Abstract: A lost wax cast vapor chamber device is provided. Once a mesh is produced, a meltable core is formed from a meltable core material with the mesh positioned at least partially inside the core. Over the meltable core a metallic layer is formed, at least partially surrounding the meltable core. A chamber formed by the metallic layer is exposed by melting the meltable core to cause it to be removed from an internal void of the chamber, the internal void encapsulating the mesh. The melted material from the meltable core flows out an opening on at least one surface of the chamber. Subsequently, the internal void is filled at least partially with a working fluid and the opening is closed. The mesh supports the surfaces of the chamber against deformation under the vacuum of the internal void. Movement of working fluid by capillary action is facilitated by the mesh.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printed vapor chamber device is provided. A chamber from a first surface and a second surface at least partially enclosing a volume includes a spanning structure extending from the first surface to the second surface throughout a region within the volume. A defined gap between the first surface and second surface is maintained by the spanning structure, which also defines a plurality of flow passages. Evaporated working fluid flows from an evaporation region proximate a heat source through looped flow passages to a condensation region at a distal end of the chamber before returning as condensate by way of capillary action to the evaporation region.

Abstract: A dissipation or rigid support layer for a display device (such as a touch screen display device) is provided herein. The display device may include a display unit (e.g., a LCD unit and backlight unit), an internal electronics component, and a dissipation layer disposed between the display unit and the internal electronics component. The dissipation layer may be affixed to a surface of the display unit, and the dissipation layer may be configured to at least partially disperse a mechanical force applied by the internal electronics component on the display unit when an input force moves the dissipation layer into contact with the internal electronics component. In some examples, the dissipation layer is affixed to the surface of the display unit via an adhesive layer (e.g., an optically clear adhesive layer).

Abstract: A novel closure for a container is provided. The closure comprises an overcap and a built in blade ring for making a circumferential cut in the container body so the top portion of the body can be removed to expose the container contents.

Abstract: A dissipation or rigid support layer for a display device (such as a touch screen display device) is provided herein. The display device may include a display unit (e.g., a LCD unit and backlight unit), an internal electronics component, and a dissipation layer disposed between the display unit and the internal electronics component. The dissipation layer may be affixed to a surface of the display unit, and the dissipation layer may be configured to at least partially disperse a mechanical force applied by the internal electronics component on the display unit when an input force moves the dissipation layer into contact with the internal electronics component. In some examples, the dissipation layer is affixed to the surface of the display unit via an adhesive layer (e.g., an optically clear adhesive layer).

Abstract: A shell less, biodegradable coffee pod for use with a point of sale coffee pod dispensing device. The pod is compressible for pleated or stacked storage and linearly linked to a series of substantially similar pods by a flexible, hingeable separable tab bridging between adjacent pods. The pods have a support structure that is affixed to a fillable well. Each well is expandable with an expanding means (utilizing a burst of air, a vacuum or mechanical pusher) as the series of pods is mechanically advanced along a tractor feed style conveyor belt that passes the pod to a ground coffee bean filling unit, a sealing unit and a pod separating unit.

Abstract: A method of fabricating coffee pods at a point of sale location using a coffee pod dispensing device with shell less, expandable coffee pods. The fabrication is initiated by tactile input from a control panel that determines the parameters of the coffee pods to be fabricated and generates the operational signals for the dispensing device. Fabrication there after progresses sequentially through a series of operations that involves the loading of the coffee pods onto a pod advancing means which then takes the coffee pods through the steps of expansion, filling, sealing and delivery. To accomplish this the pods are compressible pods arranged in a linear array that allows for pleated or stacked storage in a pod loading means within the device's enclosure, as well as continuous feed capabilities.

Abstract: A point of sale coffee pod dispensing device for use with shell less, expandable coffee pods. The compressible pods are arranged in a linear array that allows for pleated or stacked storage in a pod loading means within the device's enclosure, as well as continuous feed capabilities. The pod advancing means moves the pods from a pod loading station to the pod delivery station, there between sequentially passing through stations for pod expanding, coffee filling, and sealing. An operating system allows input of signals for the operation of the device based on tactile input from a control panel on the device's housing that determines the parameters of the coffee pods to be fabricated.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include solutions for chamber-less thermal joining. A first aspect includes a system for performing a thermal joining of a joint space defined by a metallic part without an environmental chamber thereabout. The system may include an induction coil for heating an area adjacent to the joint space defined by the metallic part for the thermal joining of the joint space. The system may also include a gas lens for directing a shielding gas towards the joint space, and a valve system for controlling a flow of the shielding gas from the gas lens. A vacuum system creates a negative pressure in the metallic part to urge the shielding gas through the joint space during the thermal joining, thus allowing thermal joining of the metallic part without an environmental chamber thereabout.

