Abstract: A machine vision-based method and system for measuring 3D pose of a part or subassembly of parts having an unknown pose are disclosed. A number of different applications of the method and system are disclosed including applications which utilize a reprogrammable industrial automation machine such as a robot. The method includes providing a reference cloud of 3D voxels which represent a reference surface of a reference part or subassembly having a known reference pose. Using at least one 2D/3D hybrid sensor, a sample cloud of 3D voxels which represent a corresponding surface of a sample part or subassembly of the same type as the reference part or subassembly is acquired. The sample part or subassembly has an actual pose different from the reference pose. The voxels of the sample and reference clouds are processed utilizing a matching algorithm to determine the pose of the sample part or subassembly.

Abstract: Head-mounted augmented reality (AR) devices can track pose of a wearer's head to provide a three-dimensional virtual representation of objects in the wearer's environment. An electromagnetic (EM) tracking system can track head or body pose. A handheld user input device can include an EM emitter that generates an EM field, and the head-mounted AR device can include an EM sensor that senses the EM field. EM information from the sensor can be analyzed to determine location and/or orientation of the sensor and thereby the wearer's pose. The EM emitter and sensor may utilize time division multiplexing (TDM) or dynamic frequency tuning to operate at multiple frequencies. Voltage gain control may be implemented in the transmitter, rather than the sensor, allowing smaller and lighter weight sensor designs. The EM sensor can implement noise cancellation to reduce the level of EM interference generated by nearby audio speakers.

Abstract: A retail environment having retail terminals with data entry point devices selectively encrypts input received by the data entry point devices and passes the encrypted data to a security module. The selective encryption is based on whether or not sensitive or confidential information, such as a personal identification number (PIN) associated with a debit card, is being input. To prevent hacking of the software of the retail terminal, content destined for display on the retail terminal is authenticated prior to display. In this manner, the retail terminal may be assured that confidential information is input only when desired, and thus may be encrypted only as needed.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a sensing device. The sensing device includes a sensor, a memory, a processor, and two radio units. A first radio unit of the two radio units is configured for bidirectional communication with an external device using a first radio communication protocol. The bidirectional communication comprises receiving configuration data from the external device via a first radio signal from the external device. The second radio unit of the two radio units is configured for unidirectional communication with the external device using a second radio communication protocol. The unidirectional communication comprises the second radio unit transmitting a second radio signal to the external device. The second radio signal communicates data including one or more measurements obtained by the sensor.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan drive turbine driving a shaft. The shaft engages a gear reduction. The gear reduction drives a fan rotor at a speed that is less than the speed of the fan drive turbine. The gear reduction is a non-epicyclic gear reduction.

Abstract: A welding apparatus can comprise an electrode holder configured to removably receive a consumable electrode and an actuator configured to move the electrode holder. The apparatus can comprise a base and an arm having first and second ends, where the first end is coupled to the arm such that the arm extends in a first direction that is angularly disposed relative to the base. The base can be configured to be placed relative to a workpiece such that the second end of the arm is disposed further from the workpiece than is the first end and the electrode, when received by the electrode holder, extends from the electrode holder toward the workpiece. A controller can be configured to adjust a rate at which the actuator moves the electrode holder relative to the arm, optionally based at least in part on an arc voltage measured across the electrode and the workpiece.

Abstract: An improved speech-based/natural language point-of-sale customer order system which is useful for any business that interacts with customers through speech or sound. Despite the advances in speech recognition, currently available voice ordering interfaces have proven to be unintuitive and lack reliability. Voice recognition has so far proven to be inefficient in retail contexts, and therefore voice recognition has so far achieved a low level of usage penetration in the retail sector. The present invention facilitates the automated operation of the ordering function of a drive-through restaurant, fast food restaurant or other business establishment by replacing an employee or other means of capturing order data with an ordering system employing a highly accurate speech recognition component that is able to be trained to recognize a wide vocabulary of words, and associate tones and other metadata in a manner not previously achieved in speech-to-text systems.

Abstract: A catheter structure, such as a balloon catheter (30), guidewire, or the like, with markings (32) perceptible outside of the vasculature is for use in determining at a location external to the body the position of the catheter structure relative to a treatment area. Related kits are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for performing transactions through mobile communication devices using either telecommunications networks or proximity near-field communications systems are disclosed. A mobile communication device may display an application authentication element. The application authentication element may include a pre-selected authentication element and transaction data associated with a transaction conducted by a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device may obtain the pre-selected authentication element by either transmitting a request to a server computer or retrieving the pre-selected authentication element from a secure memory in the mobile communication device. A user authentication token may be received by the mobile communication device from the user. The mobile communication device may generate a secret token that is derived from the user authentication token. If the secret token is correlated to a secret reference token, then a transaction may be conducted.

