Abstract: A system comprising: an actuator; a signal generator configured to apply an electric signal to the actuator to expand and contract the actuator; an optical fibre associated with the actuator, the optical fibre configured to lengthen when the actuator expands and shorten when the actuator contracts; a coherent light source configured to transmit a coherent light through the optical fibre to provide illumination during the lengthening and shortening of the optical fibre.

Abstract: This application relates to the development and use of lignin-based carbon materials which can be used for energy storage and environmental applications. Included are methods of preparing microporous activated carbon having a controlled, often high surface area and a controlled often high mesopore ratio, and a method of preparing carbon dots, for example carbon quantum dots.

Abstract: An expansion devise includes an unexpended slit sheet roll that is wound on a paper core that is wider than the slit sheet paper. The paper core is placed into a yoke that holds the paper in position on each side of the unexpended slit sheet material. An adjustable downward pressure is exerted on the paper core and the paper core exerts pressure on the yoke. As the paper is pulled, this downward pressure creates the friction required to enable the unexpended slit sheet to be unwind and fed while simultaneously expanding. A blank sheet is formed into a box that stabilizes slit paper sheet wound around a core member.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for optimizing store of common values to memory structures. In an aspect, a method for instruction decoding may include obtaining a store instruction that involves two or more registers. The method may include determining that at least one register of the two or more registers comprises an all-zeros value. The method may also include decoding the store instruction into a store-zeros micro-operation based at least in part on the determining. In some examples of the method, zeros-indicating metadata may be used to indicate that an all-zeros value has been stored in a memory structure.

Abstract: Co-manipulation robotic systems are described herein that may be used for assisting with laparoscopic surgical procedures. The co-manipulation robotic systems allow a surgeon to use commercially-available surgical tools while providing benefits associated with surgical robotics. Advantageously, the surgical tools may be seamlessly coupled to the robot arms using a disposable coupler while the reusable portions of the robot arm remain in a sterile drape. Further, the co-manipulation robotic system may operate in multiple modes to enhance usability and safety, while allowing the surgeon to position the instrument directly with the instrument handle and further maintain the desired position of the instrument using the robot arm.

Abstract: A system includes an inverter including: a point-of-use controller for a power module, the point-of-use controller including: a positive voltage connection configured to receive a positive control voltage from a high-voltage controller; a command connection configured to receive a command from the high-voltage controller; a message connection configured to send and receive a message to and from the high-voltage controller; a negative voltage connection configured to receive a positive control voltage from the high-voltage controller; a north gate connection configured to output a north gate control signal to a north group of one or more switches; a south gate connection configured to output a south gate control signal to a south group of one or more switches; a north sense connection configured to connect to a first portion of a sensing trace; and a south sense connection configured to receive a second portion of the sensing trace.

Abstract: In embodiments of an autonomous vehicle platform and safety architecture, safety managers of a safety-critical system monitor outputs of linked components of the safety-critical system. The linked components comprise at least three components, each of which is configured to produce output indicative of a same event independent from the other linked components by using different input information than the other linked components. The safety managers also compare the outputs of the linked components to determine whether each output indicates the occurrence of a same event. When the output of one linked component does not indicate the occurrence of an event that is indicated by the outputs of the other linked components, the safety managers identify the one linked component as having failed. Based on this, the outputs of the other linked components are used to carry out operations of the safety-critical system without using the output of the failed component.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a grip for coupling to a portable handheld device includes a base, a cap assembly, one or more flexure bearings connecting the base and the cap assembly, and a magnet assembly coupled to the base. The magnet assembly is coated with a non-conductive material, and the non-conductive material is configured to reduce power loss associated with the magnet assembly when the grip is attached to the portable handheld device during wireless charging.

Abstract: According to some illustrative embodiments, a protective product is provided that includes: at least one expandable slit paper sheet, said at least on expandable slit paper being expanded between opposing ends of said slit paper; a first embossed paper sheet facing said expanded slit paper sheet and a second paper sheet facing an opposite side of said at least one expanded slit paper sheet, at least one of said first embossed paper sheet and said second paper sheet being fixed to said expanded slit paper sheet at the opposing ends of said expanded slit paper sheet and thereby maintaining said expanded paper in its expanded state, said first embossed paper sheet having a plurality of embossings that increase the rigidity of said embossed paper sheet, whereby inhibiting deformation of said embossed paper sheet that is fixed to said expanded slit sheet paper.

