Abstract: A method includes forming a first image of a scene through a static coded aperture onto a sensor with the static coded aperture in a first position relative to the sensor, shifting the coded aperture to a second position relative to the sensor, and forming a second image of the scene through the static coded aperture onto the sensor with the static coded aperture in the second position. Two or more images can be formed in this way. The method includes forming a combined image by deconvolving the two or more images and combining data from the two or more images into the combined image. The combined image can be a more accurate representation of the scene than either of the first and second images.

Abstract: Technology is described for using spatial analysis of data objects associated with a multi-dimensional virtual environment to organize computational units in a distributed computing system. The data objects may be grouped together using spatial location information and collections of data objects may be treated as processing partitions (i.e., sub-divisions of the entire group of data objects). A mapping may be created between the data objects and processing partitions for processing applications which process data objects assigned to a processing partition. The processing partitions may be defined, in part, according to how the data objects are grouped together spatially. The processing partitions may be load-balanced across hardware hosts in the distributed computing system.

Abstract: Examples of integrated semiconductor devices are described. In one example, an integrated device includes first and second transistors formed on a substrate, where the transistors share a terminal metal feature to reduce a size of the integrated device. The terminal metal feature can include a shared source electrode metalization, for example, although other electrode metalizations can be shared. In other aspects, a first width of a gate of the first transistor can be greater than a second width of a gate of the second transistor, and the shared metalization can taper from the first width to the second width. The integrated device can also include a metal ground plane on a backside of the substrate, and the terminal metal feature can also include an in-source via for the shared source electrode metalization. The in-source via can electrically couple the shared source electrode metalization to the metal ground plane.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for processing gift transactions, related to retaining a social and gratitude-based experience surrounding giving and receiving gifts, monitoring gift recipients on-premises at merchants and providing gift-related notifications, and managing funds in a gift that the recipient does not redeem. A system configured to practice a first method receives an object associated with a gift, receives a tag associated with the object, and transmits the object to the giver. A system configured to practice a second example method uses face identification at the merchant to identify a recipient of a gift. The system can transmit a reminder to the recipient regarding the gift. In a third example method, the system creates a gift and notifies the recipient of the gift. If the recipient never redeems the gift, then the giver is not charged for the gift and no transaction occurs.

Abstract: A light includes a housing having a lens, a bottom cover, and a middle cover positioned between the lens and the bottom cover. The lens, the bottom cover, and the middle cover cooperate to form a water-tight space. The light additionally includes a chimney having a hollow tube extending from a bottom of the housing to a top of the housing, a heat sink coupled to the chimney and positioned within the lens, and one or more LEDs coupled to the heat sink to emit light through the lens. The light also includes a circuit board positioned within the water-tight space and coupled to the one or more LEDs to control operation of the light.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of storage units, where one or more storage vaults is associated with the plurality of storage units and each storage vault of the one or more storage vaults represents a software-constructed grouping of storage units of the plurality of storage units. The software-constructed grouping of storage units stores encoded data slices. A data segment is encoded using an information dispersal algorithm to produce the encoded data slices. The system further includes a grid access manager that generates a data structure pertaining to the software-constructed grouping of storage units. A storage unit of the software-constructed grouping of storage units receives, from a client computer of the system, a request regarding the data segment, obtains, from the data structure, information regarding the request, determines whether the request is valid based on the information regarding the request, and when the request is valid, executes the request.

Abstract: Electrode materials for electrochemical cells and batteries and methods of producing such materials are disclosed herein. The electrode materials comprise an active lithium metal oxide material prepared by: (a) contacting the lithium metal oxide material with an aqueous acidic solution containing one or more metal cations; and (b) heating the so-contacted lithium metal oxide from step (a) to dryness at a temperature below 200° C. The metal cations in the aqueous acidic solution comprise one or more metal cations selected from the group consisting of an alkaline earth metal ion, a transition metal ion, and a main group metal ion.

Abstract: A concrete product set by pouring a concrete slurry includes a) a concrete mixture; b) a graphene oxide admixture; and c) at least one reinforcing fiber selected from the group of fibers. As the poured concrete slurry cures, the poured slurry hardens into a composite material product, and the composite material is embedded with graphene oxide. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is directed to a process for preparing a concrete product. The process comprises the steps of a) preparing a concrete slurry with integral graphene oxide; b) pouring the concrete slurry; c) allowing the concrete slurry to cure; and d) optionally spray-applying graphene oxide and/or optional colloidal silica as a curing technique. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is directed to the product itself; namely, a concrete product with fibers and embedded graphene oxide flakes.

Abstract: One or more embodiments relate to a regulation loop control circuit for regulation of a parameter such as an input voltage or output voltage for a buck-boost converter. In these and other embodiments, the regulation loop control circuit is configured to select between an input voltage loop for regulation of the input voltage or an output voltage loop for regulation of the output voltage in response to an input voltage error, an output voltage error, and a threshold detector to protect the converter without sacrificing output voltage regulation and transient response.

