Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for implementing full-duplex wireless communications between communication devices. The system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to: create, at a first communication device, first data to transmit to a second communication device; switch a half-duplex operation mode of the first communication device to a full-duplex operation mode to activate the full-duplex operation mode of the first communication device; transmit a first portion of the first data from the first communication device to the second communication device using a wireless channel; and transmit, in the full-duplex operation mode of the first communication device, a remaining portion of the first data to the second communication device while simultaneously receiving second data from the second communication device using the wireless channel.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for implementing full-duplex wireless communications between communication devices. The system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to: create, at a first communication device, first data to transmit to a second communication device; switch a half-duplex operation mode of the first communication device to a full-duplex operation mode to activate the full-duplex operation mode of the first communication device; transmit a first portion of the first data from the first communication device to the second communication device using a wireless channel; and transmit, in the full-duplex operation mode of the first communication device, a remaining portion of the first data to the second communication device while simultaneously receiving second data from the second communication device using the wireless channel.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for clock and data recovery (CDR) are provided herein. In certain configurations, a first CDR circuit captures data and edge samples from a first input data stream received over a first lane. The data and edge samples are used to generate a master phase signal, which is used to control a phase of a first data sampling clock signal used for capturing the data samples. Additionally, the first CDR circuit generates a master phase error signal based on changes to the master phase signal over time, and forwards the master phase error signal to at least a second CDR circuit. The second CDR circuit processes the master phase error signal to generate a slave phase signal used to control a phase of a second data sampling clock signal used for capturing data samples from a second input data stream received over a second lane.

Abstract: An electro-optical device includes: (1) a first electrode layer; (2) a second electrode layer; and (3) a middle layer disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The middle layer includes a material having the formula: [AaBbXxX?x?X?x?], where A is selected from potassium, rubidium, and cesium; B is selected from germanium, tin, and lead; X, X?, and X? are independently selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine; a is in the range of 1 to 9; b is in the range of 1 to 5; a sum of x, x?, and x? is in the range of 1 to 9; and the material is at least one of n-doped and p-doped.

Abstract: An electro-optical device includes: (1) a first electrode layer; (2) a second electrode layer; and (3) a middle layer disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The middle layer includes a material having the formula: [AaBbXxX?x?X?x?], where A is selected from potassium, rubidium, and cesium; B is selected from germanium, tin, and lead; X, X?, and X? are independently selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine; a is in the range of 1 to 9; b is in the range of 1 to 5; a sum of x, x?, and x? is in the range of 1 to 9; and the material is at least one of n-doped and p-doped.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell includes: (1) a front contact; (2) a back contact; (3) a set of stacked layers between the front contact and the back contact; and (4) an encapsulation layer covering side surfaces of the set of stacked layers. At least one of the set of stacked layers includes a halide material having the formula: [AaBbXxX?x?X?x?X??x??][dopants], where A is selected from elements of Group 1 and organic moieties, B is selected from elements of Group 14, X, X?, X?, and X?? are independently selected from elements of Group 17, a is in the range of 1 to 12, b is in the range of 1 to 8, and a sum of x, x?, x?, and x?? is in the range of 1 to 12.

Abstract: Described herein are solar modules including spectral concentrators. In one embodiment, a solar module includes a set of photovoltaic cells and a spectral concentrator optically coupled to the set of photovoltaic cells. The spectral concentrator is configured to: (1) collect incident solar radiation; (2) convert the incident solar radiation into substantially monochromatic, emitted radiation; and (3) convey the substantially monochromatic, emitted radiation to the set of photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a clock and data recovery circuit may include configuring a phase detector as a bang-bang phase detector. The bang-bang phase detector may be used to determine a phase difference between a sampling clock provided by an interpolator and a calibration signal. The phase detector may also be configured as a linear phase detector. While using the linear phase detector, a linear phase detector parameter may be adjusted such that the phase difference between the calibration signal and the sampling clock is zero, while keeping the phase of the sampling clock fixed.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing congestion control for vehicles based at least in part on weighted fair message rates is disclosed. The system comprises a measurement module, a calculation module and a determination module. The measurement module measures a channel busy ratio describing a fraction of time during which a channel is busy. The calculation module calculates a ratio error by comparing the measured channel busy ratio with a target channel busy ratio. The determination module determines a first parameter value for a first vehicle based at least in part on a ratio of weights and determines a message rate for the first vehicle based at least in part on the ratio error and the first parameter value. The message rate describes a speed for transmitting messages from the first vehicle.

Abstract: Luminescent materials and the use of such materials in anti-counterfeiting, inventory, photovoltaic, and other applications are described herein. In one embodiment, a method of forming a luminescent material includes: (1) providing a source of A and X, wherein A is selected from at least one of elements of Group 1, and X is selected from at least one of elements of Group 17; (2) providing a source of B, wherein B is selected from at least one of elements of Group 14; (3) subjecting the source of A and X and the source of B to vacuum deposition to form a set of films adjacent to a substrate; and (4) heating the set of films to a temperature in the range of 120° C. to 350° C. to form a luminescent material adjacent to the substrate, wherein the luminescent material includes A, B, and X.

