Abstract: Probe systems and methods for calibrating capacitive height sensing measurements. A probe system includes a probe assembly with a probe support body that supports a capacitive displacement sensor that terminates in a sensing tip relative to a substrate and that is configured to generate an uncalibrated capacitive height measurement. A method of utilizing the probe system to generate a calibrated capacitive height measurement includes receiving a height calibration structure architecture; calculating a layer impedance magnitude of each substrate layer of the height calibration structure; and calculating a total layer impedance magnitude of the height calibration structure. The method further includes measuring a measured impedance magnitude and calculating the calibrated capacitive height measurement.

Abstract: A mobile electronic device corresponding to the present invention communicates with a point-of-sale terminal using near field data communications when making a purchase, prompting an offer regarding a warranty on an item purchased before the purchase is complete.

Abstract: A system for improving navigation of robots in a space with a plurality of pedestrians or other movable objects or obstacles. The system includes a traffic analysis assembly that has a traffic sensor(s) sensing movement of the obstacles in the space. The traffic analysis assembly further includes a processor running a flow module that processes (such as the Gunnar-Farneback optical flow algorithm) output from the traffic sensor to generate traffic analysis results, which include density values for the obstacles in the space and motion information for the obstacles in the space (e.g., speed and direction). The system includes a robot with a controller running a navigation module selecting a navigation route between a current location of the robot and a target location in the space using the traffic analysis result. The workspace is configured such that the obstacles such as pedestrians have unregulated flow patterns in the space.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a dissolvable sealing joint system that can be used in an improved method of sealing a multi-lateral well junction. The sealing joint system is comprised of a dissolvable junction subassembly that can be easily removed after a sealing operation is conducted. A tapered end of the dissolvable junction subassembly is inserted in a liner of a secondary wellbore, and a seal located about the tapered end is sealed against the top of the liner and a no-go shoulder of dissolvable junction subassembly. Once a seal is established, an isolation fluid is pumped into the junction area via a fluid port located in the dissolvable junction subassembly. A method of isolating a wellbore junction is also presented.

Abstract: Methods and systems for distinguishing an astrocytic human brain rumor from a non-astrocytic human brain tumor (FIG. 4). In one embodiment a method includes the steps of staining tumor tissue from a subject suspected of having a brain tumor with SR101 and visualizing the tissue stained with SR101 with a fluorescence imaging device to confirm an astrocytic or non-astrocytic tumor type. Advantageously, rumor tissue from a subject is stained ex vivo, and the staining and visualizing steps are performed intraoperatively so as to guide the surgeon and thereby minimize or eliminate the need for a subsequent surgery.

Abstract: An augmented reality (AR) system that enhances an AR participant's experience by providing a visual effect with added depth. The AR system displays previously achieved by an AR HMD are augmented with a second layer of accessible depth. This added depth is achieved by including, in the AR space/real world environment, external stereo screens upon which 3D stereo content is projected by one or more 3D projectors. The AR HMD is equipped with an external 3D screen viewing assembly so the AR HMD allows an AR participant wearing the AR HMD to view images on the external stereo screens in stereo. The external stereo screens can be used to produce 3D imagery that may differ in depth from the depth of the fixed focal length images displayed to the viewer by the AR HMD. The AR system enlarges the AR participant's simultaneous angular viewing range to 55 to 160 degrees.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for computer aided design of physical structures using data format conversion (e.g., of output(s) from generative design processes) and user interface techniques that facilitate the production of 3D models of physical structures that are readily usable with 2.5-axis subtractive manufacturing, include: modifying smooth curves, which have been fit to contours representing discrete height layers of an object, to facilitate the 2.5-axis subtractive manufacturing; preparing an editable model of the object using a parametric feature history, which includes a sketch feature, to combine extruded versions of the smooth curves to form a 3D model of the object in a boundary representation format; reshaping a subset of the smooth curves responsive to user input with respect to the sketch feature; and replaying the parametric feature history to reconstruct the 3D model of the object, as changed by the user input.

Abstract: A method for designing a smoothie pod includes: receiving input from a user via a user device that communicates with a beverage profile system over a communications network, wherein the input is received via a graphical user interface and includes selections of ingredients to be added to the smoothie pod; determining, via the beverage profile system, that a flavor profile of the smoothie pod that is based on the ingredients selected by the user includes at least one flavor type having a percentage of the flavor profile that is outside of an acceptable threshold percentage range of the flavor profile; and presenting a suggestion via the graphical user interface of one or more additional ingredients to be added to the smoothie pod to modify the percentage of the flavor type to be within the acceptable threshold percentage range of the flavor profile.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems for configuring electronically programmable heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (“HVAC”) systems are disclosed. One embodiment is a system comprising a server system in operative communication with a database, a remote client and an electronically programmable HVAC controller. The system is structured to transmit a template HVAC configuration profile to the client, receive from the client a modification of the template profile transmitted to the remote client, validate the modification, in response to a programming request from the client, transmit a programming instruction including a modified HVAC configuration profile to the HVAC controller.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a cooling circuit for a gas turbine engine. The cooling circuit includes a rotor blade having a connection portion and a rotor disc having a first axial side and a second axial side. The rotor disc defines a connection slot and a cooling passage extending between the first axial side and the second axial side. The connection slot receives the connection portion to couple the rotor blade to the rotor disc. Cooling air flows through the cooling passage.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying talent that eliminate or minimize the costs and/or risks of identifying such talent, involve public feedback, and generate significant charitable donations. In one aspect of the present invention, talent's or bands' songs are made available to critics such as members of the public via mediums such as the Internet, radio, and television. Such individuals provide feedback during successive phases of the talent identification process, and talents and/or bands with the greatest public appeal advance to the final stages of the process. Ultimately, the talent or band receiving the most favorable feedback is promoted or awarded with, for example, a record deal. Throughout the process, revenue is generated via a variety of methods including voting/critiquing fees, advertising, sale of promotional items, and the like. In some aspects of the present invention, at least a portion of such revenue is donated to charity.

