Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing refractive index, birefringence and optical activity measurements of a material such as a solid, liquid, gas or thin film. The apparatus has an optical ring-resonator with a closed optical path that constitutes a cavity. A sample is introduced into the optical path of the resonator such that the light in the resonator is transmitted through the sample and relative and/or absolute shifts of the resonance frequencies or changes of the characteristics of the transmission spectrum are observed. A change in the transfer characteristics of the resonant ring, such as a shift of the resonance frequency, is related to a sample's refractive index (refractive indices) and/or change thereof. A reflecting surface may be introduced in a ring resonator. The reflecting surface can be raster-scanned for the purpose of height-profiling surface features.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention provides comprehensive design and installation management for agricultural water management systems. Maps and grade profiles are created from data collected by Global Positioning devices in the field. Latitude, longitude, and elevation are triangulated from GPS data to develop contour, grade, and profile maps, used to design drainage systems in real time. Customer billing information and vendor pricing information are produced from map and grade profile data. Interfacing and machine control for machines used to install drainage and/or irrigation systems are generated from contour, grade and profile data. Data is exported and imported in common file formats for efficient data exchange.

Abstract: A method for approximating a plurality of digital signals or images using compressed sensing. In a scheme where a common component xc of said plurality of digital signals or images an innovative component xi of each of said plurality of digital signals each are represented as a vector with m entries, the method comprises the steps of making a measurement yc, where yc comprises a vector with only ni entries, where ni is less than m, making a measurement yi for each of said correlated digital signals, where yi comprises a vector with only ni entries, where ni is less than m, and from each said innovation components yi, producing an approximate reconstruction of each m-vector xi using said common component yc and said innovative component yi.

Abstract: A mass interconnect device having a receiver and test adapter, each having a plurality of modules, pins and patchcords connected thereto. The receiver has an independent rotatable engagement lever attached at each side for drawing a test adapter into engagement with the receiver. Each engagement lever has dual cams that mate with a slot in an engagement plate on each side of the test adapter, thereby permitting the pair to provide four-point pull-down of the test adapter into the receiver.

Abstract: A self-actuating robot or vehicle tether capable of moving itself, remaining free while traversing around obstacles, and free itself is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a valve is mounted to the tether or robot. An inflow conduit attached to or in the tether is connected to the valve. A fluid flows through the tether and the valve is opened and closed to create a waterhammer effect in the inflow conduit. The forces created on the tether from the waterhammer effect result in motion of the tether and in freeing of the tether from obstructions. Closing and opening the valve further creates pressure changes in the tether, thereby causing momentary dimensional changes in the tether. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of valves are placed along the tether. Pulsing of the plurality of valves while a fluid flows through the tether results in the tether effectively moving itself.

Abstract: The transfer blanket (10), in particular a rubber blanket, for a printing press, has a carrier layer (11), a covering layer (12) and at least one intermediate layer (13, 14, 15) which is positioned between the carrier layer and the covering layer, the carrier layer protruding, compared with at least one intermediate layer, at at least one end of the transfer blanket (10), using which end the said transfer blanket (10) can be fastened at a clamping point (17) of a printing press, and ends of the or each intermediate layer, which are of shortened configuration compared with the carrier layer (11), being sealed with the aid of a sealing layer (16). The sealing layer (16) extends over the carrier layer (11) in such a way that the transfer blanket can be fastened at the clamping point of the printing press at least via the carrier layer and the sealing layer.

Abstract: A method and implementation of enhancing a facial recognition process to increase the judgment confidence on identifying a person from a large image database of multiple persons. The method may include reconstructing a database of 2D images having only a small number of images with respect to each person into a database having multiple images, perhaps hundreds or thousands, of each person. The multiple images represent different camera angles or different lighting conditions. The method further includes adding an extra confidence percentage to matching images in the database when multiple images of a person are identified as matching.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stabilizing and burying a conduit in a waterbed is disclosed. A plurality of spoilers are placed on the conduit at longitudinally and radially different positions to promote self-burial, reduce vortex-induced vibration, prevent upheaval buckling, minimize future corrective work by continuous reburial of the under water conduit or pipeline.

