Abstract:
An inventory agent operating on software includes instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to receive inventory data relating to stock in an inventory. The inventory data includes planned inventory data and actual inventory data. The instructions are operable to cause the programmable processor to use the inventory data to calculate one or more correlations in errors between the planned inventory data and the actual inventory data, use the one or more correlations in errors to estimate a probability density for one or more errors, calculate a predicted inventory level, calculate a likely error of the predicted inventory level using the estimate of the probability density, and adjust the predicted inventory level with the likely error to estimate a likely actual inventory level. The inventory agent may be implemented in a supply chain management system.
Abstract:
An optoelectronic module includes a laser, a ball lens, a substrate, a reflector, and a focusing lens. The laser generates a diverging light beam along an optical axis. The ball lens has a center. The substrate has a surface supporting the laser and an alignment structure. The alignment structure registers the ball lens in a plane parallel to the substrate surface and in a direction normal to the substrate surface so that the center of the ball lens is substantially aligned with the optical axis and the ball lens parallelizes the diverging light beam into a collimated beam. The reflector deflects the collimated beam to produce a deflected collimated beam in a plane intersecting the substrate surface. The focusing lens focuses the deflected collimated beam.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to laser ranging and detection by sequentially emitting a plurality of beams from a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) structure, re-directing the beams through optical elements such that they are fanned out over the region of view, and detecting any beams that may be reflected by objects in the region of view. The range and bearing of such objects can be determined from the beam time-of-flight and beam angle.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, to support real-time inventory management. Changes to the inventory including the addition or removal of an item from the inventory are reported to the item tracking system in real-time. An inventory planner normally operates on a periodic schedule to perform inventory management functions. The inventory planner can receive alerts from an early warning agent that can cause the inventory planner to perform at least some inventory management functions, outside of its normal periodic schedule. In particular, the agent can send an alert to the inventory planner to cause the inventory planner to determine whether replenishment of store inventory is needed. To make this determination, the inventory planner can retrieve real-time inventory data from the item tracking system.
Abstract:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy gun, showing my new design; FIG. 2 is a front view thereof; FIG. 3 is a rear view thereof; FIG. 4 is a right side view thereof; FIG. 5 is a left side view thereof; FIG. 6 is a top view thereof; and, FIG. 7 is a bottom view thereof. Broken lines in the drawings depict portions of the toy gun, that form no part of the claimed design.
Abstract:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pet house toy, showing my new design; FIG. 2 is a front view thereof; FIG. 3 is a rear view thereof; FIG. 4 is a left side view thereof; FIG. 5 is a right side view thereof; FIG. 6 is a top view thereof; and, FIG. 7 is a bottom view thereof. The broken lines in the drawings depict portions of the pet house toy that form no part of the claimed design.
Abstract:
A clustering and recommendation machine determines that an item is included in a cluster of items. The machine accesses item data descriptive of the item. The machine accesses a vector that represents the cluster and calculates the likelihood that the item is included in the cluster, based on the item variable and the probability parameter. The machine determines that the item is included in the cluster, based on the likelihood. The machine also recommends an item to a potential buyer. The machine accesses behavior data that represents a first event type pertinent to a first cluster of items. The machine calculates a probability that a second event type pertaining to a second cluster of items will co-occur with the first event type. The machine identifies an item from the second cluster to be recommended and presents a recommendation of the item to the potential buyer.
Abstract:
An optical communications module is provided with an optical coupling system that includes a reflective and focusing (RAF) lens and an index-matching material that together allow air gaps along the optical pathway, which are typically associated with the use of refractive optical elements used in known optical communications modules, to be eliminated. Eliminating these air gaps allows Fresnel reflection along the optical pathway to be eliminated, or at least greatly reduced. Eliminating or reducing Fresnel reflection reduces insertion loss and optical crosstalk in the optical communications module.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the invention include a fiber connector module and method for coupling optical signals between an optical transceiver module and an optical fiber described herein involve the coupling to or overmolding of a fiber connector module to an optical transceiver module or other optical source, and a fiber lens coupled to for formed into an angled surface of the fiber connector module housing. The angled surface and the fiber lens are configured in such a way that the fiber lens focuses collimated light from the transceiver module to the receiving end of an optical fiber or other optical detector positioned within the fiber connector module housing. Fiber connector modules according to embodiments of the invention allow for relatively low profiles compared to conventional arrangements and configurations, especially with multi-channel, parallel lane configurations.
Abstract:
A medical fluid system includes a medical fluid pump; a container holding a fluid to be pumped by the medical fluid pump, the fluid at a first time having a first conductivity, the fluid at a second time having a second conductivity; and a radio frequency level sensor positioned in operable relation with the container, the radio frequency operation of the level sensor configured so as to be (i) indicative of a level of the fluid in the container and (ii) at least substantially independent of whether the fluid has the first conductivity or the second conductivity. The medical fluid system can determine the level of medical fluid by measuring the resistance, impedance or phase shift seen by the sensor.