Abstract: A micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) device includes a MEMS substrate, at least one movable element laterally confined within a matrix layer that overlies the MEMS substrate, and a cap substrate bonded to the matrix layer through bonding material portions. A first movable element selected from the at least one movable element is located inside a first chamber that is laterally bounded by the matrix layer and vertically bounded by a first capping surface that overlies the first movable element. The first capping surface includes an array of downward-protruding bumps including respective portions of a dielectric material layer. Each of the downward-protruding bumps has a vertical cross-sectional profile of an inverted hillock. The MEMS device can include, for example, an accelerometer.

Abstract: A manually operated toy pneumatic launcher for launching a ball projectile. The pneumatic launcher has a housing with a first section and a second section that move relative to each other. At least one handle extends from the second section that rotates through a range of motion. A base tube is affixed to the second section. A launch tube is affixed to the first section. The launch tube extends into the base tube creating a telescoping tube assembly. A mechanism is provided that is powered by the handle moving through its range of motion. The mechanism includes a gear box, a lever arm, and a slide that act together to linearly move the first section of the housing relative to the second section. This selectively changes the length of the telescoping tube assembly, therein enabling the telescoping assembly to compress and release air in the launching of the projectile.

Abstract: A synthetic world interface may be used to model digital environments, sensors, and motions for the evaluation, development, and improvement of computer vision and speech algorithms. A synthetic data cloud service with a library of sensor primitives, motion generators, and environments with procedural and game-like capabilities, facilitates engineering design for a manufactural solution that has computer vision and speech capabilities. In some embodiments, a sensor platform simulator operates with a motion orchestrator, an environment orchestrator, an experiment generator, and an experiment runner to test various candidate hardware configurations and computer vision and speech algorithms in a virtual environment, advantageously speeding development and reducing cost. Thus, examples disclosed herein may relate to virtual reality (VR) or mixed reality (MR) implementations.

Abstract: A manually operated toy pneumatic launcher for launching a ball projectile. The pneumatic launcher has a housing with a first section and a second section that move relative to each other. At least one handle extends from the second section that rotates through a range of motion. A base tube is affixed to the second section. A launch tube is affixed to the first section. The launch tube extends into the base tube creating a telescoping tube assembly. A mechanism is provided that is powered by the handle moving through its range of motion. The mechanism includes a gear box, a lever arm, and a slide that act together to linearly move the first section of the housing relative to the second section. This selectively changes the length of the telescoping tube assembly, therein enabling the telescoping assembly to compress and release air in the launching of the projectile.

Abstract: A synthetic world interface may be used to model digital environments, sensors, and motions for the evaluation, development, and improvement of localization algorithms. A synthetic data cloud service with a library of sensor primitives, motion generators, and environments with procedural and game-like capabilities, facilitates engineering design for a manufactural solution that has localization capabilities. In some embodiments, a sensor platform simulator operates with a motion orchestrator, an environment orchestrator, an experiment generator, and an experiment runner to test various candidate hardware configurations and localization algorithms in a virtual environment, advantageously speeding development and reducing cost. Thus, examples disclosed herein may relate to virtual reality (VR) or mixed reality (MR) implementations.

Abstract: A device for vertically launching a ball up into the air. The device has a holding tee for selectively holding a ball. The holding tee is supported by an actuator. The actuator is movable between a first position, where the holding tee is extended, and a second position, where the holding tee is retracted. A main spring biases the actuator into its first position. When moved to its retracted second position against the force of the mainspring, the actuator engages a release mechanism. The release mechanism maintains the actuator in its second position for a period of time before the release mechanism automatically releases. Upon release, the mainspring immediately returns the actuator to its first position. This rapidly forces the holding tee upwardly. Any ball resting on the holding tee is subsequently launched into the air.

Abstract: A production line monitoring method and a monitoring system thereof are provided. The monitoring system is configured to obtain a plurality of images of an operator, determine a motion type of the operator in the plurality of images based on an image recognition model, determine a time of occurrence and a motion period of the motion type, and record the time of occurrence and the motion period of the motion type.

