Abstract: A specimen delivery cartridge is disclosed that includes a first housing portion, a second housing portion, a fluid dispenser, and a plunger. The plunger includes a plunger body having a first side and a second side. The second side faces away from the first side. The plunger further includes at least one post extending from the first side of the plunger body. The second side of the plunger body includes at least one actuator that is sized and configured to apply a compressive force onto the fluid dispenser when the plunger is depressed, and the plunger is thereby operable to actuate the fluid dispenser. When actuated, the fluid dispenser releases a reagent to a test specimen to facilitate testing for a target pathogen.

Abstract: Input device haptics and pressure sensing techniques are described. An input device includes an outer surface, a pressure sensor and haptic feedback mechanism, and a pressure sensing and haptic feedback module. The outer surface is configured to receive an application of pressure by an object. The pressure sensor and haptic feedback mechanism has one or more piezos configured to detect and quantify an amount of the application of the pressure to the outer surface by the object, the one or more piezos configured to output a signal indicating the quantified amount of the pressure. The pressure sensing and haptic feedback module is configured to receive the signal from the one or more piezos indicating the quantified amount of the pressure and control the haptic feedback of the pressure sensor and haptic feedback mechanism.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for dynamically adjusting a wait time between packets. The wait time may be increased to improve the packet loss rate. Once increased, the wait time may be decreased if the packet loss rate improves. The packet loss rate is monitored after a predetermined number of packets are sent so that additional adjustments may be made as needed.

Abstract: A hidden pistol lock box is provided. The hidden pistol lock box includes an upper body and a drop tray. The upper body has a base and a sidewall extending from a periphery of the base. The drop tray is secured to the upper body by hinges. The drop tray includes an inner surface facing the upper body. A ledge is protruding from the inner surface and is sized to retain a pistol within as well as fit within the sidewall when the drop tray is in a closed position. A joint arm assembly attaches the upper body and the drop tray together. The joint arm assembly includes a speed and stop control joint operable to control a speed of a transition of the drop tray from the closed position to an open position. A locking mechanism locks the drop tray to the upper body in the closed position.

Abstract: A backlit device includes an outer layer, an adhesive layer, and a light guide configured to transmit light from a light source. The adhesive layer is positioned between the outer layer and the light guide. The outer layer includes a plurality of outer layer segments and at least one opening positioned between the outer layer segments where light from the light guide can pass through and provide backlighting. The adhesive layer includes a plurality of adhesive material segments. Each adhesive material segment is individually positioned between an outer layer segment and the light guide such that the perimeter of an outer layer segment surrounds the perimeter of the respective adhesive material segment. Through this arrangement, the adhesive material segments do not divert or block light passing through the opening in the outer layer.

Abstract: Combined sensor systems are described. In one or more implementations, an input device includes a sensor substrate having conductors and a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate. The input device includes a combined sensor system having a capacitive sensor assembly to detect a location of an object proximate to a capacitive sensor and a pressure sensitive sensor assembly configured to detect an amount of pressure applied against a pressure sensitive sensor. The pressure sensitive sensors are interspersed with capacitive sensors in a geometric pattern that enables isolation of signals for pressure detection and capacitive sensing. The combined sensor system includes support structures proximate to the pressure sensitive sensors for pre-load control over force sensitive resistors of the flexible contact layer. The combined sensor system also includes adhesive disposed in association with positions of the capacitive sensors to stabilize capacitive sensing under the influence of pressure.

Abstract: A heat exchange unit that includes a plurality of heat exchange components and a heat exchange support assembly is provided. The heat exchange support assembly includes a first non-metallic shell, a second non-metallic shell configured to cooperate with the first non-metallic shell to form the heat exchange support assembly, and a plurality of cavities defined by the first and second non-metallic shells for securing the heat exchange components respectively.

Abstract: Techniques for fabric adhesion to an apparatus are described. According to one or more embodiments, an apparatus is laminated with fabric utilizing one or more fabric layers. In at least some embodiments, multiple adhesive zones are defined on a fabric layer. Each adhesive zone, for instance, has a particular set of properties, such as a particular location on a fabric layer, a particular adhesive thickness, a particular adhesive type, and so forth. In at least some embodiments, different adhesive zones differ from one another based on one or more of their respective properties and thus enable different fabric characteristics to be specified at different adhesive zones.

Abstract: Techniques for a touch input device in a circuit board are described. In at least some embodiments, a touch input device is integrated into a circuit board of an apparatus. For instance, a touch interaction region of the touch input device is formed by cutting and/or etching a portion of the circuit board such that the touch interaction region is moveable with respect to adjacent portions of the circuit board. According to one or more embodiments, a touch input device includes a switch such that movement of the touch interaction region actuates the switch to generate a click input event.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of agriculture, more specifically to the use of molecular biology techniques to alter fiber-producing plants, particularly cotton plants, and/or accelerate breeding of such fiber-producing plants. Methods and means are provided to alter fiber qualities, such as increasing fiber strength. Methods are also provided to identify molecular markers associated with fiber strength in a population of cotton varieties and related progenitor plants.

