Abstract: A bundle of public counters and a corresponding bundle of private counters are created and transmitted to a user device. The user device receives a request and processes the request without accessing a secure element processor on the user device. The user device calculates a security code using the private counter and a number. The user device transmits the calculated security code and one of the bundle of public counters in response to the request. A receiver of the response to the request determines the validity of the public counter and looks up the corresponding private counter using the public counter. The receiver determines the validity of the security code by recomputing it using the private counter and the number.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for making multiple aseptic fluid interconnections in parallel with an integral clamping mechanism and elastomeric fluid sealing gasket to provide an initial fluid tight seal while removing sealing tape tabs and a final fluid tight seal after sealing tape tabs are removed. The clamping mechanism comprises a hinge coupling and a first set of snap-fit locks to maintain the initial fluid tight seal and a second set of snap-fit locks to maintain the final fluid tight seal.

Abstract: A microreactor with a reaction chamber comprising two sub-chambers with reconfigurable volumes, an input conduit with input valve, an un-filtered output conduit with first output valve, and a filtered output conduit with a second output valve is used to perform a method to control a different dilution rate for cells and molecules in continuous culture bioprocesses. In preferred embodiments flow control is achieved using the difference in volume of the two sub-chambers.

Abstract: A tracking system uses a mobile reader or scanner that scans, for example through a barcode reader, a passive tag reader, a probe, input, camera, or an active RF tag communication reader, and records item (asset or inventory) data. After being recorded, this item data and other relevant data is sent by radio transmission to a receiver network in the tracking system. The receiver network has at least two receivers (or at least two receiver antennae). The scanner location data, calculated by comparing the signal information at each receiver antenna receiving the radio transmission, is then used to register and record the location data of the scanned item.

Abstract: A landscape lighting system includes a lighting assembly having a tubular housing formed from a rock mass with a bore therein and having a light source with the ability to emit light having at least one color. The light source being positioned within the bore to project the light from the lighting assembly. An AC-to-DC converter connects to an external AC power supply and for supplying direct current to the light source within the lighting assembly. A control unit has a receiver and an internal controller for controlling the AC-to-DC converter and the light source to regulate the intensity and the color of the light emitted from the light source. A remote unit communicates with the control unit receiver to transmit instructions to the internal controller over a distance. Optionally, the landscape lighting system includes a mechanism to adjust the beam spread from the light source.

Abstract: Identifying the geolocation of POS terminals using non-payment events to predict when the geolocation of a computing device at a time when the device detects events corresponds to the geolocation of the terminal. The device monitors for pre-selected events and transmit data to the account system. The account system determines a frequency of the events and it reaches a pre-defined threshold, the account system identifies the location of the terminal by identifying the common geolocation of the events. The identified geolocation is saved so that when a user then enters the location and transmits event data to the account system, the system can compare the geolocation of the event data to the saved geolocation to determine whether the computing device is located at the terminal. If the computing device is located at the terminal, the account system transmits offers or other content for display and use at the identified terminal.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for assessing a resolution of an optical sensor. An image is obtained from the optical sensor. A target area is selected from the image. The selected area is subjected to a thresholding process to generate a binary image. Pixels at a center of the binary image are tagged. The remaining pixels of the binary image are looped through, where pixels that are not already tagged, are touching a tagged pixel, and are of the same color of previously tagged pixels are tagged. A plurality of distances associated with each corner of the binary image is calculated from the corner to the nearest tagged pixel in a row or column of pixels. At least two shortest distances of the calculated plurality of distances are selected to determine an orientation of an object defined by the tagged pixels in the generated binary image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically assessing a resolution of an optical sensor. An image is obtained from the sensor. The obtained image is thresholded to generate a binary image of black and white pixels using a first threshold value. A target area is selected from the binary image. The first threshold value is increased to generate a second threshold value. The target is thresholded using the second threshold value. At least one pixel is tagged at a center of the target area. Pixels surrounding a tagged pixel are processed, tagging white pixels. If a tagged pixel is at an edge of the target area, an orientation of an object in the target area is determined based on that edge. And, if no pixel is tagged at the edge of the target area, the second threshold value is decreased and the thresholding, tagging, and processing steps are repeated.

Abstract: Active devices such as pumps and mixers have been fabricated in plastic-PDMS hybrid devices. By utilizing functionalized bis-silane primers, bond strength between Polycarbonate or PMMA and PDMS improved in dry and aqueous environments. Plastic-primer-PDMS layers exposed to acid and base solutions at 70° C. for 2 hours showed no signs of delamination at 30 psi for pH ?1 to 15 and 60 psi for pH 0 to 15. A peristaltic pump fabricated in polycarbonate achieved consistent flow rates up to peristaltic cycle frequencies of 10 Hz in water, 1OM HCl, and 1OM NaOH solutions.