Abstract: A mobile electronic device corresponding to the present invention communicates with a point-of-sale terminal using near field data communications when making a purchase, prompting an offer regarding a warranty on an item purchased before the purchase is complete.

Abstract: Provided is a food composition which include a myceliated high-protein food product and methods to make such compositions, which are mixtures of myceliated high-protein food products and other edible materials. A food composition includes dairy alternative products, ready to mix beverages and beverage bases; extruded and extruded/puffed products; sheeted baked goods; meat analogs and extenders; baked goods and baking mixes; granola; and soups/soup bases. Food compositions also include texturized plant protein which can be used for making meat-structured plant protein meat analog or meat extender products. The food compositions have reduced undesirable flavors and reduced undesirable aromas due to use of myceliated high-protein food products as compared to use of similar high-protein material that is not myceliated.

Abstract: A pipe fitting comprising three annular coaxial sections including a grip section, middle section, and a seal section, the grip section and seal section being separately fixed to the middle section, an annular array of grips in the grip section, an annular semi-rigid seal in the seal section, a hydraulic grip actuator in the housing for radially constricting the grips into gripping engagement with an exterior of a pipe extending into the housing, and a hydraulic seal actuator hydraulically and mechanically independent of the grip actuator, for forcing the seal radially into engagement with an exterior of the pipe, a first mechanical lock for maintaining the grips in contact with the pipe and a second mechanical lock maintaining the seal in contact with the pipe.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for processing wood wastes and producing valuable products that are safe and have economic value is disclosed. The apparatus includes a continuous converter (3) for a feed material that includes wood wastes containing contaminants. The continuous converter includes a reaction chamber (5) for producing a solid carbon-containing product, a gas product, and optionally a liquid oil product and a separate water-based condensate product in the chamber, via pyrolysis or other reaction mechanisms.

Abstract: Aspects described herein include a user display unit that determines a portion of a presentation currently being viewed by a user through a transparent display. For example, if the display area is a theater screen, only a portion of the screen may be viewable to the user through the transparent display. The display unit may display metadata on the transparent display with a spatial relationship to one or more objects in the presentation. For example, the display unit may output a text bubble near an actor in the presentation that provides an interesting fact about the actor which may overlay or occlude the presentation. In one aspect, if the object in the presentation moves or the display unit is reoriented, the display unit may move the metadata to maintain the spatial relationship between the object and the metadata in the transparent display.

Abstract: A method for designing a smoothie pod includes: receiving input from a user via a user device that communicates with a beverage profile system over a communications network, wherein the input is received via a graphical user interface and includes selections of ingredients to be added to the smoothie pod; determining, via the beverage profile system, that a flavor profile of the smoothie pod that is based on the ingredients selected by the user includes at least one flavor type having a percentage of the flavor profile that is outside of an acceptable threshold percentage range of the flavor profile; and presenting a suggestion via the graphical user interface of one or more additional ingredients to be added to the smoothie pod to modify the percentage of the flavor type to be within the acceptable threshold percentage range of the flavor profile.

Abstract: Systems and method relating to machining parts include a CNC system, and a computer including a processor and a computer-readable medium, wherein the computer-readable medium encodes instructions including receiving, at the computer program, output data from a CNC machine that receives instructions of a Numerical Control (NC) program at a computer of the CNC machine, the instructions causing the CNC machine to i) manufacture a part, and ii) output the output data, parsing, by the computer program, the output data before completion of the manufacturing of the part by the CNC machine in accordance with the instructions of the NC program, selecting, by the computer program and based on one or more predetermined parameters, a set of data from the parsed output data; and providing, by the computer program to a remote system, the set of data for processing to facilitate machining using the CNC machine.

Abstract: A computer user interface (UI) is capable of generating a sound when a predetermined event occurs. The sound generated when the predetermined event occurs may possess at least some characteristics of a predominant natural language used by a user and/or a location of a computer implementing the UI. This enables the user to quickly assimilate the sound generated when the predetermined event occurs. Because the user quickly assimilates the sound generated when the predetermined event occurs, the user is able to rapidly respond to the predetermined event, at times using the computer UI, which reduces undesirable memory use, processor use and/or battery drain associated with a computing device that implements the computer UI.

Abstract: A system for use in a park attraction to provide collaborative driving experiences. The system includes a vehicle including a body with passenger seats, including a user input assembly proximate to each of the passenger seats, and further including a holonomic drive system adapted to move the body in any direction while riding on a driving surface of the park attraction. The system also includes a system controller (running an attraction/game control module) that operates to: (a) receive user input from each of the user input assemblies; (b) process the user input from each of the user input assemblies to generate a control vector associated with each of the user input assemblies; (c) combine the control vectors from all of the user input assemblies to generate a resultant vector; (d) generate a drive control signal from the resultant vector; and (e) transmit the drive control signal to the vehicle.