Abstract: A hybrid coating composition including an organosilane component, a metal alkoxide component and a surfactant component, with the metal alkoxide component present in the composition at a molar ratio of about 75:1 with respect to the surfactant component. The hybrid coating composition once cured on a transparent substrate has an initial clarity greater than 98. Transparent members are also disclosed that include a transparent substrate having the hybrid coating composition cured on a first major surface thereof.

Abstract: A coating and associated method for coating is disclosed. The coating provides a hard, transparent, UV blocking coating for a substrate. A UV blocking layer is first deposited upon the substrate, and a hard coating is deposited above the UV blocking layer. A soft coating layer may be deposited between the UV blocking layer and the hard coating. The soft and hard coating layers may both have the general composition SiOxCy. the soft and hard coating layers may be deposited by a plasma vapor deposition process.

Abstract: Pendant dipodal silanes having formula (I) and methods for their synthesis are provided. In formula (I), R is an organic radical other than methyl and X may be a halogen, an alkoxy group, an acetoxy group, or a dialkylamino group. Films, adhesives, and composites formed from the inventive dipodal silanes generally demonstrate significantly greater hydrolytic resistance and film-forming ability than conventional silanes.

Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a camera having a lens and a CMOS photosensor array having a plurality of photosensor elements. The camera is disposed at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system. The camera one of (i) views exterior of the equipped vehicle through the windshield of the equipped vehicle and forward of the equipped vehicle and (ii) views from the windshield of the equipped vehicle into the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle. A control includes an image processor that processes image data captured by the photosensor array. The image processor processes captured image data to detect an object viewed by the camera. The photosensor array is operable at a plurality of exposure periods and at least one exposure period of the plurality of exposure periods is dynamically variable.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering augmented user information are provided. A method includes receiving a request for augmented information regarding an entity and obtaining an entity profile for the entity based on activity data from at least one data source and corresponding to one or more activities associated with the entity, the entity profile comprising temporal activity data and non-temporal activity data for the activities. In the method, the entity can be a single user or a group of users. The method also includes identifying one or more episodic social networks (ESNs) associated with the entity, based at least on an episodic social network model and the entity profile, where each of the ESNs associated with a different set of finite temporal boundaries and non-temporal boundaries. The method further includes delivering information regarding the ESNs to a requesting party as the augmented information.

Abstract: A hard, transparent coating for a substrate and associated method for coating is disclosed. The coating includes alternating layers of a soft coating and a hard coating. The coating further includes a sensor. The electrical resistivity of the sensor may be measured to determine if the coating has been degraded. The coating may further include a hydrophobic outer layer.

Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror casing and an electro-optic reflective element assembly disposed at the mirror casing. A second surface of a front substrate of the reflective element assembly has a transparent conductive coating established thereat and a third surface of a rear substrate has a conductive coating established thereat. An electrical connector may be disposed at the fourth surface and in electrically conductive continuity with the transparent conductive coating and/or the conductive coating. The electrical connector may include a connector attaching portion for attaching at the fourth surface and a conductor attaching portion for soldering or welding an electrical conductor or wire to the electrical connector when the electrical connector is attached at the fourth surface. The conductor attaching portion is spaced from the plane of the connector attaching portion and the fourth surface of the rear substrate.

Abstract: A vehicular rearview minor assembly includes a mirror reflective element and a touch sensor device disposed behind a portion of the reflective element and operable to sense the presence of a person's finger at a touch zone of the reflective element proximate to the touch sensor device. A backlighting device is disposed behind the touch sensor device and is operable to backlight a portion of the touch sensor device. The touch sensor device includes a touch sensor substrate having a conductive trace established at a patterned conductive zone of the touch sensor substrate. When the backlighting device is activated, light emanating from the backlighting device passes through the patterned conductive zone of the touch sensor substrate and illuminates an icon so that the icon is viewable through the reflective element by a driver of the vehicle when the rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted at the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method of automatically controlling vehicle exterior lights including an image sensor and a controller to generate headlamp control signals.

