Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080265130 | Wave Front Sensing Method and Apparatus - A new way of mixing instrumental and digital means is described for the general field of wave front sensing. The present invention describes the use, the definition and the utility of digital operators, called digital wave front operators (DWFO) or digital lenses (DL), specifically designed for the digital processing of wave fronts defined in amplitude and phase. DWFO are of particular interest for correcting undesired wave front deformations induced by instrumental defects or experimental errors. DWFO may be defined using a mathematical model, e.g. a polynomial function, which involves coefficients. The present invention describes automated and semi-automated procedures for calibrating or adjusting the values of these coefficients. These procedures are based on the fitting of mathematical models on reference data extracted from specific regions of a wave front called reference areas, which are characterized by the fact that specimen contributions are a priori known in reference areas. For example, reference areas can be defined in regions where flat surfaces of a specimen produce a constant phase function. The present invention describes also how DWFO can be defined by extracting reference data along one-dimensional (1D) profiles. DWFO can also be defined in order to obtain a flattened representation of non-flat area of a specimen. Several DWFO or DL can be combined, possibly in addition with procedures for calculating numerically the propagation of wave fronts. A DWFO may also be defined experimentally, e.g. by calibration procedures using reference specimens. A method for generating a DWFO by filtering in the Fourier plane is also described. All wave front sensing techniques may benefit from the present invention. The case of a wave front sensor based on digital holography, e.g. a digital holographic microscope (DHM), is described in more details. The use of DWFO improves the performance, in particular speed and precision, and the ease of use of instruments for wave front sensing. The use of DWFO results in instrumental simplifications, costs reductions, and enlarged the field of applications. The present invention defines a new technique for imaging and metrology with a large field of applications in material and life sciences, for research and industrial applications. | 10-30-2008 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110288906 | ADAPTABLE RETAIL PRICING ENVIRONMENT AND ELECTRONIC EXCHANGE, DELIVERING CUSTOMIZED RETAILER OPPORTUNITY REWARDS AND DISCOUNTS - An individualized discount and reward server includes one or more linked databases to store customer data associated with a loyalty program of a retailer. The server includes a processor to select a retail product purchased at least once by a loyalty customer. The processor determines, from at least a purchase history associated with the loyalty customer, an amount the loyalty customer spends on the selected retail product and an amount each customer from a plurality of customers forming a peer group spends on the selected retail product. Further, the processor compares the amount the loyalty customer spends on the selected retail product to the amount the peer group spends on the selected retail product to form a comparison result and allocate at least one customized offer to the retailer account according to at least the comparison result. | 11-24-2011 |
20110288922 | ADAPTABLE RETAIL PRICING ENVIRONMENT AND ELECTRONIC EXCHANGE, DELIVERING CUSTOMIZED MOBILE SHOPPER REWARDS AND DISCOUNTS - A mobile device including one or more linked memories to store a mobile application and customer data, the mobile application downloaded from a rewards server associated with a retailer, the customer data associated with a loyalty program of the retailer. The mobile device further includes a processor to display the mobile application via the user interface. The processor displays a log-in page permitting a customer to access at least one retailer account associated with the customer and displays a purchase price, via the mobile application, for at least one product associated with the retailer. The processor updates, upon reception of the customer input indicating selection of a payment option, the at least one retailer account to indicate a deduction of the displayed purchase price from at least one payment account. | 11-24-2011 |
20110288924 | ADAPTABLE RETAIL PRICING ENVIRONMENT AND ELECTRONIC EXCHANGE, DELIVERING CUSTOMIZED SHOPPER REWARDS - An individualized discount and reward server includes one or more linked databases to store customer data, where the customer data includes at least one retailer account and purchase history associated with the customer. The server includes a processor to allocate at least one customized offer to the retailer account using at least the purchase history associated with the customer, where the at least one customized offer includes a loyalty adjustment changing a general market price point of a product in accordance with the customized offer. The processor redeems the customized offer upon receiving a purchase notification. The customized offer is redeemed by associating the product with the loyalty adjustment independent of the general market price point associated with the product at a time of reception of the purchase notification. | 11-24-2011 |
20110288925 | ADAPTABLE RETAIL PRICING ENVIRONMENT AND ELECTRONIC EXCHANGE, DELIVERING CUSTOMIZED BUYER PROMOTION REWARDS AND DISCOUNTS - An individualized discount and reward server includes one or more linked databases to store customer data associated with a loyalty program of a retailer. The server includes a processor configured to select a retail product from a plurality of retail products associated with the retailer. The processor determines a first percentage indicating a percentage of time the loyalty customer purchases the selected retail product on promotion, and determines a second percentage indicating an average percentage of time a plurality of customers forming a peer group purchases the selected retail product on promotion. Further, the processor determines a comparison result by comparing the first and second percentages. Additionally, the processor allocates at least one customized offer to the retailer account associated with the loyalty customer according to at least the comparison result. | 11-24-2011 |
20110295670 | ADAPTABLE RETAIL PRICING ENVIRONMENT AND ELECTRONIC EXCHANGE, DELIVERING CUSTOMIZED BUYER PROMOTION REWARDS AND DISCOUNTS - An individualized discount and reward server includes one or more linked databases storing customer data including at least one retailer account and purchase history associated with the customer. The server including a processor to allocate at least one customized offer to the retailer account using at least the purchase history associated with the customer, the at least one customized offer including a loyalty adjustment changing a general market price point of a retail product in accordance with a competitor price. The processor further displays to the customer, via the interface, a display page including the at least one customized offer and an option for selection of the at least one customized offer. The processor also updates, upon reception of the customer input indicating selection of the at least one customized offer, the retailer account to indicate selection of the at least one customized offer. | 12-01-2011 |
20110295671 | ADAPTABLE RETAIL PRICING ENVIRONMENT AND ELECTRONIC EXCHANGE, DELIVERING CUSTOMIZED BRAND SWITCHING REWARDS AND DISCOUNTS - An individualized discount and reward server including one or more linked databases to store customer data associated with a loyalty program of a retailer, where the customer data including at least one retailer account and purchase history associated with a customer. The server further includes a processor to select a brand associated with an allocation category and determine an amount the customer spends on the allocation category. The processor determines a likelihood of brand switching indicating a likelihood of the customer purchasing the selected brand according to the purchase history associated with the customer. The processor also allocates one or more brand switching offers for the selected brand to the at least one retailer account associated with the customer for the selected brand based on at least the amount the customer spends on the allocation category and the likelihood of brand switching. | 12-01-2011 |