Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the brightness of a transparent display are disclosed herein. One embodiment collects ambient light using an array of diffraction gratings disposed on an external surface of a vehicle to produce filtered ambient light; collects internal light from the vehicle's headlights; filters the internal light to produce 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: Dynamically adjustable EDA measurement device may include: a dynamically formable base comprising a soft robotics material, wherein the dynamically formable base comprises a formable surface configured to be dynamically formed in response to input signals; and an EDA sensing layer affixed to the formable surface of the dynamically formable base, the EDA sensing layer comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged on a flexible substrate and configured to be connected to a power supply; wherein, in response to input signals, the formable surface of the dynamically formable base and the EDA sensing layer affixed thereto are reformed into a desired contour.

Abstract: A power electronics assembly includes a vapor chamber and a heat-generating device. The vapor chamber includes a housing defining an evaporator side and a condenser side and a pedestal integrally formed with an extending from the evaporator side, the pedestal comprising a non-rectangular shape corresponding to a thermal management objective. The heat-generating device is coupled to the pedestal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting one or more properties of a deformable lens are described herein. The deformable lens includes a photoswitch material that, when irradiated by a radiation, causes a curvature of a surface of the deformable lens to change from a first curvature to a second curvature based on the intensity of the radiation.

Abstract: Dynamically adjustable EDA measurement device may include: a dynamically formable base comprising a soft robotics material, wherein the dynamically formable base comprises a formable surface configured to be dynamically formed in response to input signals; and an EDA sensing layer affixed to the formable surface of the dynamically formable base, the EDA sensing layer comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged on a flexible substrate and configured to be connected to a power supply; wherein, in response to input signals, the formable surface of the dynamically formable base and the EDA sensing layer affixed thereto are reformed into a desired contour.

Abstract: A window can be used for object detection and/or identification. The window can have a first side and a second side. An optical grating can be operatively positioned with respect to the first side of the window. A light source can be configured to emit light toward the optical grating. A detector can be operatively positioned to acquire spectroscopic data of the light emitted from the light source after the light has interacted with the optical grating. Using the optical grating, a temperature at or near the first side can be determined. Based on the temperature, it can be determined whether an object is located on the first side of the window.

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 transparent display system includes 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 touch-based input to the transparent display. The heater layer is connected to the transparent display and includes a trace array and one or more electrodes operable to activate the trace array to generate heat to heat at least a portion of the transparent display based on the touch-based input.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a photonic apparatus for processing optical signals within an integrated optical pathway. The photonic apparatus a light perception device that perceives light from a surrounding environment of the apparatus. The photonic apparatus also includes an optical neural network (ONN) connected with the light perception device via an optical relay. The optical neural network configured to perform optical processing on the light according to a deep learning algorithm and using optical components.

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: An extendable biosensing device comprising a robotic structure. The robotic structure comprises a pliable exterior lining and an extendable core. The robotic structure comprises at least one sensor located on or within the pliable exterior lining. The sensor is configured to measure a physiological condition. The extendable core automatically extends from a retracted state to a deployed state in response to a triggering event.

Abstract: Printed circuit board (PCB) substrates include at least one pre-preg layer interposed between one or more electrically conductive layers, power device stacks, each having a power device embedded within the PCB substrate in a vertical stack configuration, and a flat heat pipe positioned between the power device stacks within the at least one pre-preg layer, one surface of the flat heat pipe directly bonded to a first one of the power device stacks and an opposite surface of the flat heat pipe thermally coupled to a second one of the power device stacks.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to utilizing contactless brainwave detectors to gather a user's unique electroencephalogram (EEG) data. EEG data, as well as an additional biometric, such as gait, can be used to determine whether users have access to enter a locked system, such as a door. An access list can be created and pre-registered with the EEG data and any additional biometric data of users who have access to enter the locked system. As the user nears the locked system, they can generate the EEG data to unlock the locked system by thinking of a pre-registered password stored in the access list.

