Abstract: Swimming goggles are provided with a retroscopic lens angle and broad peripheral viewing angles to enhance a swimmer's forward-to-cranial-looking vision and peripheral vision both above and below the waterline during swimming activity.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for forming a laminate for use as a flexible packaging wrapper for confections and other food bars. An outer clear film usually oriented polyolefin is printed, preferably reverse printed, with graphics. In a tandem extrusion lamination with registered cold seal process a molten, polyolefin extrudate is applied to bond the outer printed film to an inner film. The inner film is preferably oriented polyolefin and may have a metallized coating of aluminum buried against the extrudate. Finally, a pattern of cold seal adhesive is applied to the inner film surface. The flexible package made with the extrusion lamination process offers improved stiffness, puncture resistance, abrasion resistance and durability over a similar structure produced with adhesive lamination.

Abstract: Disclosed examples include methods and circuits to drive a haptic actuator, in which a single input signal from a host device has a first state representing a command to drive the actuator and a second state representing a command to stop the actuator. A control circuit provides a drive control signal to a driver circuit to drive the haptic actuator in response to the control signal transitioning to the first state, and to stop the haptic actuator in response to the control signal transitioning to the second state. A timer circuit places the circuit in a low power mode a predetermined time after the control signal transitions to the second state, or the control circuit places the circuit in the low power mode in response to a feedback signal indicating that the actuator has reached a stopped condition.

Abstract: An open-cavity, reduced-pressure treatment device and system for treating a cavity in a patient's body, such as an abdominal cavity, is presented. In one instance, an open-cavity, reduced-pressure treatment device includes a plurality of encapsulated leg members, each having an interior portion with a leg manifold member and formed with fenestrations operable to allow fluid flow into the interior portion, and a central connection member fluidly coupled to the plurality of encapsulated leg members. The central connection member has a connection manifold member. The open-cavity, reduced-pressure treatment devices, systems, and methods allow for, among other things, removal of fluids.

Abstract: A system for stimulating the healing of tissue comprises a porous pad positioned within a wound cavity, and an airtight dressing secured over the pad, so as to provide an airtight seal to the wound cavity. A proximal end of a conduit is connectable to the dressing. A distal end of the conduit is connectable to a negative pressure source, which may be an electric pump housed within a portable housing, or wall suction. A canister is positioned along the conduit to retain exudates suctioned from the wound site during the application of negative pressure. A controller for automated oscillation of pressure over time is provided to further enhance and stimulate the healing of an open wound. A power management motor control for varying pump drive frequency and managing a portable power supply is provided to increase battery life and improve patient mobility.

Abstract: Methods of forming strain-relaxing semiconductor layers are provided in which a porous region is formed in a surface of a semiconductor substrate. A first semiconductor layer that is lattice-matched with the semiconductor substrate is formed on the porous region. A second semiconductor layer is formed on the first semiconductor layer, the second semiconductor layer being a strained layer as formed. The second semiconductor layer is then relaxed.

Abstract: A reduced pressure treatment system includes a control unit having a control system and a reduced pressure source. The reduced pressure treatment system further includes a manifold unit in fluid communication with the reduced pressure source and a component module to augment treatment. The component module is configured to communicate with the control system of the control unit, and the component module includes a first mounting region configured to be coupled to a complimentary mounting region of the control unit. The component module further includes a second mounting region identical to the complimentary mounting region of the control unit to allow a second component module to be coupled to the first component module.

Abstract: A metal-ion battery includes an anode assembly and a cathode assembly ionically coupled by an electrolyte. The anode assembly includes a current collector and an anode material capable of intercalation of metal-ions. When the battery is at rest, ionic transfer between the anode and cathode at a minimum and the anode assembly potential with respect to the electrolyte may increase. The increased potential may exceed the reduction potential of the current collector material causing ions to erode from the current collector and contaminate the cathode. The use of a metal, metal alloy or metal compound reduces the rest potential and erosion of the current collector. For example, a lithium foil physically in contact with a copper current collector in a lithium-ion battery reduces the overall anode potential thereby reducing copper dissolution.

Abstract: A method of operating a diesel engine 10 having LNT 11 and SCR 13 aftertreatment devices arranged in series to receive exhaust gas from the engine is disclosed in which the engine is operated in a rich early injection mode to generate ammonia in the LNT for storage in the SCR located downstream from the LNT. This reduces the amount of soot produced permitting longer operation of the engine in rich early injection mode and further may reduce the use of PGM material in the LNT and increase the amount of ammonia for use in the SCR.

Abstract: An apparatus for shipping a device containing a circuit, including a bag sized for holding the device; and an antenna connected to the bag, the antenna having a first end for coupling to the circuit of the device when the device is in the bag so as to allow for radio frequency (RF) communication with the device while the device is in the bag. Separation of the device from the bag causes the antenna to be disconnected from the circuit of the device.

