Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a payment system for use with base money of one or more alternative currencies. Steps may include administering accounts, each of which belongs to one or more account owners; receiving spend instructions specifying an account-to-account transfer of a quantity of base money from a paying account to a recipient account; receiving spend authorizations for the spend instructions from system users with requisite privileges for the paying account; and executing the authorized spend instruction if they conform to all applicable system rules by crediting the paying account and debiting the recipient account in an atomic transaction that executes in its entirety or not at all. At least one of the one or more alternative currencies may be based on at least one commodity and may be continuously backed by a 100% reserve of the at least one commodity.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide systems and methods for administering a private sector Monetary Authority. The systems and methods may include providing access to End Users; and enabling performance of specialized Roles required for the administration of the system. The systems and methods may be self-contained for creation, holding, circulation and retirement of the Base Money such that outside money or value cannot be transmitted into or out of the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a payment system for use with base money of one or more alternative currencies. Steps may include administering accounts, each of which belongs to one or more account owners; receiving spend instructions specifying an account-to-account transfer of a quantity of base money from a paying account to a recipient account; receiving spend authorizations for the spend instructions from system users with requisite privileges for the paying account; and executing the authorized spend instruction if they conform to all applicable system rules by crediting the paying account and debiting the recipient account in an atomic transaction that executes in its entirety or not at all. At least one of the one or more alternative currencies may be based on at least one commodity and may be continuously backed by a 100% reserve of the at least one commodity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices, designs, and methods of using a device for sanitizing feet, shoes, or other surfaces in contact with the floor. The apparatus is capable of detecting the presence of a user and automatically spraying the feet of a user with a sanitizing fluid. Fluid is expelled through an elevated grate, which allows the user to stand on an elevated grate and have their feet sanitized without exposing their feet to a dirty pool of liquid.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide systems and methods for administering a private sector Monetary Authority. The systems and methods may include providing access to End Users; and enabling performance of specialized Roles required for the administration of the system. The systems and methods may be self-contained for creation, holding, circulation and retirement of the Base Money such that outside money or value cannot be transmitted into or out of the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a payment system for use with base money of one or more alternative currencies. Steps may include administering accounts, each of which belongs to one or more account owners; receiving spend instructions specifying an account-to-account transfer of a quantity of base money from a paying account to a recipient account; receiving spend authorizations for the spend instructions from system users with requisite privileges for the paying account; and executing the authorized spend instruction if they conform to all applicable system rules by crediting the paying account and debiting the recipient account in an atomic transaction that executes in its entirety or not at all. At least one of the one or more alternative currencies may be based on at least one commodity and may be continuously backed by a 100% reserve of the at least one commodity.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide systems and methods for administering a private sector Monetary Authority. The systems and methods may include providing access to End Users; and enabling performance of specialized Roles required for the administration of the system. The systems and methods may be self-contained for creation, holding, circulation and retirement of the Base Money such that outside money or value cannot be transmitted into or out of the system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices, designs, and methods of using a device for sanitizing feet, shoes, or other surfaces in contact with the floor. The apparatus is capable of detecting the presence of a user and automatically spraying the feet of a user with a sanitizing fluid. Fluid is expelled through an elevated grate, which allows the user to stand on an elevated grate and have their feet sanitized without exposing their feet to a dirty pool of liquid.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide systems and methods for administering a private sector Monetary Authority. The systems and methods may include providing access to End Users; and enabling performance of specialized Roles required for the administration of the system. The systems and methods may be self-contained for creation, holding, circulation and retirement of the Base Money such that outside money or value cannot be transmitted into or out of the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a payment system for use with base money of one or more alternative currencies. Steps may include administering accounts, each of which belongs to one or more account owners; receiving spend instructions specifying an account-to-account transfer of a quantity of base money from a paying account to a recipient account; receiving spend authorizations for the spend instructions from system users with requisite privileges for the paying account; and executing the authorized spend instruction if they conform to all applicable system rules by crediting the paying account and debiting the recipient account in an atomic transaction that executes in its entirety or not at all. At least one of the one or more alternative currencies may be based on at least one commodity and may be continuously backed by a 100% reserve of the at least one commodity.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is provided. The ADC includes a variable oscillator, a frequency divider, a clock circuit, and a counter. The variable oscillator is coupled to a sensor and configured to generate an oscillating signal based on a measurement generated by the sensor. The frequency divider is coupled to the variable oscillator and configured to divide a frequency of the oscillating signal. The clock circuit is configured to generate a clock signal at a defined frequency. The counter is coupled to the frequency divider and to the clock and is configured to generate a bit stream representative of a first number of periods of the clock signal during a second number of periods of the divided oscillating signal.

