Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for extending installment options to users. One example computer-implemented method includes, as part of an authentication challenge to a user for a transaction, requesting, by a communication device of the user, installment options from an installment service provider (ISP) based on an identifier specific to a first party involved in the transaction. In response, the ISP retrieves the requested installment options and provides them to the communication device. The method also includes displaying, by the communication device, the installment options to the user, soliciting a selection of one of the installment options, and, in response to the selection, identifying the selected one of the installment options to the ISP, whereby the ISP records the selected installment option as payment for the transaction.

Abstract: Described herein are various methods of sharing data across multiple computers. The method of sharing data permits the pruning of data from the shared data.

Abstract: Described herein are various methods of sharing data across multiple computers. The method of sharing data permits the pruning of data from the shared data.

Abstract: Described herein are various methods of generating and using a digital signature, such as a polymorphic digital signature. One or more methods of creating a digital signature permit strings of characters, which may be simple or complex, to uniquely identify large numbers of people, things, and actions. Different people, things, and actions can use the same set of characters to identify themselves and yet still be uniquely identified.

Abstract: Described herein are various methods of securing a computer system. One or more methods include starting a security process after basic functionality on a computer is initiated at startup. The security process performs one or more reviews, such as audits, of the computer to verify that there have not been unauthorized changes to the computer, such as to any settings or executable files.

Abstract: Described herein are various methods of securing a computer system. One or more methods include starting a security process after basic functionality on a computer is initiated at startup. The security process performs one or more reviews, such as audits, of the computer to verify that there have not been unauthorized changes to the computer, such as to any settings or executable files.

Abstract: Described herein are various methods of generating and using a digital signature, such as a polymorphic digital signature. One or more methods of creating a digital signature permit strings of characters, which may be simple or complex, to uniquely identify large numbers of people, things, and actions. Different people, things, and actions can use the same set of characters to identify themselves and yet still be uniquely identified.

Abstract: An electrolysis device to separate water into its more economically valuable constituent hydrogen and oxygen gases. A neutral plate is interleaved between every magnetically charged electrode in an electrode stack to provide a means of spark suppression, a physical barrier between the hydrogen gas created at the cathode and oxygen gas created at the cathode, and to reduce deterioration of electrode surfaces caused by alternating polarity from an anode state to a cathode state. Scale of electrolysis cell electrodes are partially cleaned through a cycling of system polarity through a neutral electrode period. A means is provided to isolate and segregate dissociated hydrogen and oxygen gas.

Abstract: An electrolysis device to separate water into its more economically valuable constituent hydrogen and oxygen gases. A neutral plate is interleaved between every magnetically charged electrode in an electrode stack to provide a means of spark suppression, a physical barrier between the hydrogen gas created at the cathode and oxygen gas created at the cathode, and to reduce deterioration of electrode surfaces caused by alternating polarity from an anode state to a cathode state. Scale of electrolysis cell electrodes are partially cleaned through a cycling of system polarity through a neutral electrode period. A means is provided to isolate and segregate dissociated hydrogen and oxygen gas.

Abstract: Light-emitting articles and methods of manufacturing such articles are disclosed. In one aspect, a light emitting article includes an optical element having an input and an output aperture, each having a size. An LED die having a size is optically coupled to the optical element. The output aperture size of the optical element matches the LED die size. In another aspect, an array of light-emitting articles includes an array of optical elements having a lapped input aperture surface, and an array of LED dies optically coupled to the optical elements at the input aperture. In another aspect, an array of light-emitting articles includes an array of optical elements, and an array of LED dies, each LED die having a size. Each LED die is optically coupled to an optical element at the input aperture. The output aperture size of the optical element is matched to the LED die size.

Abstract: The present application discloses arrays of optical elements and methods of manufacturing same. In one aspect, an array of optical elements has a lapped input aperture surface. In another aspect, a mechanically stable array of optical elements comprises an array of optical elements. Each optical element has a sidewall and the sidewalls of adjoining optical elements form channels in the array. A protective material at least partially fills the channels in the array to form the mechanically stable array. In another aspect, a manufacturing method comprises providing an array of roughly shaped optical elements, each roughly shaped optical element having a sidewall, and the sidewalls of adjoining roughly shaped optical elements forming channels in the array; filling the channels with a removable protective material to form a mechanically stable array; and lapping the mechanically stable array to a final shape and surface finish to form the array of optical elements.

Abstract: Provided is an abrasive article for lapping or polishing a workpiece comprising a three-dimensional, textured, flexible, fixed abrasive construction having a first surface and a working surface, the working surface comprising a plurality of precisely shaped abrasive composites, wherein the precisely shaped abrasive composite comprises a resin phase and a metal phase, wherein the metal phase further comprises superabrasive material. Also provided are a method of polishing or lapping a workpiece and a kit comprising a three-dimensional, textured, flexible, fixed abrasive construction and instructions for carrying out the method of polishing or lapping a workpiece.

Abstract: Provided is a fixed abrasive article for polishing a workpiece having a hardness comprising (a) a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, (b) a region of abrasive composites distributed on the first surface of the substrate, and (c) a region of conditioning amalgams distributed on the first surface of the substrate. The abrasive composites include a composite binder and abrasive particles of a first hardness, which first hardness is higher than the hardness of the workpiece. The amalgams include an erodible binder and conditioning particles sufficient to condition the composite binder and having a second hardness, which second hardness is less than the hardness of the workpiece and greater than the hardness of the composite binder. Also provided are other abrasive articles, and methods of making them.

Abstract: Provided is a method of polishing comprising providing a workpiece, providing a fixed abrasive article, providing conditioning particles, and relatively moving the workpiece and the fixed abrasive article in the presence of the conditioning particles to modify the surface of the workpiece and to condition the fixed abrasive. The fixed abrasive article comprises a substrate having a first surface and a region of abrasive composites distributed on the first surface of the substrate. The abrasive composites include a composite binder and abrasive particles, which may be in abrasive agglomerates together with a matrix material. The abrasive particles are harder than the workpiece. The conditioning particles are sufficient to condition one or more of the composite binder, matrix material, and abrasive agglomerates. The hardness of the conditioning particles is less than the hardness of the workpiece and they do not substantially polish the workpiece.

Abstract: A sipper cup (10) includes a valve (16), when the valve (16) is not deformed, the valve is in an “off” position, so that no substantial liquid flows, even if the cup is turned upside down.