Abstract: Described herein is a multi-user retail photo kiosk system that includes multiple touch screen and Graphic User Interface (GUI) controlled consumer photo editing, photo print and product selection, and photo order placement terminals and multiple photo printers. The user photo kiosk terminals can receive images. Billing and payment is accomplished using barcoded receipts provided at the user terminal for payments for purchased photo products. A printer array incorporating various printers capable of producing prints or various sizes and formats can be configured as a horizontal counter or as a vertical tower and includes means to alert the user that their photo print order is complete. In addition, the system automatically notifies operators if equipment service, maintenance, media refilling, and/or post printing finishing procedures are required.

Abstract: A solid-state electrolyte for a multilayer solid-state electrochemical cell is described herein. The electrolyte comprises a lithium electrolyte salt and nanofibers of a cubic phase lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (c-LLZO), and a polymer interspersed with the nanofibers and electrolyte salt. Electrochemical cells comprising the solid-state electrolyte, and solid-state cathodes comprising the nanofibers of c-LLZO are also described herein.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to improved methods for preparing substituted quinolinylcyclohexylpropanamide compounds.

Abstract: An optical bench utilizing narrowband optical filters on precision rotary stages that can provide custom tuning of the operational frequencies of the optical bench while maintaining the ability to switch between narrowband and wideband operation thereof. The precision rotary filters may further provide dynamic reconfiguration of the optical bench to alternate frequencies for intersystem compatibility, the enablement of additional self-test capabilities, and easing the manufacturing tolerances thereof.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing laser communication terminal pointing uncertainty. The method trains an artificial neural network (ANN) with input data characterizing terminal pointing error and dependent parameters. The method inputs the trained ANN a set of data of these dependent parameters with unknown pointing error. The method uses the ANN output to apply corrections to the terminal pointing solution to reduce pointing uncertainty. The method can condition the ANN generated corrections to avoid cases where application of the ANN correction could exceed the original pointing uncertainty. This conditioning includes computing the Euclidean distance between current ANN input parameter values and values in the ANN training dataset, and bounding the allowed magnitude of the ANN pointing correction. The method can train the ANN incrementally during terminal operation for real-time updates or train the ANN offline with gathered data and implement the trained ANN on the terminal for subsequent links.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for a precision variable-focus telescope that includes a telescope housing containing an optical system; a gap pad including a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the gap pad is attached to the telescope housing; a heat spreader including a first side and a second side, wherein the heat spreader is contiguous with the telescope housing and wherein the second side of the heat spreader is attached to the second side of the gap pad; a temperature-sensing device connected to the first side of the heat spreader; and an electric-film heater including a first side and a second side, wherein the second side of the electric-film heater is attached to the first side of the heat spreader.

Abstract: Systems and methods for testing or correcting optical pointing systems are disclosed. An optical pointing system may include an imaging sensor including a field-of-view (FOV) carried by the optical pointing system, at least one collecting device for collecting optical photons and directing the optical photons to the imaging sensor, at least one directing device for directing the at least one collecting device to different pointing vectors, and at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carried by the optical pointing system having instructions encoded thereon that when executed by at least one processor operates to test the optical pointing system by, inter alia, determining a pointing error based, at least in part, on a macro image of a targeted object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for testing or correcting optical pointing systems are disclosed. An optical pointing system may include an imaging sensor including a field-of-view (FOV) carried by the optical pointing system, at least one collecting device for collecting optical photons and directing the optical photons to the imaging sensor, at least one directing device for directing the at least one collecting device to different pointing vectors, and at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carried by the optical pointing system having instructions encoded thereon that when executed by at least one processor operates to test the optical pointing system by, inter alia, determining a pointing error based, at least in part, on a macro image of a targeted object.

Abstract: A counter measure system is provided having a unitary infrared transparent dome including a look angle greater than 180. The dome has two hemispherical regions, with a second region having a truncated bottom end defining an opening to a central cavity inside which electro-optical elements are disposed. The electro-optical elements can view outward through the dome at the look angle. The second region on the dome has a complementary curvature as the first region by continuing a similar radius beyond a transverse horizontal axis or equator. The dome is mounted to a base, which also may be referred to as a bezel. The base defines a rabbet extending circumferentially about the base imaginary center defining an aperture. The base and the dome are formed from different materials but have equivalent coefficients of thermal expansion. In one embodiment the dome if formed from sapphire and the base is titanium.

Abstract: A counter measure system is provided having a unitary infrared transparent dome including a look angle greater than 180. The dome has two hemispherical regions, with a second region having a truncated bottom end defining an opening to a central cavity inside which electro-optical elements are disposed. The electro-optical elements can view outward through the dome at the look angle. The second region on the dome has a complementary curvature as the first region by continuing a similar radius beyond a transverse horizontal axis or equator. The dome is mounted to a base, which also may be referred to as a bezel. The base defines a rabbet extending circumferentially about the base imaginary center defining an aperture. The base and the dome are formed from different materials but have equivalent coefficients of thermal expansion. In one embodiment the dome if formed from sapphire and the base is titanium.

