determined in a lookahead distance and are processed to determine a first percentage of future conditions that are above a selected gradient threshold. The first percentage of future conditions is compared to a selected first percentage limit to determine that the first percentage of future conditions is within the first percentage limit. The upshift threshold for the current gear selection is adjusted to change the vehicle parameter at which the vehicle transmission shifts from the current gear selection to the adjacent gear. The automated transmission is computer-controlled to shift to the adjacent gear according to the adjusted upshift threshold. A downshift threshold can also be adjusted.