Abstract: In processors that include a memory tagging extension (MTE), before reading data from or writing data into a memory address, tag bits associated with the memory address are read from the memory and compared to tag bits in the instruction target address. This delays memory write instructions that would not otherwise have to perform a read from the memory circuit before executing the write operation (e.g., full cache line writes), reducing processor performance. An exemplary processing circuit includes a toggleable MTE to provide access to a memory circuit in one of a first mode, in which a memory tagging extension is enabled, and a second mode, in which the MTE is disabled. The processing circuit includes an execution circuit to process a memory instruction and a load/store circuit that does not read the tag bits when MTE is disabled, thereby reducing execution time of the memory instruction.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, methods of adjusting frictional resistance of an expandable slit sheet paper dispensed from a manual dispenser include, e.g.

Abstract: Co-manipulation robotic systems are described herein that may be used for assisting with laparoscopic surgical procedures. The co-manipulation robotic systems allow a surgeon to use commercially-available surgical tools while providing benefits associated with surgical robotics. Advantageously, the surgical tools may be seamlessly coupled to the robot arms using a disposable coupler while the reusable portions of the robot arm remain in a sterile drape. Further, the co-manipulation robotic system may operate in multiple modes to enhance usability and safety, while allowing the surgeon to position the instrument directly with the instrument handle and further maintain the desired position of the instrument using the robot arm.

Abstract: Devices, apparatuses, systems, and methods for power delivery and management are provided. An example power delivery apparatus includes a first input electrically coupled with a first power source, an output electrically coupled with at least a first computing device, a primary power path electrically coupling the first input and the output, and a first energy storage path electrically coupling the first input and the output. The power delivery apparatus further includes an energy storage device electrically coupled with the first energy storage path that operates to store energy, and power supply units (PSUs) electrically coupled with the primary power path and the first energy storage path. The PSUs selectively route power received via the first input from the first power source to the primary power path for powering the first computing device or the first energy storage path for storage by the energy storage device.

Abstract: A method of writing data to a transparent substrate comprises forming a first voxel by focusing a first laser pulse on a first location in a transparent substrate; and forming a second voxel by focusing a second laser pulse on a second location in the transparent substrate. The first laser pulse and the second laser pulse have different amplitudes, resulting in the first and second voxels having different strengths. Also provided are a system useful for implementing the method; an optical data storage medium obtainable by the method; and a method of reading data from the optical data storage medium.

Abstract: A protective product, such as, e.g., an envelope or pouch, is provided that includes at least one expanded slit paper sheet in an expanded state, and an embossed paper sheet facing the expanded slit paper sheet and fixed to the expanded slit paper sheet along at least a portion of a length in an expansion direction of the expanded slit sheet paper. In the preferred embodiments, the embossed paper sheet has a plurality of embossings that increase the rigidity of the embossed paper sheet, thereby inhibiting deformation of the embossed paper sheet that is fixed to the expanded slit sheet paper.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wireless power transfer relay for coupling to a mobile electronic device is provided. The wireless power transfer relay includes a receiving platform having a relay receiver coil, a transmitting platform having a relay transmitter coil, and a conductor coupled between the receiving platform and the transmitting platform and electrically coupling the relay receiver coil and the relay transmitter coil. The relay receiver coil is configured in proximity to a primary transmitter coil of a wireless power transmitter to wirelessly receive power from the primary transmitter coil. The relay transmitter coil is configured in proximity to a primary receiver coil of the mobile electronic device to wirelessly transmit power to the primary receiver coil.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to systems and methods for use in the implementation and/or operation of quantum information processing (QIP) systems, and more particularly, calibrations during tandem execution of quantum circuits.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of producing at least a pair of interlocking adjacent layers of a paper packaging product, the pair of interlocking adjacent layers being formed of a sheet of slit paper having a slit pattern, the slit pattern upon expansion, forming cells that include land regions that are inclined with respect to a plane of an unexpanded sheet. The method comprises slitting the sheet of slit paper with beveled blades that have a first wedge angle on one side of the blades and a second wedge angle on the other side of the blades, wherein the first wedge angle is wider than the second wedge angle to produce slits that upon expansion, produce the lands regions that have angles of inclination in a range for 50 to 85 degrees.

Abstract: A control unit for a robot system including a robot with a rigid proximal portion having a remote center of motion (RCM), a flexible distal portion, and an image acquisition device. The control unit includes a processor that receives images from the image acquisition device; generates a first deployment path to a first target position based on the images; generates a second deployment path to a second target position from the first target position based on the images; generates first guidance information for positioning the rigid proximal portion along the first deployment path; generates second guidance information for positioning the flexible distal portion along the second deployment path; and deploys the first guidance information to the rigid proximal portion for guiding the rigid proximal portion to the first target position, and deploys the second guidance information to the flexible distal portion for guiding the flexible interface distal portion to the second target position.