Abstract: This disclosure provides a computer-program product, system, method and apparatus for accessing a representation of a category or item and accessing a set of multiple transactions. The transactions are processed to identify items found amongst the transactions, and the items are ordered based on an information-gain heuristic. A depth-first search for a group of best association rules is then conducted using a best-first heuristic and constraints that make the search efficient. The best rules found during the search can then be displayed to a user, along with accompanying statistics. The user can then select rules that appear to be most relevant, and further analytics can be applied to the selected rules to obtain further information about the information provided by these rules.

Abstract: A laser scanning system having a laser scanning field, and a laser beam optics module with an optical axis and including: an aperture stop disposed after a laser source for shaping the laser beam to a predetermined beam diameter; a collimating lens for collimating the laser beam produced from the aperture stop; an apodization element having a first and second optical surfaces for extending the depth of focus of the laser beam from the collimating lens; and a negative bi-prism, disposed after the apodization element, along the optical axis, to transform the energy distribution of the laser beam and cause the laser beam to converge to substantially a single beam spot along the far-field portion of the laser scanning field, and extend the depth of focus of the laser beam along the far-field portion of the laser scanning field.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a computer-program product, system, method and apparatus for accessing a representation of a category or item and accessing a set of multiple transactions. The transactions are processed to identify items found amongst the transactions, and the items are ordered based on an information-gain heuristic. A depth-first search for a group of best association rules is then conducted using a best-first heuristic and constraints that make the search efficient. The best rules found during the search can then be displayed to a user, along with accompanying statistics. The user can then select rules that appear to be most relevant, and further analytics can be applied to the selected rules to obtain further information about the information provided by these rules.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a computer-program product, system, method and apparatus for accessing a representation of a category or item and accessing a set of multiple transactions. The transactions are processed to identify items found amongst the transactions, and the items are ordered based on an information-gain heuristic. A depth-first search for a group of best association rules is then conducted using a best-first heuristic and constraints that make the search efficient. The best rules found during the search can then be displayed to a user, along with accompanying statistics. The user can then select rules that appear to be most relevant, and further analytics can be applied to the selected rules to obtain further information about the information provided by these rules.

Abstract: A laser scanning system having a laser scanning field, and a laser beam optics module with an optical axis and including: an aperture stop disposed after a laser source for shaping the laser beam to a predetermined beam diameter; a collimating lens for collimating the laser beam produced from the aperture stop; an apodization element having a first and second optical surfaces for extending the depth of focus of the laser beam from the collimating lens; and a negative bi-prism, disposed after the apodization element, along the optical axis, to transform the energy distribution of the laser beam and cause the laser beam to converge to substantially a single beam spot along the far-field portion of the laser scanning field, and extend the depth of focus of the laser beam along the far-field portion of the laser scanning field.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying data files that have a common characteristic are provided. A plurality of data files including one or more data files having a common characteristic are received. A potential rule is generated by selecting key terms from a list that satisfy a term evaluation metric, and the potential rule is evaluated using a rule evaluation metric. The potential rule is added to the rule set if the rule evaluation metric is satisfied. Based upon the potential rule being added to the rule set, data files covered by the potential rule are removed from the plurality of data files. The potential rule generation and evaluation steps are repeated until a stopping criterion is met. After the stopping criterion has been met, the rule set is used to identify other data files having the common characteristic.

Abstract: A process is described to perform lift-off of a metal layer. A spray is applied to a patterned surface coated with the metal layer. An incidence angle and pressure of the spray are sufficient to separate the metal layer from a substance coated with the metal without separating the substance from an underlying substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying data files that have a common characteristic are provided. A plurality of data files including one or more data files having a common characteristic are received. A potential rule is generated by selecting key terms from a list that satisfy a term evaluation metric, and the potential rule is evaluated using a rule evaluation metric. The potential rule is added to the rule set if the rule evaluation metric is satisfied. Based upon the potential rule being added to the rule set, data files covered by the potential rule are removed from the plurality of data files. The potential rule generation and evaluation steps are repeated until a stopping criterion is met. After the stopping criterion has been met, the rule set is used to identify other data files having the common characteristic.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a laser source and a ring-down optical resonator that performs cavity ring-down spectroscopy, the optical resonator receives coherent optical energy from the laser, wherein an extinction rate of optical resonance within the optical resonator is at least 100 times longer than an extinction rate of optical energy emitted from the laser source first following deactivation of the laser source.

Abstract: A method is provided for permitting a consumer to purchase gasoline without contemporaneously taking delivery of the gasoline. The method includes establishing a credit of a purchase of gasoline at a specified price per unit, without delivery. The method further includes authenticating a purchase of a certain number of units of gasoline at a certain price per unit, with delivery, from a gas retailer. The purchase is compared with the credit to determine if the credit may be redeemed with the sale. If so, the sale amount is adjusted to reflect an adjusted sale amount, and the adjusted sale amount is then cleared as a final transaction. Advantageously, with the subject invention, a consumer may pre-purchase gasoline at an agreed-to price without delivery of the gasoline, with receiving credit at a subsequent purchase in a single transaction, even if the amount of gasoline exceeds the pre-purchase amount.

