Abstract: A nanofiber sheet is described that is composed of a substrate and a layer of oriented nanofibers. Nanofibers of the sheet can be oriented in a common direction. In some orientations, light absorbent sheets can absorb over 99.9%, and in some cases over 99.95%, of the intensity of light incident upon the sheet. Methods for fabricating a light absorbent sheet are also described.

Abstract: Methods for sharing and transferring music files using near field communication (NFC), which include receiving an NFC ID from an NFC chip using an NFC enabled device, authenticating the received NFC ID with a server system using the NFC enabled device, and upon authentication, permitting the NFC enabled device to temporarily stream or purchase music files.

Abstract: Holders for nanofiber sheets that can reduce the probability of damage to a nanofiber sheet during transport, handling, or experimental preparation are described. These holders can improve the convenience with which nanofiber sheets can be manipulated. Holders generally include two features: an outer case and a clamp disposed within the outer case. The clamp, which can be embodied in any of a variety of ways, mounts to a peripheral edge at one or more locations on the nanofiber sheet. The nanofiber sheet is held fixed in place within the outer case and is suspended within the chamber defined by the outer case and the client.

Abstract: A Near Field Communication (NFC) system is provided for managing a parking area having multiple parking spots. The system includes a set of NFC tags. Each of the NFC tags is assigned to a respective one of the multiple parking spots. Each of the NFC tags initiates a parking timer for a meter-less parking transaction for parking a vehicle in the respective one of the multiple parking spots responsive to a scanning thereof by an NFC-enabled user device. Each of the NFC tags has a customer device scannable NFC physical tag encoded with a unique identifier of the respective one of multiple parking spots to which it is assigned. The parking timer is stopped and a user is presented with a digital invoice amount due for a parking duration calculated with respect to a subsequent scan.

Abstract: Methods for sharing and transferring music files using near field communication (NFC), which include storing a playlist of music files on a server system and assigning the music files or the playlist to an NFC Identifier (NFC ID); receiving the NFC ID using an NFC enabled device and authenticating the received NFC ID with the server system using the NFC enabled device; and if authenticated, permitting the server system to share or transfer the music files for playing through the NFC enabled device.

Abstract: A nanofiber forest that includes a pattern or shape can be transferred to a substrate. The nanofiber forest can be configured to have any perimeter and/or internal shape or pattern using a stencil technique and/or using an engraving technique. This pattern can be transferred as a “negative image” of a corresponding pattern in a stencil or as a “positive image” by engraving the pattern directly into the nanofiber forest. For either type of pattern formation, the patterned nanofiber forest is transferred by applying a substrate to the pattern or to a nanofiber forest covered by a patterned stencil. Pressure is then applied causing the exposed surface of the nanofiber forest or pattern of nanofiber forest to adhere to the substrate.

Abstract: Article of jewelry that reversibly transitions between two different ornamentations by way of a plurality of solid strands, each strand formed from a two-way shape memory alloy trained to reversibly transition between two set positions in response to two different temperatures, where the strands are anchored from shape memory movement at a proximal end and connected to distal elements at a distal end, thereby directing shape memory movement of the distal elements in response to the two different temperatures.

Abstract: A Near Field Communication (NFC) system, method, and computer program product are provided for interacting with a customer device enabled with a NFC scanning capability. The NFC system includes a checkout price tag initiating a purchase transaction for a product associated with the checkout price tag responsive to a scanning of the checkout price tag. The checkout price tag has a customer device scannable NFC physical tag encoded with a unique identifier, a product price, and a description of the product.

Abstract: A nanofiber structure is described that is composed of a substrate and a layer of oriented nanofibers. Nanofibers of the layer can be oriented in a common direction. An angle of the common direction can be selected so that nanofibers of the sheet are oriented at an angle with respect to an underlying substrate even if the underlying substrate is not planar. The angle can be used to adapt the sheets to demands as a thermal interface material.

Abstract: An article of jewelry in the form of a magnetic ring, which includes a substantially circular shank having an upper half and a lower half, where the lower half has a non-magnetizable region of non-magnetizable material; and a magnetized insert embedded within the non-magnetizable region of the lower half of the shank, where the insert is configured to induce a magnetic field beneath the ring, the insert having a magnet joined to a magnetized substrate, which follows a contour of the shank.

