Abstract: Autonomous vehicle inventory inspection and management is provided for a GPS-denied indoor warehouse with the objective of achieving fast, yet accurate warehouse inventory assessment. The warehouse stores inventory organized in a distributed and substantially parallel fashion. Passive identification markers are located on the racks for aiding navigation of the autonomous vehicle. Travel paths for the autonomous vehicle are predefined. They are relatively straight paths in between the racks, substantially constant and lateral first distance relative to at least one of two racks along its row, a substantially constant first height relative to a warehouse floor and a substantially constant speed for the autonomous vehicle. These requirements are important to attain the objective of faster, yet accurate inventory inspection and management. During travel, acquisition systems capture information of the inventory, which is synchronized with a digital management system.

Abstract: Tracking and digitization method and system for warehouse inventory management is provided to greatly increase the visibility of the events at a warehouse, provide a comprehensive cataloging of every single event, compare that event against the expected event, and report any discrepancies immediately so that they can be fixed prior to causing costly mistakes. Further, it reduces the need for costly quality control personnel in the warehouse. Embodiments of this invention greatly enhance the accuracy of inventory, at a vastly reduced cost. In an indoor environment, GPS cannot be used to track the location of the forklifts or vehicles in the warehouse because most warehouses have metal constructions and present a “GPS denied” environment. Hence one must resort to vision, lidar, or inertial, or a combination of such sensors to accurately track location.

Abstract: A gradient-index lens for directing incident electromagnetic radiation comprises at least one substrate having a plurality of micro-features (e.g., trenches or holes) that may be arranged in a pattern of varied size and/or spacing. Each of the micro-features has at least one dimension that is less than a wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation. The spacing between adjacent micro-features is less than the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation, and the size and spacing of the micro-features are sufficient to produce an effective refractive index profile of the lens that is graded.

Abstract: A gradient-index lens for directing incident electromagnetic radiation comprises at least one substrate having a plurality of micro-features (e.g., trenches or holes) that may be arranged in a pattern of varied size and/or spacing. Each of the micro-features has at least one dimension that is less than a wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation. The spacing between adjacent micro-features is less than the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation, and the size and spacing of the micro-features are sufficient to produce an effective refractive index profile of the lens that is graded.

Abstract: A gradient-index lens for directing incident electromagnetic radiation comprises at least one substrate having a plurality of micro-features (e.g., trenches or holes) that may be arranged in a pattern of varied size and/or spacing. Each of the micro-features has at least one dimension that is less than a wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation. The spacing between adjacent micro-features is less than the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation, and the size and spacing of the micro-features are sufficient to produce an effective refractive index profile of the lens that is graded. A thermal imaging device incorporating a gradient-index lens is also provided.

Abstract: A gradient-index lens for focusing incident electromagnetic radiation comprises at least first and second substrates. Each of the substrates has a plurality of trenches or holes formed therein. The first substrate is stacked on the second substrate such that trenches or holes in the first substrate are substantially aligned with corresponding trenches or holes in the second substrate to form combined trenches or holes. Each of the combined trenches or holes has a width or diameter that is less than a wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation, and the spacing between adjacent ones of the combined trenches or holes is less than the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation. The size and spacing of the combined trenches or holes in the stacked substrates are sufficient to produce an effective refractive index profile of the lens element that is graded. A method for producing the lens is also provided.

Abstract: An imaging device comprises a focal plane array (FPA) having a plurality of singulated unit cells arranged on a carrier substrate. Each of the unit cells comprises a sub-array of pixels in the focal plane array. At least one of the unit cells has a different number or type of pixels than does another one of the unit cells arranged on the carrier substrate to enable multi-spectral imaging. The device also includes at least one lens positioned to direct incident electromagnetic radiation to the unit cells. A modular method for producing the FPA and lenses of a camera core uses wafer-level packaging and optics. Lenses and sub-arrays of pixels are each fabricated on densely packed, batch-fabricated wafers, and subsequently singulated and assembled into arrays on respective low cost carrier substrates. The carrier substrates are bonded together at the substrate level to form a series of camera cores, and the stacked substrates are singulated to form individual camera cores.

Abstract: In one aspect an electronic device includes a housing having a front surface, a display assembly positioned at a display portion of the front surface, a biometric authentication circuit offset from the front surface, and at least one sensor coupled to the biometric authentication circuit and positioned at a non-display portion of the front surface.

Abstract: A thermal imaging device comprises a focal plane array disposed on a focal plane substrate. The focal plane array comprises a plurality of pixels grouped into sub-arrays of pixels. The device also comprises a lens array comprising a plurality of lenslets. Each of the lenslets is arranged to focus infrared rays on a respective one of the sub-arrays of pixels. The focal plane array is enclosed in a vacuum in a space between the lens array and the focal plane substrate, and a readout circuit is electrically connected to the pixels. The thermal imaging device has a small form factor and low cost while maintaining adequate performance, enabling expanded usage of thermal imaging (e.g., in security, surveillance, first responder, defense and/or automotive applications).

Abstract: A gradient-index lens for focusing incident electromagnetic radiation comprises at least first and second substrates. Each of the substrates has a plurality of trenches or holes formed therein. The first substrate is stacked on the second substrate such that trenches or holes in the first substrate are substantially aligned with corresponding trenches or holes in the second substrate to form combined trenches or holes. Each of the combined trenches or holes has a width or diameter that is less than a wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation, and the spacing between adjacent ones of the combined trenches or holes is less than the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation. The size and spacing of the combined trenches or holes in the stacked substrates are sufficient to produce an effective refractive index profile of the lens element that is graded. A method for producing the lens is also provided.

