Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080290944 | MICROPOWER NEURAL AMPLIFIER WITH ADAPTIVE INPUT-REFERRED NOISE - A micropower neural amplifier with adaptive power biasing for use in multi-electrode arrays is provided. The micropower neural amplifier includes a low noise gain stage. The low noise gain stage is implemented using an amplifier and pseudoresistor elements. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294062 | LOW-POWER ANALOG ARCHITECTURE FOR BRAIN-MACHINE INTERFACES - An ultra-low-power circuit for wireless neural recording and stimulation is provided. The circuit includes a neural amplifier with adaptive power biasing for use in multi-electrode arrays and a decoding and/or learning architecture. An impedance-modulation telemetry system provides low-power data telemetry. Also, the circuit includes a wireless link for efficient power transfer, and at least one circuit for wireless stimulation of neurons. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294579 | LOW-POWER ANALOG-CIRCUIT ARCHITECTURE FOR DECODING NEURAL SIGNALS - A microchip for performing a neural decoding algorithm is provided. The microchip is implemented using ultra-low power electronics. Also, the microchip includes a tunable neural decodable filter implemented using a plurality of amplifiers, a plurality of parameter learning filters, a multiplier, a gain and time-constant biasing circuits; and analog memory. The microchip, in a training mode, learns to perform an optimized translation of a raw neural signal received from a population of cortical neurons into motor control parameters. The optimization being based on a modified gradient descent least square algorithm wherein update for a given parameter in a filter is proportional to an averaged product of an error in the final output that the filter affects and a filtered version of its input. The microchip, in an operational mode, issues commands to controlling a device using learned mappings. | 11-27-2008 |
20150087929 | Method and System for Population Level Determination of Maximal Aerobic Capacity - A computerized method for determining maximal oxygen uptake for a user with incomplete data with data collected from a plurality of other users with complete data. The maximal oxygen uptake can be determined by computing similarity metrics between an incomplete data set of self-reported and measured data and complete user data sets, and using a weighted sum of the similarity metrics. The results of the maximal oxygen update calculation can be cross-validated with known user data sets. | 03-26-2015 |
20150088006 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING AEROBIC CAPACITY - A method of estimating the maximal oxygen uptake of an individual on the basis of heart rate data, biometric data, biomechanical data, and geophysical data is described. These data can be collected as the individual engages in activities requiring various levels of exertion, without modifying those activities from the ordinary manner in which they are performed. In particular, in some embodiments the method described here obviates the conventional need for a laboratory setting when estimating maximal oxygen uptake and the method can be applied to estimate maximal oxygen uptake under more natural conditions than conventional testing protocols requiring treadmills or stationary ergometers typically permit. Furthermore, it is described how such estimates of maximal oxygen uptake can be used to estimate other quantities of interest, including fat and carbohydrate metabolism, lactate production, and water and electrolyte loss during exercise. | 03-26-2015 |
20150182149 | METHODS FOR OPTIMALLY MATCHING MUSICAL RHYTHMS TO PHYSICAL AND PHYSIOLOGIC RHYTHMS - A set of methods is described for identifying optimal repetition rates for certain repetitive processes, and identifying musical selections with tempi matched to those optimal rates, so as to use synchrony with musical rhythms as a guide to optimizing performance in repetitive physical, biomechanical, and physiologic processes. | 07-02-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090139523 | System and Method for Automated Titration of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Using an Obstruction Index - Described is a system including an air pressure supply arrangement, a sensor and a titration device. The air pressure supply arrangement provides air pressure to a patient's airways. The sensor detects input data corresponding to a patient's breathing patterns of a plurality of breaths. The titration device receives and analyzes the input data to determine existence of breathing disorder and corresponding characteristics. The titration device generates output data for adjusting the air pressure supplied to the patient as a function of an index of abnormal respiratory events included in the input data. | 06-04-2009 |
20100269827 | System and Method for Circuits to Allow CPAP to Provide Zero Pressure - A system comprises a respiratory delivery arrangement adapted to cover at least one respiratory orifice of a patient. The system also comprises a first conduit having a first end and a second end, the second end connected to the respiratory delivery arrangement. A positive pressure is provided to the respiratory orifice via the first conduit and a second conduit having a third end and a fourth end, the fourth end connected to the respiratory delivery arrangement. An exhaled gas is extracted from the respiratory orifice by one or both of a valve configured to redirect flow through the respiratory delivery arrangement and a venturi opening. | 10-28-2010 |
20110166470 | System and Method for Diagnosis and Treatment of a Breathing Pattern of a Patient - Described is a system including a sensor and a processing arrangement. The sensor measures data corresponding to a patient's breathing patterns. The processing arrangement analyzes the breathing patterns to determine whether the breathing patterns are indicative of a REM sleep state. In another embodiment, the processing arrangement analyzes the breathing patterns to determine whether the breathing patterns are indicative of one of the following states: (i) a wake state and (ii) a sleep state. In another embodiment, a neural network analyzes the data to determine whether the breathing patterns are indicative of one of the following states: (i) a REM sleep state, (ii) a wake state and (iii) a sleep state. In another embodiment, the processing arrangement analyzes the data to determine whether the breathing pattern is indicative of an arousal. | 07-07-2011 |
