Abstract: A personal care computing device may include a user interface, a camera, a speaker, a communication interface, and a personal care assistant application. The personal care assistant application may identify personal care products being used by a user from manual input (e.g., via user controls on the user interface), or automatically (e.g., via the camera or the communication interface). The personal care assistant application may identify product use event data describing the use of a personal care product by the user, such as the date and time of the use, the duration and frequency of the use, the manner in which the personal care product is being used, etc. Then the personal care assistant application may generate user feedback information for the personal care product based on the product use event data, previous instances of product use event data, and/or user profile data for the user.

Abstract: A tracking device with a screen that displays the mode of the tracking device on a screen. The device modes may include sleep mode, monitor mode, locate mode, and emergency mode. Each mode represents a frequency of transmission and which can be changed by the software developer or by the consumer in their software application. The sleep mode will be the fewest frequency pings and may be the mode in which the tracking device is operating while it is in a geofence. Monitor mode will be a higher frequency of pings and a locate mode may be yet a further increased number of pings per given time interval. The emergency mode will be entered when, for example, the pet is outside of the geofence and the owner needs to receive an intense number of pings to assure proper location, especially if the pet is moving.

Abstract: A luminaire can include a power source housing that houses at least one light fixture component. The luminaire can also include a light engine tray disposed proximate to the power source housing. The luminaire further can include a first acoustic feature coupled to the power source housing and the light engine tray, where the first acoustic feature comprises a first side wall having a first configuration, where the first configuration of the first side wall absorbs sound.

Abstract: A luminaire can include a power source housing that houses at least one light fixture component. The luminaire can also include a light engine tray disposed proximate to the power source housing. The luminaire further can include a first acoustic feature coupled to the power source housing and the light engine tray, where the first acoustic feature comprises a first side wall having a first configuration, where the first configuration of the first side wall absorbs sound.

Abstract: A photometric data tool can include an interface and a controller coupled to the interface. The controller can receive multiple inputs, via the interface, where the inputs are associated with a proposed customized light fixture, where the inputs include a length of the customized light fixture. The controller can also retrieves, by a photometric data generator using the plurality of inputs, historical photometric data for at least one other light fixture having at least one characteristic in common with the customized light fixture. The controller can further generates, by the photometric data generator using the historical photometric data, photometric data for the customized light fixture. The controller can also present the photometric data for the customized light fixture.

Abstract: An electrical circuit can include a circuit board having a first portion and a second portion. The electrical circuit can also include at least one first light source disposed on the first portion. The electrical circuit can further include multiple second light sources disposed on a trimmable section of the second portion. The electrical circuit can also include at least one third light source disposed on a non-trimmable section of the second portion. The trimmable section can be trimmed to form a trimmed circuit board. The trimmed circuit board can have disposed thereon a remainder of the plurality of the second light sources. The at least one first light source, the remainder of the plurality of second light sources, and the at least one third light source can be disposed on the trimmed circuit board in such a way as to provide substantially uniform light.

Abstract: A system includes a wearable device configured to be worn by a user. The wearable device includes a flexible mounting, and a haptic output device connected to the flexible mounting. The system includes a signal generator configured to generate a haptic signal and communicate the haptic signal to the haptic output device. The haptic signal includes a short duration control pulse configured to create a small deformation sensation to the user.

Abstract: A GPS tracking device and system, attached to a boat or other asset, with enhanced battery life includes a software application controller to monitor the status of the GPS tracking device battery and determine the intensity of the tracking information desired as the asset and GPS tracking device is moved from the manufacturer to the consumer. The GPS tracking device is mounted within the boat or other asset on the assembly line or in the field at such location as a dealer, for example, and is carried on the boat from the manufacturer to the dealer and ultimately to the consumer.

Abstract: A tracking insert adapted, in an exemplary embodiment, to be inserted into and received by the collar connector of a state-of-the-art pet collar, such that the tracking insert becomes an extension of the pet collar is provided. The tracking insert comprises a linear band housing a linear array of electronic modules in electronic communication with one another. For instance, the modules include, in an exemplary embodiment, a GPS radio receiver, one or more modules adapted to communicate with a mobile device by known protocols such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or mobile communication protocols in a manner readily understood and implementable by those skilled in the art, and other modules such as a light, a camera and/or a communication module to allow the owner to communicate with the pet.

Abstract: A system includes a wearable device, a second device remote from and in communication with the wearable device, a processor configured to generate a control signal representative of an event occurring in an environment related to the wearable device and/or the second device, and a haptic output device configured to provide haptic feedback based on the generated control signal.

