Abstract: A display system including an imager for forming an image, and a projection lens system for projecting the image formed by the imager is described. For each pixel in the plurality of pixels, the imager is configured to emit a cone of light having a central ray having a direction that varies with location of the pixel in the imager. The variation may increase a brightness of an image projected through the projection lens system by at least 30 percent. The display system may include a light guide having a light insertion portion adapted to receive light; a light transport portion disposed to receive light from the light insertion portion; and a light extraction portion disposed to receive light from the light transport portion.

Abstract: Multilayer optical film reflective polarizers previously considered to have excessive off-axis color can provide adequate performance in an LC display without any high haze light diffusing layer or air gap between the reflective polarizer and the back absorbing polarizer of the display. The reflective polarizer has only one packet of microlayers, and is oriented using a standard tenter such that birefringent microlayers in the film are biaxially birefringent. The microlayers in the packet have a layer thickness profile suitably tailored to avoid excessive perceived color at normal and oblique angles. A laminate made by combining this type of reflective polarizer with an absorbing polarizer, without an air gap or any high haze light diffusing layer or structure between the polarizers, can be used and incorporated into a liquid crystal display or the like with adequate color performance both at normal incidence and oblique incidence up to a polar angle of 60 degrees.

Abstract: An optical system includes a reflective polarizer (20), and a display (10), first mirror (30a), and second mirror (30b) disposed on a same side of the reflective polarizer (20). The reflective polarizer (20) transmits an image emitted by the display (10) after the image is reflected by the first and second mirrors (30a, 30b). A mid-plane defined by intersection points between an optical axis of the system and the display (10), reflective polarizer (20), and second mirror (30b) has one-pass through four-pass regions having respective areas, A1 through A4.

Abstract: An example optical filter may include an angle blocking layer Slaving a first angular light blocking range ?AL relative to a normal axis, and an interference filter adjacent the angle blocking layer having a second angular light blocking range ?IF relative to the normal axis. ?IF and ?AL at least partially overlap. The example optical filter has a predetermined light transmission zone comprising angles from 0° to a maximum light transmission angle ?Tmax relative to a normal axis of the major surface. The example optical filter has a predetermined angular light blocking zone ?B, a union of ?IF and ?AL. An example optical filter may include an interference filter having an incidence angle-dependent reflection band and an absorbing layer having an absorption band. The incidence angle-dependent reflection band and the absorption band may overlap at least one wavelength at least one angle of incidence.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for selecting settings for a treatment of a patient. In one aspect, the method comprises repeatedly performing the following: i) selecting a configuration of input settings for providing a treatment to a patient based on a causal model that measures current causal relationships between input settings and effects of treatments on the patient; ii) receiving a measure of an effect of the treatment on the patient; and iii) adjusting, based on the measure of the effect of the treatment on the patient, the causal model.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining causal models for controlling environments.

Abstract: A portable detection system comprises an energy source configured to transmit energy, a retroreflective article, a detector configured to sense retroreflective energy produced by interaction of the energy transmitted from the source and the retroreflective article, and an indicator that indicates the detection of the retroreflective energy, wherein at least one of the energy source and the detector are configured to be worn by a user.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for optimizing a process of manufacturing a biologic pharmaceutical. In one aspect, the method comprises repeatedly performing the following: i) selecting a configuration of input settings for manufacturing a batch of a biologic pharmaceutical based on a causal model that measures current causal relationships between input settings and a measure of a quality of batches of the biological pharmaceutical; ii) determining a measure of the quality of a batch of the biological pharmaceutical manufactured using the configuration of input settings; and iii) adjusting, based on the measure of the quality of the batch of the biological pharmaceutical, the causal model.

Abstract: A method of optimizing a plurality of control signals used in operating a vehicle is described. The operation has a plurality of associated measurable parameters. The method includes: for each control signal, selecting a plurality of potential optimum values from a predetermined set; operating the vehicle in at least a first sequence of operation iterations, where for each pair of sequential first and second operation iterations in the first sequence of operation iterations, the potential optimum value of one control signal in the first operation iteration is replaced in the second operation iteration with a next potential optimum value of the control signal, while the potential optimum values of the remaining control signals are maintained; for each operation iteration, measuring each parameter in the plurality of measurable parameters; and generating confidence intervals for the control signals to determine causal relationships between the control signals and the measurable parameters.

