Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for transferring particles in a pattern. In one implementation, a particle-transferring system includes a first substrate comprising a first surface configured to support a plurality of particles in a non-uniform pattern, and a particle transfer unit configured to remove the plurality of particles from the first surface in response to the plurality of particles being within a first gap. The system also includes a second substrate configured to remove the plurality of particles from the particle transfer unit and secure the plurality of particles to the second surface in response to the plurality of particles being within a second gap. The particle transfer unit is configured to transfer the plurality of particles and maintain the non-uniform pattern regardless of the positions of the plurality of particles, which are not predefined to fit features of the particle transfer unit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for transferring particles in a pattern. In one implementation, a particle-transferring system includes a first substrate comprising a first surface configured to support a plurality of particles in a non-uniform pattern, and a particle transfer unit configured to remove the plurality of particles from the first surface in response to the plurality of particles being within a first gap. The system also includes a second substrate configured to remove the plurality of particles from the particle transfer unit and secure the plurality of particles to the second surface in response to the plurality of particles being within a second gap. The particle transfer unit is configured to transfer the plurality of particles and maintain the non-uniform pattern regardless of the positions of the plurality of particles, which are not predefined to fit features of the particle transfer unit.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing (AM) system manufactures composite structures having different materials in an integrated manner during a single processing process. For example, a first composite image is created on a substrate and then that image is stabilized by heat, pressure of chemical fusion not to the point of complete solid formation but enough to give the first composite image enough stability so that it is not disturbed by subsequent processing. A second image is then created on parts of the substrate not covered by the first composite image, a second powder is applied, and excess second powder that is not part of the second image is removed. The substrate may be cut into sheets that are stacked in register for consolidation and subsequent matrix removal resulting in a multi-polymer 3D object.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are implementations of a particles-transferring system, particle transferring unit, and method of transferring particles in a pattern. In one implementation, a particles-transferring system includes a first substrate including a first surface to support particles in a pattern, particle transferring unit including an outer surface to be offset from the first surface by a first gap, and second substrate including a second surface to be offset from the outer surface by a second gap. The particle transferring unit removes the particles from the first surface in response to the particles being within the first gap, secures the particles in the pattern to the outer surface, and transports the particles in the pattern. The second substrate removes the particles in the pattern from the particle transferring unit in response to the particles being within the second gap. The particles are to be secured in the pattern to the second surface.

Abstract: A system for communicating a message in response to placement of a product proximate to a mobile electronic device. The system includes a product package comprising a token that includes a power source and a wireless transmitter, and a mobile electronic device. The mobile electronic device includes a processor, a computer-readable memory, a wireless receiver that is operable to detect a signal emitted by the wireless transmitter of the product package, and a transmitter. The processor is configured to detect the signal, analyze the signal and extract token information from the signal, retrieve user information for a user who is associated with the mobile electronic device, generate a message that corresponds to the extracted information, and cause the transmitter of the mobile electronic device to send the message via a wireless communication protocol.

Abstract: A sensor has a transparent polymer aerogel, and sensing materials dispersed into the transparent, polymer aerogel, where the sensing materials change color in response to environmental conditions. A method of forming a sensor includes providing a substrate, forming a polymer aerogel layer on the substrate, and infusing the polymer aerogel layer with sensing molecules.

Abstract: A system for promoting user-product engagement including a plurality of token readers and a messaging system server is disclosed. Each of the plurality of token readers comprises one or more sensors configured to detect a code from a token associated with a packaged product when the token is in a range of the sensor, and also detect a user identifier from a proximate mobile electronic device, and a transmitter. The messaging system server is configured to receive a signal emitted by any of the plurality of transmitters associated with each of the plurality of token readers, retrieve, from a data store, profile information for a user who is associated with the user identifier, update the profile information with product information corresponding to the detected code and location information corresponding to the token reader ID, and save the updated profile information to the data store.

Abstract: A system and method are described for regulating water concentration in a dielectric fluid. The system can comprise electrodes capable of applying an electric field across the dielectric fluid, thereby causing charge carriers and water included in the charge carriers to move toward a respective electrode. The system further includes a trap positioned near the electrodes and comprising a water absorbing material capable of trapping water, thereby reducing the concentration of water in the dielectric fluid. It is also possible to measure properties of the dielectric fluid and use such measurements to control the water-trapping process.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing (AM) system manufactures composite structures having different materials in an integrated manner during a single processing process. For example, a first composite image is created on a substrate and then that image is stabilized by heat, pressure of chemical fusion not to the point of complete solid formation but enough to give the first composite image enough stability so that it is not disturbed by subsequent processing. A second image is then created on parts of the substrate not covered by the first composite image, a second powder is applied, and excess second powder that is not part of the second image is removed. The substrate may be cut into sheets that are stacked in register for consolidation and subsequent matrix removal resulting in a multi-polymer 3D object.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are implementations of a particles-transferring system, particle transferring unit, and method of transferring particles in a pattern. In one implementation, a particles-transferring system includes a first substrate including a first surface to support particles in a pattern, particle transferring unit including an outer surface to be offset from the first surface by a first gap, and second substrate including a second surface to be offset from the outer surface by a second gap. The particle transferring unit removes the particles from the first surface in response to the particles being within the first gap, secures the particles in the pattern to the outer surface, and transports the particles in the pattern. The second substrate removes the particles in the pattern from the particle transferring unit in response to the particles being within the second gap. The particles are to be secured in the pattern to the second surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are implementations of a particles-transferring system, particle transferring unit, and method of transferring particles in a pattern. In one implementation, a particles-transferring system includes a first substrate including a first surface to support particles in a pattern, particle transferring unit including an outer surface to be offset from the first surface by a first gap, and second substrate including a second surface to be offset from the outer surface by a second gap. The particle transferring unit removes the particles from the first surface in response to the particles being within the first gap, secures the particles in the pattern to the outer surface, and transports the particles in the pattern. The second substrate removes the particles in the pattern from the particle transferring unit in response to the particles being within the second gap. The particles are to be secured in the pattern to the second surface.