20110209708 | Ventilation Interface Device - A device comprises a harness configured to secure a mask over a respiratory orifice of a head of a patient; an inflatable cushion, at least a portion of the first inflatable cushion being adjoined to portion of the harness, the first inflatable cushion being positioned over a predetermined area including a portion of a buccinator muscle of a cheek of a patient; and an inflation lumen having a first end and a second end, the first end receiving pressurized air, the second end connected to the first inflatable cushion to provide pressurized air. When pressurized air is provided to the respiratory orifice via the mask, (a) the inflatable cushion is inflated with the pressurized air, (b) a tension between the mask and the head is increased and (c) the pressurized air in the inflatable cushion counters a bowing of the cheeks during inspiration. | 09-01-2011 |
20120000466 | System and Method for Improved Treatment of Sleeping Disorders using Therapeutic Positive Airway Pressure - Described is a method and system providing therapeutic positive airway pressure to a particular area of patient's airways. The system may include a flow generator and a processing arrangement. The flow generator supplies an airflow to an airway of the patient. The processing arrangement is connected to the flow generator to control a supply pressure at which the airflow is generated by the flow generator. The processing arrangement continuously adjusts the supply pressure to maintain a pressure in a predetermined portion of the patient's airway substantially constant. The predetermined portion of the patient's airway includes a collapsible portion of an upper airway of the patient. The processing arrangement also controls the supply pressure to maintain the pressure in the collapsible portion of the patient's airway at a value at least as great as a tissue pressure below which the collapsible portion collapses. | 01-05-2012 |
20120010519 | System and Method for Diagnosis and Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea - A system for diagnosis and treatment of breathing disorders in a patient, comprises a flow generator supplying an air flow to an airway of a patient via a flow path, a venting arrangement moveable between (i) a closed position in which the flow path is substantially sealed between the flow generator and the patient's airway and (ii) an open position in which the flow path is open to an ambient atmosphere, a sensor detecting data corresponding to flow through the patient's airway, and a processing arrangement controlling operation of the venting arrangement and the flow generator, wherein, in a diagnostic mode, the processing arrangement maintains the venting arrangement in the open position and in a therapeutic mode, the processing arrangement maintains the venting arrangement in the closed position and controls the flow generator to supply to the patient's airway via the flow path a calculated therapeutic pressure. | 01-12-2012 |
20130146057 | System and Method for Circuits to Allow CPAP to Provide Zero Pressure - A system comprises a respiratory delivery arrangement adapted to cover at least one respiratory orifice of a patient. The system also comprises a first conduit having a first end and a second end, the second end connected to the respiratory delivery arrangement. A positive pressure is provided to the respiratory orifice via the first conduit and a second conduit having a third end and a fourth end, the fourth end connected to the respiratory delivery arrangement. An exhaled gas is extracted from the respiratory orifice by one or both of a valve configured to redirect flow through the respiratory delivery arrangement and a venturi opening. | 06-13-2013 |
20140000610 | SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SUPPLYING GASES | 01-02-2014 |
20150107594 | System and Method for Diagnosis and Treatment of a Breathing Pattern of a Patient - Described is a system including a sensor and a processing arrangement. The sensor measures data corresponding to a patient's breathing patterns. The processing arrangement analyzes the breathing patterns to determine whether the breathing patterns are indicative of a REM sleep state. In another embodiment, the processing arrangement analyzes the breathing patterns to determine whether the breathing patterns are indicative of one of the following states: (i) a wake state and (ii) a sleep state. In another embodiment, a neural network analyzes the data to determine whether the breathing patterns are indicative of one of the following states: (i) a REM sleep state, (ii) a wake state and (iii) a sleep state. In another embodiment, the processing arrangement analyzes the data to determine whether the breathing pattern is indicative of an arousal. | 04-23-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140118479 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR GAMIFYING THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING PANORAMIC IMAGES - Systems, methods, and computer readable mediums are provided to generate a number of targets for a panoramic image, each of the targets defining a portion of the panoramic image, monitor a position of a user device with respect to a current target, responsive to determining that the user device is properly positioned with respect to the current target, capture a first image for the current target using a camera of the user device, monitor the position of the user device with respect to a next target, responsive to determining that the user device is properly positioned with respect to the next target, capture a second image for the next target using the camera of the user device; and generate the panoramic image using the first image and the second image. | 05-01-2014 |
