Abstract: A grip strap contains: a non-woven layer, an adhesive layer, a gel, and a covering layer. The adhesive layer is adhered on a bottom of the non-woven layer. The gel is applied onto a top of the non-woven layer and includes a thickness. The covering layer is covered on a top of the gel and includes a thickness.

Abstract: A tubular member includes an inner frame portion, an outer frame portion, a wide portion, and a narrow portion. The inner frame portion includes a first inner frame section, a second inner frame section, and an inner connecting section. The outer frame portion includes a first outer frame section, a second outer frame section, and an outer connecting section. The wide portion extends straightly from the outer frame portion to the inner frame portion. The narrow portion interconnects the inner frame portion and the outer frame portion. The narrow portion is arc-shaped, and is spaced apart from the wide portion. A tennis racket includes a racket frame made by bending the tubular member as described previously to define a striking region, and the inner frame portion surrounds and is adjacent to the striking region.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a superconducting quantum processing unit (QPU) includes a cap wafer that has multiple connected circuitry portions. In some cases, a QPU includes first and second substrates. The first substrate includes a first surface, a recess, and first superconducting circuitry. The recess is defined by sidewalls and a recessed surface. The recessed surface resides at a depth in the first substrate. The first superconducting circuitry includes a first circuitry portion on the first surface of the first substrate; a second circuitry portion on the recessed surface of the first substrate; and a connection disposed on at least one of the sidewalls and connecting the first and second circuitry portions. The second substrate includes second superconducting circuitry, which includes a quantum circuit device. The first and second substrates are arranged such that the recess forms an enclosure that houses the quantum circuit device.

Abstract: In a general aspect, parametric amplification is performed in a quantum computing system. In some cases, a traveling wave parametric amplifier (TWPA) includes a plurality of Josephson junctions connected in series. The plurality of Josephson junctions includes a first Josephson junction, which includes a first superconducting electrode on a surface of a substrate, a second superconducting electrode that overlaps the first superconducting electrode, and a barrier sandwiched between overlapping sections of the first and second superconducting electrodes. The barrier defines a footprint with a tapered shape over the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A digital-currency-based method for vote counting includes a vote-counting procedure that includes steps of computing a number of newly-added votes based at least on an amount in a digital currency indicated by a piece of vote data, determining whether the piece of vote data was obtained during an ending portion, determining whether a voter identifier indicated by the piece of vote data has been recorded in at least a number N of data blocks when the piece of vote data was obtained during the ending portion, performing an adjustment procedure to adjust the number of newly-added votes when the voter identifier has been recorded in the number N of data blocks, reading a vote number, and computing a total number of votes based on the vote number and the number of newly-added votes.

Abstract: A shock absorbing structure of a racket contains: a head and an absorption member matingly contacting with an internal fence of the head. The absorption member is a hollowly tubular structure and covers the internal fence totally. When the head is made of carbon-fiber composite material, the absorption member is made of any one of Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE), Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR), rubber, Hydrogel, and Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU). When the head is made of metal or aluminum alloy, the absorption member is made of any one of Thermosetting Elastomers, Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE), Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR), rubber, Hydrogel, and Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU). When the head and the absorption member are made of different materials, an amplitude of the head is different from an amplitude of the absorption member, and the head interferes the absorption member, thus absorbing vibration.

Abstract: A method, comprising: heating at a temperature of at least 90° C. for a time of at least 10 minutes and a pressure of at least one atmosphere: 1) a potassic framework silicate ore; 2) at least one material selected from the group consisting of an oxide, a hydroxide, and a carbonate of at least one of an alkaline earth metal and an alkali metal; and 3) water, thereby producing a first product; combining the first product with a source of a component to form a second product; and drying the second product to provide a composition comprising an MPM and the component, wherein the source of the component comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of KCl, a macronutrient source, a micronutrient source and a source of a beneficial element.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a processing unit connected to a storage device for fetching and executing a navigation program to: determine a planned route; obtain a real-time image and real-time positioning data indicating a current location of the system; perform image recognition on the image, and determine whether a specific object exists in the image; determine whether a route adjustment condition is met based on the planned route, the positioning data and result of the determination; and adjust the planned route when the route adjustment condition is met. The route adjustment condition includes that a meaning conveyed by the specific object is in conflict with the planned route.

Abstract: A navigation system adapted to be installed on a vehicle includes an output device and a processing device. The processing device executes the following steps after determining a planned route: obtaining real-time image data and performing image recognition on the image data to identify at least one lane from the image data; obtaining a real-time positioning result that indicates a current location of the navigation system; based on the planned route and the positioning result, selecting a target lane that corresponds to a moving directive presented by the planned route; and controlling the output device to visually output a route indicator that indicates the target lane.

Abstract: A distance sensing system includes a first electronic device and a second electronic device. A second processing unit of the second electronic device sends a wireless signal via a second short-range wireless communication unit. When a first processing unit of the first electronic device receives, via a first short-range wireless communication unit, the wireless signal from the second electronic device, the processing unit generates an estimated distance value indicating an estimated distance between the first electronic device and the second electronic device based on signal strength of the wireless signal. When the first processing unit of the first electronic device determines that the estimated distance value is less than a predetermined distance, the first processing unit outputs a notification via the first output unit, so as to send the notification to a user of the first electronic device when the second electronic device is close to the first electronic device.