Abstract: To compensate for the uneven distribution of data points around the periphery of a vehicle in a lidar system, a light source transmits light pulses at a variable pulse rate according to the orientation of the light pulses with respect to the lidar system. A controller may communicate with a scanner in the lidar system that provides the orientations of the light pulses to the controller. The controller may then provide a control signal to the light source adjusting the pulse rate based on the orientations of the light pulses. For example, the pulse rate may be slower near the front of the lidar system and faster near the periphery. In another example, the pulse rate may be faster near the front of the lidar system and slower near the periphery.

Abstract: A catheter device provides a balloon structure and a side-firing laser lumen within the balloon to create lesions in the pulmonary vein (PV) in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Mounted on the balloon so as to contact the PV when the balloon is inflated are one or more electrodes which may be used in a measurement mode, a treatment mode, or both.

Abstract: A dental cleaning appliance includes a handle and a fluid delivery system for delivering a burst of working fluid to the teeth of a user. Part of the fluid delivery system is moveable relative to the handle as the appliance is moved along the teeth of the user. A sensor provides an output which varies with movement of that part of the fluid delivery system relative to the handle. A control circuit actuates the delivery of working fluid to the teeth of the user depending on the output from the sensor.

Abstract: A method for producing a rheologically modified slurry and electrochemical cells made therefrom.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a negative pressure wound therapy system can detect and classify one or more operational conditions, including detection of a wound bleeding. The system can react to detection of blood by providing an indication, reducing the intensity or stopping therapy, releasing negative pressure, etc. In certain embodiments, the system can detect one or more additional operational conditions, such as change in vacuum pressure, gas leak rate change, exudate flow rate change, water flow rate change, presence of exudate, presence of water, etc. The system can detect and distinguish between different operational conditions and provide indication or take remedial action.

Abstract: Autonomous machine navigation techniques may generate a three-dimensional point cloud that represents at least a work region based on feature data and matching data. Pose data associated with points of the three-dimensional point cloud may be generated that represents poses of an autonomous machine. A boundary may be determined using the pose data for subsequent navigation of the autonomous machine in the work region. Non-vision-based sensor data may be used to determine a pose. The pose may be updated based on the vision-based pose data. The autonomous machine may be navigated within the boundary of the work region based on the updated pose. The three-dimensional point cloud may be generated based on data captured during a touring phase. Boundaries may be generated based on data captured during a mapping phase.

Abstract: Various liquid dispensers are disclosed. Certain embodiments include a portable liquid dispenser configured for consumer use in dispensing soap, sanitizer, or ingestible liquids. The dispenser can comprise a housing, a reservoir having an interior configured to store a liquid, a fluid pathway having an opening in fluid communication with the interior of the reservoir, a pump comprising a plurality of rollers, each of the plurality of rollers being configured to contact a portion of the fluid pathway in a flexible tube such that each of the plurality of rollers compresses a portion of the flexible tube that is in contact with the roller, a nozzle, a fluid damper in communication with the pump and the nozzle, an electronic control unit in electrical communication with the pump, and a rotation-tracking feedback system in electrical communication with the electronic control unit.

Abstract: A medical infusion fluid handling system, such as an automated peritoneal dialysis system, may be arranged to de-cap and connect one or more lines (such as solution lines) with one or more spikes or other connection ports on a fluid handling cassette. This feature may reduce a likelihood of contamination since no human interaction is required to de-cap and connect the one or more lines and the one or more spikes. For example, the automated peritoneal dialysis system may include a carriage arranged to receive the one or more lines each having a connector end and a cap. The carriage may move along a first direction so as to move the connector ends of the one or more lines along the first direction, and a cap stripper may be arranged to engage with the caps on the solution lines on the carriage. The cap stripper may move in a second direction transverse to the first direction, as well as to move with the carriage along the first direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides an extrudable polymer composition comprising a base polymer and a bicomponent fiber comprising a low melt temperature component and a high melt temperature component. The base polymer may be a polymer such as acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate cellulose propionate, ethylene vinyl acetate, nylon, polybutylene terephthalate, polycyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate, polyether ether ketone, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyetherimide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyamide-imide, polyarylate, polytetrafluoroethane, polysulfonic poly (p-phenyleneoxide), polyvinyl chloride and mixtures, blends and copolymers thereof.

Abstract: A bone fastener comprises a first member defining an implant cavity and a plurality of adjacent grooves. A first band is configured for disposal within the grooves. A second band is configured for disposal within the grooves. A second member is configured to penetrate tissue and includes a head engageable with the first band to provisionally connect the members. A first part is engageable with a spinal rod disposed with the implant cavity. A second part is attached with the first part and engageable with the second band to dispose the second band adjacent the first band to fix connection of the members. Implants, systems, instruments and methods are disclosed.