Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure are generally directed to tritium shunt heat exchangers that use a sweep gas. In some aspects, a heat exchanger system for a fusion power plant is disclosed herein. The system may advantageously allow for efficient energy and tritium extraction from a tritium-containing fluid, while minimizing tritium leakage into the environment. For example, the system may comprise components, such as a thermally conductive solid connector, a sweep gas, reactive materials, etc., that allow for high heat transfer efficiency, and/or high tritium removal and extraction efficiency. In addition, some aspects of the disclosure are directed to methods for using or making such a system.

Abstract: A Magnetically Engaged Eyewear Pencil System comprising: a lens frame containing one or more lenses that is elongated between a left and right temple frame arm; having a pair of hinges, each connecting the respective left and right temple frame arms to the ends of the frame having an initial orientation relative the lens frame, a writing utensil magnetically connected to the left or right temple frame arms that may be removed by a user through contact applied force and reattached to either temple frame arms using magnetic force.

Abstract: A scanning Dielectric Travelling Wave Array (DTWA) device suitable for use as a wideband, tunable, two-dimensional beamformer. The device is formed from a set of planar waveguides, elongated waveguide sections and/or progressive delay layers. By controlling the index of refraction (?) of the waveguides, waveguide sections, and/or progressive delay layers, the device to aim at a particular angle of incidence of energy arriving on the top face, in both azimuth and elevation. These indi(cies) of refraction may be controlled with a set of varactors. By observing a constraint on the size of the waveguides as related to the bandwidth of the signals of interest, the waveguide can to receive from or transmit to different directions at the same time. The varactors may be provided by continuous strips of material disposed along the top and bottom of each waveguide section, or as a set of discrete controllable sections distributed along the primary axis of each waveguide section.

Abstract: A radar system is described that uses microwave emitters to sense, classify and determine the contents of small containers that are used in transport or storage. The characteristics of these contents can be determined by orienting a set of microwave emitters and receptors around the containers. Correlating the results of the data obtained from the emitters and receptors, the volume and type of the contents of the containers can be determined.

Abstract: A mobile device with an enhanced touchscreen is described, the touchscreen incorporating input from an enhanced fingerprint reader that is capable of determining which finger is touching the screen and assigning different functionality to each finger. The specific finger that is used and the location of hovering fingers are mapped into commands for the operating system and other software on the mobile device.

Abstract: The rigid T-rail conductor system is configured to support a contact wire in an overhead railway electrification system. The rigid T-rail includes a first rail configured to be disposed in an overhead position of the railway electrification system. The rigid rail includes a keeper disposed on a side of the first rail, the keeper configured to be movable. When the keeper is in the first position, the keeper holds and affixes the wire on the first rail. When the keeper is in the second position, the keeper allows the wire to be installed or to be removed from the rail.

Abstract: An augmented reality game is described that incorporates the physical environment of a room and a set of game objects such as toy soldiers. The physical environment and the game objects are loaded into the game, and the player conducts the game play by moving the game object while the computer simulates the action. The player has the ability to manipulate time as well as the physical environment and game objects as the game is played.

Abstract: A system for utilizing metadata created either at a central location for shared use by connected users, or at each individual user's location, to enhance user's enjoyment of available broadcast programming content. A variety of mechanisms are employed for automatically and manually identifying and designating programming segments, associating descriptive metadata which the identified segments, distributing the metadata for use at client locations, and using the supplied metadata to selectively record and playback desired programming.

Abstract: A system for replaying a broadcast sports event using a video on demand or personal video recording system. Metadata is created that subdivides the original broadcast into segments, and associates descriptive information with each segment. Playlists that specify an ordered subsequence of the sequence may be selected and used to present a variety of expanded or condensed versions of the sporting event to a viewer. Navigation controls including segment lists, specially formatted screen displays, and special functions under the control of a user-operated remote control, facilitate the interactive selection and control of the presentation.

Abstract: A system for utilizing metadata created either at a central location for shared use by connected users, or at each individual user's location, to enhance user's enjoyment of available broadcast programming content. A variety of mechanisms are employed for automatically and manually identifying and designating programming segments, associating descriptive metadata which the identified segments, distributing the metadata for use at client locations, and using the supplied metadata to selectively record and playback desired programming.

Abstract: A personal audio player including an audio program reproduction unit for delivering audio program content to a user and an announcement generator for delivering one or more timed announcement messages or alarm signals to the user of said audio player. A control interface accepts preference data specifying the time at which announcement messages are delivered to said user. The audio player may take the form hand-held music player or cellular phone which is coupled to an earpiece which may be touched to request an announcement message. Announcement messages may take the form of prerecorded human voices and may be transmitted to the player from a remote source. Announcement messages may also contain data from a remote source and may be delivered in both audible and visual form.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing one-way rides by autonomous vehicles are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the invention operates as a personal ski lift that includes an autonomous snowmobile or all terrain vehicle for providing a low-cost and flexible means to ascend ski-able terrain to bring a skier to a high-altitude skiing destination, so that the skier may depart the vehicle and ski down the terrain independent from the vehicle. The vehicle of the exemplary embodiment may meanwhile travel autonomously to a lower-altitude rendezvous point to meet the skier upon completion of his skiing. Other embodiments within the invention for providing one-way rides by various types of vehicles for various purposes are disclosed.