Abstract: A jewelry head for mounting a precious or semi-precious gem to an article of jewelry, the jewelry head having a ferrimagnetic body with an inner cavity configured to accept a precious or semi-precious gem; and a near field communication circuit having a near field communication chip electrically connected to an antenna, where the antenna is wrapped around and against the ferrimagnetic body.

Abstract: A near field communication (NFC) ring and method of making a ring capable of NFC, the method including the steps of: providing an electrically conductive band with two ends separated by a through slit, fitting an NFC coil having an NFC antenna and NFC chip against a sleeve that is smaller in circumference than the NFC coil and is not electrically conductive; and attaching the sleeve to the inside of the band, thereby forming an NFC enabled ring.

Abstract: A manual override assembly for a hydraulic power source operates to override an actuator of a hydraulic power source. The assembly includes a lever arm and connecting rods. The lever arm pivotally moves relative to a valve body of the hydraulic power source. The lever arm is connected to valve spools via the connecting rods, respectively. Each spool has a bore with an off-set opening for inserting one end of the connecting rod.

Abstract: Methods of selectively distributing virtual cards between mobile devices, comprising providing a plurality of mobile devices assigned to a plurality of users, wherein a software program manages a user account comprising a collection virtual cards, wherein the virtual cards include different profiles of a same user, wherein the account further comprises a user appearance generated from at least one virtual card for transmission to surrounding mobile devices; selectively displaying the user appearance on a surrounding device only if the original sending device and surrounding device are within a predetermined range; and sending a virtual card to a user associated with a user appearance.

Abstract: A manual override assembly for a hydraulic power source operates to override an actuator of a hydraulic power source. The assembly includes a lever arm and connecting rods. The lever arm pivotally moves relative to a valve body of the hydraulic power source. The lever arm is connected to valve spools via the connecting rods, respectively. Each spool has a bore with an off-set opening for inserting one end of the connecting rod.

Abstract: Methods for sharing and transferring music files using near field communication (NFC), which include storing a playlist of music files on a server system and assigning the music files or the playlist to an NFC Identifier (NFC ID); receiving the NFC ID using an NFC enabled device and authenticating the received NFC ID with the server system using the NFC enabled device; and if authenticated, permitting the server system to share or transfer the music files for playing through the NFC enabled device.

Abstract: Nanofiber sheet assemblies include at least one nanofiber sheet and at least one nanofiber grid or web that is used to improve the physical durability of the nanofiber sheet within the assembly. Nanofiber sheet assemblies retain the permeability of the nanofiber sheets to gaseous phase substances. This enables technological applications of nanofiber sheet assemblies to include filters for micron or nano-scale particles that are disposed in gas phase substances.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing, a conductive pin, a first seal, and a sealant. The housing has a bore and first and second ends exposed at different pressures when in use. The bore extends between the first and second ends. The conductive pin is arranged within the bore and configured to engage a first wire at the first end and a second wire at the second end. The first seal is arranged around the conductive pin and engaged between the conductive pin and the bore to provide seal therebetween. The sealant is provided to fill the bore between the first end and the first seal. The sealant may be an epoxy-based sealant.

Abstract: Techniques are described for transferring nanofiber forests using transfer films that either lack a conventional adhesive at the substrate—nanofiber forest interface or that include a diffusion barrier that prevents diffusion of adhesive molecules (or other polymer molecules mobile at ambient temperatures) into the nanofiber forest. These techniques can be applied to single layer nanofiber forests or stacks of multiple nanofiber forest. By selecting the bond strength between the nanofiber forest and the transfer films, the nanofibers can be aligned in a common direction that includes, but is not limited to, perpendicular to a substrate or transfer film.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and systems are provided for performing Near Field Communication (NFC) communication with a first NFC device that includes a NFC writable component and an operating system that restricts writing to the NFC writable component and allows reading NDEF messages from a source other than the NFC writable component. A method includes receiving, by a remote server, a serial number of the NFC writable component. The method further includes generating, by the remote server, a unique ID based on the serial number. The method also includes storing, by the remote server, the unique ID with a name of the NFC writable component. The method additionally includes preparing and sending, by the remote server, a Near Field Communication Data Exchange Format (NDEF) message to the NFC device that includes the unique ID together with information to be shared with a user of the NFC device.