Abstract: An underwater light fixture and a method for making the underwater light fixture are provided. The method includes assembling a light fixture in a housing, leaving a fastener out of the light fixture, wherein an opening for the fastener fluidically couples to open volume in the housing. The housing is placed in a vacuum chamber, and a vacuum is pulled on the vacuum chamber to remove air from the open volume of the housing. A dry gas is introduced into the vacuum chamber to fill the open volume in the housing, and the fastener is installed in the light fixture to seal the open volume.

Abstract: A coffee filter includes a metallic member having a flat portion in which tapered exit regions are formed that extend from the bottom of the flat portion to vertices interior to the flat portion. The flat portion is provided with a hole uniformity enhancement region between the top of the flat portion and the exit region vertices that are interior to the flat portion. The top of the flat portion is micro-machined to remove a part of the hole uniformity enhancement region to a predetermined depth into the hole uniformity enhancement region. Holes are formed in the top of the flat portion extending from the micro-machined top of the flat portion through the hole uniformity enhancement region to the vertices of the tapered exit regions. The predetermined depth of the micro-machined top of the flat portion is selected to prevent the micro-machined top of the flat portion from meeting the tapered exit regions to promote and maintain uniformity of the holes.

Abstract: A coffee filter includes a metallic member having a flat portion in which tapered exit regions are formed that extend from the bottom of the flat portion to vertices interior to the flat portion. The flat portion is provided with a hole uniformity enhancement region between the top of the flat portion and the exit region vertices that are interior to the flat portion. The top of the flat portion is micro-machined to remove a part of the hole uniformity enhancement region to a predetermined depth into the hole uniformity enhancement region. Holes are formed in the top of the flat portion extending from the micro-machined top of the flat portion through the hole uniformity enhancement region to the vertices of the tapered exit regions. The predetermined depth of the micro-machined top of the flat portion is selected to prevent the micro-machined top of the flat portion from meeting the tapered exit regions to promote and maintain uniformity of the holes.

Abstract: A coffee filter qualification system receives user-specified filter criteria relating to acceptable attributes for a plurality of apertures included in a liquid brewing filter. A light source illuminates the apertures of the liquid brewing filter and a machine vision camera images the apertures of the filter. A filter qualification information handling system (IHS) determines if the liquid brewing filter meets the predefined user-specified filter criteria. The filter qualification IHS accepts the liquid brewing filter if the filter meets the filter criteria, and otherwise rejects the filter. The filter criteria may include the total cumulative area of the apertures, individual aperture area, aperture count and aperture acircularity information.

Abstract: An information handling system (IHS) includes a coffee design application. The IHS receives first input information from a user that specifies a coffee design mode. The IHS receives second input information from a user that enables the IHS to define a unitless brew formula line ratio of water weight to coffee weight. The IHS displays a brew formula line on a universal brewing control chart graph, the brew formula line being dependent on the brew formula ratio. The IHS operates in a selected one of a brew water volume mode, a desired coffee yield mode and a ground coffee weight mode. The IHS converts input values to selected units and resultant output values to selected units in real time. The IHS projects a target total dissolved solids (TDS) % value on the brew formula line and plots a universal brewing control chart.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying gradient edge detection to detect features in a biometric, such as a fingerprint, based on data representing an image of at least a portion of the biometric. The image is modeled as a function of the features. Data representing an image of the biometric is acquired, and features of the biometric are modeled for at least two resolutions. The method and apparatus improves analysis of both high-resolution images of biometrics of friction ridge containing skin that include resolved pores and lower resolution images of biometrics without resolved pores.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying gradient edge detection to detect features in a biometric, such as a fingerprint, based on data representing an image of at least a portion of the biometric. The image is modeled as a function of the features. Data representing an image of the biometric is acquired, and features of the biometric are modeled for at least two resolutions. The method and apparatus improves analysis of both high-resolution images of biometrics of friction ridge containing skin that include resolved pores and lower resolution images of biometrics without resolved pores.

Abstract: An information handling system (IHS) includes a coffee design application. The IHS receives first input information from a user that specifies a coffee design mode. The IHS receives second input information from a user that enables the IHS to define a unitless brew formula line ratio of water weight to coffee weight. The IHS displays a brew formula line on a universal brewing control chart graph, the brew formula line being dependent on the brew formula ratio. The IHS operates in a selected one of a brew water volume mode, a desired coffee yield mode and a ground coffee weight mode. The IHS converts input values to selected units and resultant output values to selected units in real time. The IHS projects a target total dissolved solids (TDS) % value on the brew formula line and plots a universal brewing control chart.

Abstract: A portable liquid design system includes a portable information handling system (IHS) that employs a liquid design application capable of operating in different modes to design different liquids such as corn syrup, espresso, coffee, soda pop and others. The portable liquid design system may include a refractometer to measure the refractive index and temperature of a liquid under test. The liquid design application may apply the measured refractive index and temperature to a 3 dimensional representation of the correlation of refractive index, temperature and concentration (% total dissolved solids) to determine a particular concentration corresponding to the measured refractive index and temperature. A single 3 dimensional scale may apply to virtually all values of interest of refractive index, temperature and concentration for a particular liquid under test.

Abstract: A coffee filter qualification system receives user-specified filter criteria relating to acceptable attributes for a plurality of apertures included in a liquid brewing filter. A light source illuminates the apertures of the liquid brewing filter and a machine vision camera images the apertures of the filter. A filter qualification information handling system (IHS) determines if the liquid brewing filter meets the predefined user-specified filter criteria. The filter qualification IHS accepts the liquid brewing filter if the filter meets the filter criteria, and otherwise rejects the filter. The filter criteria may include the total cumulative area of the apertures, individual aperture area, aperture count and aperture acircularity information.