Abstract: A distance sensing system includes a first electronic device and a second electronic device. A second processing unit of the second electronic device sends a wireless signal via a second short-range wireless communication unit. When a first processing unit of the first electronic device receives, via a first short-range wireless communication unit, the wireless signal from the second electronic device, the processing unit generates an estimated distance value indicating an estimated distance between the first electronic device and the second electronic device based on signal strength of the wireless signal. When the first processing unit of the first electronic device determines that the estimated distance value is less than a predetermined distance, the first processing unit outputs a notification via the first output unit, so as to send the notification to a user of the first electronic device when the second electronic device is close to the first electronic device.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for automatically switching between geographical data files that contain geographical content, in an onboard navigation system that utilizes a Voice Destination Entry (VDE) feature. The described embodiments determine, based on one or more VDE inputs from a user, if the currently-active geographical data file should be used to search for geographical item candidates, or if two or more geographical data files should be used. The described embodiments may produce a list of VDE candidates from which the user selects. The described embodiments may populate this list from one or more data files, depending on an evaluation of the VDE input from the user.

Abstract: A head suspension assembly for a disk drive includes a load beam and a laminated flexure that comprises a stainless steel layer, a copper trace layer, and a dielectric layer between the stainless steel layer and the copper trace layer. The laminated flexure includes a flexure tail that extends away from the load beam to a flexure tail terminal region. The copper trace layer includes a plurality of flexure bond pads in the flexure tail terminal region. The stainless steel layer includes a plurality of backing islands in the flexure tail terminal region. Each of the plurality of backing islands is aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of flexure bond pads. A noble metal layer is disposed on the plurality of backing islands.

Abstract: A shoe insole which is adapted to be worn by a user includes a fiber pad. The fiber pad has a first portion that corresponds in position to a forefoot of a user and that includes a plurality of fiber layers stacked in a top-bottom direction. Each of the fiber layers includes a plurality of fibers and a resin material interconnecting the fibers. The first portion of the fiber pad has a first longitudinal cross-section profile concave relative to the forefoot of the user in a toe-to-heel direction. A slipper including the shoe insole is also disclosed.

Abstract: A flexure tail of a head suspension assembly includes a structural layer, a conductive layer, a dielectric layer between the structural and conductive layers, and an insulative cover layer disposed on the conductive layer. The conductive layer includes a plurality of flexure bond pads in a terminal region of the flexure tail. The insulative cover layer includes a plurality of openings that expose each of the plurality of flexure bond pads. The dielectric layer defines a first thickness between the structural layer and the conductive layer at each of the plurality of flexure bond pads. The dielectric layer also defines a second thickness between the structural layer and the conductive layer adjacent to the plurality of flexure bond pads in the terminal region of the flexure tail. The second thickness is less than the first thickness by a thickness difference that is no less than a cover layer thickness.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly for a disk drive includes a flexure tail terminal region having flexure bond pads in electrical communication with the head. Each of the flexure bond pads is aligned with one of a plurality of flexible printed circuit (FPC) bond pads. An anisotropic conductive film is disposed between the FPC and the flexure tail terminal region. The flexure tail terminal region overlaps the anisotropic conductive film in a bonding area. Each of the flexure bond pads is bonded to one of the plurality of FPC bond pads by the anisotropic conductive film in a bonding area. A conductive layer of the flexure tail terminal region includes an exposed conductive ground pad that is disposed outside of the bonding area, and/or disposed outside of an application area of a thermode tool that is pressed against the flexure tail terminal region during the bonding process.

Abstract: A head suspension assembly for a disk drive includes a load beam and a laminated flexure that comprises a stainless steel layer, a copper trace layer, and a dielectric layer between the stainless steel layer and the copper trace layer. The laminated flexure includes a flexure tail that extends away from the load beam to a flexure tail terminal region. The copper trace layer includes a plurality of flexure bond pads in the flexure tail terminal region. The stainless steel layer includes a plurality of backing islands in the flexure tail terminal region. Each of the plurality of backing islands is aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of flexure bond pads. A noble metal layer is disposed on the plurality of backing islands.

Abstract: A head suspension assembly for a disk drive includes a load beam and a laminated flexure that comprises a stainless steel layer, a copper trace layer, and a dielectric layer between the stainless steel layer and the copper trace layer. The laminated flexure includes a flexure tail that extends away from the load beam to a flexure tail terminal region. The copper trace layer includes a plurality of flexure bond pads in the flexure tail terminal region. The stainless steel layer includes a plurality of backing islands in the flexure tail terminal region. Each of the plurality of backing islands is aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of flexure bond pads. A noble metal layer is disposed on the plurality of backing islands.

Abstract: Cropping source images for display on user devices. A source image is cropped and/or resized to correspond to dimensions of a display screen of a device by selecting an area of interest of the source image which will not be lost in the process of resizing the image. Coordinate points are positioned within the image to correspond to dimensions of the display screen on which the image will be displayed and the image is then cropped at the boundaries defined by the coordinate points which include a crop height and a crop width. If needed, the image is then scaled down proportionally to resize the image to a size that corresponds to the dimensions of the display screen of the device.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly for a disk drive includes a flexure tail terminal region having flexure bond pads in electrical communication with the head. Each of the flexure bond pads is aligned with one of a plurality of flexible printed circuit (FPC) bond pads. An anisotropic conductive film is disposed between the FPC and the flexure tail terminal region. The flexure tail terminal region overlaps the anisotropic conductive film in a bonding area. Each of the flexure bond pads is bonded to one of the plurality of FPC bond pads by the anisotropic conductive film in a bonding area. A conductive layer of the flexure tail terminal region includes an exposed conductive ground pad that is disposed outside of the bonding area, and/or disposed outside of an application area of a thermode tool that is pressed against the flexure tail terminal region during the bonding process.