Abstract: A duck call device includes a tone board having a tone surface and a tone board port defined, relative to airflow, behind the tone surface. The tone board port is divided into multiple channels to form a multi-channel port. A reed is located on the tone surface and is configured to vibrate there against. The multi-channel port may be created by a longitudinal central rib dividing a portion of the tone board port, wherein the longitudinal central rib contacts the reed while air is passing through the duck call device. The tone surface may surround a portion of the tone board port with recessed edges, and the central rib may have recessed edges.

Abstract: A method is for forming a radiation shield around an object. The method includes providing an inorganic paint pigment comprising a fluid matrix, and paint flakes carried within the fluid matrix. Each paint flake includes a common aluminum mirror layer having a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface, a first plasmonic aluminum reflector layer carried by the first major surface, and a second plasmonic aluminum reflector layer carried by the second major surface. The method also includes coating an outer surface of the object with the inorganic paint pigment.

Abstract: An inorganic paint pigment may include a fluid matrix, and paint flakes carried within the fluid matrix. Each paint flake may include a common aluminum layer having a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface, a first plasmonic aluminum reflector layer carried by the first major surface, and a second plasmonic aluminum reflector layer carried by the second major surface.

Abstract: A duck call device includes a tone board having a tone surface and a tone board port defined, relative to airflow, behind the tone surface. The tone board port is divided into multiple channels to form a multi-channel port. A reed is located on the tone surface and is configured to vibrate there against. The multi-channel port may be created by a longitudinal central rib dividing a portion of the tone board port, wherein the longitudinal central rib contacts the reed while air is passing through the duck call device. The tone surface may surround a portion of the tone board port with recessed edges, and the central rib may have recessed edges.

Abstract: Color derived from metallic nanostructures are often more efficient, more robust to environmental changes, and near impossible to damage or bleach due to overexposure. The embodiments combine these advantages with the millisecond re-configurability of liquid crystals to actively control a reflective color of a metallic nanostructure. Of the current technologies that boast active color tunability, many are pigmentation based (e-ink in e-readers) and/or need seconds to change color (photonic ink, electrochromic materials). Speed is an advantage of the embodiments and is comparable to current liquid crystal displays (˜120 Hz). Traditional LC displays use static polymer films (color filters) and white back light to generate color. Being able to actively tune the color from a single metallic nanostructure allows for smaller pixel size, increased resolution, and decreased fabrication cost compared to a conventional RGB color pixel without needing external white light source for extremely low power operations.

Abstract: A display device may include a substrate, a plasmonic aluminum reflector layer over the substrate, and a conducting oxide layer over the plasmonic aluminum reflector layer. The display device may have a circular polarizer over the conducting oxide layer and configured to receive incident visible radiation. The incident visible radiation may cause plasmon resonance within the plasmonic aluminum reflector layer. The display device may include a circuit configured to apply a voltage between the conducting oxide layer and the plasmonic aluminum reflector layer to cause the plasmonic aluminum reflector layer to selectively reflect the incident visible radiation based on the voltage.

Abstract: An inorganic paint pigment may include a fluid matrix, and paint flakes carried within the fluid matrix. Each paint flake may include a common aluminum layer having a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface, a first plasmonic aluminum reflector layer carried by the first major surface, and a second plasmonic aluminum reflector layer carried by the second major surface.

Abstract: A display device may include a substrate, a plasmonic aluminum reflector layer over the substrate, and a conducting oxide layer over the plasmonic aluminum reflector layer. The display device may have a circular polarizer over the conducting oxide layer and configured to receive incident visible radiation. The incident visible radiation may cause plasmon resonance within the plasmonic aluminum reflector layer. The display device may include a circuit configured to apply a voltage between the conducting oxide layer and the plasmonic aluminum reflector layer to cause the plasmonic aluminum reflector layer to selectively reflect the incident visible radiation based on the voltage.

Abstract: A system for monitoring wireless communications in a client device includes a wireless communications interface, including: an analyzer; a monitoring controller coupled to the analyzer; an operational controller of the client device coupled to the wireless communications interface, the operational controller configured to: control the wireless communications interface to establish a wireless connection with an access point according to a set of connection parameters including a channel identifier; and transmit the set of connection parameters to the monitoring controller; the monitoring controller configured, responsive to receiving the connection parameters from the operational controller, to: monitor a channel corresponding to the channel identifier to obtain a plurality of frames transmitted over the channel; and provide the plurality of frames to the analyzer.

Abstract: A system for monitoring wireless communications in a client device includes a wireless communications interface, including: an analyzer; a monitoring controller coupled to the analyzer; an operational controller of the client device coupled to the wireless communications interface, the operational controller configured to: control the wireless communications interface to establish a wireless connection with an access point according to a set of connection parameters including a channel identifier; and transmit the set of connection parameters to the monitoring controller; the monitoring controller configured, responsive to receiving the connection parameters from the operational controller, to: monitor a channel corresponding to the channel identifier to obtain a plurality of frames transmitted over the channel; and provide the plurality of frames to the analyzer.