Abstract: An audio program and message distribution system in which a host system organizes and transmits program segments to client subscriber locations. The host organizes the program segments by subject matter and creates scheduled programming in accordance with preferences associated with each subscriber. Program segments are associated with descriptive subject matter segments, and the subject matter segments may be used to generate both text and audio cataloging presentations to enable the user to more easily identify and select desirable programming. A playback unit at the subscriber location reproduces the program segments received from the host and includes mechanisms for interactively navigating among the program segments. A usage log is compiled to record the subscriber's use of the provided program materials, to return data to the host for billing, to adaptively modify the subscriber's preferences based on actual usage, and to send subscriber-generated comments and requests to the host for processing.

Abstract: A headset terminal for speech applications includes a headband assembly, an earcup assembly and a power source assembly. Processing circuitry is positioned in at least one of the earcup assembly and the power source assembly and includes speech processing circuitry for recognizing and synthesizing speech. A radio communicates with a central system to process the activity information of the headset terminal user. A rotatable microphone boom assembly includes controls mounted on opposite sides of a rotation axis to maintain a consistent orientation on the boom assembly with respect to the head of a user. The boom assembly snaps together with the earcup assembly to rotate. The headband assembly includes at least one transverse band and a sliding arm coupled to the earcup assembly for dynamically adjusting the position of the earcup assembly. A latch of the power source assembly snaps into position to secure it with the assembly and slides between latched and unlatched positions to secure a battery.

Abstract: A method for enhancing a fantasy sports game with recorded sports broadcasts includes the steps of receiving video programs depicting sports-related events, storing the video programs, associating to a plurality of segments of the video programs attribute data that identifies for a segment of the plurality of segments at least one of a plurality of persons related to a portion of the sports-related events depicted in the segment of the plurality of segments, transmitting to a presentation device for display a player guide containing at least one of the plurality of persons, receiving from a user of the presentation device a video request related to a particular person contained in the player guide, retrieving from the plurality of segments a particular segment associated with attribute data that identifies the particular person, and transmitting the particular segment to the presentation device for display.

Abstract: A device is comprised of processing circuitry operable for providing a speech interface to facilitate a speech dialog with a user or generates commands for a user. An RFID reader, operably coupled with the processing circuitry, is operable for reading data from an RFID tag. In one aspect, the reading occurs in the context of a speech dialog. In another aspect, the data is used to generate speech commands. In another aspect, information is stored to an RFID tag during the speech dialog.

Abstract: A system for controlling the magnitude or timing of the alert signal (e.g. ringing) generated to notify the user of a portable (e.g. cellular) telephone of an incoming phone call. Data values that indicate the status of the telephone are processed to control the character of the alert signals. These data values may include position data indicating the absolute location of the phone or the relative location of the phone with respect to another object, the level of ambient light or sound in the vicinity of the telephone, the time of day, the movement of the telephone, and/or whether the telephone is being held by the user.

Abstract: A cellular telephone automatically places itself in a sleep mode in which one or more components are de-eneragized to conserve battery power whenever sensed status variables indicated that the telephone will not or cannot be used. The user can schedule time periods during which the phone will be in sleep mode and can establish conditional rules which establish conditions which, if satisfied, will place the phone in a sleep mode. Sensed variables such as ambient light and sound, the time of day, applied pressure, and the location and movement of the phone are processed along with user-defined preference values to begin and end automated sleep modes.

Abstract: A multi-media telephone system capable of presenting multi-media content to users defined by structured script files incorporating markup tags, such as HTML, XML, SMIL or VoiceXML tags. The script files form “homepage” presentations displayed on the telephone stationset. The script files may be transmitted from called parties to calling parties at the time a telephone connection is first established, or transmitted at the request of either party thereafter, and are executed by a processor in the receiving stationset (such as a cellular telephone), providing both visual displays and audio output in an interactive interface which can be used to provide additional information or services from a menu of displayed or spoken option prompts.

Abstract: A DVD player/recorder incorporates a hard drive mass memory device for temporarily storing program content and metadata, includes a network interface for connecting to content and metadata providers, as well as other resources and other computers, via the Internet, a television interface for connecting to a conventional television set which reproduces content from the DVD player, and also connects the DVD player to a set top box which provides a connection to a cable or satellite provider which forms a further source of programming and metadata. The DVD player can retrieve and play content, and permit the navigation of content, specified on a metadata playlist file.