Abstract: Described herein are systems and techniques for estimating a shape of a structure undergoing dynamic stress. In some embodiments, a method includes: for each of a plurality of nodes distributed along a length of the structure, obtaining, from an accelerometer located at the node, a tilt angle corresponding to an angle between a local axis of the structure and a direction of gravity; calculating, by a microcontroller, vertical displacements between adjacent pairs of the plurality of nodes using the respective tilt angles obtained for the adjacent pairs; and calculating, by the microcontroller, a depth of each of the plurality of nodes relative to a proximal end of the structure by adding the vertical displacements calculated for adjacent pairs of the plurality of nodes between the node and the proximal end of the structure.

Abstract: A system for incorporating electronic functionality into a flexible layer includes a flexible printed circuit board having a spine portion and one or more legs in electronic communication with the spine portion. Multiple pads may be disposed on the flexible printed circuit board. The spine portion and the one or more legs may be structured and arranged to be disposed within one or more pockets of the flexible layer. The system may further include electronic devices, each one of which may be in electronic communication with at least one of the pads. In addition, the system may include a controller in electronic communication with at least one of the pads. The system may be characterized by an absence of any external hard-wire interfaces for communication external to the system.

Abstract: Optical communication systems and their method of operation are disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more images of one or more optical transmitters may be collected with an imaging device during relative motion between the imaging device and the one or more optical transmitters. The one or more optical transmitters may transmit bit stream segments as a pattern of sequential modulation cycles. The relative motion between the imaging device and the one or more optical transmitters may be sufficiently fast and an image integration time of the imaging device may be sufficiently long such that one or more bit stream segments transmitted by the one or more optical transmitters may be captured as one or more data traces in the images for subsequent decoding.

Abstract: An article is a selected one of a set of articles. Each article of the set includes a fabric and is associated with a unique identification code. The selected article has a pattern distributed over at least 10% of an exposed surface of the selected article. The pattern encodes the identification code associated with the selected article, wherein the pattern is configured to be read and decoded by a mobile computing device in a manner wherein the selected article is contextually recognizable. A two-dimensional plaid pattern may be used to carry the identification code, which can be decoded according to described methods.

Abstract: A fabric or article has a pattern on an exposed surface that encodes a unique identification code, wherein the pattern is configured to be read and decoded by a mobile computing device in a manner wherein the selected article is contextually recognizable. A two-dimensional plaid pattern may be used to carry the identification code, which can be decoded according to described methods. The pattern may be a plaid code or may be incorporated into a representational aesthetic environment. Fabrics may include optical transmitters embedded therein and configured to transmit information that can be detected by a mobile computing device, directed to the wearable article, and executing a suitable application. Fabrics may include optical receives configured to receive information such as from a free-space optical communication system of certain embodiments.

Abstract: Optical communication systems and their method of operation are disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more images of one or more optical transmitters may be collected with an imaging device during relative motion between the imaging device and the one or more optical transmitters. The one or more optical transmitters may transmit bit stream segments as a pattern of sequential modulation cycles. The relative motion between the imaging device and the one or more optical transmitters may be sufficiently fast and an image integration time of the imaging device may be sufficiently long such that one or more bit stream segments transmitted by the one or more optical transmitters may be captured as one or more data traces in the images for subsequent decoding.

Abstract: An article is a selected one of a set of articles. Each article of the set includes a fabric and is associated with a unique identification code. The selected article has a pattern distributed over at least 10% of an exposed surface of the selected article. The pattern encodes the identification code associated with the selected article, wherein the pattern is configured to be read and decoded by a mobile computing device in a manner wherein the selected article is contextually recognizable. A two-dimensional plaid pattern may be used to carry the identification code, which can be decoded according to described methods.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure features a system that includes a flexible waveguide having a hollow core extending along a waveguide axis and a region surrounding the core, the region being configured to guide radiation from the CO2 laser along the waveguide axis from an input end to an output end of the waveguide. The system also includes a handpiece attached to the waveguide, wherein the handpiece allows an operator to control the orientation of the output end to direct the radiation to a target location of a patient and the handpiece includes a tip extending past the output end that provides a minimum standoff distance between the output end and the target location.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure features a system that includes a flexible waveguide having a hollow core extending along a waveguide axis and a region surrounding the core, the region being configured to guide radiation from the CO2 laser along the waveguide axis from an input end to an output end of the waveguide. The system also includes a handpiece attached to the waveguide, wherein the handpiece allows an operator to control the orientation of the output end to direct the radiation to a target location of a patient and the handpiece includes a tip extending past the output end that provides a minimum standoff distance between the output end and the target location.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure features a system that includes a flexible waveguide having a hollow core extending along a waveguide axis and a region surrounding the core, the region being configured to guide radiation from the CO2 laser along the waveguide axis from an input end to an output end of the waveguide. The system also includes a handpiece attached to the waveguide, wherein the handpiece allows an operator to control the orientation of the output end to direct the radiation to a target location of a patient and the handpiece includes a tip extending past the output end that provides a minimum standoff distance between the output end and the target location.

