The Pixel Block builds a wide range of useful constructions such as tables, chairs, and houses, with the modularity in three-dimensional space to make a universe of objects with a versatility similar to that of a pixel on a computer screen. It has a basic cylindrical shape that is as long as it is wide and deep to occupy a basic cube space. It is a versatile and useful geometric building block comprised of snaps, screws, nobs, magnetic forces, and combinations of these interfaces to assemble into constructions comprised of multiple copies of the Invention. On one end of the cylinder is a protruding screw that is also a hook and a snap, that can fit into itself and into each of five other sides of the cylinder. Once assembled into a shape, the Invention can be locked in place with spheres or with cylinders inside the Invention.

A multistable compliant mechanism is formed by connecting sequentially multiple basic units front to end to form a closed annular structure. Each basic unit includes two flexible hinges perpendicular to each other on different planes and two rigid connection parts for connecting the flexible hinges. The two flexible hinges are connected by a rigid connection part, and one of the flexible hinges is connected to a flexible hinge of an adjacent basic unit through the other rigid connection part. Lengths of two rigid connection parts in a same basic unit are equal, but lengths of rigid connection parts of different basic units are not necessarily equal. The multistable compliant mechanism features the continuous rotation and multi-steady state of a tri-compliant mechanism. The multistable compliant mechanism also features variable mechanism topology, an adjustable unit number, easy implementation, and promotion. A method for steady state analysis of the multistable compliant mechanism is also provided.

A multistable compliant mechanism is formed by connecting sequentially multiple basic units front to end to form a closed annular structure. Each basic unit includes two flexible hinges perpendicular to each other on different planes and two rigid connection parts for connecting the flexible hinges. The two flexible hinges are connected by a rigid connection part, and one of the flexible hinges is connected to a flexible hinge of an adjacent basic unit through the other rigid connection part. Lengths of two rigid connection parts in a same basic unit are equal, but lengths of rigid connection parts of different basic units are not necessarily equal. The multistable compliant mechanism features the continuous rotation and multi-steady state of a tri-compliant mechanism. The multistable compliant mechanism also features variable mechanism topology, an adjustable unit number, easy implementation, and promotion. A method for steady state analysis of the multistable compliant mechanism is also provided.

The Invention is a series of blocks and block areas with interfaces and dimensions that enable them to be assembled into a wide range of useful 3D objects. The blocks, poles, spheres, and their interfaces can build a wide range of useful constructions in the manner similar to how an alphabet describes a wealth of human experience. With knobs, screws, hooks, snaps, magnetic interfaces and combinations of these interfaces, the pieces of the Invention pull themselves together with the strength needed in a particular circumstance. They can also be easily disassembled to form new constructions as needed. The blocks, and their interfaces, are modular and they can in turn build modular objects and constructions, like modular homes.

The Pixel Block builds a wide range of useful constructions such as tables, chairs, and houses, with the modularity in three-dimensional space to make a universe of objects with a versatility similar to that of a pixel on a computer screen. It has a basic cylindrical shape that is as long as it is wide and deep to occupy a basic cube space. It is a versatile and useful geometric building block comprised of snaps, screws, nobs, magnetic forces, and combinations of these interfaces to assemble into constructions comprised of multiple copies of the Invention. On one end of the cylinder is a protruding screw that is also a hook and a snap, that can fit into itself and into each of five other sides of the cylinder. Once assembled into a shape, the Invention can be locked in place with spheres or with cylinders inside the Invention.

Systems and methods which operate to reserve an amount of value associated with a value bearing indicia (VBI) request or requests are shown. Embodiments facilitate completion of a multiple VBI session without failing due to insufficient value balance once the session has begun. Additionally or alternatively, embodiments facilitate later or subsequent (e.g., scheduled) completion of a VBI session, whether a session for a single VBI or multiple VBI, without failing due to insufficient value balance. Value reservations may be made automatically and/or manually. Embodiments provide various reservation priority levels, such as to individual users, user groups, user systems, sessions, types of sessions, jobs, etc., in order to facilitate completion of various desired operations without failure due to insufficient value. Value reservation techniques according to embodiments do not introduce additional transactions into a normal VBI session flow.

A structural body includes: a three-dimensional net shaped body including a plurality of net lines that form a three-dimensional net shape; and a plurality of objects respectively present in two or more of a plurality of spaces partitioned by the plurality of net lines. The plurality of objects are each a mobile object that moves within one of the plurality of spaces or moves over two or more of the plurality of spaces.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a deployable structure which enables an element even with high rigidity to be folded. A deployable structure (1A) includes a pair of belt-shaped elements (3A, 3A) and a connecting element (4A), wherein the connecting element (4A) connects the pair of belt-shaped elements (3A, 3A) so as to be freely deformable between a folded state and a deployed state, with corners (307) of the pair of belt-shaped elements (3A, 3A) being in contact with each other on their front faces (301) on one side in a thickness direction of the pair of belt-shaped elements (3A, 3A), wherein the pair of belt-shaped elements (3A, 3A) extends in parallel to a predetermined plane xy in the folded state and perpendicular to the predetermined plane xy in the deployed state. Ends of the front faces (301) of the belt-shaped elements (3A, 3A) are connected to the connecting element (4B) via first bent portions (5) which are bendable along the ends. Lateral faces (303, 304) of the pair of belt-shaped elements (3A, 3A) have second cutouts (308) which avoid an interference of the pair of belt-shaped elements (3A, 3A) in the deployed state.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a deployable structure which enables an element even with high rigidity to be folded. A deployable structure (1A) includes a pair of belt-shaped elements (3A, 3A) and a connecting element (4A), wherein the connecting element (4A) connects the pair of belt-shaped elements (3A, 3A) so as to be freely deformable between a folded state and a deployed state, with corners (307) of the pair of belt-shaped elements (3A, 3A) being in contact with each other on their front faces (301) on one side in a thickness direction of the pair of belt-shaped elements (3A, 3A), wherein the pair of belt-shaped elements (3A, 3A) extends in parallel to a predetermined plane xy in the folded state and perpendicular to the predetermined plane xy in the deployed state. Ends of the front faces (301) of the belt-shaped elements (3A, 3A) are connected to the connecting element (4B) via first bent portions (5) which are bendable along the ends. Lateral faces (303, 304) of the pair of belt-shaped elements (3A, 3A) have second cutouts (308) which avoid an interference of the pair of belt-shaped elements (3A, 3A) in the deployed state.

What is presented is a unit cell comprising a cellular geometry that comprises cell walls and cell edges arranged into a combination of a cubic cell geometry and a tetrahedral cell geometry arranged to have a coincident central vertex. The cubic cell geometry comprises three orthogonal cell faces that intersect at its central vertex. The tetrahedral cell geometry comprises an arrangement of eight tetrahedral cells that share its central vertex such that each tetrahedral cell shares three coincident edges with three other tetrahedral cells in a cubically symmetric arrangement. The tetrahedral cell geometry is combined with the cubic cell geometry such that all vertices of the tetrahedral cell geometry are coincident with the vertices of the cubic cell geometry.