Abstract: An idle station transport mechanism for a press, including a first plurality of magnetizable transport rails; a second plurality of magnetizable transport rails axially displaceable with respect to the first plurality of transport rails; and a plurality of transfer bars magnetizable to engage the material. The first and second pluralities of rails form a transport path along which material to be manipulated by the press is arranged to be transported and the transfer bars are displaceable to move the material axially along the transport path. In some aspects, the second plurality of transport rails is automatically displaceable while in the press, the plurality of transfer bars is arranged to magnetically engage a bottom side of the material, or the first and second pluralities of transport rails and the plurality of transfer bars are electro-magnetic. Also, a method of transporting material to a press.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is provided. The ADC includes a variable oscillator, a frequency divider, a clock circuit, and a counter. The variable oscillator is coupled to a sensor and configured to generate an oscillating signal based on a measurement generated by the sensor. The frequency divider is coupled to the variable oscillator and configured to divide a frequency of the oscillating signal. The clock circuit is configured to generate a clock signal at a defined frequency. The counter is coupled to the frequency divider and to the clock and is configured to generate a bit stream representative of a first number of periods of the clock signal during a second number of periods of the divided oscillating signal.

Abstract: An idle station transport mechanism for a press, including a first plurality of magnetizable transport rails; a second plurality of magnetizable transport rails axially displaceable with respect to the first plurality of transport rails; and a plurality of transfer bars magnetizable to engage the material. The first and second pluralities of rails form a transport path along which material to be manipulated by the press is arranged to be transported and the transfer bars are displaceable to move the material axially along the transport path. In some aspects, the second plurality of transport rails is automatically displaceable while in the press, the plurality of transfer bars is arranged to magnetically engage a bottom side of the material, or the first and second pluralities of transport rails and the plurality of transfer bars are electro-magnetic. Also, a method of transporting material to a press.

Abstract: A nanopowder synthesis system having an autofuser device which obviates the need for external power switches, and which accommodates repeated discharges (of the order of 107) between ablating electrodes of precursor material at a high repetition rate (?1 Hz).

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a MEMS cantilever strain sensor. Capacitor plates in a MEMS device of the invention are carried on cantilevered opposing micro-scale plates separated by a micro-scale gap under an unstrained condition. At least one of the micro-scale plates may be attached to a substrate or forms a substrate, which may be part of a monitored system. When a load is applied to the substrate, distal ends of the opposing cantilevered micro-scale plates become further separated, resulting in a change of capacitance. The change of capacitance is proportional to a load and therefore is an indication of the strain. Electrodes may be integrated into the strain sensor to provide a connection to measurement circuitry, for example. Sensors of the invention also provide for telemetric communication using radio frequency (RF) energy and can be interrogated without a power supply to the sensor.

Abstract: A tubular dispensing container has a head whose shoulder is joined to a tubular body. The head and shoulder can be thin because they are provided with a plurality of ribs that extend axially from the neck to the lower end of the shoulder and rigidify the head. A head for a tubular dispensing container is provided having the above-mentioned ribs. Apparatus for forming the head has male or female tooling with axially grooves formed therein to form the ribs on the inside or outside surface of the head. Methods involve flowing moldable material along the grooves to provide the lower end of the shoulder of the head with enough moldable material at elevated temperature and pressure to form a good bond of the shoulder with the tubular body.

Abstract: A reaction vessel with cyclonic flow for efficiently producing and collecting nanoparticles. An outer helical vortex and an inner helical vortex are formed within the vessel. A reaction apparatus is operated within the inner helical vortex to produce nanoparticles. An outlet nozzle collects the nanoparticles from the inner helical vortex. Larger particles are collected from an outlet nozzle. The vortices formed in the reaction vessel minimize buildup on walls of the reaction vessel and provide a way to rapidly move synthesized particles out of the reaction vessel.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a MEMS cantilever strain sensor. Capacitor plates in a MEMS device of the invention are carried on cantilevered opposing micro-scale plates separated by a micro-scale gap under an unstrained condition. At least one of the micro-scale plates may be attached to a substrate or forms a substrate, which may be part of a monitored system. When a load is applied to the substrate, distal ends of the opposing cantilevered micro-scale plates become further separated, resulting in a change of capacitance. The change of capacitance is proportional to a load and therefore is an indication of the strain. Electrodes may be integrated into the strain sensor to provide a connection to measurement circuitry, for example. Sensors of the invention also provide for telemetric communication using radio frequency (RF) energy and can be interrogated without a power supply to the sensor.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes first and second conducting members which are pivotally attached to each other. A portion of the first and second conducting members distal to the pivotal attachment form an electrical contact with the electrode. The first and second conducting members, when operably connected to electric power source, provide parallel current paths for an electric current from the power source to the electrode. The contact is preloaded. Further, the first and second conducting members are configured to provide additional forces at the contact with the electrode in response to the current flow, the additional forces having at least a predetermined value when a value of the electric current has a preselected value. For example, the predetermined value of the additional forces may be determined, using known properties of electrical contacts, so as to ensure that the contact does not fail when the current reaches the preselected value.