Abstract: Introduced here are methods and systems to create a relief on an electronic display. In one embodiment, the relief is created by micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) placed above a cover layer of the electronic display. Each MEMS when activated can protrude or depress, thus creating the relief on the electronic display. In another embodiment, the relief is created by a plurality of resistors placed beneath the cover layer. The cover layer is made out of an elastically deformable material that, when heated, expands, thus creating a protrusion on the electronic display. Each resistor when activated heats a section of the cover layer, causing the cover layer to protrude.

Abstract: Robotic control systems and methods may include providing an end effector tool of a robotic device configured to perform a task on a work surface within a worksite coordinate frame. Unintended movement over time of the end effector tool with respect to the work surface and with respect to the worksite coordinate frame may be determined based on image data indicative of the work surface, first location data indicative of a first location of the end effector tool with respect to the worksite coordinate frame, and second location data indicative of a second location of the end effector tool with respect to the work surface. One or more control signals for the robotic device may be adjusted in order to counteract the unintended movements of the end effector tool with respect to the work surface and worksite coordinate frame.

Abstract: A modular and customizable tie bar system comprises a tie bar base, one or more tie bar covers, and a fastener. The tie bar base cooperates with a user's tie and comprises at least a mounting surface. Each tie bar cover comprises a cover plate and optional side walls. Each tie bar cover is preferably sized to cover and cooperate with the mounting surface of the tie bar base, has a decorative outer surface, and has an inner surface for facilitating attachment to the base. To facilitate removable attachment of the covers to the base, one or more fasteners such as magnets attach to the inner surface of the cover or to mounting surface of the base or to both. Preferably, several covers with differing decorative outer surfaces cooperate with a single base to allow for interchangeability and customization depending on the user's aesthetic preferences.

Abstract: A computing device is described that outputs, for display at a display device, a graphical user interface including a graphical zoom indicator associated with a zoom operation of a camera. The graphical zoom indicator includes an inner fixed circle, an outer fixed circle, and an adjustable circle. The computing device receives an indication of an input detected at an input device, and based at least in part on the indication of the input, the computing device determines an adjustment to a zoom level of the zoom operation of the camera. Based at least in part on the adjustment to the zoom level of the zoom operation of the camera, the computing device updates the graphical user interface to modify a size of the adjustable circle based at least in part on the adjustment to the zoom level of the zoom operation of the camera.

Abstract: A computing device is described that outputs, for display at a display device, a graphical user interface including a graphical zoom indicator associated with a zoom operation of a camera. The graphical zoom indicator includes an inner fixed circle, an outer fixed circle, and an adjustable circle. The computing device receives an indication of an input detected at an input device, and based at least in part on the indication of the input, the computing device determines an adjustment to a zoom level of the zoom operation of the camera. Based at least in part on the adjustment to the zoom level of the zoom operation of the camera, the computing device updates the graphical user interface to modify a size of the adjustable circle based at least in part on the adjustment to the zoom level of the zoom operation of the camera.

Abstract: Embodiments pertain to devices and systems having simulator circuitry, particularly to simulator circuitry configured to simulate an electric vehicle and test an electric vehicle charger. A test unit is configured to simulate a GFI current via modulator and to simulate electric vehicle loads via switched and combined resistor loads. The test unit provides for reprogramming of the electric vehicle charger via a pilot line. The test unit self-confirms its usability via associating received codes.

Abstract: Mobile systems are provided for charging electronic toll collection accounts for parking fees. The systems are configured to wirelessly request and receive tag data from an electronic toll device. Some embodiments include a vehicle and a boom, some embodiments include a handheld device, and other embodiments include combinations thereof. Methods of charging an electronic toll payment system are also provided. A mobile scan system wirelessly requests and receives tag data from an electronic toll device on a customer's vehicle which is checked for validity, and then an electronic toll collection account is charged a fee for parking.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes receiving a first user input comprising a first motion gesture from a first location of the presence-sensitive screen to a second, different location of the presence-sensitive screen, wherein the first location is substantially at a boundary of a presence-sensing region and a non-sensing region of the presence-sensitive screen. The method also includes, responsive to receiving the first user input, displaying a group of graphical menu elements positioned substantially radially outward from the second location. The method further includes receiving a second user input to select at least one graphical menu element based on a second motion gesture provided at a third location of the presence-sensing region. The method also includes, responsive to receiving the second user input, determining an input operation, wherein the input operation executes a operation associated with the selected at least one graphical menu element.

Abstract: Embodiments pertain to simulator circuitry, particularly to simulator circuitry configured to simulate an electric vehicle and test an electric vehicle charger. A test unit is configured to simulate a GFI current via modulator and to simulate electric vehicle loads via switched and combined resistor loads. The test unit provides for reprogramming of the electric vehicle charger via a pilot line. The test unit self-confirms its usability via associating received codes.

Abstract: Mobile systems are provided for charging electronic toll collection accounts for parking fees. The systems are configured to wirelessly request and receive tag data from an electronic toll device. Some embodiments include a vehicle and a boom, some embodiments include a handheld device, and other embodiments include combinations thereof. Methods of charging an electronic toll payment system are also provided. A mobile scan system wirelessly requests and receives tag data from an electronic toll device on a customer's vehicle which is checked for validity, and then an electronic toll collection account is charged a fee for parking.

