Abstract: A reduced-latency ink rendering system and method that reduces latency in rendering ink on a display by bypassing at least some layers of the operating system. “Ink” is any input from a user through a touchscreen device using the user's finger or a pen. Moreover, some embodiments of the system and method avoid the operating system and each central-processing unit (CPU) on a computing device when initially rendering the ink by going directly from the digitizer to the display controller. Any correction or additional processing of the rendered ink is performed after the initial rendering of the ink. Embodiments of the system and method address ink-rendering latency in software embodiments, which include techniques to bypass the typical rendering pipeline and quickly render ink on the display, and hardware embodiments, which use hardware and techniques that locally change display pixels. These embodiments can be mixed and matched in any manner.

Abstract: An optical security device can be used to view sensitive information provided in an obscured format via a potentially untrusted and/or compromised computer. The techniques described herein enable use of untrusted computers for access to sensitive information. The optical security device employs one or more forms of visual cryptography such as spatial cryptography and/or temporal cryptography in some instances via a programmable mask and/or a programmable color filter to reveal sensitive information that is provided in an obscured form by a potentially untrusted computer.

Abstract: An optical security device can be used to view sensitive information provided in an obscured format via a potentially untrusted and/or compromised computer. The techniques described herein enable use of untrusted computers for access to sensitive information. The optical security device employs one or more forms of visual cryptography such as spatial cryptography and/or temporal cryptography in some instances via a programmable mask and/or a programmable color filter to reveal sensitive information that is provided in an obscured form by a potentially untrusted computer.

Abstract: A solar receiver includes a wavelength selective coating comprising a first diffusion barrier layer, a metallic IR reflective layer, a solar absorptive layer, an anti-reflective layer, and/or a hard coat protective layer. Selective absorber coatings, which are characterized by a high solar absorption coefficient and low thermal emission, can be used to convert captured solar radiation into usable heat. In embodiments, more efficient selective coatings are provided that combine relatively high solar absorbance (e.g., greater than about 0.96) with relatively low thermal emittance (e.g., less than about 0.07 at 700° C.), and that are thermally stable above 600° C., for example, in outdoor conditions. The use of such coatings in a solar field may allow for an increase in the operating efficiencies thereof at operating temperatures of about 600° C. or greater.

Abstract: A reduced-latency ink rendering system and method that reduces latency in rendering ink on a display by bypassing at least some layers of the operating system. “Ink” is any input from a user through a touchscreen device using the user's finger or a pen. Moreover, some embodiments of the system and method avoid the operating system and each central-processing unit (CPU) on a computing device when initially rendering the ink by going directly from the digitizer to the display controller. Any correction or additional processing of the rendered ink is performed after the initial rendering of the ink. Embodiments of the system and method address ink-rendering latency in software embodiments, which include techniques to bypass the typical rendering pipeline and quickly render ink on the display, and hardware embodiments, which use hardware and techniques that locally change display pixels. These embodiments can be mixed and matched in any manner.

Abstract: A multi-purpose stylus and method for communicating and interacting with a computing device both through physical contact and wirelessly. Embodiments of the stylus and method facilitate the use of the stylus as both a physical input instrument (by contacting a surface of the computing device to input data) and as a remote wireless instrument using a variety of auxiliary devices. Many types and combinations of auxiliary devices may be incorporated into embodiments of the stylus and method. These include one or more microphones and speakers, a laser pointer, a camera, a color sensor for obtaining color coordinates of an object, and an accelerometer to identify and interpret user gestures. Moreover, identification and authentication of a user may be achieved by including a fingerprint sensor and an identification device having a unique identifier. A transceiver is used to wireless communicate and control remote devices and the computing device.

Abstract: The radiation-selective absorber coating (20) has two barrier layers (24a, 24b), an IR-reflecting layer (21) arranged thereon, an absorption layer (22) arranged above the IR-reflecting (21) and an antireflection layer (23) over the absorption layer (22). The absorber tube (13) is a steel tube (1) with the radiation-selective absorber coating (20) applied to the outside thereof. In the process of coating the absorber tube (13) a first oxide barrier layer (24a) is applied to a steel tube by thermal oxidation; a second barrier layer (24b) is then applied by physical gas phase deposition of silicon with supply of oxygen; the IR-reflecting layer (21) is then applied by gas phase deposition of gold, silver, platinum or copper; the absorption layer (22) is then applied by deposition of aluminum and molybdenum; and a final antireflection layer (23) is applied by deposition of silicon with supply of oxygen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solar cell having at least one photovoltaic layer made of an organic material, in particular a polymer material, which absorbs light and in which electron-hole pairs can be produced, said solar cell having two opposite layer surfaces of which one is connected with at least one hole-receiving layer produced inside said photovoltaic layer and the other is connected with at least one electron-receiving layer produced inside said photovoltaic layer, as well as having electrode areas En and Ep, of which one said electrode area is electrically contacted to said hole-receiving layer and the other said electrode area is electrically connected to said electron receiving layer.

Abstract: The radiation selective absorber coating of the invention includes two or more barrier layers arranged over each other on a substrate surface, an infrared-range reflective layer arranged on the two or more barrier layers, and at least an absorption layer arranged over the infrared-range reflective layer and a final antireflection layer arranged over the absorption layer. The absorber pipe, especially for a parabolic trough collector, is a steel pipe, on whose outer side the radiation selective absorber coating is applied. In the method of making the absorber pipe a first oxide barrier layer is provided on the outer side of the steel pipe by thermal oxidation, and then a second barrier layer, an infrared-range reflective layer, an absorption layer and a final antireflection layer are applied by gas-phase physical deposition.

