Abstract: An Avocado Skinning and Pulping Device. The device uses a single cutting blade to cut through both the seed and meat of incoming avocados. The device has a feature wherein the cutting blade can be sharpened while in operating condition (without removing the blade from the machine). To increase cut uniformity, there are a series of guides, elements and other apparatus that will place the incoming avocados in a consistent orientation relative to the cutting blade before they are cut. The device includes a set of custom-shaped ramps designed to guide and transport the cut avocado halves down to the moving exit conveyor so that the halves land face-down on the exit conveyor. The disassembly and reassembly can be completed rapidly. The de-seeding mechanism has also been improved upon over the parent designs.

Abstract: We describe a LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon) telecommunications light beam routing device, the device comprising: an optical input; a plurality of optical outputs; a LCOS spatial light modulator (SLM) in an optical path between said input and said output, for displaying a kinoform; a data processor, coupled to said SLM, configured to provide kinoform data for displaying said kinoform on said SLM; wherein said kinoform data defines a kinoform which routes a beam from said optical input to a selected said optical output; wherein said data processor is configured to input routing data defining said selected optical output and to calculate said kinoform data for routing said beam responsive to said routing data; and wherein said data processor is configured to calculate said kinoform data by: determining an initial phase pattern for said kinoform; calculating a replay field of said phase pattern; modifying an amplitude component of said replay field to represent a target replay field for said beam routing, reta

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing, summarizing, and transmitting life experiences captured using a life recorder is described. A life recorder is a recording device that continuously captures life experiences, including unanticipated life experiences, in video and/or audio recordings. In some embodiments, the video and/or audio recordings generated by a life recorder are automatically summarized, indexed, and stored for future use. By indexing and storing life recordings, a life recorder may search for and acquire life recordings generated by itself or another life recorder, thereby allowing life experiences to be shared minutes or even years later. In some embodiments, recordings generated by a life recorder may be analyzed in real-time and automatically pushed to one or more target devices. The ability to automatically and instantaneously push life recordings as live feeds to one or more target devices allows friends and family to experience one's life experience in real-time.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automated, wireless system and method for tracking and recording the activities that are performed by caregivers such as nurses, aides, housekeepers, social workers, etc.

Abstract: A light emission assembly for weapon sights which provides a viewable illuminated aiming indicia of substantially fixed area and uniform brightness regardless of the ambient light conditions.

Abstract: An Avocado Skinning and Pulping Device. The avocado pulper has two grip belts approximately oval in shape and further having a plurality of grip plates around the grip belts. The grip plates are knurled thereby facilitating a grasping of an avocado as it is conveyed into the grip belts and rides through to the rear opening. A pivotable and adjustable belt guide within an inner section of each grip belt is adapted to exert maximum squeezing pressure on the avocado at the approximate middle section of the grip belts at which point the grip belts are in approximate contact with one another. Pulp is thereby squeezed from the avocado. The grip belts separate at the approximate rear defining space for releasing the skin of the avocado. A de-seeder adjacent to the front end opening of the grip belts removes the seed from the avocado prior to its entry into the maximum squeezing section.

Abstract: An item-providing system supplies items to a user device for consumption at the user device via communication infrastructure. The device may correspond to a book reader device or other type of device. In one illustrative case, the item-providing system includes reliable fulfillment functionality for ensuring that the user device receives items in a reliable manner. The item-providing system includes other provisions to facilitate selecting items in various contexts.

Abstract: In a method of operating a liquid crystal device having a liquid crystal composition with smectic-A properties, a first waveform is applied to optically clear the device so that it is substantially transparent to visible light and a second waveform is applied to disorder the material of the liquid crystal composition to afford a strongly light-scattering state.