Abstract: Embodiments pertain to simulator circuitry, particularly to simulator circuitry configured to simulate an electric vehicle and test an electric vehicle charger (110). A test unit (210) is configured to simulate a GFI current via modulator (1623) and to simulate electric vehicle loads via switched and combined resistor loads (1800). The test unit (220) provides for reprogramming of the electric vehicle charger (110) via a pilot line (323). The test unit (220) self-confirms its usability via associating received codes (1300).

Abstract: Mobile systems are provided for charging electronic toll collection accounts for parking fees. The systems are configured to wirelessly request and receive tag data from an electronic toll device. Some embodiments include a vehicle and a boom, some embodiments include a handheld device, and other embodiments include combinations thereof. Methods of charging an electronic toll payment system are also provided. A mobile scan system wirelessly requests and receives tag data from an electronic toll device on a customer's vehicle which is checked for validity, and then an electronic toll collection account is charged a fee for parking.

Abstract: Mobile systems are provided for charging electronic toll collection accounts for parking fees. The systems are configured to wirelessly request and receive tag data from an electronic toll device. Some embodiments include a vehicle and a boom, some embodiments include a handheld device, and other embodiments include combinations thereof. Methods of charging an electronic toll payment system are also provided. A mobile scan system wirelessly requests and receives tag data from an electronic toll device on a customer's vehicle which is checked for validity, and then an electronic toll collection account is charged a fee for parking.

Abstract: The present invention provides a means for performing scalable, computationally efficient and rapid simulations of complex or complex adaptive systems realized through the dynamic interaction of multiple modeling components to generate outputs suited to decision support, analysis and planning. In the context of disease modeling, these outputs can be used for analyzing the impact of disease and the potential value of the use of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions.

Abstract: A framework that allows a transition from a conventional object method invocation model to a services model, where services are explicitly represented and managed before actually being invoked is described. According to one aspect of the invention, a runtime configurable component-based system is described having a plurality of services. Each service includes a set of properties describing the service. The properties include at least, a set of configuration properties to describe functionalities of the service, a lifecycle property to describe a state transition flow of the service for a specific runtime instance, a state property to describe each state in the lifecycle, and a set of dependency properties to describe inter-dependencies of the service with other services of the plurality of services while within a specific state in the lifecycle.

Abstract: A spray method of applying liquid adhesive to surfaces of components of an electrochemical cell. The adhesive is applied by spraying through a nozzle, preferably activated by a piezoelectric transducer. The nozzle can be an elongated resilient tube terminating in an outlet opening. The adhesive is preferably sprayed in a pulsed stream of droplets. The liquid adhesive is desirably dispensed in fine droplets at a rate of between about 500 and 5000 droplets per second. The method is effective in applying adhesive to narrow width or difficult to reach surfaces of cell components in a precise, consistent and reproducible manner. In a specific application the adhesive can be applied to the narrow recessed step surrounding the terminal portion of the cathode casing of a zinc/air button cell. In such application the adhesive provides a tight seal between the cathode casing and cathode assembly, thereby preventing leakage of electrolyte from the cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a distributed resource search mechanism in a peer-to-peer computer network comprising a resource requester, search brokers, and resource providers. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the distributed search mechanism provides methods: findResourceProviders, registerResourceProvider, GetResourceDescription, findLocalResources, and findResources. In one embodiment of the invention, a search for network resources is performed by registering resource providers with one or more search brokers on the network. When a resource requester sends a resource query to one or more search broker(s), the search broker, upon receiving the resource query, searches its local database for resource providers that may have information matching the resource query, and sends the resource query to those selected resource providers.

Abstract: The present invention provides distributed information search mechanisms in a distributed computer network comprising a resource requestor, search brokers, and resource providers. A resource provider may be used to collect and maintain resources, as well as register the resources with a search broker. A search broker may be used to register resource descriptions corresponding to resource providers. A search broker may also maintain the matches between resource descriptions and corresponding resource providers, and find matching resources for search queries. A resource requester may form a search query, receive search results, and present them to a user.

Abstract: The invention provides peer-to-peer messaging techniques in a networked environment such as the Internet that involves a firewall. In accordance with one preferred aspect of the invention there is provided an agent and a router. In accordance with another preferred aspect of the invention, participating agents register with a router. After a registration, each agent is assigned a unique ID by the router connected to it. A receiving agent protected by a firewall establishes a connection with the router by initiating a communication with the router through the firewall. A sending agent sends a message to the receiving agent by first forwarding the message to the router connected to the sending agent. The invention allows the nodes in a network not only to send messages to other nodes through the firewall, but also to receive messages from other nodes through the firewall.

Abstract: This invention relates to analogs of peptidase substrates in which the amide group containing the scissile amide bond of the substrate peptide has been replaced by an activated electrophilic ketone moiety. These analogs of the peptidase substrates provide specific enzyme inhibitors for a variety of proteases, the inhibition of which will have useful physiological consequences in a variety of disease states.