Abstract: Luminescent materials and the use of such materials in anti-counterfeiting, inventory, photovoltaic, and other applications are described herein. In one embodiment, a luminescent material has the formula: [AaBbXxX?x?X?x?][dopants], wherein A is selected from at least one of elements of Group IA; B is selected from at least one of elements of Group VA, elements of Group IB, elements of Group IIB, elements of Group IIIB, elements of Group IVB, and elements of Group VB; X, X?, and X? are independently selected from at least one of elements of Group VIIB; the dopants include electron acceptors and electron donors; a is in the range of 1 to 9; b is in the range of 1 to 5; and x, x?, and x? have a sum in the range of 1 to 9. The luminescent material exhibits photoluminescence having: (a) a quantum efficiency of at least 20 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.

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: 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.

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: 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 hand-off of a CDMA access mobile from a macrocell to a femtocell is disclosed. The method includes tracking each femtocell which mobile stations have allowed access incorporating a mobile station identification for each of the mobile stations. The method continues with storing the mobile station identification for each femtocell. This may occur in a database or similar structure. The message continues on with requesting a hand-off from the macrocell to the femtocell via PN offset and the method concludes with querying all femtocells that have that PN offset that are within range of the macrocell's neighbor list. If only one femtocell fits that criteria the method is done. If more than one femtocell fits that criteria, a priority list may be set up based at least in part on the number of times and/or frequency that the mobile station has been allowed access on the femtocell.

Abstract: A core network architecture for supporting an internet protocol based network is disclosed. The system includes a base station which is configured to convert a signal from a first network to an internet protocol network signal and send the converted signal through the internet protocol base network. The network also includes a gateway which is configured to receive the converted signal and deploy the converted signal through the internet protocol base network. In this sense, the internet protocol base network manages the call mobility and delivery of the signal. The base station in this disclosure may be a femto base station and the first network may be a code division multi-access (CDMA) network.

Abstract: This invention relates generally a method for seamless appearing movement in a digitally created environment such that a computer operator has a sensation of movement within reality. Digitally traversing between and within digital images appears seamless to the computer operator. The digitally created environment provides for segmented and subsets of segmented digital images with embedded interactive links providing seamless links to other locations, information, shopping and advertising. Segmentation and subsets of segmentation facilitate rapid changes to the digital environment.

Abstract: A fastening tool can include a housing and a motor assembly in the housing. The motor assembly can include an output member and a motor for translating the output member. A knob can be rotatably mounted in the housing around a first axis and define a plurality of locating formations arranged thereon. An adjustment rod can be operatively coupled for movement with the knob. A lower contact trip can be coupled to the adjustment rod. An indexing member can be movable along a second axis parallel to the first axis. The indexing member can be selectively biased into engagement with one of the locating formations upon rotation of the knob to resist rotation of the knob relative to the housing. Rotation of the knob can cause the contact trip to translate toward and away from the housing to define a desired penetration depth for the fastener.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for authenticating and identifying objects using markings formed with correlated random patterns. In one embodiment, an object to be authenticated includes a substrate and a marking adjacent to the substrate. The marking includes a luminescent material distributed in accordance with a correlated random pattern, and the luminescent material exhibits photoluminescence having a quantum efficiency of at least 10 percent.

Abstract: A fastening tool can include a housing and a motor assembly in the housing. The motor assembly can include an output member and a motor for translating the output member. A knob can be rotatably coupled to the housing and include a first surface. An adjustment element can have a second surface and a threaded aperture. The second surface can be engaged to the first surface such that rotation of the knob effects corresponding rotation of the adjustment element. An adjustment rod can be threadably received into the threaded aperture. A lower contact trip can be coupled to the adjustment rod. A locating formation can be coupled to one of the housing and the knob. An indexing member can be coupled to the other of the housing and the knob. The indexing member can engage the locating formation to resist rotation of the knob relative to the housing.

Abstract: A fastening tool can include a housing and a motor assembly in the housing. The motor assembly can include an output member and a motor for translating the output member. A contact trip assembly can include a contact trip slidably disposed relative to the housing between an advanced position and a retracted position. The contact trip assembly can be operable to activate a contact trip switch in the retracted position. A lock-out mechanism can include a paddle rotatably fixed relative to the housing between a disengaged position wherein the contact trip is permitted to slide between the advanced and retracted position and an engaged position wherein the contact trip abuts the paddle thereby precluding movement of the contact trip to the advanced position.

Abstract: Luminescent materials and the use of such materials in anti-counterfeiting, inventory, photovoltaic, and other applications are described herein. In one embodiment, a luminescent material has the formula: [AaBbXxX?x?X?x?][dopants], wherein A is selected from at least one of elements of Group IA; B is selected from at least one of elements of Group VA, elements of Group IB, elements of Group IIB, elements of Group IIIB, elements of Group IVB, and elements of Group VB; X, X?, and X? are independently selected from at least one of elements of Group VIIB; the dopants include electron acceptors and electron donors; a is in the range of 1 to 9; b is in the range of 1 to 5; and x, x?, and x? have a sum in the range of 1 to 9. The luminescent material exhibits photoluminescence having: (a) a quantum efficiency of at least 20 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.

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: An apparatus, method, and computer program for data packet scheduling in a system having a plurality of queues including a mixed queue are provided. The mixed queue has first traffic associated with a bandwidth guarantee and second traffic associated with a best effort expectation of access to available bandwidth. A first weight is assigned for the first traffic and a second weight is assigned for the second traffic. Information about the first traffic is tracked. The first traffic is served based on the first information such that the first traffic is provided the guaranteed bandwidth and the second traffic is served in proportion to the second weight.

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: Optical Integrated Circuits (OIC) in Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Analysis Systems combined with micorarray or microwell plates to provide enhanced sensitivity, stability, speed of analysis and reduced size are disclosed. Using the OIC with other optical analysis methods to provide enhance analysis systems is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for horizontally slicing a multi-stage switching fabric having transmission inputs and transmission outputs to and from the switch fabric. The switching fabric includes switch elements arranged in at least first and second stages, each switch element having element inputs and outputs with each switch element being configured to join one of the element inputs with an associated one of the element outputs. The switch fabric includes a first logic device that contains a stage-1 subset of the switch elements that is arranged within, and configured to operate as part of, the first stage. The first logic device also contains a stage-2 subset of the switch elements arranged within, and configured to operate as part of, the second stage. The switch fabric includes a second logic device that contains a stage-1 subset of the switch elements that is arranged within, and configured to operate as part of, the first stage.

Abstract: A new clock driver is described for the use in the phase detector of a clock and data recovery circuit (CDR). By building a resonant LC tank, whose center frequency is similar to the clock frequency, a low power clock driver is realized. A method based upon minimizing power consumption is described for determining the value of the programmable capacitance. A programmable capacitance adjusts the center frequency of the tank so it matches the frequency of the clock and a finite state machine at startup determines the value of this programmable capacitance. A criterion for tuning the center frequency of the tank is to choose the capacitance which leads to the lowest power consumption. A low Q tank affords a reasonable compromise between power efficiency and performance in the CDR circuit.