Abstract: A method for determining motional branch current in an ultrasonic transducer of an ultrasonic surgical device over multiple frequencies of a transducer drive signal. The method may comprise, at each of a plurality of frequencies of the transducer drive signal, oversampling a current and voltage of the transducer drive signal, receiving, by a processor, the current and voltage samples, and determining, by the processor, the motional branch current based on the current and voltage samples, a static capacitance of the ultrasonic transducer and the frequency of the transducer drive signal.

Abstract: A surgical instrument, has an end effector that includes an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp arm that moves relative to the ultrasonic blade from an opened position toward an intermediate position and a closed position. The clamp arm is offset from the ultrasonic blade to define a predetermined gap in the intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position. A clamp arm actuator connects to the clamp arm and moves from an opened configuration to a closed configuration to direct the clamp arm from the opened position toward the intermediate position and the closed position. A spacer connects with the clamp arm to inhibit movement of the clamp arm from the intermediate position toward the closed position for maintaining the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for volume control of ear devices. In an embodiment, a method comprises: determining a reference attitude of the ear device based on sensor data collected by motion sensors of the ear device; storing the reference attitude; receiving, with at least one processor, a first user input indicating a user request for a volume control mode of the ear device; receiving a rotation input; determining, with the at least one processor, an amount of volume level increase/decrease based on attitude change relative to the reference attitude due to the rotation input; adjusting a volume level of the ear device in accordance with the volume level increase/decrease; and receiving second user input indicating a second user request to release the volume control mode.

Abstract: A method of fertilizing and/or irrigating a field with water containing potassium bisulfate is disclosed. The method includes adding a predetermined amount of potassium bisulfate to irrigation water for the field, and delivering the mixture of potassium bisulfate and irrigation water to the field. Alternatively, the method may provide potassium bisulfate to crops by applying or spreading the potassium bisulfate onto ground near or proximate to the crops, and allowing water to carry the potassium bisulfate into the ground.

Abstract: A method of fertilizing and/or irrigating a field with water containing potassium bisulfate is disclosed. The method includes adding a predetermined amount of potassium bisulfate to irrigation water for the field, and delivering the mixture of potassium bisulfate and irrigation water to the field. Alternatively, the method may provide potassium bisulfate to crops by applying or spreading the potassium bisulfate onto ground near or proximate to the crops, and allowing water to carry the potassium bisulfate into the ground.

Abstract: Describe herein are techniques for providing cloud-based discovery. For example, a device may be configured to provide device registration and de-registration notifications to a cloud-based discovery service. The cloud-based discovery service may be configured to respond to discovery request by identifying registered devices that meet the criteria of the discovery request. The cloud-based discovery service may also be configured to provide endpoint information associated with registered devices in response to the discovery request, such that a device is able to utilize the endpoint information to connect with one or more of the registered devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to a social syndicate platform for buyers and sellers on a social network includes aggregating requests for goods or services by individual members of a social network. Individual members may send buyer-sourced requests for deals to business members of the social network with parameters restricting which businesses may be considered in the request. Business members may send discounted offers for goods and services including restrictions on which individuals may receive the offer. A computing system may facilitate deals between businesses and individuals based on financial health considerations and make offer recommendations to business and deal recommendations to individuals.

Abstract: Describe herein are techniques for providing cloud-based discovery. For example, a device may be configured to provide device registration and de-registration notifications to a cloud-based discovery service. The cloud-based discovery service may be configured to respond to discovery request by identifying registered devices that meet the criteria of the discovery request. The cloud-based discovery service may also be configured to provide endpoint information associated with registered devices in response to the discovery request, such that a device is able to utilize the endpoint information to connect with one or more of the registered devices.

Abstract: A method for providing merchant offers includes receiving, by a network interface circuit of an offer computing system, selection of a product or service from a customer user of the offer computing system, receiving, by the network interface circuit of the offer computing system, financial account information from the customer user, the financial account information providing access to a financial account held by the customer user, monitoring, by a merchant offer circuit of the offer computing system, a financial status of the customer user using the financial account information, and based on the financial status of the customer user, sending to the customer user, by the merchant offer circuit of the offer computing system, an offer for sale of the product or service.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preparing customer check deposit requests with a mobile device and a reflective surface are described. A check frame is positioned between a customer mobile device with a built-in camera and a mirror such that, when a check is placed in the check frame, the camera can view both sides of the check simultaneously. The camera can take a single picture that includes both sides of the check, process it, and submit it as a check deposit request to the customer's financial institution.

