Abstract: A power receptacle assembly includes a power supply cradle, a circuit subassembly, and a housing. The power supply cradle has a base member and two sidewalls. The base member and sidewalls of the power supply cradle are configured to include one or more protrusions. The circuit subassembly includes a base plate and at least one low voltage power output receptacle electrically connected to the base plate. The base plate is secured to the power supply cradle by the one or more protrusions. With the base plate secured to the power supply cradle, the power supply cradle is arranged within the at least one cavity of the housing, such that base plate of the low voltage power supply circuit subassembly does not directly contact any of the inner surface that forms the at least one cavity of the housing.

Abstract: A solar reflector assembly is provided for generating energy from solar radiation. The solar reflector assembly is configured to be deployed on a supporting body of liquid and to reflect solar radiation to a solar collector. The solar reflector assembly has an elongated tube having an inner portion to facilitate liquid ballast, made of semi-rigid material and a flat section built into a wall of the tube or attached to the wall of the tube. A reflective material attached to said flat section of the wall of the tube to reflect solar radiation. The elongated tube has an axis of rotation oriented generally parallel to a surface of a supporting body of liquid. The elongated tube may be elastically or plastically deformed by application of a torque along its length, so as to bring flat-surface normal vectors at each end of the tube largely into alignment with each other.

Abstract: Augmented reality systems and methods for user health analysis. Methods for user health analysis may include collecting data for an initial prediction model and continuing to collect additional data based on one or more data criteria. The methods may further include updating the initial prediction model based on the additional data to produce a revised prediction model or causing an intervention to occur based on the additional data. The data may be collected by a display system including one or more sensors configured to collect user-specific data and a display device configured to present virtual content to a user. The display device may be configured to output light with variable wavefront divergence.

Abstract: A solar reflector assembly is provided for generating energy from solar radiation. The solar reflector assembly is configured to be deployed on a supporting body of liquid and to reflect solar radiation to a solar collector. The solar reflector assembly has an elongated tube having an inner portion to facilitate liquid ballast, made of semi-rigid material and a flat section built into a wall of the tube or attached to the wall of the tube. A reflective material attached to said flat section of the wall of the tube to reflect solar radiation. The elongated tube has an axis of rotation oriented generally parallel to a surface of a supporting body of liquid. The elongated tube may be elastically or plastically deformed by application of a torque along its length, so as to bring flat-surface normal vectors at each end of the tube largely into alignment with each other.

Abstract: A method of installing a solar energy system comprises laying an uninflated elongated tube of flexible material in a substantially flat configuration, winding the uninflated elongated tube on a spool, transporting the spool with the elongated tube, and filling the elongated tube with a gas and/or liquid such that the elongated tube inflates with the gas and/or liquid and unrolls from the spool.

Abstract: A dry cooling assembly is provided comprising a supporting body of liquid having a temperature higher than ambient temperature, and an inflatable elongated tube at least partially submerged in the supporting body of liquid. The inflatable elongated tube has an upper portion formed at least partially of flexible material and a lower ballast portion formed at least partially of flexible material. The lower ballast portion defines a reservoir containing liquid facilitating ballast. The liquid facilitating ballast is warmed by heat from the supporting body of liquid such that the temperature of the support body of liquid is reduced.

Abstract: A solar reflector assembly is provided for generating energy from solar radiation. The solar reflector assembly is configured to be deployed on a supporting body of liquid and to reflect solar radiation to a solar collector. A solar reflector assembly comprises an inflatable elongated tube having an upper portion formed at least partially of flexible material and a lower ballast portion formed at least partially of flexible material. A reflective sheet is coupled to a wall of the tube to reflect solar radiation. The elongated tube has an axis of rotation oriented generally parallel to a surface of a supporting body of liquid.

Abstract: A solar reflector assembly is provided for generating energy from solar radiation. The solar reflector assembly is configured to be deployed on a supporting body of liquid and to reflect solar radiation to a solar collector. A solar reflector assembly comprises an inflatable elongated tube having an upper portion formed at least partially of flexible material and a lower ballast portion formed at least partially of flexible material. A reflective sheet is coupled to a wall of the tube to reflect solar radiation. The elongated tube has an axis of rotation oriented generally parallel to a surface of a supporting body of liquid. The lower ballast portion may contain photocatalytic particles.

Abstract: A solar reflector assembly is provided for generating energy from solar radiation. The solar reflector assembly is configured to be deployed on a supporting body of liquid and to reflect solar radiation to a solar collector. A solar reflector assembly comprises an inflatable elongated tube having an upper portion formed at least partially of flexible material and a lower ballast portion formed at least partially of flexible material. A reflective sheet is coupled to a wall of the tube to reflect solar radiation. The elongated tube has an axis of rotation oriented generally parallel to a surface of a supporting body of liquid.

Abstract: A dry cooling assembly is provided comprising a supporting body of liquid having a temperature higher than ambient temperature, and an inflatable elongated tube at least partially submerged in the supporting body of liquid. The inflatable elongated tube has an upper portion formed at least partially of flexible material and a lower ballast portion formed at least partially of flexible material. The lower ballast portion defines a reservoir containing liquid facilitating ballast. The liquid facilitating ballast is warmed by heat from the supporting body of liquid such that the temperature of the support body of liquid is reduced.