Abstract: In general, in a first aspect the invention features photonic crystal fibers that include a core extending along a waveguide axis, a confinement region extending along the waveguide axis surrounding the core, and a cladding extending along the waveguide axis surrounding the confinement region, wherein the cladding has an asymmetric cross-section.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure features a system that includes a flexible waveguide having a hollow core extending along a waveguide axis and a region surrounding the core, the region being configured to guide radiation from the CO2 laser along the waveguide axis from an input end to an output end of the waveguide. The system also includes a handpiece attached to the waveguide, wherein the handpiece allows an operator to control the orientation of the output end to direct the radiation to a target location of a patient and the handpiece includes a tip extending past the output end that provides a minimum standoff distance between the output end and the target location.

Abstract: In general, in a first aspect, the invention features photonic crystal fibers that include a core extending along a waveguide axis, a confinement region extending along the waveguide axis surrounding the core, and a cladding extending along the waveguide axis surrounding the confinement region, wherein the cladding has an asymmetric cross-section.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure features a system that includes a flexible waveguide having a hollow core extending along a waveguide axis and a region surrounding the core, the region being configured to guide radiation from the CO2 laser along the waveguide axis from an input end to an output end of the waveguide. The system also includes a handpiece attached to the waveguide, wherein the handpiece allows an operator to control the orientation of the output end to direct the radiation to a target location of a patient and the handpiece includes a tip extending past the output end that provides a minimum standoff distance between the output end and the target location.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure features a system that includes a flexible waveguide having a hollow core extending along a waveguide axis and a region surrounding the core, the region being configured to, guide radiation from the CO2 laser along the waveguide axis from an input end to an output end of the waveguide. The system also includes a handpiece attached to the waveguide, wherein the handpiece allows an operator to control the orientation of the output end to direct the radiation to a target location of a patient and the handpiece includes a tip extending past the output end that provides a minimum standoff distance between the output end and the target location.

Abstract: A method and system communicates cooperatively between base stations and mobile stations in a wireless cellular network. At least two mobile stations are detected in a handover region. A diversity set is established for each mobile station in the handover region. Each diversity set identifies at least two base stations that can communicate with the associated mobile station. The at least two base stations and the at least two mobile stations are combined into members of a cooperation set. A resource is allocated to selected members of the cooperative set. The selected members are notified of the allocated resource. Then, the selected base stations of the cooperation set communicate concurrently with the selected mobile stations using the same allocated resource.

Abstract: A method for selects antennas in a spatial division multiple access (SDMA) wireless network that includes a base station and a set of mobile stations, in which the set of mobile stations includes one or more designated mobile stations, and in which each designated mobile station has a set of multiple antennas. Channel state information (CSI) is acquired for a channel between each mobile station in the set of mobile stations and the base station, and in which the CSI for each designated mobile station is acquired for different subsets of the set of multiple antennas at each designated mobile station. For each designated mobile station, a globally optimal subset of the set of antennas is selected based on the CSI acquired from all the mobile stations.

Abstract: A method and system communicates cooperatively between base stations and mobile stations in a wireless cellular network. At least two mobile stations are detected in a handover region. A diversity set is established for each mobile station in the handover region. Each diversity set identifies at least two base stations that can communicate with the associated mobile station. The at least two base stations and the at least two mobile stations are combined into members of a cooperation set. A resource is allocated to selected members of the cooperative set. The selected members are notified of the allocated resource. Then, the selected base stations of the cooperation set communicate concurrently with the selected mobile stations using the same allocated resource.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure features a system that includes a flexible waveguide having a hollow core extending along a waveguide axis and a region surrounding the core, the region being configured to, guide radiation from the CO2 laser along the waveguide axis from an input end to an output end of the waveguide. The system also includes a handpiece attached to the waveguide, wherein the handpiece allows an operator to control the orientation of the output end to direct the radiation to a target location of a patient and the handpiece includes a tip extending past the output end that provides a minimum standoff distance between the output end and the target location.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features apparatus that include an assembly including a radiation input port configured to receive radiation from a radiation source and an output port configured to couple the radiation to a photonic crystal fiber, the assembly further including a retardation element positioned to modify a polarization state of the radiation received from the radiation source before it is coupled to the photonic crystal fiber.