Abstract: The radiation-selective absorber coating (20) has two barrier layers (24a, 24b), an IR-reflecting layer (21) arranged thereon, an absorption layer (22) arranged above the IR-reflecting (21) and an antireflection layer (23) over the absorption layer (22). The absorber tube (13) is a steel tube (1) with the radiation-selective absorber coating (20) applied to the outside thereof. In the process of coating the absorber tube (13) a first oxide barrier layer (24a) is applied to a steel tube by thermal oxidation; a second barrier layer (24b) is then applied by physical gas phase deposition of silicon with supply of oxygen; the IR-reflecting layer (21) is then applied by gas phase deposition of gold, silver, platinum or copper; the absorption layer (22) is then applied by deposition of aluminium and molybdenum; and a final antireflection layer (23) is applied by deposition of silicon with supply of oxygen.

Abstract: The radiation selective absorber coating of the invention includes two or more barrier layers arranged over each other on a substrate surface, an infrared-range reflective layer arranged on the two or more barrier layers, and at least an absorption layer arranged over the infrared-range reflective layer and a final antireflection layer arranged over the absorption layer. The absorber pipe, especially for a parabolic trough collector, is a steel pipe, on whose outer side the radiation selective absorber coating is applied. In the method of making the absorber pipe a first oxide barrier layer is provided on the outer side of the steel pipe by thermal oxidation, and then a second barrier layer, an infrared-range reflective layer, an absorption layer and a final antireflection layer are applied by gas-phase physical deposition.

Abstract: Described is a device for guiding light consisting of at least one partially translucent surface material, with a surface upper side, which has optically active surface structures for guiding and/or scattering light, as well as an optically switchable coating provided at least in partial areas of the surface structures, or at least two directly or indirectly opposing surface upper sides, of which one exhibits optically active surface structures for guiding and/or scattering light, and the other provides an optically switchable coating that covers at least parts of the surface upper side.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solar cell having at least one photovoltaic layer (A) made of an organic material, in particular a polymer material, which absorbs light and in which electron-hole pairs can be produced, said solar cell having two opposite layer surfaces of which one is connected with at least one hole-receiving layer (p) produced inside said photovoltaic layer (A) and the other is connected with at least one electron-receiving layer (n) produced inside said photovoltaic layer (A), as well as having electrode areas En and Ep, of which one said electrode area (Ep) is electrically contacted to said hole-receiving layer (p) and the other said electrode area (En) is electrically connected to said electron receiving layer (n).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photovoltaically self-charging storage system having a layer structure in which a first material (1), which forms a first redox system, a second material (2), which forms a second redox system, and a photosensitive material (3) are arranged in or between a first (4) and a second electrically conductive layer (5). At least one of the electrically conductive layers (4, 5) is transparent for visible light. The first and the second material (1, 2) are each in electrical contact with one of the electrically conductive layers (4, 5) and arranged in the layer structure in such a manner that, due to the effect of light, the photosensitive material (3) induces a redox reaction Aox+Bred→Ared+Box, which can be reversed if light ceases. The thickness of the layer over which the first (1) and/or second material (2) extends is configured in such a manner that a charge storage sufficient for operating an electrical consumer is made possible.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a glazing element for facing building facades or window systems, in particular for motor vehicles, trains or aircraft, having at least two panes, which enclose an intermediate space, and on one pane surface facing said intermediate space a coating buildup is provided, having an electrically conductive layer applied to one pane surface, thereupon an electrochromic, and thereupon an ion-conducting and thereupon an electrocatalytic layer. The invention is distinguished by the fact that, in addition to the coating buildup in the intermediate space, which is free of water, solely a reducing or oxidizing gas or gas mixture comprising a reducing or an oxidizing gas or a gas mixture comprising a reducing or an oxidizing gas and an inert gas is provided and that an electric voltage of less than 1.2 volts between the electrically conductive and the electrocatalytic layer is applied.

Abstract: Described is an optical element having a region arranged on a first substrate and comprising at least one layer, the region containing a reactive material, a dye, and ion storage, whereby a redox system and at least one ion are present in the ion storage. The dye is hereby in contact with the reactive material, either directly or by means of a conductive layer, such that an optically induced charge transfer flow (forward reaction) can be achieved from the dye to the reactive material, either directly or by means of the conductive layer within the region that comprises at least one layer. A charge carrier return flow (reverse reaction) can occur via the same interface as the forward reaction, or alternatively, via external wiring and a second electrode. The external wiring can contain a switch.

Abstract: In a system for communicating optically encoded data among a network of nodes, the nodes are connected to each other by optical transmit and receive fibers. Each node includes a laser, a transmitter, and a receiver connected to the transmitters of the other nodes by a fiber stretcher. The rate at which the laser generates light pulses is controlled by a frequency control signal supplied to an oscillator connected to the laser. The delay from the transmitters to the receivers is controlled by a phase control signal supplied to the fiber stretcher connected to the receive fiber. The transmitter connected to the transmit fiber selective delays the pulses into a plurality of time multiplexed channels. The receiver connected to the fiber stretcher selectively detects the pulses in the time multiplexed channels while all of the pulses of all of the nodes are globally synchronized in all of the time multiplexed channels in frequency and phase using the frequency and phase control signals.

Abstract: A glazing element, in particular, for facing building facades, having two nes enclosing a gaseous atmospheric intermediate space and having a predetermined layer on at least one pane surface facing the intermediate space. The glazing element is distinguished by the fact that the predetermined layer has a reactive layer applied on one pane and a catalytic layer applied on the reactive layer. The catalytic layer, depending on the composition of the gas atmosphere contained between the panes, activates in the reactive layer. The reaction changes the optical and/or electrical properties of the reactive layer, and varies the composition of the gas atmosphere in the intermediate space, thereby making the electrical and/or optical properties of the reactive layer variable.