Abstract: An example antenna system includes a plurality of dielectric rod stacks and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a plurality of independently controlled output circuit boards. Each independently controlled output circuit board includes a respective dielectric rod stack. The respective dielectric rod stack includes a plurality of respective dielectric rods. The control circuit selects: (i) the dielectric rod stacks, and (ii) the respective dielectric rods of the respective dielectric rod stack to adjust a beam of emitted or received radio frequency (RF) waves.

Abstract: Gauze placement apparatuses and related methods are disclosed herein. The gauze placement apparatus can include a lower fork extension that can have a fork portion and first and second lower prongs aligned with each other in a second direction that is transverse to a first direction in which an upper handle is oriented and an upper fork extension that can have a fork portion and first and second upper prongs aligned with each other in the second direction that is transverse to the first direction in which a lower handle is oriented. The upper handle and the lower fork extension being pivotally connected to the lower handle and the upper fork extension such that the upper handle resides above the lower handle and the upper fork extension resides above the lower fork extension. When the upper handle and lower handle are moved in a diverging direction, the upper and lower fork extensions move apart from each other to an open position.

Abstract: A system includes: a water reservoir configured to store water; a brew chamber extending below and contiguous with the water reservoir; a piston configured to run in the brew chamber, defining a base of the water reservoir, defining a port extending between the water reservoir and the brew chamber, and including a valve coupled to the fill port and operable in a) a closed position during downward advancement of the piston and b) an open position during upward retraction of the piston; a heating element configured to heat water occupying the brew assembly; and an actuator configured to retract the piston to transfer water from the water reservoir, through piston via the port, and into the brew chamber and to advance the piston by a target piston travel distance—corresponding to a piston swept volume that yields a target brew volume—to displace liquid from the brew chamber.

Abstract: A spherical reflector antenna, comprising a spherical reflector having a reflective surface; a cylindrical waveguide line feed located along a focal line of the spherical reflector, the cylindrical waveguide having a plurality of axially spaced rings divided by radial fins, each axially spaced ring configured to have a plurality of radiating slots; and at least one sleeve that is detachably attached to the cylindrical waveguide to selectively vary antenna radiation patterns from the radiating slots.

Abstract: A system includes: a water reservoir configured to store water; a brew chamber extending below and contiguous with the water reservoir; a piston configured to run in the brew chamber, defining a base of the water reservoir, defining a port extending between the water reservoir and the brew chamber, and including a valve coupled to the fill port and operable in a) a closed position during downward advancement of the piston and b) an open position during upward retraction of the piston; a heating element configured to heat water occupying the brew assembly; and an actuator configured to retract the piston to transfer water from the water reservoir, through piston via the port, and into the brew chamber and to advance the piston by a target piston travel distance—corresponding to a piston swept volume that yields a target brew volume—to displace liquid from the brew chamber.

Abstract: A rivet system comprises (i) a screw comprising a threaded shaft, (ii) a rigid sleeve comprising a hole extending therethrough for receiving the threaded shaft, (iii) a deformable sleeve comprising a hole extending therethrough; and (iv) a rigid base comprising a threaded hole on a first end of the rigid base, where the first end is configured to insert and advance into the hole of the deformable sleeve to allow the threaded hole of the rigid base to threadedly engage with the threaded shaft of the screw, and where the rigid base comprises an annular channel configured to receive at least part of the deformable sleeve when the first end of the rigid base is inserted and advanced into the hole of the deformable sleeve.

Abstract: An example antenna system includes a zig-zag antenna array. The zig-zag antenna array includes a stack of conductive disks and at least one crossed zig-zag antenna extending through the stack of conductive disks. The at least one crossed zig-zag antenna includes an element pair that includes a plurality of crossed zig-zag antenna segment pairs between the stack of conductive disks. A respective crossed zig-zag antenna segment pair extends between a respective lower conductive disk and a respective upper conductive disk. The example antenna system further includes a control circuit coupled to the element pair to switch the crossed zig-zag antenna segment pairs to drive the crossed zig-zag antenna segment pairs to transmit or receive radio frequency (RF) waves with polarization states that include vertical, horizontal, elliptical, or circular polarization.

