Abstract: A method for generating an infrared (IR) beam for illuminating a scene to be imaged comprises providing at least two IR emitters, including a first IR emitter operable to emit a wide beam component of the IR beam, and a second IR emitter operable to emit a narrow beam component of the IR beam, wherein the wide beam component has a linear profile that has a lower standard deviation than a linear profile of the narrow beam component. The method also comprises selecting a desired linear profile for the IR beam, and selecting a power ratio of power directed to the first IR emitter and power directed to the second IR emitter that produces the IR beam with the desired linear profile when the narrow beam component and wide beam component are combined.

Abstract: A method for generating an infrared (IR) beam for illuminating a scene to be imaged comprises providing at least two IR emitters, including a first IR emitter operable to emit a wide beam component of the IR beam, and a second IR emitter operable to emit a narrow beam component of the IR beam, wherein the wide beam component has a linear profile that has a lower standard deviation than a linear profile of the narrow beam component. The method also comprises selecting a desired linear profile for the IR beam, and selecting a power ratio of power directed to the first IR emitter and power directed to the second IR emitter that produces the IR beam with the desired linear profile when the narrow beam component and wide beam component are combined.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at a security camera having dual communication ports. The camera includes a camera body mountable to a mounting surface and comprising an aperture, a lens, an imager, primary communication circuitry comprising a primary communication port accessible from outside the camera body, secondary communication circuitry comprising a secondary communication port accessible from outside the camera body, and control and processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the imager and to the primary and secondary communication circuitry. The primary communication port is on one side of the mounting when the camera body is mounted and the secondary communication port and the aperture are on an opposing side of the mounting surface when the camera body is mounted. A digital communication signal is sent to the secondary communication port when the secondary communication port is coupled to an active link.

Abstract: A method for generating an infrared (IR) beam for illuminating a scene to be imaged comprises providing at least two IR emitters, including a first IR emitter operable to emit a wide beam component of the IR beam, and a second IR emitter operable to emit a narrow beam component of the IR beam, wherein the wide beam component has a linear profile that has a lower standard deviation than a linear profile of the narrow beam component. The method also comprises selecting a desired linear profile for the IR beam, and selecting a power ratio of power directed to the first IR emitter and power directed to the second IR emitter that produces the IR beam with the desired linear profile when the narrow beam component and wide beam component are combined; and directing power to the first and second IR emitters at the selected power ratio to generate the wide and narrow beam components, and combining the generated wide and narrow beam components to produce the IR beam.

Abstract: A method for generating an infrared (IR) beam for illuminating a scene to be imaged comprises providing at least two IR emitters, including a first IR emitter operable to emit a wide beam component of the IR beam, and a second IR emitter operable to emit a narrow beam component of the IR beam, wherein the wide beam component has a linear profile that has a lower standard deviation than a linear profile of the narrow beam component. The method also comprises selecting a desired linear profile for the IR beam, and selecting a power ratio of power directed to the first IR emitter and power directed to the second IR emitter that produces the IR beam with the desired linear profile when the narrow beam component and wide beam component are combined; and directing power to the first and second IR emitters at the selected power ratio to generate the wide and narrow beam components, and combining the generated wide and narrow beam components to produce the IR beam.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at a security camera having dual communication ports. The camera includes a camera body mountable to a mounting surface and comprising an aperture, a lens, an imager, primary communication circuitry comprising a primary communication port accessible from outside the camera body, secondary communication circuitry comprising a secondary communication port accessible from outside the camera body, and control and processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the imager and to the primary and secondary communication circuitry. The primary communication port is on one side of the mounting when the camera body is mounted and the secondary communication port and the aperture are on an opposing side of the mounting surface when the camera body is mounted. A digital communication signal is sent to the secondary communication port when the secondary communication port is coupled to an active link.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a processor-readable medium stores code representing instructions that when executed cause a processor to receive a first signal at a mobile device, the first signal including a mobile instant message having inline image data, the inline image data defining an image. The processor-readable medium stores code further representing instructions that when executed cause the processor to receive an edit command associated with the image and send a second signal, the second signal including a mobile instant message having a directive based at least in part on the edit command.

Abstract: A sensing system incorporating a nano-scale fluoro-biosensor for detection of specifically targeted bio-contaminants (targets). Select embodiments use fluorescent nanoparticles such as quantum dots (QD) conjugated to antibody fragments to form a sensor for a specific bio-contaminant based on fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET). A quenching dye may be used to label an analog, while a specific antibody is covalently bonded to a hydrophilic QD. Coupling of QD labeled antibodies and quencher labeled analogs provides enough proximity to produce appreciable FRET-based quenching. Any addition of the target displaces the dye-labeled bacteria, eliminating FRET-based quenching and results in a concentration-dependent increase in QD photoluminescence. Applications include rapid detection and identification, with a high degree of specificity and sensitivity, of a broad range of targets, including viral contaminants, e.g., in less than about three minutes.