Abstract: A device for use in orthopedic procedures involving the alignment and fixation of bone. The device includes a body having a bone facing surface, an opposing surface, a lateral surface being disposed between the bone facing surface and the opposing surface and a longitudinal axis extending through the bone facing surface and the opposing surface. The body defines a pin hole extending through the body from the bone facing surface to the opposing surface, a bone fastener hole extending through the body from the bone facing surface to the opposing surface, a tool hole extending at least partially through the body and an alignment index for positioning the body relative to bone.

Abstract: A nuclear fuel assay system comprises a nuclear fuel assembly comprising structures containing nuclear fuel, and a neutron collar surrounding sides of the nuclear fuel assembly and comprising pressurized 4He scintillation detectors. A system for assaying nuclear fuel, and a method of quantifying nuclear material are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present technology enable messages including both standard and custom characters to be communicated between client devices. Each of the standard character(s) is included within a Unicode Standard that is supported by an operating system of a client device. By contrast, each of the custom character(s) is not included within the Unicode Standard. Such embodiments enable users to create their own custom characters, such as custom emoji, or utilize custom characters created others. Beneficially, embodiments described herein overcome many of the drawbacks associated with electronic messages being limited to including only standard characters, such as standard emoji.

Abstract: A reverse RFID location system is based on set of RFID tags in which each tag stores data representing its position.

Abstract: A reverse RFID location system is based on set of RFID tags in which each tag stores data representing its position.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining the timing of the data bit transitions. “N” assumptions of data bit transitions are used for determining N integrations of an incoming spread signal for data bit time periods where N is the data bit time period divided by the code time period. In a first variation, the N assumptions use N start times separated by code time periods. In a second variation, the N assumptions use N sign inversion times separated by code time periods. In either variation the unsigned values of the N integrations, respectively, may be combined for several data bit time periods. The assumed transition timing that results in the strongest of the N integrations is indicative of the timing of the data bit transitions.

Abstract: A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver using phase lock loops for strong GNSS signals and automatic frequency control (AFC) loops for weak GNSS signals on a satellite-by-satellite basis. The phase lock loops or the AFC loops associated with particular GNSS satellites generate frequency feedback adjustments for tracking the carrier frequencies of the incoming GNSS signals in order to determine pseudoranges for calculating a location fix. The transition from an AFC loop to a phase lock loop is controlled for each GNSS signal depending on location quality parameters including a history of previous loop transitions, knowledge of whether a transition is in-progress, and a conditional PDOP. The conditional PDOP is the calculated PDOP where the pseudorange from the particular GNSS signal is removed from the computation of the location fix.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining the timing of the data bit transitions. “N” assumptions of data bit transitions are used for determining N integrations of an incoming spread signal for data bit time periods where N is the data bit time period divided by the code time period. In a first variation, the N assumptions use N start times separated by code time periods. In a second variation, the N assumptions use N sign inversion times separated by code time periods. In either variation the unsigned values of the N integrations, respectively, may be combined for several data bit time periods. The assumed transition timing that results in the strongest of the N integrations is indicative of the timing of the data bit transitions.

Abstract: A global positioning system (GPS) receiver having a fast time to first fix using the velocity of a GPS satellite and an approximate time. The GPS receiver includes a GPS antenna for receiving a GPS signal, radio frequency circuitry for downconverting and sampling the GPS signal, a reference timer for providing a reference clocking signal, a digital signal processor for receiving the sampled GPS signal, and a microprocessor for executing program codes in a memory. The digital signal processor cooperates with the microprocessor for correlating the sampled GPS signal to an internal GPS replica signal based upon the reference clocking signal. The memory includes program codes for a pseudorange detector for measuring code phase offsets, a directional cosine calculator for calculating unit vectors, a satellite velocity calculator for calculating vector velocities, a pseudorange linearizer for determining linearized pseudoranges, and a velocity-enhanced location calculator.