Abstract: A system for dispensing customized articles may include a vending machine that includes an article holding area having one or more articles that each include a film on at least a portion of the article, an energy generating print device, a processor, and a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to receive an indication of a selected article, receive a selection of one or more content items to be printed on the selected article, and cause the energy generating print device to apply energy to the portion of the selected article having the film. Applying such energy may cause a visual representation of the selected content items to be displayed on the portion of the selected article.

Abstract: A system for communicating a message in response to placement of a product proximate to a mobile electronic device. The system includes a product package comprising a token that includes a power source and a wireless transmitter, and a mobile electronic device. The mobile electronic device includes a processor, a computer-readable memory, a wireless receiver that is operable to detect a signal emitted by the wireless transmitter of the product package, and a transmitter. The processor is configured to detect the signal, analyze the signal and extract token information from the signal, retrieve user information for a user who is associated with the mobile electronic device, generate a message that corresponds to the extracted information, and cause the transmitter of the mobile electronic device to send the message via a wireless communication protocol.

Abstract: A system for dispensing customized articles may include a vending machine that includes an article holding area having one or more articles that each include a film on at least a portion of the article, an energy generating print device, a processor, and a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to receive an indication of a selected article, receive a selection of one or more content items to be printed on the selected article, and cause the energy generating print device to apply energy to the portion of the selected article having the film. Applying such energy may cause a visual representation of the selected content items to be displayed on the portion of the selected article.

Abstract: A system generates a secure barcode and prints the secure barcode on a substrate. The barcode includes a first set of cells of a first color and a second set of cells of the second color. A first vector pattern is encoded onto pixels for first set of cells of the barcode, and a second vector pattern is encoded onto pixels that correspond to the set group of cells of the barcode. The vectors in each pattern will have substantially the same colors, thicknesses and frequencies, but will be out of phase with respect to each other. The system will generate a secure barcode that vectors of each pattern.

Abstract: A system for communicating a message in response to placement of a product within a receptacle configured to receive a packaged product, the receptacle comprising a sensor configured to extract information from a token printed on the packaged product when the token is in a range of the sensor, and a wireless transmitter. The system may also include a mobile electronic device comprising a processor, a computer-readable memory, a wireless receiver operable to detect a signal emitted by the wireless transmitter of the receptacle, a transmitter. The mobile device may also include programming instructions comprising an installed application configured to cause the processor to detect the signal, analyze the signal and extract the information from the signal, retrieve user information for a user associated with the installed application, generate a message corresponding to the extracted information, and cause the transmitter of the mobile electronic device to send the message.

Abstract: A method of making a chemiluminescent label by creating an outer layer of the chemiluminiscent label, creating a bottom layer of the chemiluminiscent label, and fusing the outer layer and the bottom layer to form at least one cavity between the outer layer and the bottom layer. The outer layer includes an image with a first plurality of regions. The bottom layer includes an adhesion material on a side not proximate to the outer layer, and a second plurality of regions corresponding to the first plurality of regions that are configured to break at a plurality of different pressure values.

Abstract: A system and method are described for regulating water concentration in a dielectric fluid. The system can comprise electrodes capable of applying an electric field across the dielectric fluid, thereby causing charge carriers and water included in the charge carriers to move toward a respective electrode. The system further includes a trap positioned near the electrodes and comprising a water absorbing material capable of trapping water, thereby reducing the concentration of water in the dielectric fluid. It is also possible to measure properties of the dielectric fluid and use such measurements to control the water-trapping process.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or transponder that outputs a first signal when a product or product package is sealed. During one particular use, unsealing the product or product package disables the RFID tag, such that no active second signal is output (i.e., the second signal is a passive second signal). In another particular use, unsealing the product or product package removes one or more resonators of a multiresonator such that the second signal is an active second signal that is different from the first signal. The RFID tag need not be visible to identify whether the product or product package is in a sealed state or an unsealed state.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are implementations of a particles-transferring system, particle transferring unit, and method of transferring particles in a pattern. In one implementation, a particles-transferring system includes a first substrate including a first surface to support particles in a pattern, particle transferring unit including an outer surface to be offset from the first surface by a first gap, and second substrate including a second surface to be offset from the outer surface by a second gap. The particle transferring unit removes the particles from the first surface in response to the particles being within the first gap, secures the particles in the pattern to the outer surface, and transports the particles in the pattern. The second substrate removes the particles in the pattern from the particle transferring unit in response to the particles being within the second gap. The particles are to be secured in the pattern to the second surface.