20140118483 | SMART TARGETS FACILITATING THE CAPTURE OF CONTIGUOUS IMAGES - Systems and methods facilitating the capture of contiguous images suitable for composition into a wide-angle or panoramic image. The method may include displaying smart graphical targets on an image capture graphical user interface representing target focal points to direct a camera to in order capture images with sufficient continuity or overlap for panorama creation. In one implementation, the method may include automatically capturing an image when the center of the current field of view is aligned with or within a threshold distance of a target focal point. In another implementation, the method may provide graphical targets along multiple axes. In another implementation the method may provide graphical targets for creating a panoramic image adhering to a certain aspect ratio. In another implementation, the method may suggest graphical targets on the motion of a camera after capturing a first image. | 05-01-2014 |
20140297575 | NAVIGATING THROUGH GEOLOCATED IMAGERY SPANNING SPACE AND TIME - Systems and methods of the present disclosure provide techniques for providing user-specified ways of navigating through real-world three-dimensional geographic imagery that spans space and time. An exemplary method includes identifying a plurality of images depicting a geographic location at street level. The images are captured at the geographic location over a span of time. Using a processor, image data is associated with the plurality of images. The image data includes information representing positional data and a time dimension related to the plurality of images. Using the processor, a user's navigational intent to move back and forward through the time dimension is predicted based on a navigational signal. The exemplary method further includes selecting a set of images from the plurality of images based on the image data and the predicted navigational intent. The set of images depict conditions at the geolocation for one or more time periods. | 10-02-2014 |
20140324843 | GEO PHOTO SEARCHING BASED ON CURRENT CONDITIONS AT A LOCATION - In an exemplary method, a request for images of a location is received. In response to the request, a set of images depicting different conditions at the location is identified. Each image of the set of images is associated with condition information defining the conditions depicted in that image. It may be determined when a user will be at the location at a future point in time. Information identifying current environmental conditions at the location for the future point in time may be received. The set of images are ranked based on the received environmental information and the condition information for each image. An image from the set of images is selected for display based on the selected image's rank relative to other images of the set of images. The selected image depicts current conditions at the location most closely matching environmental conditions expected at the future point in time. | 10-30-2014 |
20150052475 | PROJECTIONS TO FIX POSE OF PANORAMIC PHOTOS - Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to adding or correcting orientation and/or location information for panoramic images. For example, some panoramic images may be associated with inaccurate orientation (or location) information or simply no orientation information at all. In this regard, a user may be provided with the ability to add or adjust the orientation of a panoramic image. The panoramic image can be projected onto a plane using stereographic projection and displayed relative to its location (and orientation, if available) on a map. This can allow a user to quickly identify inaccuracies and to make adjustments or corrections. | 02-19-2015 |
20150244930 | SYNTHETIC CAMERA LENSES - A method and system is disclosed for simulating different types of camera lens on a device by guiding a user through a set of images to be captured in connection with one or more desired lens effects. In one aspect, a wide-angle lens may be simulated by taking a plurality of images that have been taken at a particular location over a set of camera orientations that are determined based on the selection of the wide-angle lens. The mobile device may provide prompts to the user indicating the camera orientations for which images should be captured in order to generate the simulated camera lens effect. | 08-27-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100131075 | Cell-Scaffold Constructs - The present invention relates to the regeneration, reconstruction, repair, augmentation or replacement of organs or tissue structures using scaffolds and autologous cells that are not derived from such organs or tissues. | 05-27-2010 |
20110117162 | Isolated Renal Cells and Uses Thereof - The invention is directed to isolated renal cells, including tubular and erythropoietin (EPO)-producing kidney cell populations, and methods of isolating and culturing the same, as well as methods of treating a subject in need with the cell populations. | 05-19-2011 |
20130149347 | ISOLATED RENAL CELLS AND USES THEREOF - The invention is directed to isolated renal cells, including tubular and erythropoietin (EPO)-producing kidney cell populations, and methods of isolating and culturing the same, as well as methods of treating a subject in need with the cell populations. | 06-13-2013 |
20130173015 | CELL SCAFFOLD CONSTRUCTS - The present invention relates to the regeneration, reconstruction, repair, augmentation or replacement of organs or tissue structures using scaffolds and autologous cells that are not derived from such organs or tissues. | 07-04-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120002046 | Flip-Up Hands-Free Display Mount - According to one embodiment, a display mount includes a helmet-mountable interface, a display interface, a cam arm, and an adjustment mechanism. The helmet-mountable interface is configured to removably couple the display mount to a helmet. The display interface is configured to couple the display mount to a display. The cam arm is configured to position the display interface in a plurality of positions comprising a storage position and a display position. The adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust, independent of the cam arm, a position of the display interface along an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are each orthogonal to each other. The adjustment mechanism includes a locking mechanism configured to lock an adjusted position of the display interface, such that the display interface mechanically returns to the locked adjusted position when the display interface transitions from the storage position to the display position. | 01-05-2012 |