Abstract: A wireless charging pad includes a rectifier, a receiver coil, a heat spreader plate sandwich between the rectifier and the receiver coil, and a ferrite cold plate sandwiched between the receiver coil and the heat spreader plate. The ferrite cold plate has a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid chamber in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The fluid chamber includes a primary cooling chamber and a secondary cooling chamber. Primary cooling fins extending from the heat spreader plate are disposed in the primary cooling chamber and secondary cooling fins extending from a base of the ferrite cooling plate are disposed in the secondary cooling chamber. The ferrite cooling plate cools the rectifier and inhibits or blocks electromagnetic leakage from the receiver coil from interfering with operation of rectifier.

Abstract: A cold plate includes a first cooling surface comprising a first cooling structure bonded to an inner surface of the first cooling surface, a second cooling surface comprising a second cooling structure bonded to an inner surface of the second cooling surface, a manifold comprising an internal cavity defined by a first length, a first width, and a first height, and a flow divider defined by a second length, a second width, and a second height. The manifold is enclosed by the first cooling surface and the second cooling surface on opposing surfaces of the manifold separated by the first height. The flow divider is positioned within the internal cavity of the manifold. The flow divider supports and separates the first cooling structure and the second cooling structure by a portion of the second height of the flow divider.

Abstract: A cold plate having a manifold includes a recess extending from a first side to a second side of the manifold, where the recess includes openings to the recess positioned lengthwise along the first side and a single opening to the recess on the second side, an inlet and an outlet fluidly coupled to the recess, a plurality of plates fastened to the first side enclosing the openings, a heat sink fastened to the second side enclosing the single opening on the second side, and a plurality of fluid cores one of each positioned between each of the plurality of plates and the heat sink. The plurality of fluid cores include a flow distribution insert, a first plate fin positioned between the flow distribution insert and the heat sink fastened to the second side, and a second plate fin positioned between the flow distribution insert and the heat sink.

Abstract: A bipolar plate with an enhanced fluid flow field design is provided for a fuel cell. The bipolar plate includes an inlet, an outlet, and a flow field having a pattern defining a plurality of microchannels configured to provide fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet. The pattern is designed using an inverse permeability field, and is based on a reaction-diffusion algorithm to model channel spacing, thereby providing a variable pitch microchannel pattern to direct fluid from the inlet to the outlet. In various aspects, the reaction-diffusion algorithm utilize Gray-Scott reaction-diffusion equations, which may be used to obtain an anisotropic microchannel layout. The variable pitch microchannel pattern may include a channel spacing based on effective medium theory.

Abstract: A system for acoustically monitoring a heartbeat includes an acoustic body having a first material in contact with a second material, a density and a propagation speed of sound of the first material is matched with a density and a propagation speed of sound of a human body, and a density and a propagation speed of sound of the second material is matched with the density and the propagation speed of sound of the first material, a covering material in contact with a first surface of the acoustic body formed by the first material, and a microphone acoustically coupled to a second surface of the acoustic body formed by the second material.

Abstract: Methods are provided for designing a microchannel layout for a flow field of a bipolar plate. The methods include defining a fluid flow optimization domain with boundary conditions and loads. Using a gradient-based algorithm together with computational fluid dynamics, the domain is then optimized for minimum flow resistance. The methods include setting the minimum inverse permeability to a non-zero value, and obtaining a grayscale design and fluid velocity field. Using Gray-Scott reaction diffusion equations with the grayscale design and fluid velocity field, the method includes obtaining a microchannel layout. The microchannel layout is then incorporated as a pattern for the flow field of the bipolar plate. In various aspects, anisotropic microchannels are provided; they may be formed using at least one of an additive manufacturing technique, a metal inverse opal electroplating technique, and a hybrid combination thereof.

Abstract: A surface of a vehicle component can be dynamically deformable surface. The dynamically deformable surface can be configured to undergo deformations to dynamically form a dynamic button or other user interface element on demand. The dynamically deformable surface can include one or more biosensors. When a user engages the dynamic button with a portion of the body, the one or more biosensors can acquire user biodata. The user biodata can be used by the vehicle as input for various purposes. For instance, the vehicle can operate as a health-monitoring and/or comfort monitoring system. As a result of these arrangements, buttons and other user interface elements can appear and disappear depending on the need and/or application, providing a cleaner vehicle cockpit interface and greatly expanding the possibilities of where such buttons can be located at and how many things can be controlled by the driver using physical interfaces.