Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle for a combustion turbine engine has thermal stress-relief vanes, which accommodate and relieve localized thermal stresses within its monolithic, three-dimensional nozzle structure, imparted by heat transfer during engine combustion. At least one first vane is coupled to opposing, spaced nozzle sleeves at both ends. At least one cantilever-like second vane is coupled to one of the opposing sleeves on one end, while the other free or floating end is spaced by a second vane gap from the other opposing sleeve. Some embodiments include a plurality of second vanes, which have locally varying orientation, and/or structure, and/or second vane gaps, for normalizing spatially and/or temporally thermal stresses within the nozzle structure. The monolithic structure is fabricated, in some nozzle embodiments, by additive manufacturing.

Abstract: A city capturing board game, including a board having a plurality of spaces imprinted thereon, the spaces being subdivided into territories representing neighborhoods, a plurality of vehicles to move about the spaces on the board based on a rolling of at least one die, and a plurality of figurines to each remain on one of the spaces on the board to represent a capture of the space.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide image resolution enhancement. For example, a method includes: receiving a reference image (e.g., a visible light image) of a scene comprising image pixels identified by pixel coordinates; receiving a lower-resolution target image (e.g., an infrared image) of the scene; resizing the target image to a larger size; determining an adaptive-shape neighborhood for each pixel coordinate, wherein the adaptive-shape neighborhood extends from the each pixel coordinate such that those reference image pixels that are within the shape-adaptive neighborhood meet a regularity condition; determining, for each adaptive-shape neighborhood, a local estimate based on those target image pixels that are within the adaptive-shape neighborhood; and aggregating the local estimates associated with the adaptive-shape neighborhoods to provide a global estimate that corresponds to the target image with an improved resolution.

Abstract: Auxetic structures, low porosity auxetic sheets, systems and devices with auxetic structures, and methods of using and methods of making auxetic structures are disclosed. An auxetic structure is disclosed which includes an elastically rigid body with a plurality of apertures extending through the elastically rigid body and a plurality of protrusions projecting from the elastically rigid body. The apertures and protrusions are arranged in an engineered pattern, such as an array of rows and columns. The apertures are cooperatively configured with the protrusions to provide a predefined porosity while exhibiting stress reduction through negative Poisson's Ratio (NPR) behavior under macroscopic planar loading conditions. In some embodiments, the protrusions, which are elliptical or semispherical dimples, are interposed in square or hexagonal patterns with the apertures, which are S-shaped through slots or circular boreholes.

Abstract: The present concepts include a zero-porosity structure having a plurality of structural elements arranged to provide a negative Poisson's ratio and, further, a new mechanism to generate negative Poisson's ratio is single material, zero-porosity structure.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed to suppress distortion in images (e.g., video or still images), such as distortion caused by atmospheric turbulence. For example, similar image blocks from a sequence of images may be identified and tracked along motion trajectories to construct spatiotemporal volumes. The motion trajectories are smoothed to estimate the true positions of the image blocks without random displacements/shifts due to the distortion, and the smoothed trajectories are used to aggregate the image blocks in their new estimated positions to reconstruct the sequence of images with the random displacements/shifts suppressed. Blurring that may remain within each image block of the spatiotemporal volumes may be suppressed by modifying the spatiotemporal volumes in a collaborative fashion.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed to suppress distortion in images (e.g., video or still images), such as distortion caused by atmospheric turbulence. For example, similar image blocks from a sequence of images may be identified and tracked along motion trajectories to construct spatiotemporal volumes. The motion trajectories are smoothed to estimate the true positions of the image blocks without random displacements/shifts due to the distortion, and the smoothed trajectories are used to aggregate the image blocks in their new estimated positions to reconstruct the sequence of images with the random displacements/shifts suppressed. Blurring that may remain within each image block of the spatiotemporal volumes may be suppressed by modifying the spatiotemporal volumes in a collaborative fashion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for unlocking an electronic device includes displaying (110) a lockscreen with an initial image in an initial region on a touch screen of the electronic device when it is in a locked state (100). Responsive to detecting (120) a first touch contact in the initial region, the electronic device displays (130) an intermediate image in a secondary region of the touch screen. Responsive to detecting (140) a second touch contact in the secondary region, the electronic device displays (150) an action image in a tertiary region of the touch screen. Responsive to detecting (160) a third touch contact in the tertiary region, the electronic device executes (180) an action associated with the action image and transitions the electronic device to an unlocked state (190).

Abstract: Device for controlling toasting and baking having means for sensing toasting, such that the degree of toasting is detected as a function of the shade thereof, means for processing the signal emanating from the sensing means, logic processing and control means, logic storage means, and a plurality of toasting means, wherein all the components are connected to the logic processing and control means, thereby enabling a method for controlling toasting or baking, based on the change in shade of the product to be toasted or baked, to be implemented.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for unlocking an electronic device includes displaying (110) a lockscreen with an initial image in an initial region on a touch screen of the electronic device when it is in a locked state (100). Responsive to detecting (120) a first touch contact in the initial region, the electronic device displays (130) an intermediate image in a secondary region of the touch screen. Responsive to detecting (140) a second touch contact in the secondary region, the electronic device displays (150) an action image in a tertiary region of the touch screen. Responsive to detecting (160) a third touch contact in the tertiary region, the electronic device executes (180) an action associated with the action image and transitions the electronic device to an unlocked state (190).