Abstract: A feed of at least one of (a) a source liquid including a solvent with a dissolved impurity and (b) a retentate of the source liquid is pumped in a substantially closed loop through a liquid-separation module. The liquid-separation module includes a membrane that passes at least partially purified solvent to a permeate side of the membrane while diverting the impurity in a retentate on the retentate side of the membrane. The purified solvent is extracted from the permeate side of the membrane; and the retentate from the liquid-separation module is pumped to or through a pressurized reservoir with a variable volume for the feed component and recirculated as a component of the feed. Over time, the volume for the feed is reduced and the pressure applied to the feed in the reservoir is increased to balance against an increasing difference in osmotic pressure across the membrane.

Abstract: Decoder techniques in accordance with embodiment of the present technology include partially decoding a compressed file on a serial based processing unit to find offsets of each of a plurality of entropy data blocks. The compressed file and offset for each of the plurality of entropy encoded data blocks are transferred to a parallel based processing unit. Thereafter, the compressed file is at least partially decoded on the parallel based processing unit using the offset for each of the plurality of entropy encoded data blocks.

Abstract: A system includes a wearable device, a second device remote from and in communication with the wearable device, a processor configured to generate a control signal representative of an event occurring in an environment related to the wearable device and/or the second device, and a haptic output device configured to provide haptic feedback based on the generated control signal.

Abstract: A carrier gas and a combined feed liquid are directed through a humidifier, where water vaporizes from the combined feed liquid into the carrier gas, and through a dehumidifier, where the combined feed liquid cools the carrier gas to condense water from the carrier gas. At least a portion of the concentrated brine stream from the humidifier is directed through a pressure-retarded osmosis unit, while an initial feed solution is directed, in counter-flow, through the osmosis unit. Water from the initial feed solution flows through a membrane in the osmosis chamber into the concentrated brine stream to dilute and increase the volumetric flow rate of the brine stream. The diluted brine stream is extracted from the osmosis chamber and depressurized to produce power, while the concentrated initial feed solution is combined with the depressurized, diluted brine stream to form the combined feed liquid.

Abstract: A feed of at least one of (a) a source liquid including a solvent with a dissolved impurity and (b) a retentate of the source liquid is pumped in a substantially closed loop through a liquid-separation module. The liquid-separation module includes a membrane that passes at least partially purified solvent to a permeate side of the membrane while diverting the impurity in a retentate on the retentate side of the membrane. The purified solvent is extracted from the permeate side of the membrane; and the retentate from the liquid-separation module is pumped to or through a pressurized reservoir with a variable volume for the feed component and recirculated as a component of the feed. Over time, the volume for the feed is reduced and the pressure applied to the feed in the reservoir is increased to balance against an increasing difference in osmotic pressure across the membrane.

Abstract: A system includes a wearable device configured to be worn by a user. The wearable device includes a flexible mounting, and a haptic output device connected to the flexible mounting. The system includes a signal generator configured to generate a haptic signal and communicate the haptic signal to the haptic output device. The haptic signal includes a short duration control pulse configured to create a small deformation sensation to the user.

Abstract: A system includes a wearable device configured to be worn by a user. The wearable device includes a flexible mounting, and a haptic output device connected to the flexible mounting. The system includes a signal generator configured to generate a haptic signal and communicate the haptic signal to the haptic output device. The haptic signal includes a short duration control pulse configured to create a small deformation sensation to the user.

Abstract: A tracking insert adapted, in an exemplary embodiment, to be inserted into and received by the collar connector of a state-of-the-art pet collar, such that the tracking insert becomes an extension of the pet collar is provided. The tracking insert comprises a linear band housing a linear array of electronic modules in electronic communication with one another. For instance, the modules include, in an exemplary embodiment, a GPS radio receiver, one or more modules adapted to communicate with a mobile device by known protocols such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or mobile communication protocols in a manner readily understood and implementable by those skilled in the art, and other modules such as a light, a camera and/or a communication module to allow the owner to communicate with the pet.

Abstract: A user input element includes a first part having a first capacitive surface, a second part having a second capacitive surface configured to be movable relative to the first capacitive surface, and an insulator positioned in between the first capacitive surface and the second capacitive surface so that a haptic effect is generated when the second capacitive surface is moved relative to the first capacitive surface from a first position to a second position. The user input element may be part of a haptic feedback interface system configured to provide haptic effects to a user operating the system.

Abstract: A feed of at least one of (a) a source liquid including a solvent with a dissolved impurity and (b) a retentate of the source liquid is pumped in a substantially closed loop through a liquid-separation module. The liquid-separation module includes a membrane that passes at least partially purified solvent to a permeate side of the membrane while diverting the impurity in a retentate on the retentate side of the membrane. The purified solvent is extracted from the permeate side of the membrane; and the retentate from the liquid-separation module is pumped to or through a pressurized reservoir with a variable volume for the feed component and recirculated as a component of the feed. Over time, the volume for the feed is reduced and the pressure applied to the feed in the reservoir is increased to balance against an increasing difference in osmotic pressure across the membrane.