Abstract: A tracking system is described having at least two mobile transmitter/receivers (“transceivers”) which sense and respond to at least one tracking transceiver. The signals sent to and received from the mobile transceivers are analyzed to get a distance (range) that each is from the tracking transceiver. This can be converted into a position relative to the mobile transceivers. If there are enough transceivers, and at least one knows its absolute location, the absolute location of the mobile transceivers may be determined. Existing smartphones, cellphones, Wi-Fi routers, Bluetooth devices, and near-field devices that have on-board processors, can be modified to run executable code to implement the current invention. They may communicate using at least one of the modalities for tracking. These may be implemented in tracking the position and orientation of moving devices, such as a head-mounted display for virtual/Augmented Reality, automobiles, packages in a package delivery truck.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, the user initiates a digital wallet transaction at a point of sale (“POS”) terminal of a merchant system. The POS terminal receives payment account information options associated with the user's digital wallet account from the account management system to display to the user. The user selects one or more payment account information options via a user interface of the POS terminal. The account management system receives an indication of the user's one or more selections, generates one or more payment tokens based on the corresponding selected payment account information options, and transmits the one or more payment tokens to the POS terminal for use in a transaction. The POS terminal communicates with one or more issuer systems associated with the selected payment account information options to process the transaction using corresponding payment tokens. The user receives a transaction receipt at the POS terminal.

Abstract: Inferring purchase intent using non-payment transaction signals predicts whether a payment transaction has been completed based on non-payment information. An account system that operates outside of the payment path does not take part in and the approval of a financial transaction between the user and the merchant system, distributes an offer to the user. The user completes a financial payment transaction with the merchant and the account system determines whether a trigger event has occurred. The user performs an action or enters information using the user computing device, and the user computing device transmits an indication of the action to the account system. In another example, the account system receives notification from another system or device. The account system determines whether the action is a trigger event and the predictive model determines whether the user completed a financial transaction and/or redeemed the distributed offer.

Abstract: The present invention features a medical device and methods for the prevention and/or treatment of neurological disorders via electrical stimulation. These device are minimally or non-invasive and are capable of detection of a neurological disorder and its subsequent prevention or treatment. Specifically, seizure control is among the targeted therapeutic areas. Components of the device include control electronics and electrodes; the latter are targeting electrodes located entirely outside the skull and can be constructed from ring type structures or virtually connected disc type arrays. Other sub-systems included in the medical device are a control system, a battery unit, and wires connecting these and other sub-systems.

Abstract: A method and system are provided to assess a resolution of an optical sensor. The method includes placing a target at a distance from a focal plane of the optical sensor. The target is oriented in a first orientation and includes a grid and a plurality of test objects having different sizes and orientations. An image of the target is acquired from the optical sensor. The target grid in the acquired image is identified. Each test object of the plurality of test objects is identified using the identified grid and an orientation of the identified test object is determined. The determined orientations of the identified test objects of the plurality of test objects are compared to a ground truth and presented.

Abstract: Redeeming closed loop payment instruments in wallet account transactions comprises a payment system server configured to associate financial accounts with a payment account of a user, comprising at least one closed loop account. The server receives, from a card network, a first payment authorization request originating from a merchant, comprising the payment account identifier and a request to fund a transaction. The server communicates, to a closed loop account issuer computing system, a redemption request to redeem funds from the closed loop account. The server receives a redemption of funds from the closed loop account. The server deducts the redeemed funds redeemed from a total amount of funds requested in the first payment authorization request. Upon receiving the funds, the server communicates to the merchant computing system a second authorization for the total amount of funds requested in the first authorization request based on the redemption of funds.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods to operate microreactor devices through the controlled delivery of pressurized fluids. A heated reservoir, a heated manifold, and a heater for the microreactor device provides for the delivery of a pressurized gas while minimizing evaporation and condensation; and a fluid interface and pressure interlock provides for the delivery of aseptic fluids while minimizing contamination and fluid loss.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention introduces integrated fluid injection and mixing devices to enable pH control in a miniature parallel integrated bioreactor array system. In another embodiment, the environmental conditions of the growth chamber is enabled through fluidic injections in a miniature parallel cell culture system. In still another embodiment, the present invention utilizes gas switches to control oxygen concentration within a miniature parallel integrated bioreactor array.

Abstract: An appliance having a housing including a body defining a compartment and a door attached to the body, a water supplier including a first valve actuator configured to cause water to be dispensed by the water supplier, a supply container holder configured to hold a supply container for a liquid supply, at least one user input device including a touch screen configured to enable a user to make an input to request dispensing of the liquid supply from the supply container, a supply dispenser including a second valve actuator and configured to cause the liquid supply in the supply container to be selectively dispensed from the supply container based on the input made by the user using the touch screen, and a dispensing computer configured to receive a dispense signal from the touch screen, in response to receipt of the dispense signal, cause the second valve actuator to cause the liquid supply in the supply container to be dispensed from the supply container for a first period of time to dispense an appropriate am

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for measuring the optical density of a fluid by measuring the light transmission through a reconfigurable optical path. The optical path is reconfigured by the deflection of an elastic membrane wherein the optical path length through the fluid is determined by the position of the membrane relative to a fixed surface. The optical density can be determined from two measurements with different optical path lengths through the fluid.