A surface is laser-etched to convey a 2D machine-readable code pattern. Various strategies are detailed to minimize the etching time. Some strategies include modifying the code pattern to reduce a path length traveled by the laser. Some strategies include modifying the code pattern to make it sub-optimal, i.e., making the code pattern a less-faithful approximation of an ideal code pattern. In some embodiments the etched surface is the surface of a plastic container, and the code pattern conveys information indicating the type of plastic of which the container is manufactured. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

An ultrasonic machining device (1) for machining a workpiece. At least one component, selected from the group including a generator (11), a converter (12), a booster (13), a sonotrode (14), a HV cable (15), a machine frame (16) and a receiving device for the workpiece (17), is/are assigned an identifier (18). The identifier (18) characterizes at least one individual parameter of the component. The device (1) is assigned an input interface (19) which reads in the identifier (18) or generated data from the identifier. The device (1) is assigned a data processing arrangement (20). By way of the data processing arrangement (20), based on the read-in identifier (18) or the data generated from the identifier (18), at least one parameter of the device (1) is determined in such a way that the device (1) is operated in a target operating state, e.g., a resonant vibrating state.

A personal food inventory system (PFIS) allows for storage of food items in a personal inventory associated with a user account, as well as tracking of food items consumed by the user account. The PFIS is linked to an application for communicating between an account user and the PFIS items that are received into the personal inventory and items consumed or otherwise removed from the personal inventory. The PFIS is linked to one or more preferred vendors for easy entry of items into the personal inventory. The PFIS also provides recommendation of dishes the account user can prepare based on the personal food inventory and/or a vendor inventory associated with the preferred vendor. The PFIS further provides user notifications for items nearing their expiry date. The PFIS also provides notification to the account user regarding usage of the personal food inventory system by tracking consumption.

A transaction card having a metal layer, an opening in the metal layer for a transponder chip, and at least one discontinuity extending from an origin on the card periphery to a terminus in the opening. The card has a greater flex resistance than a card having a comparative discontinuity with the terminus and the origin the same distance from a line defined by a first long side of the card periphery in an absence of one or more strengthening features. Strengthening features include a discontinuity wherein one of the terminus or the origin are located relatively closer to the first long side of the card periphery than the other, a plurality of discontinuities wherein fewer than all extend from the card periphery to the opening, a self-supporting, non-metal layer disposed on at least one surface of the card, or one or more ceramic reinforcing tabs surrounding the opening.

A teleoperable medical system comprises a manipulator arm and a cannula mount coupled to the manipulator arm. The manipulator arm comprises an interface configured to operably couple with a medical instrument. The cannula mount is configured to removably mount a cannula to the manipulator arm in a position to permit removable insertion of the medical instrument through the cannula. The cannula mount comprises a receptacle configured to receive an attachment portion of the cannula in a mounted state of the cannula, and a reader positioned to be in magnetic field sensing proximity to the attachment portion of the cannula in the mounted state of the cannula. The teleoperable medical system comprises a controller configured to receive output signals from the reader and determine identification information about the cannula based on the output signals.

A parcel delivery system and method. The parcel delivery system and method includes a user application loaded on mobile computing devices of a plurality of users and a service application loaded on mobile computing devices of a plurality of service providers. The users may create digital posts including information about parcels they would like to ship through the user application. The digital posts are accessible the user service provides on the service application. The service providers may select a digital post, pick up the parcel and deliver the parcel to a destination. The user may track the service provider during delivery via the user and service applications.

A system and method for facilitating inspection of fire alarm systems includes a graphical user interface rendered on a touchscreen display of a mobile computing device receiving selections of inspection results. The graphical user interface includes a testing pane, which indicates devices that are currently being tested, and a selection pane, which indicates devices yet to be tested. The devices indicated by the selection pane are filtered according to the inferred location of the inspector or the inferred order of test. Selection of devices indicated by the selection pane results in those devices being indicated by the testing pane. Results of inspections of the devices indicated by the testing pane are then selected by the touchscreen display detecting gestures (e.g. swipes toward the left or right) corresponding to different results. The results are sent to a connected services system and stored in a connected services database.

The described device allows a user to set preference and receive the preferences by simply allowing a payment device to communicate with a preference reader.

This disclosure relates to a system, method, and computer-readable device configured to receive demographic and geographical information and create a unique global address therefrom. For example, the system comprises at least one processor configured to receive account information describing the remote user and global location data describing a remote location, validate the received information and data, determine navigational data, create a location code, and send the location code to a remote device.

A bowling enhancement system is for a bowling lane, and may include a mobile device, an image sensor arranged over the bowling lane and configured to generate image data of the bowling lane, projectors arranged over the bowling lane and configured to generate a set of projected images onto the bowling lane, and a server. The server may be configured to cause a given projector to project a pairing token onto the bowling lane, when receiving the pairing token from the mobile device, establish a communication link with the mobile device to receive a given game characteristic from the mobile wireless communications device, determine a tracking path of a bowling ball traveling on the bowling lane based upon the image data, and selectively change the set of projected images based upon the tracking path of the bowling ball and the given game characteristic.