Abstract: A silicon on insulator (SOI) photonic device having a waveguide is provided that includes a mode overlap portion with a topology optimized structure situated below an electrode of the capacitance structure. The device can significantly change a refractive index in a volume of mode overlap depending upon the applied potential to the capacitor and allows for a ? phase shift in a modest mode overlap volume. The topology optimized structure has a waveguide and substrate that are partitioned in three dimensions using an extruded projection design. The electrode is a transition metal di-chalcogenide monolayer sheet (2D TMD). The enhanced mode overlay from the topology optimized waveguide portion allows a large reduction in the length of the waveguide with the mode overlap to achieve the needed phase shift for a photonic device.

Abstract: A multi-mode heat transfer system includes an emitter device with an inner core surrounded by an outer core having an outer surface and an emission surface disposed on the outer surface. The emission surface includes a thermal metamaterial configured to direct heat from the inner core in at least two desired directions to an object other than the emitter device. The object can include a thermal receiver devices, for example two receiver devices and the emission surface can direct heat to two different receiver devices spaced apart from the emitter device.

Abstract: A window can be used to detect objects located within an opening. A structure can define the opening. The window can be operatively positioned within the opening. The window can be movable to selectively open and close the opening. The window can include an optical grating operatively positioned near a closing edge of the window. A light source configured to emit light toward the optical grating. A detector operatively positioned to acquire spectroscopic data of the light emitted from the light source after the light has interacted with the optical grating. A processor can be operatively connected to the detector. The processor can be configured to: determine a temperature based on the spectroscopic data; determine, based on the temperature, whether an object is located in the opening; and responsive to determining that an object is located in the opening, control a movement of window.

Abstract: A window can comprise a first side and a second side substantially parallel to the first side. The window can comprise an optical grating operatively positioned with respect to one of the first side and the second side. The optical grating can be used to determine a temperature at or near the respective one of the first side and the second side.

Abstract: The measurement of electrodermal activity (EDA) can be facilitated by a sensing surface. The sensing surface can have a plurality of electrode pairs. An electrode pair can include a first electrode and a second electrode that are electrically isolated from each other. The plurality of electrode pairs can be electrically isolated from each other. A distance between neighboring electrode pairs can be larger than a distance between the first electrode and a second electrode of each electrode pair. One or more sensors can be configured to detect contact with the sensing surface. In response to the one or more sensors detecting contact with the sensing surface, one or more electrode pairs can be selected to be activated. In response to the one or more electrode pairs being selected to be activated, the selected one or more electrode pairs can be activated.

Abstract: A thermal compensation layer includes a metal inverse opal (MIO) layer that includes a plurality of core-shell phase change (PC) particles encapsulated within a metal of the MIO layer. Each of the core-shell PC particles includes a core that includes a PCM having a PC temperature in a range of from 100° C. to 250° C., and a shell that includes a shell material having a melt temperature greater than the PC temperature of the PCM. A power electronics assembly includes a substrate having a thermal compensation layer formed proximate a surface of the substrate, the thermal compensation layer comprising an MIO layer that includes a plurality of core-shell PC particles encapsulated within a metal of the MIO layer. The power electronics assembly further includes an electronic device bonded to the thermal compensation layer at a first surface of the electronic device.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to controlling display attributes within a visual interface for enhancing stimuli and responses of a user. In one embodiment, a method includes selecting display attributes related to a first layer of an image and a second layer of the image, and the first layer includes a symbol, the second layer represents a background of the symbol, and the image is associated with an interface to control a component. The method also includes oscillating, at first multiple of a frequency, between first values of the display attributes representing colors that are different for displaying the first layer, and the colors changing by a duty cycle associated with the first multiple of the frequency. The method also includes oscillating, at a second multiple of the frequency, between second values for displaying the second layer in parallel with the first layer until detecting a selection associated with the interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the brightness of a transparent display are disclosed herein. One embodiment collects ambient light using an array of Fresnel lenses disposed on an external surface of a vehicle; collects internal light from the vehicle's headlights; filters the ambient light and the internal light to produce filtered ambient light and filtered internal light; generates primary-source light using a light-emitting-diode (LED) light source; and injects, into a transparent edge-lit liquid crystal waveguide display deployed in at least a portion of a window of the vehicle, the primary-source light, the filtered ambient light, and the filtered internal light in a color-synchronized manner. The filtered ambient light and the filtered internal light improve the brightness of the transparent edge-lit liquid crystal waveguide display.

Abstract: A double-sided cold plate includes a manifold comprising openings extending from a first surface of the manifold through the manifold to a second surface of the manifold forming recesses within the manifold and an inlet channel and an outlet channel fluidly coupled to the recesses within the manifold, a plurality of first heat sinks coupled to the first surface of the manifold enclosing the openings on the first surface, and a plurality of second heat sinks positioned adjacent each other along a length of the manifold and coupled to the second surface of the manifold, enclosing the openings on the second surface, a width of the plurality of second heat sinks is greater than a width of the manifold thereby forming an overhanging portion on each lengthwise side of the manifold, the overhanging portion configured to mechanically support a plurality of electrical components positioned around a perimeter of the manifold.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a system with an electroactive substrate, a plurality of nanoparticles, and a control unit. The plurality of nanoparticles deposited in communication with the electroactive substrate. The control unit is configured to manipulate a shape of the electroactive substrate between an unactuated mode and an actuated mode to change an absorption band or an emission band of the plurality of nanoparticles. When the electroactive substrate shape is manipulated, the absorption band or the emission band of the plurality of nanoparticles is changed to tune the system for a radiative cooling based on a current dominating wavelength.