Abstract: To detect events in an audio stream, frames of an audio signal (e.g., frames generated by a codec for a voice call or music stream) are received. Based on information in the frames, an index is used to look up an entry in a table associated with the codec. Each entry in the table indicates a likelihood that a frame matches a sound model element. The likelihood is used in the search for a sound bite, word, and/or phrase in the audio signal. The process of dynamic programming is used to find the combined likelihood for a match of the word, phrase, and/or sound bite to a region of the audio stream. Upon detection of the word, phrase, and/or sound bite in the audio stream, an event is generated, such as, notifying a person or logging the event in a database.

Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed including a parallax Graphical User Interface (GUI) software component configured to allow automatic, parallax-type, smooth movement of multiple information panels out of user's view when focus is placed on one of the multiple information panels and the focus information panel is scrolled. When the user scrolls in the opposite direction, the non-focus panels reappear smoothly and automatically and the original user view before scrolling is restored. In various embodiments, search results may be categorized and organized into separate windows, each independently scrollable, which may be viewed using the parallax GUI. In various embodiments, a number of documents and/or software applications used to open such documents, may be registered in a parallax list to allow navigation using the parallax GUI.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for distributed data transmission in an RF mesh network or other data network. An exemplary system includes at least two distribution devices. A first distribution device can receive a first data message that includes a first header and payload data. The first distribution device can determine that the second distribution device is not identified in the first header as receiving the payload data. The first distribution device can generate a second data message based on determining that the second distribution device is not identified in the first header. The second data message includes the payload data and the second header. The second header identifies the second distribution device as being selected to receive the payload data. The first distribution device transmits the second data message to the second distribution device.

Abstract: The loads of a vehicle electrical system are connected to a power distribution bus through a first or through first and second latching relays. A set of vehicle mandatory loads are connected to an output side of the first latching relay to be cut off from the power distribution bus upon opening of the first latching relay. A set of vehicle optional loads are connected to an output side of the second latching relay to be cut off from the power distribution bus upon opening of the first latching relay or the second latching relay. Opening and closing of the first and second latching relays depends of the values for the measured current and measured voltage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for separating hybrid seed from a mixture of hybrid seed and inbred seed. In particular, said hybrid seed and said inbred seed have different phenotypes allowing separation of said hybrid seed with non-invasive methods based on the differences in said phenotypes.

Abstract: A housing for an energy storage cell includes an interior which provides beneficial properties to fabricators of the cell. The cell may be hermetically sealed by conventional laser welding techniques.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of agriculture, more specifically to the use of molecular biology techniques to alter fiber-producing plants, particularly cotton plants, and/or accelerate breeding of such fiber-producing plants. Methods and means are provided to alter fiber qualities, such as increasing fiber strength. Methods are also provided to identify molecular markers associated with fiber strength in a population of cotton varieties and related progenitor plants.

Abstract: Texture and graphic formation techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an apparatus includes one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware, the one or more modules configured to perform operations as part of a computing device. The apparatus also includes an outer layer disposed over and at least partially covering the one or more modules, the outer layer includes a graphics substrate having an outer surface that has a non-smooth texture and one or more graphics formed on an opposing side of the graphics substrate from the outer surface.

Abstract: Input device haptics and pressure sensing techniques are described. An input device includes an outer surface, a pressure sensor and haptic feedback mechanism, and a pressure sensing and haptic feedback module. The outer surface is configured to receive an application of pressure by an object. The pressure sensor and haptic feedback mechanism has one or more piezos configured to detect and quantify an amount of the application of the pressure to the outer surface by the object, the one or more piezos configured to output a signal indicating the quantified amount of the pressure. The pressure sensing and haptic feedback module is configured to receive the signal from the one or more piezos indicating the quantified amount of the pressure and control the haptic feedback of the pressure sensor and haptic feedback mechanism.

Abstract: A system for speed control of a vehicle (12) comprising a plurality of zones (16) defined within an area (12). Pairs of markings (18) are provided on surfaces in the area (12) on opposite sides of boundaries (17) of the zones (16). A sensor device (22) is provided on vehicles (12) travelling in the area (12) to obtain images from the surface adjacent the vehicle (12) and to detect the presence of the markings (18) within the image. A speed controller (26) is provided on the vehicle (12) to set a maximum vehicle speed based on information received from the sensor device (22). The sensor device (22) is configured such that on detection of the second marking (18) within the image within a predetermined time period of detection of the first marking (18), the sensor device (22) communicates with the speed controller (26) to set the maximum speed limit to that associated with the second marking (18) and on detection of no marking within the image, the maximum vehicle speed remains unchanged.