Abstract: A synthetic world interface may be used to model digital environments, sensors, and motions for the evaluation, development, and improvement of localization algorithms. A synthetic data cloud service with a library of sensor primitives, motion generators, and environments with procedural and game-like capabilities, facilitates engineering design for a manufactural solution that has localization capabilities. In some embodiments, a sensor platform simulator operates with a motion orchestrator, an environment orchestrator, an experiment generator, and an experiment runner to test various candidate hardware configurations and localization algorithms in a virtual environment, advantageously speeding development and reducing cost. Thus, examples disclosed herein may relate to virtual reality (VR) or mixed reality (MR) implementations.

Abstract: A production line monitoring method and a monitoring system thereof are provided. The monitoring system is configured to obtain a plurality of images of an operator, determine a motion type of the operator in the plurality of images based on an image recognition model, determine a time of occurrence and a motion period of the motion type, and record the time of occurrence and the motion period of the motion type.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to in vitro models of biliary atresia obtained by culturing of human liver organoids and/or mini-bile ducts and exposing the liver organoids and/or mini-bile ducts to biliatresone. The present disclosure also provides methods of preparation of the in vitro models of biliary atresia, and applications thereof.

Abstract: An immunoassay device for use in quantitatively measuring an amount of an analyte in a fluid sample, employs reagents that include particle pairs comprising a) one of an antigen and antibody coupled with a label, and b) a magnetic particle coupled with the other of the antigen and antibody. A transport which moves a set of reaction wells along a path and a dispenser dispenses respective ones of the reagents into the reaction wells. Prior to magnetic separation and optical analysis, a controller that coordinates movement of the transport with operation of the pipette modules operates the transport to reciprocate the set of reaction wells along the path for mixing the fluid sample with the reagents.

Abstract: A graphene modifying method of metal having following steps of providing metal powders, graphene powders and a binder, the metal powder has metal particles, and the graphene powder has graphene micro pieces, each graphene micro piece is formed by 6-atom unit cells connected with each other, each 6-atom unit cell is connected to a stearic acid functional group by a sp3 bond; mixing the metal powder, the graphene powder, and the binder to generate heat by a friction, each sp3 bond connected with the stearic acid functional group is thereby heated and broken, each 6-atom unit cell is connected with other 6-atom unit cells via the broken sp3 bond, and the metal particles are thereby wrapped by the 6-atom unit cells; and sintering the metal particles into a metal body to transform the plurality of graphene micro pieces into a three-dimensional mash embedded in the metal body.

Abstract: Systems and methods for independently upgradeable docking stations are discussed herein. One or more chipsets of a docking station may provide services to a host device, and each may use a corresponding firmware. The docking station may receive chipset firmware update data for one or more of the chipsets. In a first case, this data is received from a universal serial bus (USB) storage device (which in some cases can independently update its copy of the chipset firmware update data with a cloud server). In other cases, this data is received from a cloud server using a network interface system on a chip (which may be internal to, or separately connected to, the docking station). The docking station performs this receipt and/or the corresponding firmware update with no input from any host device that may (or may not) be attached, and/or without interrupting chipset services of any such host device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for conducting an ultrasonic-based inspection. The systems and methods perform operations comprising: receiving a plurality of scan plan parameters associated with generating an image of at least one flaw within a specimen based on acoustic echo data obtained using full matrix capture (FMC); applying the plurality of scan plan parameters to an acoustic model, the acoustic model configured to determine a two-way pressure response of a plurality of inspection modes based on specular reflection and diffraction phenomena; generating, by the acoustic model based on the plurality of scan plan parameters, an acoustic region of influence (AROI) comprising an acoustic amplitude sensitivity map for a first inspection mode amongst the plurality of inspection modes; and generating, for display, a first image comprising the AROI associated with the first inspection mode for capturing or inspecting the image of the at least one flaw.