Abstract: A hybrid digital-to-analog converter (DAC) driver circuit includes a current-mode DAC driver, a voltage-mode DAC driver, and a combination circuit. The current-mode DAC driver may be configured to receive a first set of bits of a digital input signal and to generate a first analog signal. The voltage-mode DAC driver may be configured to receive a second set of bits of the digital input signal and to generate a second analog signal. The combination circuit may be configured to combine the first analog signal and the second analog signal and to generate an analog output signal. The DAC driver circuit may be terminated by adjusting resistor values of the voltage-mode DAC driver. The current-mode DAC driver and the voltage-mode DAC driver are differential drivers, and may be configured to operate with a single clock signal.

Abstract: An AC capable power amplifier arrangement is realized that includes a buck converter with a power inductor, two buck switches, and alternately a buck-boost converter using four switches, each driving an output polarity steering set of four switches. The polarity steering switches convey the converter output current to output terminals that connect to a load with a capacitor connected in parallel. A differential receiver is connected to the output terminals to provide negative feedback. A mixer receives an input voltage signal, an output of the differential receiver, and output from a triangle wave generator. A set of two comparators for buck amplifier conversion, or four comparators for buck-boost amplifier conversion, each receives an output of the mixer. Each of the comparators produces a respective output for driving the converter switches through simple steering logic interfaces between the comparators, the converter components and a polarity steering output stage.

Abstract: An AC capable power amplifier arrangement is realized that includes a buck converter with a power inductor, two buck switches, and alternately a buck-boost converter using four switches, each driving an output polarity steering set of four switches. The polarity steering switches convey the converter output current to output terminals that connect to a load with a capacitor connected in parallel. A differential receiver is connected to the output terminals to provide negative feedback. A mixer receives an input voltage signal, an output of the differential receiver, and output from a triangle wave generator. A set of two comparators for buck amplifier conversion, or four comparators for buck-boost amplifier conversion, each receives an output of the mixer. Each of the comparators produces a respective output for driving the converter switches through simple steering logic interfaces between the comparators, the converter components and a polarity steering output stage.

Abstract: A clamping assembly is provided. The clamping assembly includes a base member having a base portion and an extension portion. The clamping assembly further includes a piston that is adapted to move first and second guide members toward the base portion to move first and second wedge members, respectively, in first and second directions, respectively, on the extension portion to lift a wedge coupling member relative to the extension portion. The clamping assembly further includes a shaft coupled to the wedge coupling member that is further coupled to a clamping arm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel rate adaptation algorithm and QoS-aware MAC scheduling system and method that either maximizes user satisfaction or maximizes spectrum utilization while maintaining user satisfaction by trading off the spectral resource allocations of connections for the application-level QoS based on the user-specific requirements. An adaptive scheduler is presented that incorporates user specific QoS requirements in the spectral allocation of resources.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention presents a physical layer (PHY) authentication technique for implantable medical devices (IMDs) that does not use existing methods of cryptology. Instead, a friendly jamming mechanism is established and malicious attempts by adversaries are prevented, without sharing any secured information, such as secret keys. In addition to ensuring authentication, the invention also provides advantages in terms of decreasing processing complexity of IMDs and enhances overall communications performance.

Abstract: A super-oscillatory lens (10) having a pre-defined pattern to spatially modulate the light beam in amplitude and/or phase which has a blocking element (6) formed integrally with the lens, or as a separate component adjacent to the lens, which is opaque to the light beam to cause diffraction of the light beam around the blocking element and formation of a shadow region (20). The lens and blocking element focus the light beam to form an elongate needle-shaped focus (15) in the shadow region (20). In any application in which it is necessary to scan a small spot over a surface, compared with a conventional objective lens focus the elongate shape of the focus relaxes the requirement on a feedback loop to maintain a constant separation between a scan head and a surface being scanned. The elongate shape is also ideal shape for materials processing applications.

Abstract: Electronic information is encoded and transmitted by comparing values of adjacent pixels in an electronic image, determining an amount of entropy present in values of adjacent pixels, identifying a highest-order non-matching bit in the values of adjacent pixels, replacing bits of lower order than the highest-order non-matching bit with data, storing the image and replaced bits in a computer memory, and transmitting the image and replaced bits, via a computer network, to a recipient.

Abstract: Electronic information is encoded and transmitted by comparing values of adjacent pixels in an electronic image, determining an amount of entropy present in values of adjacent pixels, identifying a highest-order non-matching bit in the values of adjacent pixels, replacing bits of lower order than the highest-order non-matching bit with data, storing the image and replaced bits in a computer memory, and transmitting the image and replaced bits, via a computer network, to a recipient.

