Abstract: A modulating retro-reflector (MRR) can be configured to provide a large field of view. The MRR can include a solid corner cube reflector (CCR) manufactured of a material having a high index of refraction at the desired operating wavelength. CCRs made from high index materials such as InP or Si, have an index of refraction of approximately 3.48 at an operating wavelength of approximately 1550 nm and can provide a conical Field of View (FOV) of greater than ±60 degrees compared to less than ±30 degrees for CCRs made from BK-7. Each CCR can include one or more elements configured to modulate an optical signal incident on the CCR. A retro-modulating transponder can use fewer large FOV MRRs to support communication over a predetermined incident optical span compared to narrower FOV MRRs resulting in lower cost, smaller size, weight and power requirements.

Abstract: A water-dispersible particle for delivery of nitrogen to a plant is disclosed. The water-dispersible particle also delivers an active ingredient such as a plant hormone to a desirable plant or a pesticide or herbicide to an undesirable organism. Methods for making and using the water-dispersible particle are described.

Abstract: It is first determined whether any printing element of a printhead has failed. If so, functions of the failed element are reassigned to other elements. Some aspects of the invention do this in such a way as to maintain essentially single-pass operation. Ordinarily the reassigned functions are applied to control operation of the head or heads, to print images on a print medium, and functions of the apparatus and method are effected automatically by program instructions—in nonvolatile memory. One approach to the reassignment includes removing from service all printing elements between the failed element and a nearer end of the head, inclusive—and then preferably operating all remaining in-service elements as a shorter printhead. If the printhead operates in conjunction with a print-medium advance mechanism, then also preferably each operation of that mechanism is shortened to correspond to a height of the shorter head.