20120069046 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISPLAYING COMPUTER-GENERATED IMAGES ON A HEAD MOUNTED DEVICE - Systems and methods for displaying computer-generated images on a head mounted device are provided. In some embodiments, a system for displaying computer-generated image is provided and may include transparent surface including a coating and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive a computer-generated image, determine the type of computer-generated image, vary a voltage applied to the coating of the transparent surface based on the determined type of computer-generated image, and display the received computer-generated image on the transparent surface. | 03-22-2012 |
20130088185 | Method And Apparatus For A Battery Docking Connector Having Reserve Power For Hot Battery Swap - Methods and apparatus for a battery backup system having a docking connector with reserve battery cells to power a device when a main battery is not present during battery swap out or depletion. In one embodiment, the reserve batteries are high discharge rate batteries to provide power to the device. | 04-11-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110205885 | Optimized Fast Re-Route In MPLS Ring Topologies - A method performed on a network element employing Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) to optimize bandwidth in a ring topology network including a back-up Label Switch Path (LSP) for a protected LSP by re-routing traffic onto the back-up LSP to avoid shared links between the protected LSP and back-up LSP, including receiving a first labeled packet from another label switch router (LSR) in the back-up LSP, the first labeled packet indicating that a protection switch of data is to be performed from the protected LSP to the back-up LSP, determining whether a shared link in the ring topology network exists between the protected LSP and the back-up LSP, rerouting traffic for the protected LSP onto an optimized back-up LSP to remove the shared link, receiving a second labeled packet indicating that a protection switch of data is to be performed, and restoring routing of the traffic onto the protected LSP in response to receiving the second labeled packet. | 08-25-2011 |
20110205907 | Fast LSP Alert Mechanism - A method performed on a network element employing Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) to promulgate an alert to each Label Switch Router (LSR) along a Label Switch Path (LSP) by forwarding a labeled packet serving as an alert packet generated by an LSR in the LSP, the method including receiving the labeled packet by the network element from another LSR in the LSP, determining whether the labeled packet is the alert packet by checking a time to live value in an MPLS label header of the labeled packet, determining whether the labeled packet is an operation, administration and maintenance (OAM) packet based on a presence of a generic associated channel label, copying the labeled packet including a label stack of the labeled packet and forwarding the labeled packet to a next LSR in the LSP, whereby the latency in promulgating the alert to each of the LSRs in the LSP is reduced. | 08-25-2011 |
20110243140 | RSTP Tracking - On a first network element to support rapid spanning tree protocol (RSTP) for a plurality of virtual local area networks (VLANs) in a network, receiving a packet from a second network element in the network; identifying a VLAN associated with the packet by checking for a tag in the packet; determining whether the VLAN associated with a packet is a master VLAN or a client VLAN, wherein the master VLAN and client VLAN are in a group of VLANs with identical topologies, such that a spanning tree can be maintained for the group of VLANs that are represented by the master VLAN; deriving forwarding information from the master VLAN associated with the client VLAN, in response to determining that the VLAN is a client VLAN; and forwarding the packet according to the forwarding information derived from the master VLAN, whereby separate spanning trees for each group of VLANs serviced by the first network element are efficiently maintained. | 10-06-2011 |
20130003607 | E-TREE USING TWO PSEUDOWIRES BETWEEN EDGE ROUTERS WITH ENHANCED FORWARDING METHODS AND SYSTEMS - An e-tree service that includes establishing two pseudowires (PW) between edge network elements with enhanced packet forwarding is described. In one embodiment, a root PW is used for carrying packets that are sent from a root node network element, and a leaf PW is used for carrying packets that are sent from a leaf node network element in the e-tree service network. When a network element receives a packet with a destination Media Access Control (MAC) address on the logical port associated with the leaf access circuit (AC), responsive to determining that the destination MAC address corresponds to a MAC address in a MAC address table stored in the network element, and that an attribute associated with that MAC address in the MAC address table indicates the MAC address was learned from the leaf PW, the network element drops the packet. | 01-03-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080313551 | Apparatus and method for forced linking of product/service offers on a web page - A web page that includes offer cells is presented to a user. Each of the offer cells is associated with an offer for a product or a service. Each offer cell may include a boundary and a hyperlink. The user may select an area within one of the offer cells, such as by using a mouse to click within the boundary of the offer cell. A determination is made as to whether the user selected the hyperlink within the offer cell. If so, the user is directed to a destination associated with the hyperlink. Otherwise, the user did not select the hyperlink and instead selected some other area within the offer cell. In this case, the user is directed to a destination associated with the offer cell itself (which may or may not be different from the destination associated with the hyperlink in the offer cell). | 12-18-2008 |