Abstract: An optical device is disclosed and includes an optical sensor, a plurality of photosensitive pixels disposed on the optical sensor, a wavelength-selective optical filter in optical communication with the photosensitive pixels, and a plurality of spatially-variant written regions disposed in the optical filter, the written regions having a transmission spectrum and each of the written regions being larger than each of the pixels.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for designing a clinical trial. In one aspect, the method comprises repeatedly performing the following: i) selecting, from a population of patients, patients for being treated with the treatment using a configuration of input settings, wherein the configuration is selected based on a causal model that measures current causal relationships between input settings and a measure of success of the clinical trial; ii) determining the measure of success of the clinical trial for which patients were selected using the certain configuration of input settings; and iii) adjusting, based on the measure of success of the clinical trial, the causal model.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for optimizing operations of a supply chain. In one aspect, the method comprises repeatedly performing the following: i) selecting a configuration of input settings for operating a supply chain, based on a causal model that measures causal relationships between input settings and a measure of success of the supply chain; ii) determining the measure of success of the supply chain operated using the configuration of input settings; and iii) adjusting, based on the measure of success of the supply chain operated using the configuration of input settings, the causal model.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for controlling operations of one or more healthcare facilities. In one aspect, the method comprises repeatedly performing the following: i) selecting a configuration of input settings for controlling operations of the healthcare facilities based on a causal model that measures current causal relationships between input settings and a measure of success of operations at the healthcare facilities; ii) receiving a measure of success of the operation of the healthcare facilities while controlled using the configuration of input settings; and iii) adjusting, based on the measure of success of the operation of the healthcare facilities while controlled using the configuration of input settings, the causal model.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for optimizing a process of manufacturing a product. In one aspect, the method comprises repeatedly performing the following: i) selecting a configuration of input settings for manufacturing a product, based on a causal model that measures causal relationships between input settings and a measure of a quality of the product; ii) determining the measure of the quality of the product manufactured using the configuration of input settings; and iii) adjusting, based on the measure of the quality of the product manufactured using the configuration of input settings, the causal model.

Abstract: A method of performing a process using a plurality of control signals and resulting in a plurality of measurable outcomes is described. The method includes optimizing the plurality of control signals by at least: receiving a plurality of process constraints; receiving, for each measurable outcome, an optimum range; receiving, for each control signal, a plurality of potential optimum values; iteratively performing the process, where for each process iteration, the value of each control signal is selected from among the plurality of potential optimum values received for the control signal; for each process iteration, measuring each outcome in the plurality of measurable outcomes; and generating confidence intervals for the control signals to determine a causal relationship between the control signals and the measurable outcomes. The method includes performing the process using at least the control signals determined by the causal relationship to causally affect at least one of the measurable outcomes.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining causal models for controlling environments.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for optimizing a process of polishing semiconductor wafers. In one aspect, the method comprises repeatedly performing the following: i) selecting a configuration of input settings for polishing a semiconductor wafer, based on a causal model that measures current causal relationships between input settings and a quality of semiconductor wafers; ii) receiving a measure of the quality of the semiconductor wafer polished with the configuration of input settings; and iii) adjusting, based on the measure of the quality of the semiconductor wafer polished with the configuration of input settings, the causal model.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining causal models for controlling environments. One of the methods includes identifying a procedural instance; determining a temporal extent for the procedural instance based on temporal extent parameters for the one or more entities in the procedural instance; selecting control settings for the procedural instance; monitoring environment responses to the control settings that are received for the one or more entities; determining which of the environment responses to attribute to the procedural instance in a causal model; and adjusting, based at least in part on the environment responses that are attributed to the procedural instance, the temporal extent parameters for the one or more entities.

Abstract: A display system including an imager for forming an image, and a projection lens system for projecting the image formed by the imager is described. For each pixel in the plurality of pixels, the imager is configured to emit a cone of light having a central ray having a direction that varies with location of the pixel in the imager. The variation may increase a brightness of an image projected through the projection lens system by at least 30 percent. The display system may include a light guide having a light insertion portion adapted to receive light; a light transport portion disposed to receive light from the light insertion portion; and a light extraction portion disposed to receive light from the light transport portion.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for optimizing parameters of one or more proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers. In one aspect, the method comprises repeatedly performing the following: i) selecting a configuration of respective PID parameters for each of the plurality of PID controllers, based on a causal model that measures causal relationships between PID parameters and a measure of success in controlling the system; ii) determining the measure of success of the configuration of respective PID parameters for the plurality of PID controllers in controlling the system; and iii) adjusting, based on the measure of success of the configuration of respective PID parameters for the plurality of PID controllers in controlling the system, the causal model.