Abstract: A Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) filter comprising one or more passive compensation structures are described. The passive compensation structures yield MZI filters that are intrinsically tolerant to perturbations in waveguide dimensions and/or other ambient conditions. The use of n+1 waveguide widths can mitigate n different sources of perturbation to the filter. The use of at least three different waveguide widths for each Mach-Zehnder waveguide can alleviate sensitivity of filter performance to random width or temperature variations. A tolerance compensation portion is positioned between a first coupler section and a second coupler section, wherein the tolerance compensation portion includes a first compensation section having a second width, a second compensation section having a third width and a third compensation section having a fourth width, wherein the fourth width is greater than the third width and the third width is greater than the second width.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for fabricating and operating superconducting photon detectors. In one aspect, a photon detector includes: (1) a first waveguide configured to guide photons from a photon source; (2) a second waveguide that is distinct and separate from the first waveguide and optically-coupled to the first waveguide; and (3) a superconducting component positioned adjacent to the second waveguide and configured to detect photons within the second waveguide.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus having a height-adjustable support member for supporting a beverage vessel at a plurality of different support positions. The beverage dispensing apparatus may include a beverage dispensing outlet for dispensing a beverage and a movable support member having a top surface for supporting a beverage vessel below the beverage dispensing outlet. The movable support member may include an inner telescoping element and an outer telescoping element. An actuation assembly may be operably coupled to the movable support member to move the movable support member to modify a distance between the top surface of the movable support member and the beverage dispensing outlet. Activation of the actuation assembly may cause both the inner and outer telescoping elements to move simultaneously either towards or away from the beverage dispensing outlet.

Abstract: A superconductor device according to some embodiments comprises a superconductor stack, which includes a superconductor layer and a silicon cap layer over the superconductor layer, the cap layer including amorphous silicon. The superconductor device further comprises a metal contact over a portion of the silicon cap layer and electrically-coupled to the superconductor layer. The metal contact comprises a core including a first metal, and an outer layer around the core that includes a second metal. The portion of the silicon cap layer is converted from silicon to a conductive compound including the second metal to provide low-resistance electrical coupling between the superconductor layer and the metal contact. The superconductor device further comprises a waveguide, and the first portion of the cap layer under the metal contact is at a sufficient lateral distance from the waveguide to prevent optical coupling between the metal contact and the waveguide.

Abstract: A bullet with grooves to create more surface area to reduce drag, thus keeping a flatter trajectory that reduces the effects of wind, temperature, elevation and angle. Groves would be manufactured into the bullet and bullet jacket twist would need to match the barrel twist. For example, 1 in 8 twist, 1 in 8½ twist, 1 in 9 twist, 1 in 10 twist, 1 in 11 twist etc. Groves would be over the ogive of the bullet prior to where the bullet contacts the barrel wall.

Abstract: A mapping system, method and computer program product are provided to apply texture, such as windows and doors, to the visual representation of a plurality of buildings. In the context of a method, images of each of a plurality of buildings are analyzed to detect building texture for one or more faces of the buildings. A representation of the building texture is spread to visual representations of one or more faces of a respective building that do not have a detected texture. The building texture may be spread from another face of the same building that has detected texture and is of a corresponding size to the face of the building without detected texture. Or, the building texture may be spread from a face of a neighboring building has a detected texture and is of a corresponding size to the face of the building without detected texture.

Abstract: A beverage preparation capsule including front and back sheets that are bonded together along a top edge, first and second side edges, and a bottom edge. A region of bonding along the bottom edge may be releasable to allow escape of beverage from the capsule during beverage preparation. There may be a transverse seal that is interrupted by a gap that provides fluid communication between a beverage ingredient chamber located above said gap and a beverage outlet chamber located below said gap. A folded filter strip extending across the capsule includes a fold extending transversely below said transverse seal and front and back side panels extending upwardly through said transverse seal that are bonded to the front and back sheets of the capsule, respectively. The front and back side panels may not extend more than about 10 mm into said beverage ingredient chamber above said transverse seal.

Abstract: A beverage preparation apparatus for preparation of a beverage from a capsule in a clamp assembly (30). The clamp assembly has a first clamp member (31) and a second clamp member, where the inner surfaces of the first clamp member and the second clamp member form a clamp chamber (33) for substantially enclosing and supporting a capsule (10) during beverage preparation. The second clamp member comprises a rigid peripheral frame (32) having a central void and a resilient layer (37) extending across said central void. There is a piston (36) positioned in the central void and resiliently coupled to the peripheral frame (32) to allow limited resilient movement of the rigid peripheral frame (32) relative to the piston (36).

Abstract: A Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) filter comprising one or more passive compensation structures are described. The passive compensation structures yield MZI filters that are intrinsically tolerant to perturbations in waveguide dimensions and/or other ambient conditions. The use of n+1 waveguide widths can mitigate n different sources of perturbation to the filter. The use of at least three different waveguide widths for each Mach-Zehnder waveguide can alleviate sensitivity of filter performance to random width or temperature variations. A tolerance compensation portion is positioned between a first coupler section and a second coupler section, wherein the tolerance compensation portion includes a first compensation section having a second width, a second compensation section having a third width and a third compensation section having a fourth width, wherein the fourth width is greater than the third width and the third width is greater than the second width.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cartridge assembly, a hose/tubing, a nozzle, and an activator. The cartridge assembly includes at least one cartridge configured to hold a liquid solution. An attachment device is coupled to the cartridge assembly and is configured to secure the position of the cartridge assembly to a user's arm adjacent the hand. A pump is located within the cleaning device and is located between cartridge and the nozzle, such that pump regulates dispensing of the liquid solution. The nozzle is in communication with the pump and acts as a diffuser to adjust the stream of the liquid solution passed through the hose from pump. The activator is in communication with the pump such that operation of the activator selectively releases a volume of the liquid solution from the cartridge so as to pass through the nozzle. A control unit and interface are permitted.