Abstract: Bipolar surgical forceps having argon plasma coagulation capability are shown. The surgical forceps include in their body a channel for receiving a flexible tube having a wire within it. The flexible tubing and wire within it are connected to a generator that provides electrical energy to the wire and argon or other inert gas to the tube. The flexible tubing travels a portion of the length of the forceps and ends with a coaxial connector in the proximity of the points of the scissors. An argon plasma coagulation sleeve is placed on the point of one or both limbs of the forceps and is connected to the flexible tubing and wire through the coaxial connector.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for verification of arithmetic digital circuits is disclosed, wherein a first circuit, called a specification, is compared for equivalence with a further circuit called an implementation, with equivalence occurring when and only when the specification and implementation always produce the same output signals for the same input signals. The gate level description of the specification and implementation are converted to a network of elementary arithmetic 1-bit operations (XOR, half-adders, full adders) and the equivalence of the specification and implementation is identified in that a comparison of the resultant networks from elementary arithmetic 1-bit operations is carried out directly.

Abstract: A motion sensing device is embedded in a firearm. A processor in the firearm senses the pattern of motion of the firearm, and on sensing a specified sequence of motions, the processor permits operation of the firearm. The operator would move the firearm in a prescribed fashion to “unlock the gun.” For example, the operator might trace out his or her initials with the muzzle of a pistol. Unlocking would stay valid until the operator released the gun handle or squeezed extra hard on the handle.

Abstract: A scalable mass interconnect device having a receiver assembly with module mounting members positioned in the receiver frame in a direction parallel to a plane of movement of the engagement cams in the receiver. Modules are mounted in the module mounting members such that the modules are perpendicular to a plane of movement of the engagement cams in the receiver.

Abstract: The invention permits a comparison of two technical systems, which according to conventional opinion is not possible to carry out, based on a substantially simpler, technically achievable comparison, in which part systems of one or both systems are specifically replaced. The replacements are performed in a controlled manner by monitoring a replacement condition with constraints. The monitoring of the replacement condition and the generation and monitoring of the necessary constraints occur automatically. A comparison of both systems can thus be carried out based on the replacement of the part systems without introducing a loss of precision in the comparison.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method of conducting surveillance of stolen vehicles. Stolen vehicle information is downloaded from a database to a central server. At the central server, vehicle information is parsed to the specific requirements. Each subscribing jurisdiction downloads its area-specific stolen vehicle database to a subscriber workstation, e.g., via the Internet or an intranet. Police cars have on-board mobile surveillance points having a camera and a processor. A copy of the area-specific stolen vehicle database is loaded into each car's processor. The mobile surveillance point reads license plates of vehicles in traffic, and the processor compares the license plates to stolen plate numbers stored in the database. The processor activates a signal to alert the officer. Stationary checkpoints located in the jurisdiction have a stationary surveillance point having a camera and a processor. The surveillance system stores images and creates a database of all vehicle plates in the area.

Abstract: A bistatic radar system having a transmitter that generates unique signals at spatially independent transmitter degrees of freedom and a receiver that filters the signal at each receiver degree of freedom into a group of signals identical in number to the number of transmitter degrees of freedom. The receiver formats the filtered signals into a 2-dimensional array of elements. The receiver rotates the array so that the new axes are aligned with the Doppler gradient. The data is then re-sampled and projected to linearize the clutter signal. The receiver may be integrated with a broad class of adaptive and non-adaptive clutter mitigation approaches such as electronic clutter tuning and projected bistatic space-time adaptive processing, or STAP.

Abstract: An intraluminal device has an elongated body member having a series of independent inflatable sections along its length. At least one inflating/deflating line extends from each inflatable section to a distal end of the body member. The device may be used for positing, isolating or identifying a lumen by giving shape to a collapsed viscus. The device may also be used to visualize intraluminal structure or control pressure within a hollow viscus from within the hollow viscus.

Abstract: A modular interface connection system having a receiver and a test adapter. The receiver includes a non-circular torsion shaft for providing improved strength and ease of assembly and a cover for providing safety. The test adapter has a frame, a shield, and one or more bushings, which provides easy access to contacts, patchcords and modules in the test adapter for troubleshooting, repairs and maintenance.