Abstract: Systems are described for monitoring environmental conditions around extremities to aid in preventing damage associated with physical impact. A device embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a deformable substrate configured to conform to a skin surface of a body portion; a sensor assembly coupled to the deformable substrate, the sensor assembly including a proximity sensor configured to generate a sense signal associated with a proximity of an environmental object relative to the body portion; circuitry operably coupled to the sensor assembly and configured to receive the sense signal associated with the proximity of an environmental object relative to the body portion; and a reporting device operably coupled to the circuitry and configured to generate a communication signal associated with one or more of the environmental object or the proximity of the environmental object relative to the body portion responsive to instruction by the circuitry.

Abstract: Structures and protocols are presented for signaling a status or decision concerning a wireless service or device within a region to a network participant or other communication device (smartphone or motor vehicle, e.g.).

Abstract: A hands-free intercom may include a user-tracking sensor, a directional microphone, a directional sound emitter, a display device, and/or a communication interface. The user-tracking sensor may determine a location of a user so the directional microphone can measure vocal emissions by the user and the directional sound emitter can deliver audio to the user. The hands-free intercom may induce the user to move to a desired location and/or to stay within a connectivity area. The hands-free intercom may also or instead induce the user to face in a desired orientation. The directional sound emitter and/or the display device may induce the user by explicitly indicating the desired location, by adjusting an apparent source of the audio or video, by changing quality of delivered audio or video based on user position, by producing irritating audio or video, and/or the like.

Abstract: A thermal insulator includes a plurality of layers. At least some of the layers include phononic crystals having a phononic bandgap, wherein heat transporting phonons within a selected range of frequencies are substantially blocked by each phononic crystal layer. The plurality of layers thermally isolate a first region from a second region, wherein the first region is at one end of the plurality of layers and the second region is at the other end of the plurality of layers.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a garment system including at least one muscle or at least one joint activity sensor, and at least one actuator that operates responsive to sensing feedback from the at least one muscle or the at least one joint activity sensor to cause a flexible compression garment to selectively compress against or selectively relieve compression against at least one body part of a subject. Embodiments disclosed herein also relate to methods of using such garment systems.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include methods, computer software program products, and systems for providing haptic feedback regarding software-initiated changes to user-entered text input. Given by way of illustration and not of limitation, in an illustrative method a first signal indicative of an autochange to user-entered text is received from an autocorrect module. The autochange is compared to a set of autochange attributes. A second signal is generated by a haptic feedback module responsive to comparing the autochange to a set of autochange attributes. The second signal is provided to a haptic feedback device, and haptic feedback is generated with the haptic feedback device responsive to the second signal.

Abstract: Systems are described for analyzing an environment. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a plurality of sensors, each sensor configured for positioning proximate a respective environmental object, each sensor configured to generate output signals corresponding to a proximity of a human appendage with the sensor or an impact between the human appendage and the respective environmental object; a remote device configured to distinctly identify each of the plurality of sensors and to receive the output signals from each sensor; a processor configured to process the output signals to provide an indication of at least one of the proximity of the human appendage with the sensor or when an impact between the human appendage and the respective environmental object occurs based on a threshold value being exceeded; and an output reporter configured to generate communication signals responsive to instruction by the processor.

Abstract: A power supply system for a data center includes a cooling circuit, an electrochemical power generator, a sensor, and a processor. The cooling circuit includes a fluid configured to receive heat energy generated by a server located in the data center. The electrochemical power generator is configured to receive and/or generate the fluid of the cooling circuit and to generate electrical energy for the server using the fluid. The sensor is configured to obtain data regarding the server. The processor is configured to control an amount of heat energy transferred from the server to the fluid based on the data.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system, method, and apparatus. The apparatus includes a magnetic substrate at least partially covered by a first negative-permittivity layer comprising a first plasmonic outer surface. The apparatus includes a plasmonic nanoparticle having a magnetic element at least partially covered by a second negative-permittivity layer comprising a second plasmonic outer surface. The apparatus includes a dielectric-filled gap between the first plasmonic outer surface and the second outer surface. The first plasmonic outer surface, the dielectric-filled gap, and the second plasmonic outer surface are configured to support one or more mutually coupled plasmonic excitations.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with determining velocity and/or acceleration information using ultrasound. A system may include one or more ultrasonic transmitters and/or receivers. An ultrasonic transmitter may be configured to transmit ultrasound into a region bounded by one or more surfaces. The ultrasonic receiver may detect a Doppler shift of reflected ultrasound to determine an acceleration and/or velocity associated with an object. The velocity and/or acceleration information may be utilized to modify the state of a gaming system, entertainment system, infotainment system, and/or other device. The velocity and/or acceleration date may be used in combination with a mapping or positioning system that generates positional data associated with the objects.