Abstract: A drive system for a roller conveyor is described. The drive system may comprise a motor and a driving loop driven by the motor and having a driving side and a return side. The drive system may further comprise a first reducer configured to drive a rotation of the driving loop in a forward direction, a second reducer configured to drive the rotation of the driving loop in a reverse direction, and at least one sprocket driven by the driving side of the driving loop. The at least one sprocket may be configured to drive a rotation of at least one roller of the roller conveyor in the forward direction when the driving loop is rotating in the forward direction, and in the reverse direction when the driving loop is rotating in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A thin glass laminate is provided that includes at least one or two outer thin (not exceeding 2 mm or not exceeding 1.5 mm) glass sheets with at least one polymer interlayer laminated between the two outer thin glass sheets. The laminate has a high level of adhesion between the two glass sheets and the interlayer, such that the laminate has a pummel value of at least 7, at least 8, or at least 9. The laminate may also have a high penetration resistance of at least 20 feet mean break height. The polymer interlayers may have a thickness ranging from about 0.5 mm to about 2.5 mm and may be formed of an ionomer, plolyvinyl butyral, or polycarbonate. At least one or both of the two glass sheets may be chemically strengthened.

Abstract: The invention enables digital music content to be downloaded to and used on a portable wireless computing device. An application running on the wireless device has been automatically adapted to parameters associated with the wireless device without end-user input (e.g. the application has been configured in dependence on the device OS and firmware, related bugs, screen size, pixel number, security models, connection handling, memory etc. This application enables an end-user to browse and search music content on a remote server using a wireless network; to download music content from that remote server using the wireless network and to playback and manage that downloaded music content. The application also includes a digital rights management system that enables unlimited legal downloads of different music tracks to the device and also enables any of those tracks stored on the device to be played so long as a subscription service has not terminated.

Abstract: An open-cavity, reduced-pressure treatment device and system for treating a cavity in a patient's body, such as an abdominal cavity, is presented. In one instance, an open-cavity, reduced-pressure treatment device includes a plurality of encapsulated leg members, each having an interior portion with a leg manifold member and formed with fenestrations operable to allow fluid flow into the interior portion, and a central connection member fluidly coupled to the plurality of encapsulated leg members. The central connection member has a connection manifold member. The open-cavity, reduced-pressure treatment devices, systems, and methods allow for, among other things, removal of fluids.

Abstract: An apparatus to attach a control line to a tubular member, in which the apparatus includes a control line arm having a first control line guide coupled thereto, and a base having a second control line guide coupled thereto, with the control line arm coupled to the base and movable with respect to the base. The control line arm may be movable between a raised position and a collapsed position with respect to the base, and the control line arm may be at least one of slidably coupled and rotatably coupled to the base.

Abstract: A method for executing cinematic direction and dynamic character control via natural language output is provided. The method includes generating a first set of instructions for animation of characters and a second set of instructions for animation of environments; extracting a first set of dialogue elements from a conversant input received in an affective objects module of the processing circuit; extracting a second set of dialogue elements from a natural language system output; analyzing the first and second sets of dialogue elements by an analysis module in the processing circuit for determining emotional content data used to generate an emotional content report; analyzing the first and second sets of dialogue elements by the analysis module in the processing circuit for determining duration data used to generated a duration report; and animating the characters and the environments based on the emotional content report and the duration report.

Abstract: A method of operating an imaging device having a failed or failing media-full sensor determines whether or not a controller can trust the output signal received from the media-full sensor. A reduced power or intensity level is used to test the media-full sensor and, in particular, the light source to counter the dimming of the light source that occurs due to aging and electrical noise in the system. When the output signal of a photoreceptor is at or below a threshold value, the photo-receptor is considered to have not detected the light beam from the light source and the light beam is deemed not to have been detected even though the photo-receptor may be providing a lower level output signal. Thus, an output signal of the photo-receptor is not trusted and an indication that a media storage area is not full is provided and an imaging operation is carried out.

Abstract: Systems and methods for authenticating an avatar are provided. This system is useful with an avatar having an identifier, virtual environments, and a user who uses the avatar in the virtual environments. Transoms are generated, each with a unique identifier configured to exist in a specific location, and registered with an identity provider. The transom initiates a request. An offer is conveyed that includes the transom identifier, the location and the avatar identifier. The avatar is then authenticated by a shared secret. The identity provider then responds to the offer with avatar identification information, including reputation information. Reputation information is for the avatar and the user, and is compiled from external avatar data sources by using a trust matrix. An avatar gallery is generated by linking each avatar owned by each user to the account and compiling avatar profiles from the account, and the reputation information. The avatar profiles are searchable, and include micro formats.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to systems, devices and methods for assessing, verifying and adjusting the affective state of a user. An electronic communication is received in a computer terminal from a user. The communication may be a verbal, visual and/or biometric communication. The electronic communication may be assigned at least weighted descriptive value and a weighted time value which are used to calculate a current affective state of the user. Optionally, the computer terminal may be triggered to interact with the user to verify the current affective state if the current affective state is ambiguous. The optional interaction may continue until the current affective state is achieved. Next, the computer terminal may be triggered to interact with the user to adjust the current affective state upon a determination that the current affective state is outside an acceptable range from a pre-defined affective state.