20080319849 | Apparatus and method for discount integration into an on-line pricing engine - A user may submit a request for pricing information for an item (such as a product or service). Multiple vendors that offer the item are identified, and multiple discounts associated with the item and/or the vendors are identified. A web page that includes pricing information associated with the item is provided to a user. For example, for each vendor, the web page could identify a price of the item offered by the vendor, a discount amount associated with one of the discounts, and a total cost of the item offered by the vendor (which is based on the discount amount). The web page presented to the user could initially identify an optimal discount for each of the vendors and present a link for each vendor. If the user selects a link, a pop-up window identifying multiple discounts honored by the vendor could be displayed for selection by the user. | 12-25-2008 |
20090024920 | Apparatus and method for extracting and using images from on-line forum posts and other web pages - A request for a web page can be received from an end user device (such as a laptop or desktop computer or a handheld device). An image associated with the web page is retrieved, such as by identifying an image path to an image file associated with the image. The image path could be contained in an on-line forum post or other suitable location. At least one property of the retrieved image is altered to produce an altered image. The alteration of the at least one property of the image reduces a storage space for the altered image compared to a storage space for the image. The alteration could, for example, include decreasing a size, a resolution, or a color depth of the retrieved image. The web page with the altered image is then provided to the end user device. | 01-22-2009 |
20090031209 | Apparatus and method for adding product or service offers from one website to another website - Product or service offers from one website can be quickly and easily added to another website. For example, a web page containing information associated with one or more offers for one or more items can be generated and provided to a user. The information could represent pricing information or discounts associated with the one or more items. The user can select one of the offers, such as by selecting pricing information or a discount associated with one of the items. A formatted forum post or a gift registry entry could be generated, where at least part of the contents of the forum post or gift registry entry is automatically selected or generated based on the selected offer. A thread in a forum can be created using the forum post, or the gift registry entry can be added to at least one gift registry. | 01-29-2009 |
20090055908 | Apparatus and method for accessing user cookies between network domains - Multiple network domains may be grouped together. One network domain may represent a primary domain, while one or more additional network domains may represent secondary domains. User cookies associated with users may be stored in the primary domain. When a user attempts to access the primary domain, the primary domain may retrieve and use the user cookie to log the user into the primary domain. When a user attempts to access a secondary domain, the secondary sends a request to the primary domain. The primary domain sends the user cookie or related information (such as a token) to the secondary domain, which uses the user cookie or related information to log the user into the secondary domain. In addition, an active session between the user and one of the network domains can be transferred to another network domain. | 02-26-2009 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130276089 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING SECURITY AND RELIABILITY IN A NETWORKED APPLICATION ENVIRONMENT - A security application manages security and reliability of networked applications executing collection of interacting computing elements within a distributed computing architecture. The security application monitors various classes of resources utilized by the collection of nodes within the distributed computing architecture and determine whether utilization of a class of resources is approaching a pre-determined maximum limit. The security application performs a vulnerability scan of a networked application to determine whether the networked application is prone to a risk of intentional or inadvertent breach by an external application. The security application scans a distributed computing architecture for the existence of access control lists (ACLs), and stores ACL configurations and configuration changes in a database. The security application scans a distributed computing architecture for the existence of security certificates, places newly discovered security certificates in a database, and deletes outdated security certificates. Advantageously, security and reliability are improved in a distributed computing architecture. | 10-17-2013 |
20140281739 | CRITICAL SYSTEMS INSPECTOR - Techniques are described for identifying a root cause of a pattern of performance data in a system including a plurality of services. Embodiments provide dependency information for each of the plurality of services, where at least one of the plurality of services is dependent upon a first one of the plurality of services. Each of the plurality of services is monitored to collect performance data for the respective service. Embodiments further analyze the performance data to identify a cluster of services that each follow a pattern of performance data. The first one of the services in the cluster of services is determined to be a root cause of the pattern of performance data, based on the determined dependency information for each of the plurality of services. | 09-18-2014 |
