Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, apparatus, and systems for iris recognition. A method includes acquiring at least two angularly differentiated iris images from a subject needing access, processing each of the at least two angularly differentiated iris images to generate at least one boundary delineated image from one of the at least two angularly differentiated iris images, applying image comparative analysis to the at least two angularly differentiated iris images to generate a boundary delineated image when the processing fails to produce the at least one boundary delineated image, segmenting and encoding one of the at least one boundary delineated image or the boundary delineated image to generate at least one iris template, matching the at least one iris template against an enrolled iris, and accepting the subject for access processing when the at least one iris template matches the enrolled iris.

Abstract: A method of handling wireless transmissions in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes: transmitting, by a first wireless communication device, an announcement packet, in which the announcement packet includes a source network identifier, a permitted network identifier, a permitted transmission power level corresponding to the permitted network identifier, and a channel access delay corresponding to the permitted network identifier; starting, by a second wireless communication device with the source network identifier, a first transmission at a normal transmission power level; and starting, by a third wireless communication device with the permitted network identifier, a second transmission at a limited power level not higher than the permitted transmission power level after the channel access delay from a time at which the first wireless communication device starts transmitting the announcement packet.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a wireless communication system having reliable network medium access mechanism that includes a station apparatus and an access point apparatus. The station apparatus is arranged to transmit a stub signal for signaling a data transmission to be performed, wherein the stub signal does not include information of the data transmission. The access point apparatus is arranged to receive the stub signal and transmit a transmission polling signal for signaling a permitted time period so as to permit the station apparatus to perform the data transmission in the permitted time period.

Abstract: An assembly for training a user for intravenous (IV) catheter insertion includes a mixed reality display adapted to display a virtual patient and a virtual needle, the mixed reality display including a hand tracking module; a first haptic device including a stylus assembly with a needle assembly; a second haptic device adapted to allow the user to stabilize a hand; and a hand motion controller adapted to track the second haptic device in conjunction with the hand tracking module of the mixed reality display. A method includes utilizing a system to simulate inserting the virtual needle into an arm of the virtual patient with a first set of insertion conditions; adjusting the system to a second set of insertion conditions; and utilizing the system to simulate inserting the virtual needle into the arm of the virtual patient with the second set of insertion conditions.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a netlist for a printed circuit board. In some embodiments, the method includes capturing image data of a circuit board from a plurality of sensors to generate a set of captured data for each of the plurality of sensors; extracting a plurality of features from the image data using machine learning; and generating a design associated with the circuit board from the plurality of features.

Abstract: An apparatus for mass producing smokable products filled with cannabis, hemp, and/or other smokable materials includes a cone loading station that separates individual paper cones from stacks of cones, a cone weighing and filling station for dispensing precisely weighed amounts of powdered biomass into the cones, and a cone twisting station for twisting ends of the cones to complete the smokable products. A transport mechanism is provided to transfer the cones between stations and hold the cones during filling and twisting. The invention also provides a method of manufacturing smokable products that enables production steps to be performed simultaneously while also providing for capacity expansion within a limited production facility footprint.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming an interconnect structure over a front side of a sensor substrate, thinning the sensor substrate from a back side of the sensor substrate, etching trenches into the sensor substrate, pre-cleaning an exposed surface of the sensor substrate, epitaxially growing a charge layer directly on the pre-cleaned exposed surface of the sensor substrate, and forming isolation structures within the etched trenches.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, apparatus, and systems for iris recognition. A method includes acquiring at least two angularly differentiated iris images from a subject needing access, processing each of the at least two angularly differentiated iris images to generate at least one boundary delineated image from one of the at least two angularly differentiated iris images, applying image comparative analysis to the at least two angularly differentiated iris images to generate a boundary delineated image when the processing fails to produce the at least one boundary delineated image, segmenting and encoding one of the at least one boundary delineated image or the boundary delineated image to generate at least one iris template, matching the at least one iris template against an enrolled iris, and accepting the subject for access processing when the at least one iris template matches the enrolled iris.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a netlist for a printed circuit board. In some embodiments, the method includes capturing image data of a circuit board from a plurality of sensors to generate a set of captured data for each of the plurality of sensors; extracting a plurality of features from the image data using machine learning; and generating a design associated with the circuit board from the plurality of features.

