Abstract: A composite material comprising a substrate body having a mesoporous structure defined by a network of interconnected fibers; and a thermochromic material including a hydrogel complex filling the mesoporous network, the hydrogel complex including a first polymer being a thermoresponsive hydrogel; wherein the thermochromic material undergoes an increase or a decrease of transparency in response to an external temperature exceeding or falling below a critical transition temperature of the thermochromic material, thereby changing an overall transparency of the composite material. A method of preparing the composite material of some embodiments of the present invention. Use of the composite material of some of the embodiments of the present invention for forming an article. Also a window unit including the composite material of some of the embodiments of the present invention.

Abstract: A radiative cooling apparatus including a layer of a material. The layer defines an exterior face. The material has a composition such that the layer is configured to reflect, at the exterior face, at least partly of the incoming electromagnetic radiation of at least some wavelengths in the solar spectrum. The layer is further configured to emit thermally-generated electromagnetic emission of at least some mid-infrared wavelengths out from the exterior face. Ceramics provided by embodiments of the invention could produce extra cooling effect without any electricity consumption, creating a prominent benefit to the energy saving of air conditioning systems of buildings.

Abstract: A composite material including an optically transparent substrate; a thermochromic layer such as the one including a halide perovskite-based compound provided on the substrate; and a protective layer provided on the thermochromic layer; wherein the optically transparent substrate includes a wood-based material impregnated with a first polymer. A method for preparing the composite material is also addressed.

Abstract: A guard to protect a user while cutting food (“guard”) has an outer body, a plurality of sides, and at least one grip to securely hold a piece of food within the guard. A plate is secured to the bottom of the outer body to add a further layer of protection. It is preferred that the outer body of the guard is made of a flexible material so that the sides can flex inwardly to accommodate different sizes of food. A method for using the guard to cut food has the food being placed inside the guard, the user gripping the guard and flexing the sides inwardly so that the at least one grip forms a secure connection with the outer surface of the food, and cutting the food such that the plate adds a layer of protection between the cutting instrument and the user.

Abstract: A composite material comprising a first layer of thermochromic perovskite; a second layer of antireflection material including an organic or inorganic polymer deposited on the first layer; and a third layer of hydrophobic material deposited on the second layer. A method for preparing the composite material is also addressed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing efficient power management for data transfer protocols between components. A source generates requests and a destination services the requests. The source and destination support a communication protocol that includes both a transfer channel and one or more transaction channels for each type of request. The source and destination rely on a valid signal and a ready signal of the transfer channels to autonomously manage power consumption. The source and destination remove any dependencies on an external power manager and make it unnecessary to add signal extensions to the communication protocol to support power management.

Abstract: A radiative cooling apparatus including a layer of a material. The layer defines an exterior face. The material has a composition such that the layer is configured to reflect, at the exterior face, at least partly of the incoming electromagnetic radiation of at least some wavelengths in the solar spectrum. The layer is further configured to emit thermally-generated electromagnetic emission of at least some mid-infrared wavelengths out from the exterior face. Ceramics provided by embodiments of the invention could produce extra cooling effect without any electricity consumption, creating a prominent benefit to the energy saving of air conditioning systems of buildings.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device for sensing biological material includes: forming a field-effect transistor (FET) on a semiconductor substrate that includes a gate; forming a well within a material disposed over the semiconductor substrate, the well having an opening at a first end and a floor at second end, the well further having one or more side walls extending from the floor toward the opening to define an open-ended cavity into which a fluid may be flowed; forming a via extending through the floor such that an end-most surface of the via resides proud of the floor in a direction of the well's opening, the via being electrically coupled to the gate; and forming a sensing layer that at least partially covers the floor and a portion of the via residing proud of the floor, the sensing layer being reactive to exposure to a biological material.

Abstract: Described is a method for detecting a calibration requirement for image sensors in a vehicle. The method includes detecting a ground pattern in a generated image associated with a surrounding of a vehicle. The method includes extracting at least one key point associated with the detected ground pattern, from the generated image. The method includes determining a relative motion parameter associated with the extracted at least one key point based on tracking of the extracted at least one key point over a period of time. The method further includes detecting the calibration requirement for the image sensor based on the determined relative motion parameter and generating an output signal based on the detected calibration requirement.