Abstract: Dynamic, color-changing surfaces have many applications including but not limited to displays, wearables, and active camouflage. Plasmonic nanostructures can fill this role with the advantages of ultra-small pixels, high reflectivity, and post-fabrication tuning through control of the surrounding media. However, while post-fabrication tuning have yet to cover a full red-green-blue (RGB) color basis set with a single nanostructure of singular dimensions, the present invention contemplates a novel LC-based apparatus and methods that enable such tuning and demonstrates a liquid crystal-plasmonic system that covers the full red/green/blue (RGB) color basis set, as a function only of voltage. This is accomplished through a surface morphology-induced, polarization dependent, plasmonic resonance and a combination of bulk and surface liquid crystal effects that manifest at different voltages.

Abstract: Dynamic, color-changing surfaces have many applications including but not limited to displays, wearables, and active camouflage. Plasmonic nanostructures can fill this role with the advantages of ultra-small pixels, high reflectivity, and post-fabrication tuning through control of the surrounding media. However, while post-fabrication tuning have yet to cover a full red-green-blue (RGB) color basis set with a single nanostructure of singular dimensions, the present invention contemplates a novel LC-based apparatus and methods that enable such tuning and demonstrates a liquid crystal-plasmonic system that covers the full red/green/blue (RGB) color basis set, as a function only of voltage. This is accomplished through a surface morphology-induced, polarization dependent, plasmonic resonance and a combination of bulk and surface liquid crystal effects that manifest at different voltages.

Abstract: Color derived from metallic nanostructures are often more efficient, more robust to environmental changes, and near impossible to damage or bleach due to overexposure. The embodiments combine these advantages with the millisecond re-configurability of liquid crystals to actively control a reflective color of a metallic nanostructure. Of the current technologies that boast active color tunability, many are pigmentation based (e-ink in e-readers) and/or need seconds to change color (photonic ink, electrochromic materials). Speed is an advantage of the embodiments and is comparable to current liquid crystal displays (˜120 Hz). Traditional LC displays use static polymer films (color filters) and white back light to generate color. Being able to actively tune the color from a single metallic nanostructure allows for smaller pixel size, increased resolution, and decreased fabrication cost compared to a conventional RGB color pixel without needing external white light source for extremely low power operations.

Abstract: A siding system includes a plurality of siding panels having a substrate formed to define a plurality of decorative units. Each of the decorative units includes an average unit distance that is equal to the sum of an average width of the decorative units, and an average width of keyways separating the decorative units. An actual centerline of each of the decorative units is horizontally located within a maximum offset tolerance of a theoretical horizontal center of each of the decorative units. The theoretical horizontal center of each of the decorative units is located at a center location distance measured from a first vertical edge of the substrate. A second siding panel is disposed vertically above a first siding panel when attached to the wall surface. The second siding panel is horizontally offset relative to the first siding panel a panel offset distance.

Abstract: A siding system includes a plurality of siding panels having a substrate formed to define a plurality of decorative units. Each of the decorative units includes an average unit distance that is equal to the sum of an average width of the decorative units, and an average width of keyways separating the decorative units. An actual centerline of each of the decorative units is horizontally located within a maximum offset tolerance of a theoretical horizontal center of each of the decorative units. The theoretical horizontal center of each of the decorative units is located at a center location distance measured from a first vertical edge of the substrate. A second siding panel is disposed vertically above a first siding panel when attached to the wall surface. The second siding panel is horizontally offset relative to the first siding panel a panel offset distance.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for masking an exterior dovetail surface of a turbine airfoil for use in coating a turbine airfoil, wherein the apparatus comprises a turbine airfoil. The apparatus comprises a plurality of dovetail graphite sponge boot sections. The boot comprises a first interior surface assembled to the turbine airfoil to contact substantially all of an exterior dovetail surface of the turbine airfoil, while leaving exposed an exterior airfoil flowpath surface, a root portion of the exterior dovetail surface and an interior passageway surface. The boot further comprises second interior channel surfaces defining interior boot channels, a first exterior surface, a first aperture in the first exterior surface, the turbine airfoil extending out of the boot through the first exterior surface, a second exterior surface, second apertures in the second exterior surface in fluid communication with the interior cavity, the interior passageway surface, and an exterior environment.

Abstract: A method of drying a sand mold mixture containing moisture includes restraining the sand mold mixture and exposing the sand mold mixture to a vacuum. The vacuum flashes off the moisture within the sand mold mixture thereby drying the sand mold mixture to create a solidified sand mold. The restraining member prevents voids from forming in the sand mold during exposure to the vacuum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of processing meat such as, but not limited to, turkey breast meat. The meat is vacuum tumbled prior to coagulation of blood within the meat, and the blood is withdrawn from the meat. The meat is then injected with a brine solution, tumbled, and further processed.