Abstract: A method of operating a solar energy collection system comprising an array of pivotable PV modules and a group of plants arranged to produce a crop, includes performing a optimization of a value function based on a current state, responsively to predicted insolation, by dynamically determining one or more orientations for the array of PV modules, and controlling, based on the optimization of the value function, at least one of the PV modules to switch orientation to increase or decrease instantaneous photovoltaic conversion of incident solar radiation by the array of PV modules and/or increase or decrease instantaneous photosynthetic conversion of the incident solar radiation by the group of plants.

Abstract: A control system for a solar energy system causes motor assemblies to pivot the photovoltaic (PV) arrays of the solar energy system about respective longitudinal axes, e.g., to track the sun across the sky. The solar energy system also has an inverter with a known inverter rating, e.g., for a given output level and ambient temperature. The control system is programmed, inter alia, to determine when a calculated electrical output of the PV arrays, e.g., a future electrical output during an imminent future time period, exceeds the inverter rating. The control system then causes some or all of the PV arrays to pivot out of regular solar tracking mode into a position that introduces higher cosine losses, so as to reduce real-time electrical output from at least the direct normal component of real-time solar irradiance incident on the PV arrays involved in order not to exceed the inverter rating, or to exceed it less.

Abstract: A scheme for reconstructing multiband signals that occupy a small part of a given broad frequency range under the constraint of a small number of sampling channels. The multirate sampling scheme (MRS) entails gathering samples at several different rates whose sum is significantly lower than the Nyquist sampling rate. The number of channels does not depend on any characteristics of a signal. The reconstruction method may or may not rely on the synchronization between different sampling channels. The scheme can be implemented easily with optical sampling systems.

Abstract: An optical router for all-optical control over the propagation direction of optical pulses, comprising: (i) a non-uniform one-dimensional photonic crystal receiving a plurality of input optical pulses, comprising: at least one first region used to obtain Bragg solitons; at least one second region in which non-linear interaction between two sufficiently adjacent solitons is obtained; and at least one third region used to de-couple resulting after the interaction pulses outside the one-dimensional photonic crystal's grating; and (ii) a plurality of sufficiently temporally separated optical pulses launched towards said one-dimensional photonic crystal from either of its sides, such that the number of pulses de-coupled from at least one of the sides of the grating is different in case when interaction between the pulses occurs inside the grating, from the case when no interaction between pulse occurs inside the grating.

Abstract: A front-loading storage unit includes a cabinet having an internal storage space and a front opening providing access to the space. Shelves for supporting product are mounted one above the other within the storage space and have a low friction support surface inclined upward to enable remaining product to slide frontwardly downward when product near the front opening is removed by a consumer. The shelves are translatable for servicing to extend outside the cabinet through the opening, moving at an angle equal to that of the low friction shelf surface. A mounting structure supporting the shelves translatably includes slide assemblies each having a bracket fixed to the cabinet, and a slide constrained to move along a predetermined path. The slides connect to the shelves and are movable to extend the associated shelf outside the cabinet. Product is stored and removed in a FIFO sequence.

Abstract: An advertising attachment to be used with a scanning plate of a hanger bracket where the advertising attachment has at least a base plate on which advertisements or product information can be printed. The advertising attachment has an opening through which information displayed on the face of the scanning plate can be read or scanned. An additional plate may be used to provide a more suitable surface for printing or to reduce costs. The advertising attachment has a structure for mounting, for instance, mounting hooks, parallel gripping ridges, or an insertion slot in the back of the base plate. Such an advertising attachment provides a highly simplified way of displaying advertisements within a compact display space.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fixing images, holograms and domain gratings in crystals by application of an electric field on a crystal and simultaneous illumination of it with a light pattern. The fixing procedure is based on a screening effect. The modulation of the domains may be perpendicular to the c-axis. Another application of the method is in frequency mixing such as second harmonic generation and parametric processes, by overcoming the problem of phase matching using the domain gratings. Thus, it is possible to obtain controllable broadband mixing and tailored quasi-phase matching for several wavelengths or for prespecified wavelength tuning ranges and frequency widths.

Abstract: A method of using a distributed saturable absorber added to a laser cavity, which by nonlinear wave-mixing of the counterpropagating beams (or spatial hole-burning) promotes a reduction of the linewidth and a single mode operation.