Abstract: Customers are identified as they enter a store and linked to one or more items previously ordered on-line. A route through the store to retrieve the ordered items is generated and sent to the customer's mobile device for display. The customer's movements are tracked as he/she goes through the store to retrieve products, and the location of the customer determined whenever he/she selects a product from the shelves. Based on whether the locations of the customer when he/she selected the products matches the predefined locations of the items ordered on-line, the customer is directed to go to one of an audit station or checkout lane, or alternatively, to bypass both audit station and the checkout lane and exit the store. In the latter case, the customer's account is automatically charged for the total cost of the ordered items.

Abstract: A control server associated with a retail store places or assigns people that are determined to be socially interrelated into corresponding groups. When a group member becomes separated from the group, an image of that person is analyzed and used to identify his/her group. Once identified, the control server generates a notification indicating the current locations in the retail store of both the group and the person who became separated, and indicates a route the person can take through the store to reunite with the group.

Abstract: Customers are identified as they enter a store and linked to one or more items previously ordered on-line. A route through the store to retrieve the ordered items is generated and sent to the customer's mobile device for display. The customer's movements are tracked as he/she goes through the store to retrieve products, and the location of the customer determined whenever he/she selects a product from the shelves. Based on whether the locations of the customer when he/she selected the products matches the predefined locations of the items ordered on-line, the customer is directed to go to one of an audit station or checkout lane, or alternatively, to bypass both audit station and the checkout lane and exit the store. In the latter case, the customer's account is automatically charged for the total cost of the ordered items.

Abstract: A compact slip ring (20), which is particularly adapted for use in small spaces, is adapted to provide electrical contact between a rotor (22) and a stator (21). The improved slip ring broadly includes an electrically-conductive monofilament (24) having one end (28) mounted on the stator and having a distal end (34); a sleeve (25) mounted on and secured to the marginal end portion of the monofilament, adjacent the distal end; and a fiber bundle (26) having a longitudinal axis (39), one marginal end portion of the fiber bundle being recessed in and secured to the sleeve, the other end of the fiber bundle engaging the rotor such that the longitudinal axis of the fiber bundle will be substantially perpendicular to an imaginary line tangent to the rotor surface at the point of contact with the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides several improvements in a slip ring (36) that is adapted to provide electrical contact between a rotor (42) and stator (40). In one aspect, a brush tube (39) is crimped around the upper marginal end portions of a plurality of individual fibers (38) inserted therein. In another aspect, a collimator tube (41) extends downwardly beyond the end of the brush tube to limit lateral movement of the fibers in the bundle when the rotor rotates. In yet another arrangement, a spring (55, 56) is arranged to bear against a current-carrying conductor to adjustably vary the force by which the lower ends of the fibers are urged to move toward the rotor.

Abstract: The present invention provides several improvements in a slip ring (36) that is adapted to provide electrical contact between a rotor (42) and stator (40). In one aspect, a brush tube (39) is crimped around the upper marginal end portions of a plurality of individual fibers (38) inserted therein. In another aspect, a collimator tube (41) extends downwardly beyond the end of the brush tube to limit lateral movement of the fibers in the bundle when the rotor rotates. In yet another arrangement, a spring (55, 56) is arranged to bear against a current-carrying conductor to adjustably vary the force by which the lower ends of the fibers are urged to move toward the rotor.

Abstract: A fiber optic transceiver (37) is adapted for use in transmitting and receiving optical signals in a fiber-optic network (30). The improved transceiver comprising: a multi-mode optical fiber (36) having a longitudinal axis (x-x) and having a proximal end (35). The fiber is adapted to convey optical signals in either direction therealong. A photodetector (32) is arranged in longitudinally-spaced relation to the fiber proximal end. The photodetector has a sensitive surface (34) operatively arranged to receive light energy exiting the fiber through the proximal end. A light source (31) is arranged between the fiber proximal end and the photodetector surface. The light source is arranged to selective emit light energy into the fiber through the proximal end.