A light-emitting unit includes: a light source; and a reflector having reflection faces of first and second partial paraboloids, the first and second partial paraboloids being spaced from each other in an optical axis direction of the light source, the first and second partial paraboloids having a focal point on the light source, wherein: the second partial paraboloid is between the light source and the first partial paraboloid in the optical axis direction; the second partial paraboloid has a coefficient different from that of the first partial paraboloid; and the second partial paraboloid is positioned on a reflection direction side of a light from the light source reflected by the first partial paraboloid, with respect to a plane that is obtained on a presumption that the first partial paraboloid is extended to the light source side in accordance with the coefficient of the first partial paraboloid.

An automatic pet feeder, comprising a bowl with a plurality of compartments, a cover and a sensor, the bowl being rotated relative to the cover to sequentially expose each the compartments, the bowl having location regions detectable by the sensor, each location region having a first edge and a second edge, the motor being driven at a first speed until the first edge is detected, and the motor being driven at a second, slower speed until the second edge is detected, stopping the motor.

An encoder including an emitter to emit a waveform to a scene including a structure. A receiver to receive the waveform reflected from the scene and to measure phases of the received waveform for a period of time. A memory to store a signal model relating phase measurements of the received waveform with phase parameters, and to store a state model relating the phase parameters with a state of the encoder. Wherein the signal model includes a motion-induced polynomial phase signal (PPS) component and a sinusoidal frequency modulated (FM) component. Wherein the PPS component is a polynomial function of the phase parameters, and wherein the FM component is a sinusoidal function of the phase parameters. A processor to determine the phase parameters using non-linear mapping of the phase measurements on the signal model and to determine the state of the encoder by submitting the phase parameters into the state model.

A display device includes a flexible display panel; a rolling driver including a rolling shaft connected to the flexible display panel and a rotation motor which rotates the rolling shaft; a housing which receives the flexible display panel in a rolled state, where a first opening is defined in the housing for unrolling and rolling the flexible display panel; a rolling stopper coupled to the flexible display panel; and a rolling controller which controls the rolling driver such that the rotation motor rotates in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The rolling controller rotates the rotating motor in a direction opposite to a rotating direction of the rotation motor for a previous rolling to unroll the flexible display panel. The rolling controller rotates the rotating motor in a same direction as a rotating direction of the rotation motor for a previous unrolling to roll the flexible display panel.

An automatic pet feeder, comprising a bowl with a plurality of compartments, a cover and a sensor, the bowl being rotated relative to the cover to sequentially expose each the compartments, the bowl having location regions detectable by the sensor, each location region having a first edge and a second edge, the motor being driven at a first speed until the first edge is detected, and the motor being driven at a second, slower speed until the second edge is detected, stopping the motor.

An encoder including an emitter to emit a waveform to a scene including a structure. A receiver to receive the waveform reflected from the scene and to measure phases of the received waveform for a period of time. A memory to store a signal model relating phase measurements of the received waveform with phase parameters, and to store a state model relating the phase parameters with a state of the encoder. Wherein the signal model includes a motion-induced polynomial phase signal (PPS) component and a sinusoidal frequency modulated (FM) component. Wherein the PPS component is a polynomial function of the phase parameters, and wherein the FM component is a sinusoidal function of the phase parameters. A processor to determine the phase parameters using non-linear mapping of the phase measurements on the signal model and to determine the state of the encoder by submitting the phase parameters into the state model.

A laser positioning system is described. The laser positioning system provides a positioning and guidance system that is suitable for environments that have external disturbances such as those caused by wind, equipment movement, vibration, and the like. The laser positioning system of the present invention uses at novel laser line beacon positioning system in optical communication with a novel laser line receiver to achieve accurate positioning in environments with external disturbances, something that has previously not been attainable. In some embodiments, a target or series of targets are used to create a reference by which the laser line receiver and an associated moveable assembly such as a robotic arm assembly are able to accurately place building elements such as bricks. Exemplary applications of the laser positioning system include, but are not limited to, accurate positioning of bricks in a wall under construction by a robotic brick laying system.

A light-emitting unit includes: a light source; and a reflector having reflection faces of first and second partial paraboloids, the first and second partial paraboloids being spaced from each other in an optical axis direction of the light source, the first and second partial paraboloids having a focal point on the light source, wherein: the second partial paraboloid is between the light source and the first partial paraboloid in the optical axis direction; the second partial paraboloid has a coefficient different from that of the first partial paraboloid; and the second partial paraboloid is positioned on a reflection direction side of a light from the light source reflected by the first partial paraboloid, with respect to a plane that is obtained on a presumption that the first partial paraboloid is extended to the light source side in accordance with the coefficient of the first partial paraboloid.

A display device includes a flexible display panel; a rolling driver including a rolling shaft connected to the flexible display panel and a rotation motor which rotates the rolling shaft; a housing which receives the flexible display panel in a rolled state, where a first opening is defined in the housing for unrolling and rolling the flexible display panel; a rolling stopper coupled to the flexible display panel; and a rolling controller which controls the rolling driver such that the rotation motor rotates in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The rolling controller rotates the rotating motor in a direction opposite to a rotating direction of the rotation motor for a previous rolling to unroll the flexible display panel. The rolling controller rotates the rotating motor in a same direction as a rotating direction of the rotation motor for a previous unrolling to roll the flexible display panel.

A platform through-beam sensor device includes a transmitter module and a receiver module. A light emitted by a light-emitting element of the transmitter module is shaped into a light pattern range by a transmitter mask. A range of the light received by a light-receiving element of the receiver module is changed to a receiving range by a receiver mask. When the present invention is used, the transmitter module and the receiver module are respectively installed on two ends of a mechanical apparatus that move relative to each other. After determining a safety range of the relative movement of the two ends, a state that the light-receiving element falls into the light pattern range and the light-emitting element falls into the receiving range is set to be within the safety range. Upon exceeding the safety range, a flying platform is controlled to stop, thereby improving the safety of the flying platform.