Abstract: A restraining device including a bag filled with a ballast and sealed on all sides. When filled with predetermined amount of ballast, the restraining device is flexible and conforms to the shape of a cargo and a vehicle cargo area in a horizontal and or vertical dimension. The restraining device secures cargo in a vertical dimension while creating extra friction between the cargo and a cargo bed to prevent or reduce horizontal movement of the cargo. The restraining device interacts with cargo in a solely horizontal function by wrapping it around the horizontal base perimeter of the cargo. In this case, the friction between the restraining device and the cargo bed creates a barrier for the cargo thereby preventing or reducing horizontal movement of the cargo.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for purifying produced water. The system comprises: a closed loop cation exchange unit, wherein the cation exchange unit comprises a cation resin bed; a closed loop anion exchange unit, wherein the anion exchange unit comprises an anion resin bed; an intermediate degasifer, wherein the cation exchange unit and the anion exchange unit are connected in series through the intermediate degasifier, wherein each of the exchange units further comprises a plurality of treatment zones, wherein the treatment zones comprise at least an adsorption zone, a rinse zone, a regeneration zone and a pulsing zone and a backwash zone; and a rinse tail outlet collector for collecting and removing the rinse fluids from the rinse zone.

Abstract: An integrated vectorcardiogram (VCG) device having 3 pairs of electrodes placed in three orthogonal directions with the capability to continuously measure the electrical activity of the heart. All of the electrode pairs may be contained within a single miniaturized housing thereby eliminating the need for cumbersome wires required with current 12-lead ECG systems, while providing the same amount and quality of information as the 12-lead ECG system. The integrated VCG device also includes a communications function to allow the data collected by the electrodes to be transmitted wirelessly to a remote device, such as a pacemaker, to control its function or to a remote monitoring station for continuous real-time patient monitoring.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for purifying produced water, comprising a closed loop cation exchange unit, a closed loop anion exchange unit, and an intermediate degasifier.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media are described herein related to a user interface (UI) for a computing device, such as head-mountable device (HMD). The UI allows a user of the HMD to navigate through a timeline of ordered screens or cards shown on the graphic display of the HMD. The cards on the timeline may be chronologically ordered based on times associated with each card. Numerous cards may be added to the timeline such that a user may scroll through the timeline to search for a specific card. The HMD may be configured to group cards on the timeline. The cards may be grouped by multiple time periods and by various content types within each respective time period. The cards may also be grouped based on durations between the present/on-going time period and each respective time period.

Abstract: A restraining device including a bag filled with a ballast and sealed on all sides. When filled with predetermined amount of ballast, the restraining device is flexible and conforms to the shape of a cargo and a vehicle cargo area in a horizontal and or vertical dimension. The restraining device secures cargo in a vertical dimension while creating extra friction between the cargo and a cargo bed to prevent or reduce horizontal movement of said cargo. The restraining device interacts with cargo in a solely horizontal function by wrapping it around the horizontal base perimeter of the cargo. In this case, the friction between the restraining device and the cargo bed creates a barrier for the cargo thereby preventing or reducing horizontal movement of the cargo.

Abstract: An integrated vectorcardiogram (VCG) device having 3 pairs of electrodes placed in three orthogonal directions with the capability to continuously measure the electrical activity of the heart. All of the electrode pairs may be contained within a single miniaturized housing thereby eliminating the need for cumbersome wires required with current 12-lead ECG systems, while providing the same amount and quality of information as the 12-lead ECG system. The integrated VCG device also includes a communications function to allow the data collected by the electrodes to be transmitted wirelessly to a remote device, such as a pacemaker, to control its function or to a remote monitoring station for continuous real-time patient monitoring.

Abstract: A clamping assembly is provided. The clamping assembly includes a base member having a base portion and an extension portion. The clamping assembly further includes a piston that is adapted to move first and second guide members toward the base portion to move first and second wedge members, respectively, in first and second directions, respectively, on the extension portion to lift a wedge coupling member relative to the extension portion. The clamping assembly further includes a shaft coupled to the wedge coupling member that is further coupled to a clamping arm.

Abstract: A clamping assembly is provided. The clamping assembly includes a base member having a base portion and an extension portion. The clamping assembly further includes a piston that is adapted to move first and second cam fingers toward the base portion to induce first and second pins, respectively, to move first and second wedge members, respectively, in first and second directions, respectively, on the extension portion to lift a wedge coupling member relative to the extension portion. The clamping assembly further includes a shaft coupled to the wedge coupling member that is further coupled to a clamping arm.

Abstract: A clamping assembly is provided. The clamping assembly includes a base member having a base portion and an extension portion. The clamping assembly further includes a piston that is adapted to move first and second guide members toward the base portion to move first and second wedge members, respectively, in first and second directions, respectively, on the extension portion to lift a wedge coupling member relative to the extension portion. The clamping assembly further includes a shaft coupled to the wedge coupling member that is further coupled to a clamping arm.

Abstract: A clamping assembly is provided. The clamping assembly includes a base member having a base portion and an extension portion. The clamping assembly further includes a piston that is adapted to move first and second guide members toward the base portion to move first and second wedge members, respectively, in first and second directions, respectively, on the extension portion to lift a wedge coupling member relative to the extension portion. The clamping assembly further includes a shaft coupled to the wedge coupling member that is further coupled to a clamping arm.