Abstract: A gradient-index lens for directing incident electromagnetic radiation comprises at least one substrate having a plurality of micro-features (e.g., trenches or holes) that may be arranged in a pattern of varied size and/or spacing. Each of the micro-features has at least one dimension that is less than a wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation. The spacing between adjacent micro-features is less than the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation, and the size and spacing of the micro-features are sufficient to produce an effective refractive index profile of the lens that is graded. A thermal imaging device incorporating a gradient-index lens is also provided.

Abstract: An imaging device comprises a focal plane array (FPA) having a plurality of singulated unit cells arranged on a carrier substrate. Each of the unit cells comprises a sub-array of pixels in the focal plane array. At least one of the unit cells has a different number or type of pixels than does another one of the unit cells arranged on the carrier substrate to enable multi-spectral imaging. The device also includes at least one lens positioned to direct incident electromagnetic radiation to the unit cells. A modular method for producing the FPA and lenses of a camera core uses wafer-level packaging and optics. Lenses and sub-arrays of pixels are each fabricated on densely packed, batch-fabricated wafers, and subsequently singulated and assembled into arrays (e.g., 3×3, 4×4, 4×5) on respective low cost carrier substrates. The carrier substrates are bonded together at the substrate level to form a series of camera cores, and the stacked substrates are singulated to form individual camera cores.

Abstract: A method of making an integrated texture sensor for sensing a texture is described. In one embodiment, the method is directed to a sensor that that is protected from external contaminating particulates and will self-equalize using air from outside the sensor. Further combinations of such protection among various membrane switches, in combination with various types of membranes, is described. In another embodiment, a method of making a skin-texture sensor for sensing a skin texture having a plurality of ridges and a plurality of valleys is described, such that when completed, applying a ridge of the texture to a membrane switch will cause flexure of the membrane resulting in a contact between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, the contact establishing an electrical communication between said one of the row lines and said one of the column lines, whereas disposing a valley of the texture over said each membrane switch will not result in the contact between the lower electrode and the upper electrode.

Abstract: A sheet film protective covering for different types of contour sensing devices is described. In a preferred embodiment, this covering is a MYLAR® sheet film that is coated with a layer of a conductive material. The bottom surface of the MYLAR® film is also preferably coated with a layer of an adhesive. The sheet film covering preferably is contiguous and serves the purpose, among other things, to protect the underlying surface of the pressure-sensing device from contaminants and from electrostatic discharge, as well provide force concentration during use.

Abstract: A sensor for a textured surface (e.g., a fingerprint) is provided. The sensor includes a flexible substrate and a flexible membrane supported above the substrate by one or more spacers. The sensor also includes multiple pressure sensor elements responsive to a separation between parts of the membrane and corresponding parts of the substrate. The membrane is conformable to the textured surface being sensed, so the variation in separation between substrate and membrane is representative of the textured surface being sensed. Such pressure sensors can be included in fingerprint authentication subsystems including associated integrated electronic circuitry (e.g., encryption, image processing, fingerprint matching, communication and/or location determination circuitry). Such subsystems can be included in various access control systems (e.g., smart cards and mobile electronics).

Abstract: A sensor for a textured surface (e.g., a fingerprint) is provided. The sensor includes a flexible substrate and a flexible membrane supported above the substrate by one or more spacers. The sensor also includes multiple pressure sensor elements responsive to a separation between parts of the membrane and corresponding parts of the substrate. The membrane is conformable to the textured surface being sensed, so the variation in separation between substrate and membrane is representative of the textured surface being sensed. A preferred sensor array arrangement has a set of parallel substrate electrodes on the substrate facing the membrane and a set of parallel membrane electrodes on the membrane facing the substrate, where the substrate and membrane electrodes are perpendicular. The sensor array is preferably an entirely passive structure including no active electrical devices, to reduce cost. Row and column addressing circuitry can be provided as separate units (e.g.

Abstract: A sheet film protective covering for different types of contour sensing devices is described. In a preferred embodiment, this covering is a mylar sheet film that is coated with a layer of a conductive material. The bottom surface of the mylar film is also preferably coated with a layer of an adhesive. The sheet film covering preferably is contiguous and serves the purpose, among other things, to protect the underlying surface of the pressure-sensing device from contaminants and from electrostatic discharge, as well provide force concentration during use.

Abstract: A fingerprint-sensing device with a sensor array that does not use active switching elements is fabricated on a base. Sensor support integrated circuits, which contain processing and addressing circuitry, are separately fabricated and subsequently mounted on the base, establishing electrical connections with an interconnect structure within the base, and are thus not integrated with the sensor array. The sensor support integrated circuits can be covered by a bezel structure and the sensor array by a covering material. In addition, a connection cable can be provided to connect the sensor array and the sensor support integrated circuits with a power source and to other external devices and to convey signals generated by the sensor array to the external devices.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of sensing pressure in which applied pressure causes a change in the magnetization vector of a magnetoresistive layer within the device and a corresponding change in resistance. The method includes providing a sensing device with a sensor including plurality of layers, the plurality of layers comprising a non magnetic conducting layer disposed between a magnetoresistive layer with non-zero magnetostriction and a ferromagnetic biasing layer. Once provided, the method then includes sensing a resistance in the plurality of layers upon application of pressure to the sensing device, the applied pressure causing the magnetization vector of the magnetoresistive layer to change and thereby result in a change in resistance.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for sensing pressure that comprises a substrate and a sensor formed on the substrate. The sensor is adapted to sense pressure applied thereto and includes a support structure smaller than the substrate to result in a cavity above a portion of the substrate and a magnetoresistive sensor formed over the support structure. The magnetoresistive element provides high sensitivity to pressure while maintaining miniaturized dimensions.