Abstract: The present disclosure provides superabsorbent materials comprising wheat gluten chemically modified with citric acid, methods of producing superabsorbent materials and methods of use.

Abstract: A dual tape dispenser and method of dispensing reversed-conjoined tapes which includes housing panels configured with two rotatable tape-roll hubs mounted perpendicularly to the vertical housing panels to hold two rolls of tapes with one of the tapes is reversed so that an adhesive edge of the first tape is conjoined longitudinally to a reversed adhesive edge of the second tape when the tape ends are being dispensed simultaneously on the same path. A plurality of configurations for the dual tape dispenser dispensing reversed-conjoined tapes may be manufactured for use with tape bore openings ranging from three inches to one inch in diameter for scaled-down versions to accommodate smaller tape rolls in all of which the dispensers are for dispensing reversed-conjoined tapes that are partially and longitudinally overlapped on the inside edges, thus exposing the remain adhesive portion on each side of the reversed-conjoined tapes.

Abstract: Techniques for fabricating contacts on inverted configuration surfaces of GaN layers of semiconductor devices are provided. An n-doped GaN layer may be formed with a surface exposed by removing a substrate on which the n-doped GaN layer was formed. The crystal structure of such a surface may have a significantly different configuration than the surface of an as-deposited p-doped GaN layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fabricating a light emitting diode include forming a multilayer epitaxial structure above a carrier substrate; depositing at least one metal layer above the multilayer epitaxial structure; removing the carrier substrate.

Abstract: A vertical light-emitting diode (VLED) includes a metal substrate, a p-electrode coupled to the metal substrate, a p-contact coupled to the p-electrode, a p-GaN portion coupled to the p-electrode, an active region coupled to the p-GaN portion, an n-GaN portion coupled to the active region, and a phosphor layer coupled to the n-GaN portion.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are directed toward child conveyance devices and canopies therefore. In one embodiment a child conveyance device comprises a shell including a first canopy recess, a support surface configured to support a child, and a retractable canopy mounted on a canopy cap pivotally coupled to the shell and configured to support the canopy above at least a portion of the support surface and to secure a first portion of the canopy in a retracted configuration within the first canopy recess upon positioning of the canopy cap in a closed configuration.

Abstract: A set of like tasks to be performed is organized into a first group. Upon a determined imbalance between dispatch queue depths greater than a predetermined threshold, the set of like tasks is reassigned to an additional group.

Abstract: A set of like tasks to be performed is organized into a first group. Upon a determined imbalance between dispatch queue depths greater than a predetermined threshold, the set of like tasks is reassigned to an additional group.

Abstract: A system and method for merging multi-modal communications are disclosed. The multi-modal communications can be synchronous, asynchronous and semi-synchronous. By way of a non-limiting example, at least two devices operating with varied modalities can be connected to a conferencing appliance. The conferencing appliance can integrate the differing modalities from the at least two devices by executing at least one of turn taking, conference identification, participant identification, ordering of interjections, modulation of meaning, expectation of shared awareness, floor domination and combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light emitting diode, which comprises a first LED die, a second LED die, and a dummy LED die, wherein the second LED die is disposed between the first LED die and the dummy LED die, and each die comprises a first semi-conductive layer, a second semi-conductive layer, and a multiple quantum well layer disposed between the first and the second semi-conductive layers. The first semi-conductive layer of the first LED die is coupled to the second semi-conductive layer of the second LED die, and the first semi-conductive layer of the second LED die is coupled to the first and second semi-conductive layers of the dummy LED die.

Abstract: A straight intramedullary bone fracture fixation device is provided with an elongate body having a longitudinal axis for deployment in a long bone, such as a clavicle. Methods of repairing a fracture of a bone are also disclosed. One such method comprises inserting a bone fixation device into an intramedullary space of the bone to place at least a portion of an elongate body of the fixation device on one side of the fracture and at least a portion of a hub on another side of the fracture, and engaging an inner surface of the intramedullary space to anchor the fixation device to the bone. Various configurations and designs may be used in combination with other fixation device components.