Abstract: Pendant dipodal silanes having formula (I) and methods for their synthesis are provided. In formula (I), R is an organic radical other than methyl and X may be a halogen, an alkoxy group, an acetoxy group, or a dialkylamino group. Films, adhesives, and composites formed from the inventive dipodal silanes generally demonstrate significantly greater hydrolytic resistance and film-forming ability than conventional silanes.

Abstract: A speech output to be provided to a user of a device is received. Thereafter, it is determined if the device is currently receiving speech input from a user. Upon determining that the device is not currently receiving speech input from the user, the speech output to the user is provided. On the other hand, upon determining that the device is receiving speech input from the user it is determined if provision of the speech output is urgent. When the speech output is urgent, the speech output is provided to the user. When the speech output is not urgent, provision of the speech output to the user is stayed.

Abstract: Customized images can be used to improve navigation of a user to a particular destination. For example, a mobile device can receive a first destination location of the first user. Additionally, the mobile device can receive one or more media files of the first destination location, wherein at least one of the media files is created with a recording device. Furthermore, the mobile device can further receive an indicator associating the one or more media files with the first destination location. Subsequently, the mobile device can receive a current location of the mobile device of the first user. Finally, the mobile device can display the one or more media files when the current location is within a specified distance of the first destination location.

Abstract: An interface point network (IPN) and a method for communication with a laboratory information system using an IPN, wherein the IPN includes at least one host computer in communication with at least one laboratory instrument, the laboratory information system and an interface point server in communication with the host computer and the laboratory information system, the interface point server being configured to function as a communication interface between the host computer and the laboratory information system in a manner responsive to a predetermined communication protocol. Use of bar code and RFID labels for tracking samples and in maintaining sample data is described.

Abstract: A hard, transparent coating for a substrate and associated method for coating is disclosed. The coating includes alternating layers of a soft coating and a hard coating. The coating further includes a sensor. The electrical resistivity of the sensor may be measured to determine if the coating has been degraded. The coating may further include a hydrophobic outer layer.

Abstract: A hybrid coating composition including an organosilane component, a metal alkoxide component and a surfactant component, with the metal alkoxide component present in the composition at a molar ratio of about 75:1 with respect to the surfactant component. The hybrid coating composition once cured on a transparent substrate has an initial clarity greater than 98. Transparent members are also disclosed that include a transparent substrate having the hybrid coating composition cured on a first major surface thereof.

Abstract: A disk resonator gyroscope includes a quartz base, a quartz resonator disk having a central pillar connected to the base, the quartz resonator disk having a surface facing the base and having plurality of circumferential slots in the surface of the quartz resonator disk around the central pillar, and an electrode comprised of quartz and connected to the base outside of an outer edge of the resonator disk.

Abstract: A coating and associated method for coating is disclosed. The coating provides a hard, transparent, UV blocking coating for a substrate. A UV blocking layer is first deposited upon the substrate, and a hard coating is deposited above the UV blocking layer. A soft coating layer may be deposited between the UV blocking layer and the hard coating. The soft and hard coating layers may both have the general composition SiOxCy. the soft and hard coating layers may be deposited by a plasma vapor deposition process.

Abstract: A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable. The resistive center conductor signal cable of the signal acquisition probe is coupled to a compensation system in a signal processing instrument via an input node and input circuitry in the signal processing instrument. The signal acquisition probe and the signal processing instrument have mismatched time constants at the input node with the compensation system providing pole-zero pairs for maintaining flatness over the signal acquisition system frequency bandwidth.

Abstract: An interface point network (IPN) and a method for communication with a laboratory information system using an IPN, wherein the IPN includes at least one host computer in communication with at least one laboratory instrument, the laboratory information system and an interface point server in communication with the host computer and the laboratory information system, the interface point server being configured to function as a communication interface between the host computer and the laboratory information system in a manner responsive to a predetermined communication protocol.

Abstract: A hybrid coating including a mixture of an organosilane component, a metal alkoxide component and a surfactant component. A method for coating a substrate including cleaning a substrate surface, treating the surface with oxygen plasma, applying an adhesion promoter to the surface, then applying a hybrid coating to the surface and curing the hybrid coating. A method for making a hybrid coating includes preparing a mixture comprising an organosilane, a metal alkoxide and a surfactant, heating the mixture; and filtering the mixture.