20140282422 | USING CANARY INSTANCES FOR SOFTWARE ANALYSIS - Techniques for evaluating a second version of software. Embodiments selectively route incoming requests to software instances within a plurality of baseline instances and a plurality of canary instances, where the baseline instances run a first software version and the canary instances run the second software version. The software instances are monitored to collect performance data for a plurality of performance metrics. Embodiments calculate aggregate baseline performance metrics, where each of the aggregate baseline performance metrics is calculated based on the collected performance data for the plurality of baseline instances. For each of the performance metrics and canary instances, embodiments calculate a relative performance value that measures the collected performance data for the respective canary instance and for the respective performance metric, relative to the corresponding aggregate baseline performance metric. A final measure of performance is calculated for the second version of software, based on the relative performance values. | 09-18-2014 |
20150235035 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING SECURITY AND RELIABILITY IN A NETWORKED APPLICATION ENVIRONMENT - A security application manages security and reliability of networked applications executing collection of interacting computing elements within a distributed computing architecture. The security application monitors various classes of resources utilized by the collection of nodes within the distributed computing architecture and determine whether utilization of a class of resources is approaching a pre-determined maximum limit. The security application performs a vulnerability scan of a networked application to determine whether the networked application is prone to a risk of intentional or inadvertent breach by an external application. The security application scans a distributed computing architecture for the existence of access control lists (ACLs), and stores ACL configurations and configuration changes in a database. The security application scans a distributed computing architecture for the existence of security certificates, places newly discovered security certificates in a database, and deletes outdated security certificates. Advantageously, security and reliability are improved in a distributed computing architecture. | 08-20-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130119274 | LUMINESCENT BORATES, MATERIALS AND ARTICLES INCORPORATING SUCH BORATES, AND METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR THEIR PRODUCTION AND USE IN ARTICLE AUTHENTICATION - Embodiments include luminescent materials and associated production methods. The material includes a crystal borate having a first substitutable element, neodymium substituted for the first substitutable element at a first substitution percentage of at least about 20 percent, and ytterbium substituted for the first substitutable element at a second substitution percentage. The material also may include chromium substituted for a second substitutable element. The material also may include a medium within which particles of the borate are incorporated. The medium, with the luminescent material particles, may form a security feature of an article. Embodiments of methods for identifying whether such a luminescent material is incorporated with an article include exposing a portion of the article to excitation in a chromium absorption band, and determining whether a detected emission produced by the article as a result of the excitation indicates an ytterbium emission after termination of the exposing step. | 05-16-2013 |
20130122266 | LUMINESCENT BORATES, MATERIALS AND ARTICLES INCORPORATING SUCH BORATES, AND METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR THEIR PRODUCTION AND USE IN ARTICLE AUTHENTICATION - Embodiments include luminescent materials and associated production methods. The material includes a crystal borate having a first substitutable element and a second substitutable element, one or more rare earth ions substituted for the first substitutable element, and chromium substituted for the second substitutable element. The one or more rare earth ions are selected from a group consisting of neodymium and ytterbium. The material also may include a medium within which particles of the borate are incorporated. The medium, with the luminescent material particles, may form a security feature of an article. Embodiments of methods for identifying whether such a luminescent material is incorporated with an article include exposing a portion of the article to excitation in a chromium absorption band, and determining whether a detected emission produced by the article as a result of the excitation indicates an ytterbium emission after termination of the exposing step. | 05-16-2013 |
20150115177 | COLD-WORKED METAL ARTICLES INCLUDING LUMINESCENT PHOSPHOR PARTICLES, METHODS OF FORMING THE SAME, AND METHODS OF AUTHENTICATING THE SAME - Cold-worked metal articles, methods of forming cold-worked metal articles, and methods of authenticating cold-worked metal articles are provided. In an embodiment, a cold-worked metal article includes a cold-worked metal-containing surface that defines pores. The cold-worked metal-containing surface includes luminescent phosphor particles disposed within the pores. The luminescent phosphor particles include a host crystal lattice material and at least one active ion that includes an absorbing ion and an emitting ion that is different from the absorbing ion. The luminescent phosphor particles are harder than the cold-worked metal-containing surface. | 04-30-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080252066 | Method and system for creating and reading multi-color co-planar emissive indicia using printable dyes and pigments - A method and system for identifying, tracking, and/or authenticating objects that is simple to apply and to use by an intended user, but is extremely difficult to counterfeit or compromise by an unintended user. Also disclosed is a multi-color, co-planar indicium made of a combination of printed patterns of multiple inks. The printed patterns may be modified by software-generated masks to ensure that the patterns are co-planar. The indicium is undecipherable unless irradiated with specified wavelengths of light radiation, filtered through specified spectral filters, and read and decoded by an electronic image reader. The indicium may be visible or covert. The indicium encodes unique true information about the object and may encode nonsensical or intentionally incorrect information as a further deterrent to unauthorized use. The method permits the indicia to be applied to objects at high processing speeds possible with inkjet printing. | 10-16-2008 |