Abstract: A combined solar reflector and desalination assembly is provided for generating energy and fresh water from solar radiation. The solar reflector assembly is configured to be deployed on a supporting body of liquid and to reflect solar radiation to a solar collector. A combined solar reflector and desalination assembly comprises an inflatable elongated tube having an upper portion formed at least partially of flexible material and a lower ballast portion formed at least partially of flexible material. A reflective sheet is coupled to a wall of the tube to reflect solar radiation. At least one catchment device and collection assembly are coupled to the tube. The elongated tube may have an axis of rotation oriented generally parallel to a surface of a supporting body of liquid.

Abstract: A solar reflector assembly is provided for generating energy from solar radiation. The solar reflector assembly is configured to be deployed on a supporting body of liquid and to reflect solar radiation to a solar collector. A solar reflector assembly comprises an inflatable elongated tube having an upper portion formed at least partially of flexible material and a lower ballast portion formed at least partially of flexible material. A reflective sheet is coupled to a wall of the tube to reflect solar radiation. The elongated tube has an axis of rotation oriented generally parallel to a surface of a supporting body of liquid.

Abstract: A composite user interface element can be assembled from plural sub-elements. A simplified view of the representation of the user interface element can be provided wherein the composited user interface element appears to be a single element. When defined, various nodes for representing the user interface can be designated as selectively exposable. Such selectively exposable nodes can be ignored when performing operations via the simplified view. Accordingly, programmers can write code that need not take the complexity of the composite user interface element into account. Property determination can be done in light of the selectively exposable nodes. A simplified view can support nested user interface elements having respective selectively exposable nodes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a theme property sheet system that supports presentation themes by coordinating values provided to elements used in a user interface. When an interface user expresses a preference for a particular presentation theme, that theme's property sheet is given precedence over other mechanisms for setting property values. By appropriately setting these values in the interface, the theme property sheet enhances the coherence of the interface. The theme property sheet allows an interface designer to add new presentation elements to a user interface without being concerned about presentation themes. The default for each property as set by the designer is overridden, when necessary, by the theme sheet. In a few particular cases, an application designer needs to override even the user's theme preferences. A mechanism is provided to support these exceptional cases.

Abstract: A commanding system for a computer. An input sequence can be received from an input device, and the commanding system can be used to connect the input to an associated action. Commanding can be provided by a plurality of nodes that represent elements of control and application levels. The nodes can be arranged in a hierarchical structure, and each node can include a table of bindings. A service can be attached to one or more of the nodes at run-time to provide additional commanding functionality. For example, a service can modify or supplement the binding entries provided in the table of bindings associated with a given node.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dynamic queue for managing jobs n a threaded computing environment. Jobs may be placed in the queue, which may be maintained within a context of the computing environment, at a given priority level. The priority of jobs within the queue and the receipt time of each job is maintained. A job may also be placed within the queue with triggers that, if met, will result in the priority of the job being changed or will result in the job being removed from the queue entirely. Methods in accordance with the present invention also provide a method for raising an exception should multiple threads seek to access objects within a single context. Methods in accordance with the present invention also provide compatibility with prior computing systems and methodologies by providing for integration of prior static queues with dynamic queues in accordance with the present invention, and by providing methods for a given thread to be pinned to a particular context of a computing environment.

Abstract: A commanding system for a computer. The system includes an input module that accepts a plurality of input sequences across multiple input device categories, and a commanding element having a binding table that connects input sequences to associated action. One or more of the binding entries in the binding table includes a command binding with a plurality of sub-command bindings associated with the plurality of input sequences across multiple input device categories. A processor receives the input at the input module and passes the input to the command element, the command element looking up a matching command binding associated with the input in the binding table. In addition, the processor invokes action associated with the input if the matching binding is found in the binding table. The system can also report the commands a particular application can understand upon request.

Abstract: A commanding system for a computer. The system includes a memory storing a binding table that connects input to associated action, at least one binding in the binding table including an interface binding. The system also includes a processor in data communication with the memory, the processor programmed to query each binding in the binding table, receive the interface binding associated with the binding; and generate a command interface based on the interface binding. The command interface is dynamically generated based on the information provided by the interface binding. Examples of command interfaces include toolbars and menus.

Abstract: A commanding system and method for a computer including at least one control element at the control level having commanding information. An input sequence can be received from an input device, and the commanding information provided by the control element can be used to connect the input to an associated action. Control elements and the application elements can be arranged as nodes in an tree, each node having one or more children and/or one or more parents. A table of bindings can be associated with each node, the table of bindings including a plurality of binding entries, each including a command binding and a command handler. The input sequence can be passed from node to node in the tree to find a command binding that matches the input sequence. When a matching command binding is found, the command handler associated with the matching command binding can be used to invoke the action that is to be performed based on the input sequence.

Abstract: A composite user interface element can be assembled from plural sub-elements. A simplified view of the representation of the user interface element can be provided wherein the composited user interface element appears to be a single element. When defined, various nodes for representing the user interface can be designated as selectively exposable. Such selectively exposable nodes can be ignored when performing operations via the simplified view. Accordingly, programmers can write code that need not take the complexity of the composite user interface element into account. Property determination can be done in light of the selectively exposable nodes. A simplified view can support nested user interface elements having respective selectively exposable nodes.