Abstract: An illustrative cavity ring down gas sensor includes an optical cavity for receiving a gas to be detected and at least two electromagnetic radiation sources. The first electromagnetic radiation source may emit a first beam of light having a wavelength corresponding to an absorption wavelength of the gas to be detected, and the second electromagnetic radiation source may emit a second beam of light having a second wavelength that is off of an absorption wavelength of the gas to be detected. The first beam of light may detect a cavity ring down time decay, which is related to the concentration of the gas to be detected. The second beam of light may be used to detect a baseline cavity ring down time decay, which may be used to help increase the accuracy of the sensor by, for example, helping to compensate the concentration of the gas detected by the first beam of light for sensor variations caused by, for example, sensor age, temperature or pressure changes, and/or other conditions.

Abstract: A laser scanning system having a laser scanning field, and a laser beam optics module with an optical axis and including: an aperture stop disposed after a laser source for shaping the laser beam to a predetermined beam diameter; a collimating lens for collimating the laser beam produced from the aperture stop; an apodization element having a first and second optical surfaces for extending the depth of focus of the laser beam from the collimating lens; and a negative bi-prism, disposed after the apodization element, along the optical axis, to transform the energy distribution of the laser beam and cause the laser beam to converge to substantially a single beam spot along the far-field portion of the laser scanning field, and extend the depth of focus of the laser beam along the far-field portion of the laser scanning field.

Abstract: A system for detecting a flame. The system may discriminate between a detected hot object and flame. The system may be a camera-like structure incorporating an infrared sensor, a lens, and an element that could filter out some of the long-wave infrared radiation. The sensor may receive radiation of a scene which forms images on the sensor. The images may be provided to a processor that incorporates one or more modules to determine whether a flame is present in the scene.

Abstract: A method includes forming a plurality of mirror periods, stacking the mirror periods, and bonding the mirror periods together to form a high reflectance mirror. At least one of the mirror periods is formed by bonding a first semiconductor layer to a first side of a film layer (where the film layer is formed on a second semiconductor layer), forming an opening through the second semiconductor layer to expose the film layer, and cutting through the first semiconductor layer, the film layer, and the second semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer could include a high resistivity silicon wafer, the film layer could include an oxide film, and the second semiconductor layer could include a silicon wafer. The high resistivity silicon wafer could be approximately 110 ?m thick, and the silicon wafer could be approximately 125 ?m thick. The opening through the second semiconductor layer could be 1.25 cm to 1.75 cm in width.

Abstract: An illustrative cavity ring down gas sensor includes an optical cavity for receiving a gas to be detected and at least two electromagnetic radiation sources. The first electromagnetic radiation source may emit a first beam of light having a wavelength corresponding to an absorption wavelength of the gas to be detected, and the second electromagnetic radiation source may emit a second beam of light having a second wavelength that is off of an absorption wavelength of the gas to be detected. The first beam of light may detect a cavity ring down time decay, which is related to the concentration of the gas to be detected. The second beam of light may be used to detect a baseline cavity ring down time decay, which may be used to help increase the accuracy of the sensor by, for example, helping to compensate the concentration of the gas detected by the first beam of light for sensor variations caused by, for example, sensor age, temperature or pressure changes, and/or other conditions.

Abstract: A system having a multiple-mirror ring-down cavity with one mirror where light may be input into the cavity and light from the cavity may be detected. A valve may permit light to enter or not to enter the cavity. An amplifier may be connected to a detector for detecting light from the cavity. The amplifier may be off or set at a low gain when light is entering the cavity and be on at a medium or high gain at a time when light is not entering the cavity.

Abstract: A system and method includes a tunable light source and a gas cell configured to detect the presence of gases at terahertz frequencies. The light source is operable to emit a light signal at terahertz frequencies. The gas cell includes at least two high frequency mirrors adapted to reflect signals at terahertz frequencies. The gas cell is adapted to be tuned based on the frequency of the emitted light to obtain a Fabry-Perot resonance of the reflected light signal. A pair of detectors are operable to detect the original light signal and the light signal reflected through absorption paths in the gas cell. The system and method are operable to determine a presence and identity of a gas present in the gas cell.

Abstract: A nanoparticle having a self assembly monolayer of molecules as a shell on the nanoparticle. The monolayer may include organic molecules working as surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) reporters. Also, the core shell may include at least a receptor, and/or the like, to ensure that a target analyte can be bound for measurement with SERS. The target analyte may be organic, chemical, biological, inorganic, gas, liquid, solid, and so forth.

Abstract: A system and method includes a tunable light source and a gas cell configured to detect the presence of gases at terahertz frequencies. The light source is operable to emit a light signal at terahertz frequencies. The gas cell includes at least two high frequency mirrors adapted to reflect signals at terahertz frequencies. The gas cell is adapted to be tuned based on the frequency of the emitted light to obtain a Fabry-Perot resonance of the reflected light signal. A pair of detectors are operable to detect the original light signal and the light signal reflected through absorption paths in the gas cell. The system and method are operable to determine a presence and identity of a gas present in the gas cell.