Abstract: A support component for an apparatus is described. In at least some implementations, a support component is attached to an apparatus (e.g., a computing device) via a hinge mechanism. The support component can serve as a “kickstand” that can be positioned via the hinge mechanism to support the apparatus in a variety of orientations relative to an adjacent surface. In at least some embodiments, a support component includes hinge mounts via which the support component is attached to hinges of an associated apparatus. The support component and associated hinge mounts, for instance, can be manufactured separately and/or via different manufacturing processes, and attached during a production process.

Abstract: A support component for an apparatus is described. In at least some implementations, a support component is attached to an apparatus (e.g., a computing device) via a hinge mechanism. The support component can serve as a “kickstand” that can be positioned via the hinge mechanism to support the apparatus in a variety of orientations relative to an adjacent surface. In at least some embodiments, a support component includes hinge mounts via which the support component is attached to hinges of an associated apparatus. The support component and associated hinge mounts, for instance, can be manufactured separately and/or via different manufacturing processes, and attached during a production process.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed herein that are related to input devices with curved multi-touch surfaces. For example, in one disclosed embodiment, a method of making a multi-touch input device having a curved touch-sensitive surface comprises forming on a substrate an array of sensor elements defining a plurality of pixels of the multi-touch sensor, forming the substrate into a shape that conforms to a surface of the curved geometric feature of the body of the input device, and fixing the substrate to the curved geometric feature of the body of the input device.

Abstract: A novel closure for a container is provided. The closure comprises an overcap and a built in blade ring for making a circumferential cut in the container body so the top portion of the body can be removed to expose the container contents.

Abstract: A support component for an apparatus is described. In at least some implementations, a support component is attached to an apparatus (e.g., a computing device) via a hinge mechanism. The support component can serve as a “kickstand” that can be positioned via the hinge mechanism to support the apparatus in a variety of orientations relative to an adjacent surface. In at least some embodiments, a support component includes hinge mounts via which the support component is attached to hinges of an associated apparatus. The support component and associated hinge mounts, for instance, can be manufactured separately and/or via different manufacturing processes, and attached during a production process.

Abstract: An in-car multiple-resolution camera system for first responder vehicles includes a high-resolution camera imager for capturing images in high resolution and outputting the same in a first high-resolution image output stream. A signal processing module is provided for processing the first high-resolution image output stream and producing (1) a reduced-area high-resolution image output stream containing image information for only a selected portion or portions of the original image and (2) a wide-area low-resolution image output stream. The wide-area low-resolution image output stream can represent the full image, if desired. An event recorder is provided for recording the events imaged by the camera imager using the wide-image low-resolution image output stream. A license plate recognition system is provided for using the reduced-area high-resolution image output stream to capture and process images of vehicle license plates nearby.

Abstract: A surface contact for a support component is described. The support component, for example, can serve as a “kickstand” that can be positioned to support the apparatus in a variety of orientations relative to an adjacent surface. A surface contact disposed on the support component can serve as an interface (e.g., a “foot”) for the support component on the adjacent surface. For instance, the surface contact can be formed from a slip-resistant material such that slippage of the support component on an adjacent surface is reduced or eliminated. In at least some embodiments, the surface contact is embedded with a material that responds to a magnetic field, e.g., a ferromagnetic material. The surface contact is attracted to magnets on an adjacent edge of the attached apparatus, thus stabilizing the support component in a closed position.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, wedge light guides are constructed that are monolithic in nature and include integrally-formed optical concentrators. The wedge light guide and its associated optical concentrators are defined by a mold. In at least some embodiments, structure within the mold that defines the optical concentrators can be used as injection ports through which formation material can be injected to form the monolithic wedge light guide.

Abstract: A process for producing sodium bicarbonate from a sodium carbonate bearing stream (A) comprising at least 2% sodium chloride and/or sodium sulfate by weight, a part of such stream (A) being generated by a sodium carbonate crystallizer, comprising: a) mixing the stream (A) with part of a stream (B) to produce a stream (C); b) bicarbonating the stream (C) with a gas (D) comprising CO2 to produce an aqueous suspension (E) containing crystals (F) comprising sodium bicarbonate crystals; c) separating the aqueous suspension (E) to obtain crystals (F) comprising sodium bicarbonate crystals and an aqueous mother liquor (G); d) partly debicarbonating such liquor (G) and removing part of the water to obtain the stream (B) and an optional gas (H); e) recycling at least part of the stream (B) to step a); and f) removing the remainder of the stream (B) or part of the aqueous mother liquor (G) to be further processed.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to casting of an optical part having a non-uniform thickness. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method for casting an optical part having a non-uniform thickness, the method including adding a fluid material into a first cavity and into a second cavity separated from the first cavity by a separator. The first and second cavities may each have a non-uniform thickness and the separator may have a configuration complementary to shapes of the first and second cavities such that the first cavity, the second cavity, and the separator form a combined structure having a uniform thickness during a casting process. The method further comprises solidifying the fluid material in the first and second cavities to form the first and second optical parts.