20100320480 | PHOSPHOR CONVERTING IR LEDS - The production of light of various wavelengths using IR phosphor down conversion techniques using existing LED emissions to pump sensitizer-rare earth ions that emit at other wavelengths. A sensitizer absorbs an LED chip pump emission and then transfers that energy with high quantum efficiency to dopant ions that then emits at their characteristic wavelength. | 12-23-2010 |
20110069174 | AUTHENTICATION APPARATUS FOR VALUE DOCUMENTS - A value document authentication apparatus and system that includes value document substrates having a uniform distribution of one or more phosphors that emit infrared radiation in one or more wavelengths, which can be measured at the same location on the value document that is illuminated by a phosphor exciting light source when the document passes the light source with a uniform velocity. The illumination and measurement locations on the value document can be offset. The measured infrared radiation as a series of overlapped measurements along a pre-selected track in the value document represents an intensity profile, which can be normalized after removing high variations. The normalized intensity profile of a test value document can be compared with normalized intensity profile from valid reference documents to authenticate the test value document. | 03-24-2011 |
20110087440 | AUTHENTICATION SYSTEMS FOR DISCRIMINATING VALUE DOCUMENTS BASED ON VARIABLE LUMINESCENCE AND MAGNETIC PROPERTIES - A value document authentication system comprising a value document substrate having a luminescent compound disposed on or in at least a portion of the value document substrate, wherein the luminescent compound (i) comprises a host lattice having at least one metallic ion with magnetic properties and is doped with at least one rare earth ion capable of emitting infrared radiation with at least one distinct infrared wavelength when excited with an exciting light source having sufficient energy to excite emission from the luminescent compound and (ii) has a pre-determined ratio of metallic ions to rare earth ions such that the ratio corresponds to a parameter of a pre-selected decision criteria, both of which properties are measured at the same location on the value document and used to authenticate the value document. | 04-14-2011 |
20110121203 | AUTHENTICATION APPARATUS FOR MOVING VALUE DOCUMENTS - An authentication apparatus used to authenticate a moving value document with uniform or non-uniform distribution of a pre-selected covert composition that includes an active ion that emits optical radiation at a pre-selected wavelength when excited by exciting incident light. The optical radiation is imaged onto at least one photodetector having first and second detector elements. The imaged intensities are captured at pre-determined times relating to the velocity of the value document. The ratio between the second detector element and the first detector element measured at the same image location or different image locations represents the characteristic decay time intensity data of the pre-selected wavelength emission. The authenticity of the value document is rejected when the pre-selected wavelength emission is not received by the at least one photodetector or when the output electronic signal ratio does not meet expected value. | 05-26-2011 |
20110146930 | CONTROLLING THE DETECTABILITY OF AN ARTICLE AND METHOD FOR AUTHENTICATING THE ARTICLE - Cascading phosphors are described herein that produce emissions when they are excited by incident radiation. The cascading phosphors can be applied to articles, and can be useful in authenticating the article. The cascading phosphors include a host and at least three active ions. | 06-23-2011 |
20110147450 | METHOD AND AUTHENTICATION APPARATUS FOR AUTHENTICATING VALUE DOCUMENTS - Taggants can be incorporated into or onto value documents. The taggants comprise a crystalline taggant doped with two rare earth ions. The substrate or printed matter into which the taggant can be incorporated has a minimal absorption infrared wavelength window and the taggant is excited by incident infrared radiation in this wavelength range. Suitable first rare earth ions function as efficient broad band absorbers of incident infrared radiation and passes energy non-radiatively to a second rare earth ion, which the emits infrared radiation at a wavelength greater than the incident infrared radiation. The emitted infrared radiation is also in the minimal absorption transmission window of the printed matter or the substrate into which the taggant is incorporated. Methods of authenticating the value document include detection of the emitted radiation at pre-determined values. | 06-23-2011 |
20110147614 | REFRACTIVE INDEX MATCHED PHOSPHORS AND SUBSTRATES FOR SECURITY APPLICATIONS - Phosphor compositions are provided that can be incorporated into or onto plastic substrates as covert security features. The plastic substrates can be transparent and the phosphor compositions have a refractive index that effectively matches the refractive index of the plastic substrate to maintain the transparency. The phosphor compositions have absorption in the infrared, thus enabling excitation and detection of the compositions with an infrared emitting source. | 06-23-2011 |
20120104256 | VALUE DOCUMENTS AND OTHER ARTICLES HAVING TAGGANTS THAT EXHIBIT DELAYED MAXIMUM INTENSITY EMISSIONS, AND METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR THEIR AUTHENTICATION - Value documents or other articles having authentication features, authentication apparatuses, and methods of authentication are provided that relate to the use of taggants that absorb radiation from an illumination source and emit radiation in a manner that has a maximum intensity occurring a duration of time after the illumination source has been switched off. The taggants include a crystalline composition comprising a host crystal lattice doped with a first rare earth active ion, and in some examples a second rare earth active ion. | 05-03-2012 |
