Abstract: A thermo-optical ground plane includes a plate configured to mount a diode laser device defining a first surface area, an evaporation chamber in thermal communication with the plate, and a channel defined in thermal communication with the evaporation chamber. The channel is configured to receive and circulate a coolant fluid at a predetermined flowrate. The evaporation chamber is configured to receive a working fluid. The inner walls of the evaporation chamber define a second surface area that is greater than the first surface area of the diode laser device. The plate comprises beam shaping and folding optics for collimating and focusing the light from the diode laser device on an optical fiber. Light from a plurality of thermo-optical ground planes is combined on a single optical fiber. The structure enables cooling with exceptionally low coolant flowrate while also maintaining small specific volume and small specific weight.

Abstract: A vision-cued random-access LIDAR system and method which determines the location and/or navigation path of a moving platform. A vision system on a moving platform identifies a region of interest. The system classifies objects within the region of interest, and directs random-access LIDAR to ping one or more of the classified objects. The platform is located in three dimensions using data from the vision system and LIDAR. The steps of classifying, directing, and locating are preferably performed continuously while the platform is moving and/or the vision system's field-of-view (FOV) is changing. Objects are preferably classified using at least one smart-vision algorithm, such as a machine-learning algorithm.

Abstract: Disclosed are various methods for creating optical elements through holographic fabrication. One method includes positioning a reflector in an optical path, disposing a first substrate proximal to the reflector along the optical path, disposing a first photosensitive film on the side of the first substrate facing the reflector, transmitting a light beam at a first polarization from a light source along the optical path, reflecting the light beam off the reflector, wherein the reflected light beam has a second polarization, receiving the reflected light beam through the first film and the first substrate, and applying a liquid crystal layer to the first photosensitive film to reproduce the alignment pattern of the first film on the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A multi-spectral lens comprises a circular polarizer and a tunable cholesteric filter having an associated reflection band. Incoming light is circularly polarized to one handedness by the circular polarizer, and the tunable cholesteric filter transmits the circularly polarized light and reflects the opposite handedness of the circularly polarized light if within the reflection band of the filter, with the reflection band of the tunable cholesteric filter varying with a control voltage. In a preferred embodiment, a mirror is arranged to receive light transmitted by the tunable cholesteric filter and reflect it back towards the filter with flipped handedness, with the reflected light with flipped handedness that is within the reflection band of the tunable cholesteric filter reflected by the tunable cholesteric filter back toward the mirror. The architecture described effectively converts the reflection band of a tunable cholesteric filter into a tunable bandpass filter for a multi-spectral imaging lens.

Abstract: A multi-spectral lens comprises a circular polarizer and a tunable cholesteric filter having an associated reflection band. Incoming light is circularly polarized to one handedness by the circular polarizer, and the tunable cholesteric filter transmits the circularly polarized light and reflects the opposite handedness of the circularly polarized light if within the reflection band of the filter, with the reflection band of the tunable cholesteric filter varying with a control voltage. In a preferred embodiment, a mirror is arranged to receive light transmitted by the tunable cholesteric filter and reflect it back towards the filter with flipped handedness, with the reflected light with flipped handedness that is within the reflection band of the tunable cholesteric filter reflected by the tunable cholesteric filter back toward the mirror. The architecture described effectively converts the reflection band of a tunable cholesteric filter into a tunable bandpass filter for a multi-spectral imaging lens.

Abstract: A vision-cued random-access LIDAR system and method which determines the location and/or navigation path of a moving platform. A vision system on a moving platform identifies a region of interest. The system classifies objects within the region of interest, and directs random-access LIDAR to ping one or more of the classified objects. The platform is located in three dimensions using data from the vision system and LIDAR. The steps of classifying, directing, and locating are preferably performed continuously while the platform is moving and/or the vision system's field-of-view (FOV) is changing. Objects are preferably classified using at least one smart-vision algorithm, such as a machine-learning algorithm.

Abstract: A method for conversion attribution. The method includes obtaining a first identifier associated with a first device, obtaining a second identifier associated with a second device, bridging the first identifier and the second identifier based on a determination, made by a probabilistic classifier, that the first identifier and the second identifier are associated with a common user, and attributing, using the bridge, a conversion on a website accessed using the second device.

Abstract: A method for conversion attribution. The method includes obtaining a first identifier associated with a first device, obtaining a second identifier associated with a second device, bridging the first identifier and the second identifier based on a determination, made by a probabilistic classifier, that the first identifier and the second identifier are associated with a common user, and attributing, using the bridge, a conversion on a website accessed using the second device.

Abstract: Applications are surfaced to a user during browsing without requiring a specific search by the user. The applications can be selected for surfacing to the user based on the network address entered into the address bar of a browser, the content of the page corresponding to the network address, or a combination thereof. Applications may be selected for surfacing based on a partial address entered into the address bar and/or based on the web page content that is currently visible in the browser display.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods including a bullet; a retroreflector array adhered to a base of the bullet, the retroreflector array having prism facets with a periodicity between 0.2 mm-2.0 mm; and a cover disposed over the retroreflector array and hermetically sealed at the base of the bullet; where the cover is disposed over the retroreflector array in a first position prior to firing, and where the cover is released from the base of the bullet in a second position after firing.