Abstract: A superconductor device according to some embodiments comprises a superconductor stack, which includes a superconductor layer and a silicon cap layer over the superconductor layer, the cap layer including amorphous silicon. The superconductor device further comprises a metal contact over a portion of the silicon cap layer and electrically-coupled to the superconductor layer. The metal contact comprises a core including a first metal, and an outer layer around the core that includes a second metal. The portion of the silicon cap layer is converted from silicon to a conductive compound including the second metal to provide low-resistance electrical coupling between the superconductor layer and the metal contact. The superconductor device further comprises a waveguide, and the first portion of the cap layer under the metal contact is at a sufficient lateral distance from the waveguide to prevent optical coupling between the metal contact and the waveguide.

Abstract: A device includes a first semiconductor layer; a portion of a second semiconductor layer disposed on the first semiconductor layer; and a third semiconductor layer including a first region disposed on the portion of the second semiconductor layer and a second region disposed on the first semiconductor layer. A thickness of the first region is less than a predefined thickness. The device also includes an etch stop layer disposed on the third semiconductor layer; a plurality of distinct portions of a fourth semiconductor layer disposed on the etch stop layer and exposing one or more distinct portions of the etch stop layer over the portion of the second semiconductor layer; and a plurality of distinct portions of a superconducting layer disposed on the plurality of distinct portions of the fourth semiconductor layer and the exposed one or more distinct portions of the etch stop layer.

Abstract: A mug shot acquisition system is disclosed that includes an image acquisition interface that is operative to receive digital mug shot images from an imaging device. An image viewing display is responsive to the image acquisition interface and operative to display the received digital mug shot images. One or more standards-based image adjustment software tools allow the digital mug shot images to be adjusted to meet at least one predetermined mug shot image uniformity standard. The system also includes a software interface responsive to requests to initiate one or more operations by the mug shot acquisition system, and an image export interface operative to export digital mug shot images adjusted based on the standards-based image adjustment software.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a beverage preparation machine includes a beverage dispenser, a cup holding region located below the beverage dispenser, a light source configured to transmit light across a portion of the cup holding region, and a receiver configured to receive at least a portion the light transmitted by the light source. A processor determines whether a transparent cup has been sufficiently inserted into the cup holding region or is at a desired height by detecting either a trough in a light level of the portion of the light received at the receiver, or an inverted trough in a light level of the light transmitted by the light source. Upon making the determination that the transparent cup is not sufficiently inserted or at the desired height, the processor prevents the beverage dispenser from dispensing a beverage.

Abstract: A photon detector is provided. The photon detector includes a superconducting wire having a plurality of alternating narrow and wide portions; a current source electrically-coupled to the superconducting wire and configured to supply the superconducting wire with electrical current; and an optical waveguide optically coupled to the plurality of narrow portions of the superconducting wire.

Abstract: A bullet with grooves to create more surface area to reduce drag, thus keeping a flatter trajectory that reduces the effects of wind, temperature, elevation and angle. Groves would be manufactured into the bullet and bullet jacket twist would need to match the barrel twist. For example, 1 in 8 twist, 1 in 8½ twist, 1 in 9 twist, 1 in 10 twist, 1 in 11 twist etc. Groves would be over the ogive of the bullet prior to where the bullet contacts the barrel wall.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for automatic subscription-based ordering of product components. During display of media content, the system receives a voice input and determines that the voice input indicates interest in a product. The system identifies the components required to create the product and identifies a subscription to an automated shopping service. Upon identifying the subscription, the system determines whether required components are available via the automated shopping service. Further, the system excludes components that were previously purchased via the automated shopping service, and the system automatically places an order through the automated shopping service for the remaining components.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of industrial biotechnology and particularly to an improved hydrolysis method for increasing sugar production from a high solids concentration of lignocellulosic biomass, especially one derived from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) by enzymatic hydrolysis of a lignocellulosic biomass to obtain a slurry, wherein the hydrolysis comprises aliquot additions of enzyme and lignocellulosic biomass; and removal of sugars from the slurry and washing of the residual lignocellulosic biomass.

Abstract: A device includes a first semiconductor layer; a portion of a second semiconductor layer disposed on the first semiconductor layer; and a third semiconductor layer including a first region disposed on the portion of the second semiconductor layer and a second region disposed on the first semiconductor layer. A thickness of the first region is less than a predefined thickness. The device also includes an etch stop layer disposed on the third semiconductor layer; a plurality of distinct portions of a fourth semiconductor layer disposed on the etch stop layer and exposing one or more distinct portions of the etch stop layer over the portion of the second semiconductor layer; and a plurality of distinct portions of a superconducting layer disposed on the plurality of distinct portions of the fourth semiconductor layer and the exposed one or more distinct portions of the etch stop layer.

Abstract: A mapping system, method and computer program product are provided to apply texture, such as windows and doors, to the visual representation of a plurality of buildings. In the context of a method, images of each of a plurality of buildings are analyzed to detect building texture for one or more faces of the buildings. A representation of the building texture is spread to visual representations of one or more faces of a respective building that do not have a detected texture. The building texture may be spread from another face of the same building that has detected texture and is of a corresponding size to the face of the building without detected texture. Or, the building texture may be spread from a face of a neighboring building has a detected texture and is of a corresponding size to the face of the building without detected texture.