Abstract: The invention relates to an information carrier for scanning information by means of an optical beam having a wavelength. The information carrier comprises at least two information stacks. Each stack comprises a counter electrode (13, 17), an electrolyte layer (12, 16) and an information layer (11, 15). The information layer comprises an electrochromic material whose optical properties at the wavelength of the optical beam depend on a potential difference applied between the information layer and the counter electrode.

Abstract: According to one example embodiment, there is provided a method and an apparatus to evaluate the credit of a healthcare patient. The example embodiment provides methods and computer systems programmed to use multiple variables that are known about a patient prior to a service being rendered to segment the patient population into finer grained groupings. These finer grained groupings allow financial factors, such as a credit score, to be a more accurate predictor. Also, according to another example embodiment, the model is not a generic model for all patients, but the variables and their parameters are specific to a particular healthcare organization's or facility's patient population. This creates a custom model that further enhances its predictiveness.

Abstract: Optical data storage method, reading method, device (40) and storage medium (42,43), comprising storing data by modifying optical properties of polymer material (42), whereby writing is initiated by reorientation of photo-orientable units, typically by illuminating with light at a wavelength that initiates the reorientation, and whereby reading of data includes collection of anisotropic emission from dipole emitters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-stack optical information carrier for recording information by means of an optical beam, said optical information carrier comprising—a substrate layer (S),—at least two recording stacks each comprising a recording layer (P1-P7),—at least one spacer layer (R) separating the at least two recording stacks, and—a cover layer (C). In order to improve the sensitivity during writing it is proposed according to the present invention that the recording layers (P1-P7) include a thermochromic material having temperature-dependent optical characteristics for selectively improving the sensitivity of the addressed recording layer (P1-P7) during recording and/or read-out.

Abstract: The invention relates to a scanning apparatus for scanning information in an information carrier (16) comprising a plurality of layers for storing data on a material capable of generating an excited radiation when interacting with an exciting beam (13) produced by an exciting source (11). The scanning apparatus comprises an objective lens (15) for projecting the exciting beam in a layer of the carrier and collecting the excited radiation. The scanning apparatus also comprises a detector unit (19) for detecting the excited radiation collected on the objective lens. According to the invention, the exciting beam has a numerical aperture lower than the lens numerical aperture.

Abstract: The invention relates to producing an optical memory which combines stability of written and non-written data with high writing speed and good sensitivity during writing, such an optical memory as well as a method of writing in such a memory. The optical memory has a liquid crystal (LC) layer with a first type of LC molecules (102) aligned in one direction, forming a polymer network (108), and a second type of LC molecules (104) oriented in a perpendicular direction, in which the orientation of said second type of LC molecules is meta-stable. By making use of a force, exerted on the second type of LC molecules (104), by the network of aligned crosslinked molecules, an increase in relaxation rate for the second type of molecules (104) from a meta-stable state of orientation, is achieved, which makes it possible to use said relaxation for writing data at an increased writing rate.

Abstract: Optical data storage method, device and storage medium, comprising storing data by modifying optical properties of polymer material, whereby writing is initiated by reorientation of photoorientable units, typically by illuminating with light at a wave-length that initiates the reorientation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for integrating hidden information in a set of notes. In this method, the geometric shape of the geometric elements of the set of notes and/or their geometric relationship to each other are modified compared to the original version according to a predetermined key in such a manner that the modifications bear the to-be-integrated information in digital form and legibility of the set of notes is not impaired.