Abstract: Examples of a system and a method for asset tracking are provided. The system includes wireless communication nodes in a space that receive a basic message including an asset tracking tag identifier and a basic message sequence number transmitted by an asset tracking tag. The wireless communication nodes measure a received basic message signal attribute, and transmit a node asset message including the asset tracking tag identifier, the basic message sequence number, a node identifier, and the measured signal attribute of the received basic message to an edge gateway. The edge gateway may receive the transmitted node asset message transmitted by each of some number of the wireless communication nodes and rank respective node identifiers extracted from the received node asset messages based the measured signal attribute. The edge gateway forwards an aggregated message to a fog gateway for obtaining an estimate of the location of the asset tracking tag.

Abstract: A betavoltaic power source. The power source comprises a source of beta particles and a plurality of regions each for collecting the beta particles and for generating electron hole pairs responsive to the beta particle flux. A first set of the plurality of regions is disposed proximate a first surface of the source and a second set of the plurality of regions is disposed proximate a second surface. The first and second surface in opposing relation. A secondary power source is charged by a current developed by the electron hole pairs.

Abstract: A device for producing electricity. The device includes a substrate having spaced apart first and second surfaces and doped a first dopant type, first semiconductor material layers disposed atop the first substrate surface and doped the first dopant type, and second semiconductor material layers disposed atop the first semiconductor material layers and doped a second dopant type. A first contact is in electrical contact with the second substrate surface or in electrical contact with one of the first semiconductor material layers. A beta particle source emits beta particles that penetrate into the semiconductor material layers; the beta particle source is proximate the uppermost layer of the second plurality of semiconductor material layers. A second contact is in electrical contact with one of the second plurality of semiconductor material layers. In one embodiment, bi-polar contacts (the first and second contacts) are co-located on each major face of the device.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for teaching a target language to a user is disclosed including: (i) selecting visual representations from a visual representation database corresponding to instructional-language text or images to be displayed on a user interface device; (ii) generating one or more instructions configured to cause the user interface device to display instructional language text or images based on the selected visual representations; (iii) selecting target language audio forms from an audio form database corresponding to respective ones of the selected visual representation; (iv) generating one or more instructions configured to cause the user interface device to play one of the selected audio forms; (v) receiving a user selection of a visual representation from the user interface device; and (vi) determining if the user selection of the visual representation correctly corresponds to the audio form played in step (iv).

Abstract: An assembly carrying a radioisotope power source for attaching to a printed circuit board.