20130015369 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTHENTICATING ARTICLES WITH LUMINESCENT PHOSPHOR COMPOUNDS - Methods and apparatus for article authentication include an exciting radiation generator that exposes an area of the article to exciting radiation, and at least two radiation detectors that detect emitted radiation from the area in a first band and in a second band that does not overlap the first band. The first band corresponds with a first emission sub-band of an emitting ion, and the second band corresponds with a second emission sub-band of the same emitting ion. A processing system calculates a comparison value that represents a mathematical relationship (e.g., a ratio) between a first intensity of the emitted radiation in the first band with a second intensity of the emitted radiation in the second band, and determines whether the comparison value compares favorably with an authentication parameter. When the comparison value compares favorably with the authentication parameter, the article is identified as being authentic. | 01-17-2013 |
20130015651 | LUMINESCENT PHOSPHOR COMPOUNDS, ARTICLES INCLUDING SUCH COMPOUNDS, AND METHODS FOR THEIR PRODUCTION AND USE - Embodiments include luminescent phosphor compounds that include one or more emitting ions and one or more disturbing ions, and methods for their production. An emitting ion in the compound may be characterized by a first decay time constant when the emitting ion is undisturbed. However, a corresponding disturbing ion in the compound, which is different from the emitting ion, causes the emitting ion to have a pre-defined, target disturbed decay time constant that is greater than zero and less than the first decay time constant. An embodiment of an authentication system is configured to measure the decay time constant of a phosphor compound applied to an article, and to determine whether the decay time constant corresponds to a phosphor compound that includes a particular disturbing ion (e.g., in order to determine whether or not the article is authentic). | 01-17-2013 |
20130181144 | ARTICLES INCORPORATING THERMOGRAPHIC PHOSPHORS, AND METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTHENTICATING SUCH ARTICLES - Embodiments include methods and apparatus for identifying a thermographic phosphor (e.g., Er:YIG) incorporated on or within an article. The method and apparatus embodiments include an excitation energy generator selectively exposing the article to excitation energy in an absorption band of the thermographic phosphor. An emitted radiation detector detects first emission characteristics of first emitted radiation from the article within an emission band of the thermographic phosphor when the article has a first temperature, and detects second emission characteristics of second emitted radiation from the article within the emission band when the article has a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. A temperature adjustment element is configured to adjust the temperature of the article. Embodiments further include a processing system determining whether the first emission characteristics are sufficiently different from the second emission characteristics. | 07-18-2013 |
20140021369 | ARTICLES, METHODS OF VALIDATING THE SAME, AND VALIDATION SYSTEMS EMPLOYING DECAY CONSTANT MODULATION - Articles, methods of validating the articles, and validating systems are provided herein. In an embodiment, an article includes a substrate and a security feature on the substrate. The security feature includes a first region that has a first ink composition and a second region that has a second ink composition. The first ink composition includes a first luminescent phosphor and the second ink composition includes a second luminescent phosphor that is different from the first luminescent phosphor. The first luminescent phosphor and the second luminescent phosphor have indistinguishable excitation energy wavelengths, indistinguishable emission wavelengths, and distinguishable temporal decay properties. | 01-23-2014 |
20140151997 | LUMINESCENT BORATES, LUMINESCENT MATERIALS AND ARTICLES INCORPORATING SUCH BORATES - Luminescent borates, luminescent materials, and articles incorporating such borates are provided herein. An embodiment of a luminescent borate includes a host borate that has a B | 06-05-2014 |
20150069117 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING AND READING MULTI-COLOR CO-PLANAR EMISSIVE INDICIA USING PRINTABLE DYES AND PIGMENTS - A method and system for identifying, tracking, and/or authenticating objects that is simple to apply and to use by an intended user, but is extremely difficult to counterfeit or compromise by an unintended user. Also disclosed is a multi-color, co-planar indicium made of a combination of printed patterns of multiple inks. The printed patterns may be modified by software-generated masks to ensure that the patterns are co-planar. The indicium is undecipherable unless irradiated with specified wavelengths of light radiation, filtered through specified spectral filters, and read and decoded by an electronic image reader. The indicium may be visible or covert. The indicium encodes unique true information about the object and may encode nonsensical or intentionally incorrect information as a further deterrent to unauthorized use. The method permits the indicia to be applied to objects at high processing speeds possible with inkjet printing. | 03-12-2015 |
20150252256 | LUMINESCENT PHOSPHOR COMPOUNDS, ARTICLES INCLUDING SUCH COMPOUNDS, AND METHODS FOR THEIR PRODUCTION AND USE - Embodiments include luminescent phosphor compounds that include one or more emitting ions and one or more disturbing ions, and methods for their production. An emitting ion in the compound may be characterized by a first decay time constant when the emitting ion is undisturbed. However, a corresponding disturbing ion in the compound, which is different from the emitting ion, causes the emitting ion to have a pre-defined, target disturbed decay time constant that is greater than zero and less than the first decay time constant. An embodiment of an authentication system is configured to measure the decay time constant of a phosphor compound applied to an article, and to determine whether the decay time constant corresponds to a phosphor compound that includes a particular disturbing ion (e.g., in order to determine whether or not the article is authentic). | 09-10-2015 |