Abstract: A body-mountable device includes a flexible substrate configured for mounting to a skin surface. The flexible substrate is configured to be adhered or otherwise mounted to the skin in a manner that minimally impacts activities of the body. The device includes a flexible display configured to provide indications to a user, e.g., indications of sensor readings, medical alerts, or operational states of the device. The display could be operated on a very low power budget, e.g., the display could be operated intermittently. In some examples, the display could include an e-paper display or similar low power display elements. In some examples, elements of the display, e.g., electrodes of a multi-segment display, could be formed on the flexible substrate such that additional elements of the display, e.g., a layer of display medium and a layer of transparent conductor, could be adhered or otherwise attached to the formed elements.

Abstract: A dual-point absorber includes a first buoy, a second buoy, and a power take-off. The first buoy of the dual-point absorber is connected to a linkage. The second buoy of the dual-point absorber is capable of a movement relative to the first buoy. The power take-off is coupled to the first buoy and the second buoy. The linkage can be used to reduce a heave movement of the first buoy that is caused by waves.

Abstract: Provided are methods, systems, devices, and tangible non-transitory computer readable media for providing data including vehicle map service data. The disclosed technology can perform operations including receiving vehicle map service data from client systems. The vehicle map service data can include information associated with a geographic area or sensor observations of a vehicle. Two or more portions of the vehicle map service data to which a client system is subscribed can be determined. Fused data based on the two or more portions of the vehicle map service data to which the client system is subscribed can be generated. Furthermore, the client system can be provided with access to the fused data. Access to the fused data can include authorization to send or receive portions of the vehicle map service data associated with the fused data.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a system includes a mesh layer including a plurality of LEDs, where at least a subset of the LEDs is selectively controllable to control lighting of the mesh layer. The system further includes a screen layer at least partially aligned with the mesh layer, wherein the screen layer is configured to: be illuminated from behind by the mesh layer, and at least partially absorb light projected onto the screen layer.

Abstract: An AC inverter in a vehicle operates using a 24 V input when a vehicle powertrain is in a parked/idling state. A first 12 V battery is connected with a first bus segment. A second 12 V battery is connected with a second bus segment. A switch module selectably interconnects the first and second bus segments. In a nominal 12 V state, the batteries are connected in parallel from the bus segments to ground. In a dual voltage state, the batteries are connected in series so the first bus segment is at 12 V and the second bus segment is at 24 V. A first alternator driven by the powertrain provides a regulated voltage to the second bus segment, wherein the regulated voltage corresponds to 12 V when the switch module is in the nominal state and corresponds to 24 V when the switch module is in the dual voltage state.

Abstract: Linear fiducials including notches or chevrons with known angles relative to each other are formed such that each branch of a chevron appears in a cross-sectional face of the sample as a distinct structure. Therefore, when imaging the cross-section face during the cross-sectioning operation, the distance between the identified structures allows unique identification of the position of the cross-section plane along the Z axis. Then a direct measurement of the actual position of each slice can be calculated, allowing for dynamic repositioning to account for drift in the plane of the sample and also dynamic adjustment of the forward advancement rate of the FIB to account for variations in the sample, microscope, microscope environment, etc. that contributes to drift. An additional result of this approach is the ability to dynamically calculate the actual thickness of each acquired slice as it is acquired.

Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and device for correcting for one or more errors when using mobile network communication signals to augment navigation includes determining one or more pseudorange and range rate measurements for a computing device with respect to one or more cellular base stations. One or more of errors in the one or more pseudorange and range rate measurements are obtained which are determined based on previously received satellite positioning or time data. A current position or current time is determined based on the determined one or more pseudorange and range rate measurements and the one or more obtained errors when one of a plurality of states indicates current satellite positioning or timing data is unavailable. The determined current position or the determined current time for the computing device is provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for foldable tube with unitary hinge are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Some embodiments include a device that may include one or more foldable tube sections configured to facilitate the deployment of an object with respect to an end portion of at least one of the one or more foldable tube sections; each of the one or more foldable tube sections may include one or more unitary hinge regions. The unitary hinge regions may include one or more longitudinal hinge regions configured to enable folding that is transverse to a primary axis of a respective foldable tube section. The unitary hinge regions may include a lateral hinge region configured to enable flattening that is parallel to a primary axis of a respective foldable tube section. Some embodiments may include a wire harness disposed within an interior portion of one or more foldable tube sections.