Abstract: Describe herein are techniques for providing cloud-based discovery. For example, a device may be configured to provide device registration and de-registration notifications to a cloud-based discovery service. The cloud-based discovery service may be configured to respond to discovery request by identifying registered devices that meet the criteria of the discovery request. The cloud-based discovery service may also be configured to provide endpoint information associated with registered devices in response to the discovery request, such that a device is able to utilize the endpoint information to connect with one or more of the registered devices.

Abstract: A method is provided for a host node in a computer network to determine its coordinates in a d-dimensional network space, comprising discovering an address of a peer node in the network, measuring network latency between the host node and the peer node, determining whether network latency has been measured for at least d+1 peer nodes, where, if network latency has not been measured for at least d+1 peer nodes, estimating the network coordinates of the host node, and where, if network latency has been measured for at least d+1 peer nodes, calculating the network coordinates of the host node using d+1 measured latencies.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preparing customer check deposit requests with a mobile device and a reflective surface are described. A check frame is positioned between a customer mobile device with a built-in camera and a mirror such that, when a check is placed in the check frame, the camera can view both sides of the check simultaneously. The camera can take a single picture that includes both sides of the check, process it, and submit it as a check deposit request to the customer's financial institution.

Abstract: Binocular system, including method and apparatus, for viewing a scene. The system may comprise a left camera and a right camera that create left and right video signals from detected optical radiation. At least one of the cameras may include a sensor that is sensitive to infrared radiation. The system also may comprise a left display and a right display arranged to be viewed by a pair of eyes. The left and right displays may be configured to present respective left video images and right video images formed with visible light based respectively on the left and right video signals.

Abstract: In embodiments of prediction-based touch contact tracking, touch input sensor data is recognized as a series of components of a contact on a touch-screen display. A first component of the contact can be identified, and a second component can be determined to correlate to the contact. The first component and the second component can then be associated to represent a tracking of the contact. Subsequent components of the contact can be determined and associated with the previous components of the contact to further represent the tracking of the contact.

Abstract: Imaging systems in which an undedicated optical component—i.e., a component that would be present in the system even in the absence of image stabilization—is configured to undergo corrective motion and/or other correction of image data, and thus to function as a stabilization component. The stabilization component may be a mirror and/or a lens, and a positioner may be provided to tilt, rotate, and/or otherwise precisely adjust the position and orientation of the stabilization component to improve image resolution, compensate for platform motions such as platform vibration, and/or improve image tracking. Because an undedicated optical component functions as the stabilization component, the stabilization occurs upstream, rather than downstream, from separation (if any) of the incoming image data into two or more beams.

Abstract: Binocular system, including method and apparatus, for viewing a scene. The system may comprise a left camera and a right camera that create left and right video signals from detected optical radiation. At least one of the cameras may include a sensor that is sensitive to infrared radiation. The system also may comprise a left display and a right display arranged to be viewed by a pair of eyes. The left and right displays may be configured to present respective left video images and right video images formed with visible light based respectively on the left and right video signals.

Abstract: In a typical peer-to-peer network, any user of the peer-to-peer network may request a lookup of a key and its associated value. To limit access to a stored key-value pair, a user node may generate a registration message for a key-value pair. The value may include the payload to be stored at the storage node, and an access list containing one or more retrieval identifiers indicating one or more users authorized to access the payload. In some cases, the registration message may also include an encrypted payload which is encrypted with a group key. The group key may be included in the registration message, and may be encrypted with an encryption key which is known by the authorized user.

Abstract: A method is provided for a host node in a computer network to determine its coordinates in a d-dimensional network space, comprising discovering an address of a peer node in the network, measuring network latency between the host node and the peer node, determining whether network latency has been measured for at least d+1 peer nodes, where, if network latency has not been measured for at least d+1 peer nodes, estimating the network coordinates of the host node, and where, if network latency has been measured for at least d+1 peer nodes, calculating the network coordinates of the host node using d+1 measured latencies.

Abstract: In embodiments of prediction-based touch contact tracking, touch input sensor data is recognized as a series of components of a contact on a touch-screen display. A first component of the contact can be identified, and a second component can be determined to correlate to the contact. The first component and the second component can then be associated to represent a tracking of the contact. Subsequent components of the contact can be determined and associated with the previous components of the contact to further represent the tracking of the contact.