Abstract: A portable liquid design system includes a portable information handling system (IHS) that employs a liquid design application capable of operating in different modes to design different liquids such as corn syrup, espresso, coffee, soda pop and others. The portable liquid design system may include a refractometer to measure the refractive index and temperature of a liquid under test. The liquid design application may apply the measured refractive index and temperature to a 3 dimensional representation of the correlation of refractive index, temperature and concentration (% total dissolved solids) to determine a particular concentration corresponding to the measured refractive index and temperature. A single 3 dimensional scale may apply to virtually all values of interest of refractive index, temperature and concentration for a particular liquid under test.

Abstract: A coffee refractometer includes a prism that receives a brewed coffee sample, thus forming a prism-sample interface. A processor or microcontroller controls a light source to provide incident light to the prism-sample interface. The prism-sample interface refracts light toward a photodetector. A temperature sensor provides temperature information to the processor. The refractometer includes a memory store that stores a TDS formula that expresses the TDS of brewed coffee as a function of the index of refraction (ns) of brewed coffee and the temperature of brewed coffee. The processor determines the TDS of the brewed coffee sample by accessing the TDS formula in the memory store and employing the determined index of refraction (ns) of the brewed coffee sample to find the TDS from the TDS formula. The refractometer displays the resultant TDS % on a display of the refractometer and/or transmits such information to an information handling system.

Abstract: An apparatus for image acquisition of topological features of the surface of skin. The apparatus comprises a waveguide, having an entrance edge and top and bottom surfaces; a light source, configured to direct a light beam at the entrance edge of the waveguide; a skin contact layer, disposed at or near the top surface of the waveguides; a holographic optical element (HOE), disposed at the top or at the bottom surfaces of the waveguide, configured to diffract the light beam incident from the light source to the skin contact layer; a sensor array, configured to detect light reflected from the surface of skin in contact with skin contact layer; and means for compensating for changes in the Bragg matching condition of the HOE due to temperature.

Abstract: An information handling system (IHS) includes a coffee design application. The IHS receives first input information from a user that specifies a coffee design mode. The IHS receives second input information from a user that enables the IHS to define a unitless brew formula line ratio of water weight to coffee weight. The IHS displays a brew formula line on a universal brewing control chart graph, the brew formula line being dependent on the brew formula ratio. The IHS operates in a selected one of a brew water volume mode, a desired coffee yield mode and a ground coffee weight mode. The IHS converts input values to selected units and resultant output values to selected units in real time. The IHS projects a target total dissolved solids (TDS) % value on the brew formula line and plots a universal brewing control chart.

Abstract: A coffee refractometer includes a prism that receives a brewed coffee sample, thus forming a prism-sample interface. A processor or microcontroller controls a light source to provide incident light to the prism-sample interface. The prism-sample interface refracts light toward a photodetector. A temperature sensor provides temperature information to the processor. The refractometer includes a memory store that stores a TDS formula that expresses the TDS of brewed coffee as a function of the index of refraction (ns) of brewed coffee and the temperature of brewed coffee. The processor determines the TDS of the brewed coffee sample by accessing the TDS formula in the memory store and employing the determined index of refraction (ns) of the brewed coffee sample to find the TDS from the TDS formula. The refractometer displays the resultant TDS % on a display of the refractometer and/or transmits such information to an information handling system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying gradient edge detection to detect features in a biometric, such as a fingerprint, based on data representing an image of at least a portion of the biometric. The image is modeled as a function of the features. Data representing an image of the biometric is acquired, and features of the biometric are modeled for at least two resolutions. The method and apparatus improves analysis of both high-resolution images of biometrics of friction ridge containing skin that include resolved pores and lower resolution images of biometrics without resolved pores.

Abstract: An apparatus for image acquisition of topological features of the surface of skin. The apparatus comprises a waveguide, having an entrance edge and top and bottom surfaces; a light source, configured to direct a light beam at the entrance edge of the waveguide; a skin contact layer, disposed at or near the top surface of the waveguides; a holographic optical element (HOE), disposed at the top or at the bottom surfaces of the waveguide, configured to diffract the light beam incident from the light source to the skin contact layer; a sensor array, configured to detect light reflected from the surface of skin in contact with skin contact layer; and means for compensating for changes in the Bragg matching condition of the HOE due to temperature.

Abstract: A battery pack is provided for housing a plurality of flat cells for portable electronic device applications. The battery pack is sufficiently thin to preserve the desirable thin profile of the flat cells and yet exhibits surprising structural integrity considering the relatively thin polycarbonate material from which the housing and the connective sheets of the pack are fabricated. A first group of flat cells is coupled to one side of a central connective member or circuit board. A second group of flat cells is coupled to an opposite side of the central connective member. The cells of the first group are situated in side-by side relationship and the cells of the second group are situated in side-by-side relationship. An upper connective sheet is adhesively coupled to the upper surfaces of the first group of flat cells and the upper surfaces of the second group of flat cells.

Abstract: A battery pack is provided for housing a plurality of fiat cells for portable electronic device applications. The battery pack is sufficiently thin to preserve the desirable thin profile of the fiat cells and yet exhibits surprising structural integrity considering the relatively thin polycarbonate material from which the housing of the pack is fabricated. A plurality of thin cells is laterally arranged side by side in spaced-apart relationship to form a cell subassembly. An adhesive is applied to a polycarbonate sheet. The sheet is then cut to a predetermined form and embossed to form creases along predetermined fold lines. The prepared sheet is then folded at the fold lines and positioned to substantially surround the cell subassembly and form a box-like structure around such subassembly. Adhesive on an upper sheet section adheres to the top planar surfaces of the fiat cells while adhesive on a lower sheet section adheres to the bottom planar surfaces of the flat cells.