Abstract: A method of digitally printing UV-curable ink with a direct-to-textile printing system onto a textile includes positioning the textile in the direct-to-textile printing system, applying UV-curable ink to the textile with the direct-to-textile printing system according to a digital design file; and at least partially curing the UV-curable ink applied to the textile with UV light.

Abstract: A polymer thick film carbon black composition comprising 6-13 wt % conductive carbon black powder; and 87-94 wt % organic medium comprising thermoplastic polyurethane resin dissolved in an organic solvent may be used to form the resistive element of heaters in applications where significant stretching is required, particularly on substrates that can be highly elongated and, in particular, that can be used in wearable garment applications.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for molecular beam epitaxy are described herein. The apparatus comprises an enclosure defining a vacuum chamber. A substrate holder is mounted within the vacuum chamber. At least one molecular beam source is in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber. A cooling shroud having at least one surface is mounted within the vacuum chamber spaced from the substrate holder. A cryocooler having at least a portion extending into the vacuum chamber is operatively coupled to the cooling shroud for extracting heat therefrom, and cooling the at least one surface of the cooling shroud to cryogenic temperatures.

Abstract: A method of printing UV-curable ink with a direct-to-textile digital printing system onto a textile includes positioning the textile in the direct-to-textile printing system, applying UV-curable ink to the textile with the direct-to-textile printing system according to a digital design file; and at least partially curing the UV-curable ink applied to the textile with UV light.

Abstract: A female snap assembly includes a cage and an engagement member. The cage defines a receiving region, and the engagement member is within the receiving region. The engagement member includes a base, an inner engagement wall extending from base, and an outer engagement wall extending from the base. In some examples, the engagement member defines a channel between the inner engagement wall and the outer engagement wall. In various examples, the inner engagement wall defines at least one notch extending through the inner engagement wall.

Abstract: System and methods for managing dynamic electronic documents on a private distributed ledger comprise establishing a dynamic electronic document comprising a first state object, wherein the state object references a prior approved first transaction; proposing a second transaction comprising as an input the first state object and as an output a transaction command to alter the state object as well as what parameters are required to validate the second transaction; validating the proposed second transaction; and updating the state object on a private distributed ledger to reference the second transaction.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for testing and applying codes to electronic shopping carts. For instance, the method may include monitoring a shopping cart associated with an e-commerce website and with a user; in response to detecting a change to the shopping cart, testing codes with respect to a present content of the shopping cart to determine valid codes; selecting at least one of the valid codes; determining a status of the session; and performing an action based on the status and the at least one selected code. The testing the codes with respect to the present content of the shopping cart may include: cloning the shopping cart to form a cloned shopping cart in a shadow session; and/or obtaining the codes; and testing the codes on the cloned shopping cart in the shadow session to determine the valid codes.

Abstract: System and methods for managing dynamic electronic documents on a private distributed ledger comprise establishing a dynamic electronic document comprising a first state object, wherein the state object references a prior approved first transaction; proposing a second transaction comprising as an input the first state object and as an output a transaction command to alter the state object as well as what parameters are required to validate the second transaction; validating the proposed second transaction; and updating the state object on a private distributed ledger to reference the second transaction.

Abstract: A three-piece electronics enclosure may be provided. The electronics enclosure may comprise a back housing, a lid, and a center frame. The back housing may comprise back housing heat sinks on an exterior of the back housing and back housing circuitry disposed in an interior of the back housing. The lid may comprise lid heat sinks on an exterior of the lid and lid circuitry disposed in an interior of the lid. The center frame may be disposed between the back housing and the lid. The center frame may comprise a plurality of input/output (I/O) ports comprising a first I/O port and a second I/O port. At least one of the plurality of I/O ports may provide power to the back housing circuitry and the lid circuitry. The center frame may further comprise a power bypass that passes power between the first I/O port and the second I/O port.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for methods and systems for managing a parking area. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a parking authorization request from a parking lot user, the request specifying a parking stall identifier corresponding to a parking stall occupied by the users vehicle, the request further specifying a parking duration parameter identifying a time duration the user's vehicle can occupy the stall; determining a parking duration rule for the stall based on the parking duration parameter, the rule indicating a parking expiration time; at a first time, receiving a first data associated with the parking stall identifier, the first data comprising an occupancy parameter indicating a presence or absence of a parked vehicle at the identified stall; if the occupancy parameter indicates a presence of a parked vehicle, generate a citation alert for the stall if the first time exceeds the parking expiration time.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed. In an embodiment, the communication system includes a user node for receiving data from a remote application program, the data including message data for communication to a central application program operatively associated with the remote application program; plurality of geographically distributed gateway nodes; one or more access nodes for receiving the message data from the user node via a first communications interface, and communicating the message data via a second communications interface to one or more of the plurality of geographically distributed gateway nodes; and a hub for communicating with the one or more of the plurality of geographically distributed gateway nodes to receive the message data for communication to the central application.