Abstract: A transparent display system comprises a transparent display, a touch-sensitive layer, and a heater layer. The touch-sensitive layer is connected to the transparent display and is configured to detect a user's touch on the transparent display. The heater layer is connected to the transparent display and comprises a trace array and one or more electrodes. The electrodes are operable to activate the trace array to generate heat in the location of the user's touch to generate thermo-haptic feedback to communicate information to the user.

Abstract: Embedded cooling systems and methods of forming the same are disclosed. An embedded cooling system includes a PCB having a first major surface opposite a second major surface and power device stacks embedded within the PCB between the first major surface and the second major surface. Each power device stack includes a first substrate and a second substrate, and an electrical insulation layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The embedded cooling system further includes a power device coupled to the first substrate of each power device stack and heat pipes having a first end and a second end spaced a distance apart from the first end. The first end is embedded within the PCB substrate and the second end extends outside of the PCB substrate. The second substrate of the one or more power device stacks is coupled to the one or more heat pipes.

Abstract: An optical metasurface which shifts resonant frequency in response to changing temperature. The optical metasurface includes a membrane printed in a pattern from materials with a high coefficient of thermal expansion (“CTE”). The optical metasurface can include a plurality of high CTE fibers/structures in a first direction and a plurality of low CTE fibers/structures in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Alternatively, the high CTE substrate can include a plurality of high CTE fibers/structures in only a first direction. The high CTE substrate can include a plurality of high CTE fibers and a plurality of low CTE fiber in a pattern which creates desired sensing domains. An array of nanostructures is formed on the high CTE substrate. The array of nanostructures is designed to resonate with light transmitted through or impinging upon the optical metasurface. The resonant frequency of the response can be tuned thermally.

Abstract: A seat blocking system can comprise a seat. The seat can include a seat understructure and an overlying seating surface. The seat understructure can form a seat base and a seatback arranged in a seating configuration. The seating surface can be configured to morph between a sittable shape, in which the seating surface is coextensive with the seat understructure, and an unsittable shape, in which the seating surface is expanded over at least a portion of the seat understructure. The seat blocking system can include a seat blocker. The seat blocker can be integrated with the seat. The seat blocker can be operable to morph between a deactivated state, whereby the seat blocker leaves the seat understructure to impart the sittable shape to the seating surface, and an activated state, in which the seat blocker acts on the seating surface to impart the unsittable shape to the seating surface.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to controlling display attributes within a visual interface for enhancing stimuli and responses of a user. In one embodiment, a method includes selecting display attributes related to a first layer of an image and a second layer of the image, wherein the image is associated with an interface to control a component. The method also includes oscillating, at a frequency, between first values of the display attributes for displaying the first layer. The method also includes oscillating, at a harmonic of the frequency, between second values of the display attributes for displaying the second layer in parallel with the first layer until detecting a selection associated with the interface.

Abstract: A shroud for an air moving device includes a shroud body configured to at least partially surround one or more blades. The shroud body defines an annular cavity and an annular opening. The annular opening faces the one or more blades. The shroud also includes a Helmholtz resonator defined by the annular cavity and the annular opening. The Helmholtz resonator is configured to reflect sound generated by the one or more blades out of the shroud body.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the brightness of a transparent display are disclosed herein. One embodiment collects ambient light using an array of metasurface lenses disposed on an external surface of a vehicle; collects internal light from the vehicle's headlights; filters the ambient light and the internal light to produce filtered ambient light and filtered internal light; generates primary-source light using a light-emitting-diode (LED) light source; and injects, into a transparent edge-lit liquid crystal waveguide display deployed in at least a portion of a window of the vehicle, the primary-source light, the filtered ambient light, and the filtered internal light in a color-synchronized manner. The filtered ambient light and the filtered internal light improve the brightness of the transparent edge-lit liquid crystal waveguide display.

Abstract: Embedded cooling systems and methods of forming the same are disclosed. A system includes a PCB stack comprising a first major substrate opposite a second major substrate, a pre-preg layer disposed between the first and second major substrates, a power device stack embedded within the PCB stack and comprising a substrate, a power device coupled to the substrate of each power device stack, and a flat heat pipe having a first end embedded in the PCB stack and a second end extending outside the PCB stack, the power device stack being coupled to the flat heat pipe.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for adjusting a control of a vehicle system based on a condition of an occupant. The system includes a replaceable or upgradeable electronic skin removably coupled to an interior vehicle component. The electronic skin includes at least one sensor positioned therein, configured to monitor/obtain a biometric, physiological, or wellness condition measurement from an occupant. The system includes one or more processors and a memory communicably coupled thereto. An occupant comfort module is provided including instructions that, when executed, collect and monitor feedback from the at least one sensor; determine that the feedback exceeds a predetermined threshold; and determine an adjustment for a vehicle system based on the feedback. A control module may be provided including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the vehicle system to change at least one setting based on the adjustment determined by the occupant comfort module.

Abstract: A bipolar plate-gas diffusion layer (GDL) assembly for a polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cell includes a flat metallic bipolar plate and a porous metal GDL adjacent to and in direct contact with the flat metallic bipolar plate. The porous metal GDL includes flow channels defined by flow channels walls with flow channel surfaces. The flow channel walls and flow channel surfaces have an average porosity generally equal to an average porosity of an interior of the porous metal GDL.