Abstract: An example antenna system includes a plurality of dielectric rod stacks and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a plurality of independently controlled output circuit boards. Each independently controlled output circuit board includes a respective dielectric rod stack. The respective dielectric rod stack includes a plurality of respective dielectric rods. The control circuit selects: (i) the dielectric rod stacks, and (ii) the respective dielectric rods of the respective dielectric rod stack to adjust a beam of emitted or received radio frequency (RF) waves.

Abstract: A system includes: a water reservoir configured to store water; a brew chamber extending below and contiguous with the water reservoir; a piston configured to run in the brew chamber, defining a base of the water reservoir, defining a port extending between the water reservoir and the brew chamber, and including a valve coupled to the fill port and operable in a) a closed position during downward advancement of the piston and b) an open position during upward retraction of the piston; a heating element configured to heat water occupying the brew assembly; and an actuator configured to retract the piston to transfer water from the water reservoir, through piston via the port, and into the brew chamber and to advance the piston by a target piston travel distance—corresponding to a piston swept volume that yields a target brew volume—to displace liquid from the brew chamber.

Abstract: An example antenna system includes a plurality of dielectric rod stacks and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a plurality of independently controlled output circuit boards. Each independently controlled output circuit board includes a respective dielectric rod stack. The respective dielectric rod stack includes a plurality of respective dielectric rods. The control circuit selects: (i) the dielectric rod stacks, and (ii) the respective dielectric rods of the respective dielectric rod stack to adjust a beam of emitted or received radio frequency (RF) waves.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for providing items from an item store to an item store consumer. An item store organizer can request an item store from an item redemption system based on item store parameters. The item store organizer can receive a single use token from the item redemption system to provide initial access to the item store. The item redemption system can validate the item store consumer based on the single use token. The item redemption system can further validate redemption requests from the item store consumer based on the item store parameters. The item redemption system can fulfill the redemption request based on payment information of the item store organizer and shipping information of the item store consumer. The item redemption system can transmit redemption information to the item store organizer based on fulfilling the redemption request.

Abstract: An example antenna system includes a zig-zag antenna array. The zig-zag antenna array includes a stack of conductive disks and at least one crossed zig-zag antenna extending through the stack of conductive disks. The at least one crossed zig-zag antenna includes an element pair that includes a plurality of crossed zig-zag antenna segment pairs between the stack of conductive disks. A respective crossed zig-zag antenna segment pair extends between a respective lower conductive disk and a respective upper conductive disk. The example antenna system further includes a control circuit coupled to the element pair to switch the crossed zig-zag antenna segment pairs to drive the crossed zig-zag antenna segment pairs to transmit or receive radio frequency (RF) waves with polarization states that include vertical, horizontal, elliptical, or circular polarization.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for providing items from an item store to an item store consumer. An item store organizer can request an item store from an item redemption system based on item store parameters. The item store organizer can receive a single use token from the item redemption system to provide initial access to the item store. The item redemption system can validate the item store consumer based on the single use token. The item redemption system can further validate redemption requests from the item store consumer based on the item store parameters. The item redemption system can fulfill the redemption request based on payment information of the item store organizer and shipping information of the item store consumer. The item redemption system can transmit redemption information to the item store organizer based on fulfilling the redemption request.

Abstract: An example antenna system includes a plurality of dielectric rod stacks and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a plurality of independently controlled output circuit boards. Each independently controlled output circuit board includes a respective dielectric rod stack. The respective dielectric rod stack includes a plurality of respective dielectric rods. The control circuit selects: (i) the dielectric rod stacks, and (ii) the respective dielectric rods of the respective dielectric rod stack to adjust a beam of emitted or received radio frequency (RF) waves.