Abstract: A signal is transmitted into a computer in response to an image on a display screen of the computer such that the computer operates in response to the signal; this includes moving a scanner in optical communication with the display screen such that the scanner detects an image (for example, a bar code) displayed on the screen and generates the signal in response. One or more computers may be used, and this may be used for vending a product or other purposes. With or without such scanning, a portion of a store environment may be displayed on a screen of a computer, including showing images of actual products for sale at the store, in which images of actual products are accessed via the computer from a database containing in-store images recorded in the store during a period of non-existent or minimal customer presence in the store. A vending system is also disclosed.

Abstract: Luminescent materials and methods of forming such materials are described herein. A method of forming a luminescent material includes: (1) providing a source of A and X, wherein A is selected from at least one of elements of Group 1, and X is selected from at least one of elements of Group 17; (2) providing a source of B, wherein B is selected from at least one of elements of Group 14; (3) subjecting the source of A and X and the source of B to vacuum deposition to form a precursor layer over a substrate; (4) forming an encapsulation layer over the precursor layer to form an assembly of layers; and (5) heating the assembly of layers to a temperature Theat to form a luminescent material within the precursor layer.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an improved paint roller wherein ribs are incorporated into either the roller core or the nap. Alternatively, the improved paint roller may use individual ribs positioned between the roller core and the nap. The incorporation of ribs into the roller core/nap assembly improves application of coating material to the nap and subsequent transfer of coating material to a surface.

Abstract: Described herein are optical devices including resonant cavity structures. In one embodiment, an optical fiber includes: (1) an elongated core including an outer surface; (2) an inner reflector disposed adjacent to the outer surface of the core and extending substantially along a length of the core; (3) an outer reflector spaced apart from the inner reflector and extending substantially along the length of the core; and (4) an emission layer disposed between the outer reflector and the inner reflector and extending substantially along the length of the core, the emission layer configured to emit radiation that is guided within the optical fiber.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for quadrature clock signal generation are provided. In certain implementations, a quadrature clock signal generator includes a sine-shaping filter and a polyphase filter. The sine-shaping filter can receive an input clock signal such as a square or rectangular wave and can filter the input clock signal to generate a sinusoidal clock signal. Additionally, the polyphase filter can use the sinusoidal clock signal to generate in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) clock signals, which can have a phase difference of about ninety degrees. In certain configurations, the in-phase and quadrature-phase clock signals generated by the polyphase filter can be buffered by a buffer circuit to generate in-phase and quadrature-phase sinusoidal reference clock signals suitable for use in a clock and data recover (CDR) system.

Abstract: Luminescent materials and methods of forming such materials are described herein. In one embodiment, a luminescent material has the formula: [AaSnbXxX?x?X?x?], where the luminescent material is polycrystalline; A is included in the luminescent material as a monovalent cation; X, X?, and X? are selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine; a is in the range of 1 to 5; b is in the range of 1 to 3; a sum of x, x?, and x? is in the range of 1 to 5; and at least X? is iodine, such that x?/(x+x?+x?)??.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a clock and data recovery circuit may include configuring a phase detector as a bang-bang phase detector. The bang-bang phase detector may be used to determine a phase difference between a sampling clock provided by an interpolator and a calibration signal. The phase detector may also be configured as a linear phase detector. While using the linear phase detector, a linear phase detector parameter may be adjusted such that the phase difference between the calibration signal and the sampling clock is zero, while keeping the phase of the sampling clock fixed.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing congestion control for vehicles based at least in part on weighted fair message rates is disclosed. The system comprises a measurement module, a calculation module and a determination module. The measurement module measures a channel busy ratio describing a fraction of time during which a channel is busy. The calculation module calculates a ratio error by comparing the measured channel busy ratio with a target channel busy ratio. The determination module determines a first parameter value for a first vehicle based at least in part on a ratio of weights and determines a message rate for the first vehicle based at least in part on the ratio error and the first parameter value. The message rate describes a speed for transmitting messages from the first vehicle.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for quadrature clock signal generation are provided. In certain implementations, a quadrature clock signal generator includes a sine-shaping filter and a polyphase filter. The sine-shaping filter can receive an input clock signal such as a square or rectangular wave and can filter the input clock signal to generate a sinusoidal clock signal. Additionally, the polyphase filter can use the sinusoidal clock signal to generate in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) clock signals, which can have a phase difference of about ninety degrees. In certain configurations, the in-phase and quadrature-phase clock signals generated by the polyphase filter can be buffered by a buffer circuit to generate in-phase and quadrature-phase sinusoidal reference clock signals suitable for use in a clock and data recover (CDR) system.

Abstract: Described herein are solar modules including spectral concentrators. In one embodiment, a solar module includes an active layer including a set of photovoltaic cells. The solar module also includes a spectral concentrator optically coupled to the active layer and including a luminescent material that exhibits photoluminescence in response to incident solar radiation. The photoluminescence has: (a) a quantum efficiency of at least 30 percent; (b) a spectral width no greater than 100 nm at Full Width at Half Maximum; and (c) a peak emission wavelength in the near infrared range.