Abstract: An apparatus for mass producing smokable products filled with cannabis, hemp, and/or other smokable materials includes a cone loading station that separates individual paper cones from stacks of cones, a cone weighing and filling station for dispensing precisely weighed amounts of powdered biomass into the cones, and a cone twisting station for twisting ends of the cones to complete the smokable products. A transport mechanism is provided to transfer the cones between stations and hold the cones during filling and twisting. The invention also provides a method of manufacturing smokable products that enables production steps to be performed simultaneously while also providing for capacity expansion within a limited production facility footprint.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, apparatus, and systems for iris recognition. A method includes acquiring at least two angularly differentiated iris images from a subject needing access, processing each of the at least two angularly differentiated iris images to generate at least one boundary delineated image from one of the at least two angularly differentiated iris images, applying image comparative analysis to the at least two angularly differentiated iris images to generate a boundary delineated image when the processing fails to produce the at least one boundary delineated image, segmenting and encoding one of the at least one boundary delineated image or the boundary delineated image to generate at least one iris template, matching the at least one iris template against an enrolled iris, and accepting the subject for access processing when the at least one iris template matches the enrolled iris.

Abstract: A method of predicting the responsiveness of a subject with cancer to treatment with a modulator of the HER signalling pathway, wherein the method comprises detecting the level of expression of EGR4-S in a sample of the subject, wherein the subject is likely to be responsive to treatment with the modulator of the HER signalling pathway if EGR4-S expression is at or above a predetermined level in the sample of the subject, and wherein the subject is likely to be resistant to treatment with the modulator of the HER signalling pathway if EGR4-S expression is at or below a predetermined level in the sample of the subject.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for sweetening natural gas may utilize a water wash to achieve a reduction in raw natural gas stream contaminants (e.g., particulate contaminants and/or chemical contaminants) and/or to recover solvent used for removing H2S and CO2 from the natural gas. For example, a method may include contacting a first natural gas stream with a first water stream in a co-current contacting system to produce a second natural gas stream and a second water stream, wherein the first natural gas stream comprises natural gas, an acid gas, and a contaminate, and wherein a concentration of the contaminate in the second natural gas stream is less than a concentration of the contaminate in the first natural gas stream; and removing at least a portion of the acid gas from the second natural gas stream.

Abstract: A harvester for removing cannabis flower from stalks includes a blade follower iris that adjusts the size of the flower-stripping opening to correspond to the diameter of the stalk. The size of the opening may be controlled by centrifugal and spring forces that cause the iris to open and close. In addition, an improved stalk-pulling belt drive conveyor system utilizes two relatively floating, releasably coupled belt systems to pinch and pull the stalk through the blade follower iris.

Abstract: Noise-canceling audio devices may include a first vibration member, a second vibration member, and a microphone supported by a housing. A feedback, noise-cancelation circuit may be operatively connected to the microphone, the feedback, noise-cancelation circuit configured to generate a first portion of a modified audio signal by combining an audio signal with a noise-canceling signal generated in response to a signal from the microphone to at least partially cancel at least a portion of an audible response of the second vibration member. A feed-forward, noise-cancelation circuit may be operatively connected to the microphone, the feed-forward, noise-cancelation circuit configured to compare the signal from the microphone to a predetermined SPL profile and generate a second portion of the modified audio signal configured to at least partially cancel environmental noise, the feedback, noise cancelation circuit configured to output the modified audio signal only to the first vibration member.

Abstract: An example system includes one or more battery modules, a battery module of the one or more battery modules comprising: a cylindrical pressure vessel; a cooling channel extending axially through the cylindrical pressure vessel; and one or more battery packs within the cylindrical pressure vessel, a battery pack of the one or more battery packs comprising a plurality of battery cells radially distributed about the cooling channel.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a multi-modal biometric analysis system including one or more illumination sources, one or more cameras, and a processing device. The illumination sources are configured to illuminate an iris of a subject. The cameras are configured to capture one or more images of the subject during illumination of the subject with the one or more illumination sources. The images include iris biometric data associated with the iris of the subject and face biometric data associated with a face of the subject. The processing device receives as input the one or more images, analyzes the iris biometric data for iris biometric authenticity, analyzes the face biometric data for face biometric authenticity, and compares the iris biometric data and the face biometric data to determine the biometric authenticity of the subject.

Abstract: An example system includes a first plurality of nacelles located on a first side of an aircraft, wherein each nacelle of the first plurality of nacelles includes an electric motor coupled to a propulsor, wherein an outboard nacelle of the first plurality of nacelles includes an electrical energy storage system (ESS) coupled to a first electrical bus; and a second plurality of nacelles located on a second side of the aircraft, wherein each nacelle of the second plurality of nacelles includes an electric motor coupled to a propulsor, wherein an outboard nacelle of the second plurality of nacelles includes an ESS coupled to a second electrical bus.

Abstract: A method for recovering sulfur within a gas processing system is described herein. The method includes contacting a natural gas stream including an acid gas with a solvent stream within a co-current contacting system to produce a sweetened natural gas stream and a rich solvent stream including an absorbed acid gas. The method also includes removing the absorbed acid gas from the rich solvent stream within a regenerator to produce a concentrated acid gas stream and a lean solvent stream. The method further includes recovering elemental sulfur from hydrogen sulfide (H2S) within the concentrated acid gas stream via a sulfur recovery unit.