Abstract: Described is a method for detecting a calibration requirement for image sensors in a vehicle. The method includes detecting a ground pattern in a generated image associated with a surrounding of a vehicle. The method includes extracting at least one key point associated with the detected ground pattern, from the generated image. The method includes determining a relative motion parameter associated with the extracted at least one key point based on tracking of the extracted at least one key point over a period of time. The method further includes detecting the calibration requirement for the image sensor based on the determined relative motion parameter and generating an output signal based on the detected calibration requirement.

Abstract: A radiative cooling apparatus including a layer of a material. The layer defines an exterior face. The material has a composition such that the layer is configured to reflect, at the exterior face, at least partly of the incoming electromagnetic radiation of at least some wavelengths in the solar spectrum. The layer is further configured to emit thermally-generated electromagnetic emission of at least some mid-infrared wavelengths out from the exterior face. Ceramics provided by embodiments of the invention could produce extra cooling effect without any electricity consumption, creating a prominent benefit to the energy saving of air conditioning systems of buildings.

Abstract: A radiative cooling apparatus including a layer of a material. The layer defines an exterior face. The material has a composition such that the layer is configured to reflect, at the exterior face, at least partly of the incoming electromagnetic radiation of at least some wavelengths in the solar spectrum. The layer is further configured to emit thermally-generated electromagnetic emission of at least some mid-infrared wavelengths out from the exterior face. Ceramics provided by embodiments of the invention could produce extra cooling effect without any electricity consumption, creating a prominent benefit to the energy saving of air conditioning systems of buildings.

Abstract: A method and system obtaining positioning data from an object traveling on a plurality of routes; mapping the data into a plurality of points on a digital map; identifying points that are unmatched to the stored route trajectory; obtaining candidate transition points from the unmatched points; aggregating the candidate transition points by applying a clustering algorithm; selecting a first cluster of points and a plurality of second clusters of points, determining a confidence level that the first cluster of points are transition points indicating a transition between the routes, classifying the first cluster of points as a first plurality of traveling points having a first direction in response to the confidence being below a threshold confidence and automatically adjusting the stored route trajectory to indicate that the first cluster of points are on the route trajectory.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated system of moisture removal, air purification, and air ventilation of the process air while some of the energy and resources required for operation of the system are self-sustained, or in some aspects the present system is self-regenerated such as heating and cooling of air and water exchanged among various elements/modules/members within the system or between the system and the surroundings, such that it becomes an all-time and all-round air dehumidifier, purifier and ventilator. Related method for removing air moisture from the surroundings using the present system is also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention facilitate product defect detection. A computer-implemented method comprises: receiving, by a device operatively coupled to one or more processors, a template image of a normal product; generating, by the device, one or more geometric training parameters for transforming the template image; and transforming, by the device, the template image using the one or more geometric training parameters to generate a transformed image for training a data model, wherein the trained data model being used for aligning the template image and an image under inspection of a product.

Abstract: A micro-scale mist teeth cleaning device includes console creating air under pressure and water under pressure. The console is connected to a mouthguard that is in the form of an outer ridge and an inner ridge with space in between for the teeth of a patient. The mouthguard includes a receptor for receiving the air and water under pressure, and has tubes for separately distributing the air under pressure and the water under pressure along the outer and inner ridges. The mouthguard further includes openings along the inner side of the outer ridge and the outer side of the inner ridge facing the location of the patient’s teeth when the mouthguard is installed in the patient’s mouth. The tubes for the pressurized air and the water intersect at each opening at an angle such that they act to eject a micro-scale mist from the opening onto the user’s teeth, thereby providing initial dental plaque removal.

Abstract: A guard to protect a user while cutting food (“guard”) has an outer body, a plurality of sides, and at least one grip to securely hold a piece of food within the guard. A plate is secured to the bottom of the outer body to add a further layer of protection. It is preferred that the outer body of the guard is made of a flexible material so that the sides can flex inwardly to accommodate different sizes of food. A method for using the guard to cut food has the food being placed inside the guard, the user gripping the guard and flexing the sides inwardly so that the at least one grip forms a secure connection with the outer surface of the food, and cutting the food such that the plate adds a layer of protection between the cutting instrument and the user.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing efficient power management for data transfer protocols between components. A source generates requests and a destination services the requests. The source and destination support a communication protocol that includes both a transfer channel and one or more transaction channels for each type of request. The source and destination rely on a valid signal and a ready signal of the transfer channels to autonomously manage power consumption. The source and destination remove any dependencies on an external power manager and make it unnecessary to add signal extensions to the communication protocol to support power management.