Abstract: Amongst the candidates for very high efficiency solid state light sources and full solar spectrum solar cells are devices based upon InGaN nanowires. Additionally these nanowires typically require heterostructures, quantum dots, etc which all place requirements for these structures to be grown with relatively few defects and in a controllable reproducible manner. Additionally flexibility according to the device design requires that the nanowire at the substrate may be either InN or GaN. According to the invention a method of growing relatively defect free nanowires and associated structures for group IIIA-nitrides is presented without the requirement for foreign metal catalysts and overcoming the non-uniform growth of prior art non-catalyst growth techniques. According to other embodiments of the invention self-organizing dot-within-a-dot nanowire and dot-within-a-dot-within-a-well nanowire structures are presented.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light emitting diode, which comprises a first LED die and a second LED die, each die comprising a first semi-conductive layer, a second semi-conductive layer, and a multiple quantum well layer disposed between the first and the second semi-conductive layers, wherein the first semi-conductive layer of the first LED die is coupled to the second semi-conductive layer of the second LED die so as to form a serially connected structure whereby the consuming current and heat generation of the light emitting diode are lowered so that the size of heat dissipating device for the light emitting diode can be reduced and illumination of the light emitting diode can be enhanced.

Abstract: A pressure sensor and a pressure sensing method are provided. The pressure sensor includes a substrate; a sensor thin film transistor (TFT) disposed on the substrate and including a gate insulating layer, wherein the gate insulating layer includes an organic matrix in which piezoelectric inorganic nano-particles are dispersed; a power unit configured to apply an alternating current (AC) signal to a gate of the sensor TFT; and a pressure sensing unit configured to obtain a remnant polarization value based on a drain current which is generated in response to the AC signal and detected by the sensor TFT, and to sense a pressure based on the remnant polarization value.

Abstract: A retaining ring can be shaped by machining or lapping the bottom surface of the ring to form a shaped profile in the bottom surface. The bottom surface of the retaining ring can include flat, sloped and curved portions. The lapping can be performed using a machine that dedicated for use in lapping the bottom surface of retaining rings. During the lapping the ring can be permitted to rotate freely about an axis of the ring. The bottom surface of the retaining ring can have curved or flat portions.

Abstract: A virtual SIM can be used in conjunction with a physical SIM to minimizing roaming charges. A mobile device can sign up with a primary telephone company to have a physical SIM and a primary telephone number. The mobile device can also sign up with a service provider that can have telephone partners in foreign countries. The foreign telephone partners can provide local coverage through a virtual SIM and the primary telephone number from the physical SIM.

Abstract: An anti-skimming assembly for a card reader device includes, for example, a displacement bar mountable on a front plate of a card reader device proximate a card entry opening formed in the front plate, which displacement bar has first and second legs. The displacement bar is mountable on the front plate with the first leg aligned with an internal read head inside the card entry opening of the card reader device. An infrangible fastener is connectible to the first leg through a first fastener opening formed in the front plate, and a non-conductive frangible or breakable fastener is connectible to the second leg through a second fastener opening formed in the front plate. In addition, first and second electrically conductive leads are carried by the non-conductive frangible fastener electrically connected to one another via an electrically conductive spring and connectible to an alarm circuit.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a vertical light emitting diode (VLED) die includes the steps of: providing a substrate; forming an epitaxial structure on the substrate; forming an electrically insulative insulation layer covering the lateral surfaces of the epitaxial structure; forming an electrically non-conductive material on the electrically insulative insulation layer; and forming a mirror on the p-doped layer, with the electrically insulative insulation layer configured to protect the epitaxial structure during formation of the mirror.

Abstract: An entertainment system comprising a base unit with a transceiver for interacting, at times, with a control unit via a communications link, and a control unit for controlling the base unit, the control unit being dockable with the base unit to establish direct electrical connection between them, and including a transceiver for interacting with the control unit via said link when undocked. The control unit is a separate aspect of the invention or system. The base unit may contain a tuner, preferably with bandless tuning capability, and may be designed to receive into a universal docking arrangement a digitally controllable auxiliary audio source such as a portable MP3 player or other device. The base unit may further provide alarm clock functionality with numerous features including a “fail-safe’ volume control system and fail-safe alarm time setting capability.