Abstract: A sports ball training assembly for repetitively practicing sporting techniques in a small area, such as, hitting a golf ball, kicking a soccer ball, or batting a baseball. A telescoping arm attaches to the ball, extending and retracting to create different positions to strike the ball. A spring attaches to the telescoping arm. The spring has sufficient elasticity to return the ball to equilibrium position after the ball is propelled forward. The elasticity of the spring and the elevation of the ball can be adjusted by enclosing various sections of the spring with a tube that slides along the longitudinal axis of the spring. As the rigid tube moves along the spring, the spring's characteristics change. A second spring portion enhances stability and control of the ball, and allows the ball to return to the user. A base and a base shaft provide structure to the assembly.

Abstract: A light emission assembly for weapon sights which provides a viewable illuminated aiming indicia of substantially fixed area and uniform brightness regardless of the ambient light conditions.

Abstract: We describe methods and devices for manipulating optical signals. A method of manipulating an optical signal comprises providing a device (100) comprising a layer (106) of blue phase liquid crystal in the path of the optical signal; and applying a dynamically varying spatial pattern of voltages across the layer (106) of blue phase liquid crystal, thereby causing the refractive index of the layer (106) of blue phase liquid crystal to vary according the dynamically varying spatial pattern.

Abstract: A recoil pad having a pad in which the elastomer contains a plurality of pockets having one or more pocket characteristics adjustable over the entirety or portions of the pad to achieve recoil pad characteristics which can be incrementally variably matched to the recoil energy characteristics and recoil energy transfer characteristics of a particular target stock.

Abstract: In a driver for a smectic-A composition liquid crystal panel, the driver forms a resonant circuit operable to oscillate at resonant frequency for ordering the smectic-A liquid crystal composition of the panel.

Abstract: An Avocado Cutting and Splitting Device. The device uses a single cutting blade to cut through both the seed and meat of incoming avocados. To increase uptime, the device allows the cutting blade to be sharpened while in operating condition (without removing the blade from the machine). There are a series of guides, elements and other apparatus that will place the incoming avocados in a consistent orientation relative to the cutting blade before they are cut. Belt agitation fingers have further been added to cause the feed belt to vibrate during operation, in order to assist in positioning the avocados properly prior to their being cut. To improve throughput and reduce the need for human involvement, the device includes a set of custom-shaped ramps designed to guide and transport the cut avocado halves to the moving exit conveyor so that the halves land face-down on the exit conveyor.

Abstract: A recoil pad having a pad in which the elastomer contains a plurality of pockets having one or more pocket characteristics adjustable over the entirety or portions of the pad to achieve recoil pad characteristics which can be incrementally variably matched to the recoil energy characteristics and recoil energy transfer characteristics of a particular target stock.

Abstract: An aiming sight having a sight body having a bore communicating between first and second body ends adapted to receive within in unflexed retained engagement a light conductive member configured to receive light along the length and conduct the light to at least one light conductive member end to provide a viewable aiming indicia.

Abstract: Adaptive voltage scalers (AVSs), systems, and related methods are disclosed. The AVSs are configured to adaptively adjust voltage levels powering a functional circuit(s) based on target operating frequencies and delay variation conditions to avoid or reduce voltage margin. In one embodiment, the AVS includes an AVS database. The AVS database can be configured to store voltage levels for various operating frequencies of a functional circuit(s) to avoid or reduce voltage margin. The AVS database allows rapid voltage level decisions. The voltage levels stored in the AVS database may be initial, minimum, learned, populated, explored, backed out, temperature-based, and/or age-based voltage levels according to disclosed embodiments to further avoid or reduce voltage margin. An AVS module may be a software-based module that consults the AVS database to make voltage level decisions. Providing the AVS module as a software-based module may allow flexibility in configuring the AVS module and/or the AVS database.

Abstract: An aiming sight having a sight body having a bore communicating between first and second body ends adapted to receive within in unflexed retained engagement a light conductive member configured to receive light along the length and conduct the light to at least one light conductive member end to provide a viewable aiming indicia

Abstract: An item-providing system supplies items to a user device for consumption at the user device via communication infrastructure. The device may correspond to a book reader device or other type of device. In one illustrative case, the item-providing system may send a notification message to the user device to notify the user device to wake up and perform one or more actions. The item-providing system may provide scheduling functionality for determining the timing at which to send the notification message.