Abstract: An infrared countermeasure system comprises a transparent infrared camera dome with an anti-icing surface coating.

Abstract: An infrared countermeasure system comprises a transparent infrared camera dome with an anti-icing surface coating.

Abstract: An ultralight laser infrared countermeasure (IRCM) system is disclosed. In One embodiment, the system includes an ultra light housing. The system further includes a laser or an infrared missile warning sensor to provide imagery data upon detecting a threat infrared surface to air missile (IRSAM). The ultralight housing is further configured to include at ultralight laser infrared assembly, which includes a laser, and laser pointer assembly. The ultralight housing is furthermore configured to include a missile warning processing module to produce a track point for the laser and to produce a modulation signal based on the imagery data, wherein the ultralight laser infrared assembly to modulate the laser pointer assembly based on modulation signal for a predetermined length of time to provide multiple simultaneous IRSAM engagement protection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing transaction risk. A consumer tenders a transaction card to a merchant to purchase a good or service. A payment device of the merchant, such as a merchant's payment terminal or mobile communication device, is used to process the payment utilizing a risk assessment system. Card data received by the payment device is sent to the risk assessment system, which processes card data and generates an indicator representing the risk associated with accepting payment using the card. The indicator is sent to the payment device to provide the merchant input regarding risk associated with using the card (e.g., likelihood of fraud or chargeback) in a seamless manner. If the risk level is too high, the merchant may reject the card. The risk indicator may be based on different types of data from different sources, e.g., data from a first source related to the credit history of the consumer and data from a second source related to the identity of the consumer.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and computer program products are disclosed that teach methods for establishing context of a subsequent electronic real-time communication. One method detects a connection attempt that is initiated by an instigator-identifiable for a subsequent electronic real-time communication that is directed to a target-identifiable. The instigator-identifiable is associated with a first identification characteristic and the target-identifiable is associated with a second identification characteristic. This method subsequently retrieves a reminder reference that is responsive to the first identification characteristic and the second identification characteristic and presents the reminder reference to the target-identifiable. The method also establishes the subsequent electronic real-time communication between the instigator-identifiable and the target-identifiable.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing transaction risk. A consumer tenders a transaction card to a merchant to purchase a good or service. A payment device of the merchant, such as a merchant's payment terminal or mobile communication device, is used to process the payment utilizing a risk assessment system. Card data received by the payment device is sent to the risk assessment system, which processes card data and generates an indicator representing the risk associated with accepting payment using the card. The indicator is sent to the payment device to provide the merchant input regarding risk associated with using the card (e.g., likelihood of fraud or chargeback) in a seamless manner. If the risk level is too high, the merchant may reject the card. The risk indicator may be based on different types of data from different sources, e.g., data from a first source related to the credit history of the consumer and data from a second source related to the identity of the consumer.

Abstract: A consumer tenders a transaction card to a merchant to purchase a good or service. A merchant payment device, such as a payment terminal or mobile communication device, processes the payment utilizing a risk assessment system. Card data received by the payment device is sent to the risk assessment system, which processes card data and generates an indicator representing risk associated with accepting payment using the card. The indicator is sent to the payment device to provide the merchant input regarding risk associated with using the card (e.g., likelihood of fraud or chargeback) in a seamless manner. If the risk level is too high, the merchant may reject the card. The risk indicator may be based on different types of data from different sources, e.g., data from a first source related to the consumer's credit history and data from a second source related to the consumer's identity.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that receives input from a user of a computing device. During operation, the system displays an input region to the user and receives a specification for a subregion of the input region from the user. Next, the system determines an area of the subregion. Finally, the system provides the input to the computing device based on the area of the subregion relative to the area of the input region.

Abstract: A system that communicates information is described. During operation, this system receives an encryption key through a first wireless communication technique, wherein the first wireless communication technique includes near field communication. Then, the system communicates a document through a second wireless communication technique, where the document is associated with a financial transaction being conducted with a commercial establishment. Next, the system receives encrypted information through the second wireless communication technique, where the encrypted information is, at least in part, encrypted using the encryption key, and where the second wireless communication technique includes a technique other than near field communication.

Abstract: Embodiments of a payment card (such as a credit card), a financial-transaction system that uses the payment card, and a method are described. These embodiments may be used to protect financial information stored on the payment card, while providing ease of use to a user of the payment card when conducting a financial transaction. In particular, the payment card may include a transducer that detects a physical phenomenon. If this physical phenomenon is detected, a wireless communication circuit in or on the payment card is enabled, so that the wireless communication circuit can provide the user's financial information in response to an external signal received from an external reading device (such as an a radio-frequency identification signal from a card reader).