Abstract: Systems are described for analyzing an environment. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a plurality of tags, at least one tag configured to be coupled to a substrate, at least one other tag configured to be coupled to an environmental object; a remote reader positioned remotely from the plurality of tags and configured to distinctly identify each of the plurality of tags; a processor operably coupled to the remote reader and configured to receive one or more output signals from the remote reader, the one or more output signals corresponding to a threshold associated with the at least one tag coupled to the substrate and the at least one other tag configured to be coupled to the environmental object; and an output reporter operably coupled to the processor and configured to generate one or more communication signals responsive to instruction by the processor.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for initiating a monitoring session between a user device and a pet monitoring system including a base station and a plurality of monitoring devices. The base station receives a request to monitor the pet from the user device, activates the plurality of monitoring devices, receives data from the plurality of monitoring devices, locates the pet based on the received data from the plurality of monitoring devices, selects a selected monitoring device of the plurality of monitoring devices based upon at least one of the data from the plurality of monitoring devices and the location of the pet, and transmits the data from the selected monitoring device to the user device.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are described for providing, among other things, an intra-oral x-ray imaging system configured to reduce patient exposure to x-rays, reduce amount of scatter, transmission, or re-radiation during imaging, or improve x-ray image quality. In an embodiment, an intra-oral x-ray imaging system includes an intra-oral x-ray sensor configured to communicate intra-oral x-ray sensor position information or intra-oral x-ray sensor orientation information to a remote x-ray source.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments provide modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactors and methods for their operation. Illustrative embodiments and aspects include, without limitation, modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactors, modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactor modules, methods of operating a modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactor, and the like.

Abstract: Systems are described for analyzing an environment. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a tag and a reader pair, the tag and the reader configured for individual positioning proximate a human appendage and an environmental object, wherein the reader is configured to identify the tag; a substrate configured to conform to the human appendage, the substrate coupled to at least one of the tag or the reader, the other of the tag or the reader configured to be coupled to the environmental object; a processor operably coupled to the reader and configured to receive one or more output signals from the reader, the one or more output signals corresponding to a threshold associated with the tag or the reader; and an output reporter operably coupled to the processor and configured to generate one or more communication signals responsive to instruction by the processor.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are described for providing, among other things, an intra-oral x-ray imaging system configured to reduce patient exposure to x-rays, reduce amount of scatter, transmission, or re-radiation during imaging, or improve x-ray image quality. In an embodiment, an intra-oral x-ray imaging system includes an intra-oral x-ray sensor configured to communicate intra-oral x-ray sensor position information or intra-oral x-ray sensor orientation information to a remote x-ray source.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments provide a nuclear fission reactor, that includes a reactor vessel, a nuclear fission fuel element capable of generating a gaseous fission product, a valve body defining a plenum for receiving the gaseous fission product, and a valve in operative communication with the plenum for controllably venting the gaseous fission product from the plenum.

Abstract: A helmet testing apparatus including a movable member, a sensor coupled to the movable member and configured to acquire compliance data regarding a liner disposed within a shell of a helmet through engagement of the sensor with the liner, and a processing circuit configured to determine a rating for the helmet based on the compliance data and predetermined compliance parameters for the helmet.

Abstract: A nuclear fission reactor fuel assembly adapted to permit expansion of the nuclear fuel contained therein. The fuel assembly comprises an enclosure having enclosure walls to sealingly enclose a nuclear fuel foam defining a plurality of interconnected open-cell voids or a plurality of closed-cell voids. The voids permit expansion of the foam toward the voids, which expansion may be due to heat generation and/or fission gas release. The voids shrink or reduce in volume as the foam expands. Pressure on the enclosure walls is substantially reduced because the foam expands toward and even into the voids rather than against the enclosure walls. Thus, the voids provide space into which the foam can expand.

Abstract: Embodiments include a gain system and method. The system includes a gain medium with a plurality of plasmonic apparatus. Each plasmonic apparatus includes a substrate having a first plasmonic surface, a plasmonic nanoparticle having a second plasmonic surface, and a dielectric-filled gap between the first plasmonic surface and the second plasmonic surface. A plasmonic cavity is created by an assembly of the first plasmonic surface, the second plasmonic surface, and the dielectric-filled gap, and has a first fundamental wavelength ?1 and second fundamental wavelength ?2. Fluorescent particles are located in the dielectric-filled gap. Each fluorescent particle has an absorption spectrum at the first fundamental wavelength ?1 and an emission spectrum at the second fundamental wavelength ?2. An excitation applied to the gain medium at the first fundamental wavelength ?1 produces an amplified electromagnetic wave emission at the second resonant wavelength ?2.