Abstract: A method for conversion attribution. The method includes obtaining a first identifier associated with a first device, obtaining a second identifier associated with a second device, bridging the first identifier and the second identifier based on a determination, made by a probabilistic classifier, that the first identifier and the second identifier are associated with a common user, and attributing, using the bridge, a conversion on a website accessed using the second device.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for determining a time of flight (TOF) of a first bullet fired from a gun to pass a target plane of a target; determining a location of an aimpoint on the target in an imager field of view (FOV) relative to a disturbed reticle at a time the first bullet is fired by the gun; determining a location of the first bullet relative to the location of the aimpoint on the target at the TOF in the imager FOV; and determining an updated location of the disturbed reticle based on a difference between the location of the first bullet and the location of the aimpoint on the target at the time the first bullet crosses the target plane and a difference between the location of the disturbed reticle and the location of the aimpoint on the target at the time the first bullet was fired.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods including a bullet; a retroreflector array adhered to a base of the bullet, the retroreflector array having prism facets with a periodicity between 0.2 mm-2.0 mm; and a cover disposed over the retroreflector array and hermetically sealed at the base of the bullet; where the cover is disposed over the retroreflector array in a first position prior to firing, and where the cover is released from the base of the bullet in a second position after firing.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods including a bullet; a retroreflector array adhered to a base of the bullet, the retroreflector array having prism facets with a periodicity between 0.2 mm-2.0 mm; and a cover disposed over the retroreflector array and hermetically sealed at the base of the bullet; where the cover is disposed over the retroreflector array in a first position prior to firing, and where the cover is released from the base of the bullet in a second position after firing.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for determining a time of flight (TOF) of a first bullet fired from a gun to pass a target plane of a target; determining a location of an aimpoint on the target in an imager field of view (FOV) relative to a disturbed reticle at a time the first bullet is fired by the gun; determining a location of the first bullet relative to the location of the aimpoint on the target at the TOF in the imager FOV; and determining an updated location of the disturbed reticle based on a difference between the location of the first bullet and the location of the aimpoint on the target at the time the first bullet crosses the target plane and a difference between the location of the disturbed reticle and the location of the aimpoint on the target at the time the first bullet was fired.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods including a bullet; a retroreflector array adhered to a base of the bullet, the retroreflector array having prism facets with a periodicity between 0.2 mm-2.0 mm; and a cover disposed over the retroreflector array and hermetically sealed at the base of the bullet; where the cover is disposed over the retroreflector array in a first position prior to firing, and where the cover is released from the base of the bullet in a second position after firing.

Abstract: A moving object command link system includes a transmitter which outputs a EM beam and a steering mechanism which directs the beam toward one or more objects, at least one of which is moving. The system may include a variable attenuator which modulates the average output power of the beam, and/or a divergence controller to maintain a desired beam size. The beam may be polarized, and the system may include a polarization modulator which changes the beam's polarization in accordance with a predetermined sequence and schedule. The system may include a 1×2 switch to selectively provide the beam to one of first and second outputs. A tiltable dichroic beam splitter may be used to couple beams received from first and second objects to track cameras having respective boresights that are offset with respect to each other.

Abstract: A fiber optic sensing system for determining the position of an object requires a light source, an optical fiber, a fiber optic splitter, a fiber tip lens, an optical detector and signal processing circuitry. Light emitted by the light source is conveyed via optical fiber and the splitter to the lens and onto an object, such that at least a portion of the light is reflected by the object and conveyed via fiber and the splitter to the detector. Signal processing circuitry coupled to the detector determines the position of the object with respect to the lens based on a characteristic of the reflected light. The system is suitably employed with a hydraulic accumulator having a piston, the position of which varies with the volume of fluid in the accumulator, with the system arranged to determine the position of the piston, from which the volume can be calculated.

Abstract: A moving platform roll sensor system comprises an ellipsometric detector capable of detecting a polarized beam within the detector's line-of-sight, and measuring the beam's polarization state, such that the polarization state indicates the rotational orientation of the moving platform with respect to a predefined coordinate system. The ellipsometric detector comprises a venetian blind component through which the polarized beam passes, arranged such that the intensity of the exiting beam varies with its incident angle with respect to the moving platform, a polarizing beamsplitter which splits the exiting beam into components having orthogonal circular polarizations, the relative intensities of which vary with the relative polarization vector of the beam, and first and second detectors which receive the first and second orthogonal circular components and generate respective outputs that vary with the intensities of their received components.

Abstract: Applications are surfaced to a user during browsing without requiring a specific search by the user. The applications can be selected for surfacing to the user based on the network address entered into the address bar of a browser, the content of the page corresponding to the network address, or a combination thereof. Applications may be selected for surfacing based on a partial address entered into the address bar and/or based on the web page content that is currently visible in the browser display.