Abstract: System for monitoring the status and driving of a vehicle that consists of at least the following: (i) a first adjustable means for detecting vibrations (2) and a first element for adjusting the sensitivity of the vibrating means (5), where this first adjusting element (5) is configured for adapting the system to different types of vibrations, controlling the operation of the first adjustment means (2); (ii) a second adjustable means for timing (3) and a second element for adjusting the sensitivity of the timing means (4), where this second adjusting element (4) is configured for determining the system waiting period between vibrations and lack of vibrations, controlling the operation of the second adjustment means (2); and (iii) a third means for detecting the type of driving (10) that has been configured, at least, to know the nominal status of the vehicle and the status of the vehicle in motion.

Abstract: A system and method for digital image generation, delivery, and management is provided. The automated image generation, delivery, and management system and method serves processed images over a network. A requesting application provides a URL in addition to field values. The image delivery system retrieves and serves an image based on the requested URL. A sized image and a default image are saved in a database for rapid retrieval. If the system can generate an image sized to the request, it does so. Otherwise, the system visits the URL to obtain a snapshot of the rendered webpage. If no webpage is available with the URL as provided, the URL is truncated until a displayable webpage is rendered.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of an electronic device for providing a visual representation of a contact widget, in which the electronic device includes a display and an input component associated with the display. A display provides a contact widget including positions for task representations. An input component then detects selection of a particular position of the contact widget. Next, the input component detects selection of a particular task of a contact list associated with the contact widget. Thereafter, the display provides a representation of the particular task at the particular position.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electronic device and method for providing a visual representation of a contact widget. The electronic device includes a display and an input component. A display provides a first representation of the contact widget including a first quantity of task representations. An input component then detects a resizing action of the contact widget. Thereafter, display provides a second representation of the contact widget, different from the first representation, including a second quantity of task representations in response to detecting the resizing action of the contact widget.

Abstract: Device for controlling toasting and baking that comprises, at least: means (1) for sensing toasting, such that the degree of toasting is detected as a function of the shade thereof; means (2) for processing the signal emanating from the sensing means (1); logic processing and control means (3); logic storage means (4); and a plurality of toasting means (5); wherein all the components are connected to the logic processing and control means (3), thereby enabling a method for controlling toasting or baking, based on the change in shade of the product to be toasted or baked, to be implemented.

Abstract: System for monitoring the status and driving of a vehicle that consists of at least the following: (i) a first adjustable means for detecting vibrations (2) and a first element for adjusting the sensitivity of the vibrating means (5), where this first adjusting element (5) is configured for adapting the system to different types of vibrations, controlling the operation of the first adjustment means (2); (ii) a second adjustable means for timing (3) and a second element for adjusting the sensitivity of the timing means (4), where this second adjusting element (4) is configured for determining the system waiting period between vibrations and lack of vibrations, controlling the operation of the second adjustment means (2); and (iii) a third means for detecting the type of driving (10) that has been configured, at least, to know the nominal status of the vehicle and the status of the vehicle in motion.

Abstract: A system and method for providing live-interaction between a user and a call center representative regarding an advertisement of interest. The method is operable as program steps running on a stored program computer having networking capabilities. The system comprises a live-interaction routing module, an ad request module, an ad content rendering module, a live-interaction module, and an ad lead interface module. The user generates a live-interaction request which the system routes to an available call center representative. The communication request information causes an ad publishing service to provide advertising content to be delivered to the user's browser, and a communications link to be established between the user and representative. The system further allows the representative to provide additional ad related content to the user during the communication session.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating the sharing of the results of a search for information conducted by a user over a computer network. The results are presented to the user along with links to allow one or more of the search results to be shared over the network. The user elects to share a particular search result and chooses a sharing destination, such as an email address or a social networking website. The system formats the sharing message appropriately according to the chosen destination and according to a predetermined view template. The message is then submitted to the destination.

Abstract: A system and method for digital image generation, delivery, and management is provided. The automated image generation, delivery, and management system and method serves processed images over a network. A requesting application provides a URL in addition to field values. The image delivery system retrieves and serves an image based on the requested URL. A sized image and a default image are saved in a database for rapid retrieval. If the system can generate an image sized to the request, it does so. Otherwise, the system visits the URL to obtain a snapshot of the rendered webpage. If no webpage is available with the URL as provided, the URL is truncated until a displayable webpage is rendered.

Abstract: Enhanced Origination Services (EOS) for Toll Free (TF) telephone calls consists of uploading instructions to the SMS/800 National Database, which instructions are subsequently downloaded by Signal Control Points (SCPs) in the United States for the routing of TF telephone calls. When a caller dials a TF number, a communication switching device queries the SCP serving the caller's LATA and routes the call according to the EOS instructions for that TF number. EOS instructions route the call to a POTS number in the originating LATA using an IntraLATA Carrier Identification Code. The POTS number is connected to a private gateway, which utilizes the Dialed Number Identification Service (DNIS) of the POTS number to perform a translation function, which may replace the received DNIS with the DNIS of the originally dialed TF number. The call is routed over the private network using the private network owner's database for routing instructions for the specific TF number.