Abstract: A gaming machine comprises a display and an electronic controller for playing a first game. The electronic controller is configured to randomly determine whether to display one or more bonus symbols in the first game, each bonus symbol being associated with a bonus value award. Where a trigger event occurs during the first game, such as the appearance of a predetermined order of bonus symbols, electronic controller is configured to display an array of the bonus symbols on the display or optionally on another display. Where bonus symbols appear in further plays of the first game or plays of a second game, the bonus symbols are added to the array and bonus symbols present on the array are sequentially transferred to a win meter, which increments by the amount of the associated bonus value award of each transferred bonus symbol.

Abstract: A multiple access slotted wireless communication system comprising a plurality of terminals and a multi-access receiver is described. The multi-access receiver can decode multiple transmissions in each slot of a frame from terminals in its field of view. Each terminal has an active state for transmitting and an inactive state. After receiving acknowledgement of a successful transmission by the terminal, the terminal enters the inactive state for at least a transmission delay time. This may be the remaining time that the terminal is in the field of view of the multi-access receiver. This may be achieved by the terminal using a probability of transmission to determine whether or not to transmit in the next frame. The terminal may also be configured to select the slot in a frame, and this may be based upon information such as which slots were acknowledged. The receiver may use compression to transmit acknowledgement messages.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for routing vehicles in a vehicle fleet includes a location assignment module comprising computer hardware and a routing module. The location assignment module can be configured to iteratively: determine whether quotas are met for a plurality of territories based at least on locations assigned to individual territories of the plurality of territories, and in response to determining that the quota is unmet for one or more individual territories, assign one or more additional locations to the one or more individual territories having unmet quotas based at least on a proximity of the one or more additional locations to a different reference location associated with each of the one or more individual territories having unmet quotas. The routing module can be configured to generate routes including the locations assigned to the individual territories for vehicles in a vehicle fleet.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for operating a conveyance system (e.g., a conveyor belt, tilt plane, robotic arm) of a mobile drive unit (MDU) independent of the MDU's navigation system. The MDU may be configured to obtain, convey, and deliver items within the workspace. Navigation information related to navigating the MDU within a workspace may be obtained. Operations of a navigational system of the MDU may be performed to move the MDU to various locations within the workspace in accordance with the navigation information. Conveyance information related to physically obtaining and/or delivering an item within the workspace may be obtained by the MDU (e.g., via conveyance-related fiducial markers and/or sensors of the MDU). At least one operation of a conveyance system of the MDU may be executed which may cause the item to be physically relocated based at least in part on the conveyance information.

Abstract: A gaming machine comprises a display and an electronic controller for playing a first game. The electronic controller is configured to randomly determine whether to display one or more bonus symbols in the first game, each bonus symbol being associated with a bonus value award. Where a trigger event occurs during the first game, such as the appearance of a predetermined order of bonus symbols, electronic controller is configured to display an array of the bonus symbols on the display or optionally on another display. Where bonus symbols appear in further plays of the first game or plays of a second game, the bonus symbols are added to the array and bonus symbols present on the array are sequentially transferred to a win meter, which increments by the amount of the associated bonus value award of each transferred bonus symbol.

Abstract: An articulable wrist for an end effector includes a distal linkage provided at a distal end of the articulable wrist, a proximal linkage provided at a proximal end of the articulable wrist, and a central channel cooperatively defined by the distal and proximal linkages and extending between the distal and proximal ends. A flexible member is arranged within the central channel and has a first end operatively coupled to the distal linkage and a second end axially movable relative to the proximal linkage. One or more conduits are defined in the flexible member to receive one or more central actuation members extending through the flexible member.

Abstract: In a device including a processor and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory includes executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the device to perform functions of dividing a video image into a plurality of encoding blocks, the video image including a sharing-protected portion; adjusting, based on a size or location of the sharing-protected portion, a configuration of the encoding blocks such that the sharing-protected portion is divided into a smaller number of the encoding blocks; individually encoding, based on the adjusted configuration of the encoding blocks, the encoding blocks; and transmitting, to a remote device via a communication network, the individually encoded encoding blocks.

Abstract: Various beverage preparation systems and methods are disclosed. The beverage preparation system can include a container manipulation assembly having a support assembly and an elevator. The support assembly can be configured to receive a container. The elevator can be connected with the support assembly and can be configured to translate and/or rotate the support assembly. In some embodiments, the beverage preparation system includes a wand manipulation assembly having a wand unit and a mechanical linkage. The linkage can be configured to move the wand unit into and out of engagement with the container on the support assembly. The wand unit can provide a flow of fluid, such as steam, to liquid in the container to heat and/or froth the liquid.

Abstract: A media appliance and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a housing is adapted to be mounted within a wall. A panel forms a front portion of the housing and the panel includes vents and the panel may be mounted substantially flush with the wall. A media player, which includes a set-top box, is disposed within the housing. A pair of ports, disposed within openings defined by the housing, are configured to receive respective connectors. The pair of ports are coupled to the media player and one port is configured for providing a connection to a television and the other port is configured for providing a connection to an external source of signal for the television, as well as power for the media player.