Abstract: A method comprises: receiving an RF signal; providing an RF signal level; setting a DC optical power level at one of at least two levels depending on whether the RF signal level is above or below an RF threshold; and modulating with the RF signal optical output power about the DC optical power level. An apparatus comprises: a light source; an RF detector arranged to receive the RF signal and to provide the RF signal level; an optical power control circuit coupled to the RF detector and to the light source that includes a comparator and is arranged to set the DC optical power level according to the RF signal level; and an optical modulator coupled to the light source and arranged to receive the RF signal and to modulate therewith optical output power about the DC set point.

Abstract: A flat substrate bears a set of flat, coplanar diffraction gratings; a jewelry mounting is secured to the substrate. The gratings are arranged to occupy corresponding areas of the substrate that are arranged to correspond to a two-dimensional projection of multiple, non-coplanar facets of a three-dimensional gemstone. Each grating differs from one or more other gratings with respect to grating wavevector direction so that each grating differs from at least one other grating with respect to direction of dispersion of spectrally dispersed output directions of a diffracted portion of light incident on the gratings along a given input direction. The grating wavevectors are spatially distributed among the corresponding gratings to form two or more subsets of three or more gratings along which subsets the corresponding grating wavevector direction of each grating of the subset varies monotonically with position of that grating along a given dimension of the substrate.

Abstract: An electrohydrodynamic spraying or spinning deposition system, which includes a common source of pressurized liquid within a manifold, and an array of 2 or more spraying tips, each tip being fed from the common source of pressurized liquid to create a liquid flow path. An individual flow impedance device is disposed within each tip's individual liquid flow path from the pressurized liquid source into each spraying tip. The individual flow impedance devices are disposed within a replaceable sheet, which can be easily cleaned or changed to accommodate the instance liquid viscosity and composition. A high voltage source is applied to create a high voltage potential applied between the tip array and a deposition surface.

Abstract: A first article has a surface bearing a diffraction grating that comprises a plurality of elevated regions and recessed regions and a reflective coating that provides reflective diffraction within the article but is sufficiently thick to prevent diffraction outside the article. Alternatively, the reflective coating can be arranged to also provide reflective diffraction outside the article. A second article has a surface bearing a diffraction grating that comprises a plurality of elevated regions and recessed regions. Either (i) at least a portion of each ridge, or (ii) at least portion of each trench, comprises a material differing with respect to its refractive index or with respect to its optical transmissivity.

Abstract: A multiple-core optical waveguide comprises: a substrate; lower and upper waveguide core layers; a waveguide core between the upper and lower waveguide core layers; upper and lower cladding; and middle cladding between the upper and lower waveguide core layers substantially surrounding the waveguide core. Each of the lower, middle, and upper claddings has a refractive index less than refractive indices of the lower waveguide core layer, the upper waveguide core layer, and the waveguide core. Along at least a given portion of the optical waveguide, the upper and lower waveguide core layers extend bilaterally substantially beyond the lateral extent of a propagating optical mode supported by the optical waveguide, the lateral extent of the supported optical mode being determined at least in part by the width of the waveguide core along the given portion of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A packaging article comprises first and second packaging members with one or more depressions and corresponding protrusions, respectively, and can be assembled with their each protrusion received within the corresponding depression. A transverse cross section of each depression is concave. A transverse cross section of each protrusion includes a secondary protrusion that forms a longitudinal ridge; a longitudinal cross section of the ridge comprises one or more concavities. A substantially rectangular object is place in a depression and the first and second packaging members are assembled. The object, received within the depression and located between the assembled packaging members, rests with two opposing edges of the object urged against the concave surface of the depression with corresponding lines of contact oriented substantially longitudinally, and with two other opposing edges of the object urged against the concavity.

Abstract: An article comprises a volume of material having at least one faceted or curved surface, and at least one diffraction grating on at least one surface of the article. The diffraction grating comprises a set of diffractive elements formed in a deformable layer attached to the surface of the article. A method comprises forming the set of diffractive elements by deformation of the deformable layer, and attaching the deformable layer to a surface of the article. The layer can be deformed to form the diffractive elements before or after it is attached to the surface of the article.

Abstract: A method comprises: repeatedly presenting to a subject a training stimulus; presenting to the subject a diffuse, non-imaged visual stimulus along with the training stimulus; and presenting the diffuse, non-imaged visual stimulus to the subject without the training stimulus. The training stimulus elicits from the subject a selected physiological, psychological, emotional, or mechanical response. The diffuse, non-imaged visual stimulus is presented without the training stimulus so as to elicit the selected response. The diffuse, non-imaged visual stimulus is presented via a visual display and comprises a selected spatial pattern or arrangement of deviation of a selected parameter of the visual display from a reference level of that parameter. The diffuse, non-imaged visual stimulus is arranged so as to be perceived by the subject only at a subliminal or near-subliminal level. A video display and electronic processor can be arranged to present the training stimulus and the diffuse, non-imaged visual stimulus.

Abstract: Attenuating, while handling an animal, one's own emanated electromagnetic field by wearing apparel that includes an electromagnetically shielding fabric. The shielding fabric comprises a substantially continuous system of conductive fibers combined with non-conductive fabric. Or attenuating, while a handler is handling an animal, the electromagnetic field emanated by the handler, by (i) providing to the handler apparel that includes the electromagnetically shielding fabric, and (ii) instructing the handler to wear it while handling an animal, respectively. The attenuation of the emanated electromagnetic field decreases the likelihood of the animal reacting to the emanated electromagnetic field.

Abstract: A method for occluding an anatomical structure (such as a vessel or duct) having a lumen comprises: introducing percutaneously into the body of the patient a delivery device; advancing the delivery device through an extraluminal space within the patient's body to an occlusion site outside the lumen of an anatomical structure; deploying a pair of longitudinally-extending clamping jaws from the delivery device; and occluding the anatomical structure with the clamping jaws. The advance of the delivery device and the deployment of the clamping jaws is guided by near-real-time imaging of a target region of a body of a patient, the target region including the occlusion site on the anatomical structure. The delivery device is guided to the occlusion site outside the lumen of the anatomical structure, and the structure is occluded with the deployed clamping jaws engaging the exterior of the structure.

Abstract: Attenuating, while in or on a body of water, one's own emanated electromagnetic field by wearing apparel that includes an electromagnetically shielding fabric. The shielding fabric comprises a substantially continuous system of conductive fibers combined with non-conductive fabric. Or attenuating, while a person is in or on a body of water, the electromagnetic field emanated by the person, by (i) providing to the person apparel that includes the electromagnetically shielding fabric, and (ii) instructing the person to wear it while in or on the water. The attenuation of the emanated electromagnetic field decreases the likelihood of a person being located in the body of water by a water-borne predator detecting that person's emanated electromagnetic field.

Abstract: Attenuating, while hunting or observing wildlife, one's own emanated electromagnetic field by wearing apparel that includes an electromagnetically shielding fabric. The shielding fabric comprises a substantially continuous system of conductive fibers combined with non-conductive fabric. Or attenuating, while a hunter is hunting or an observer is observing wildlife, the electromagnetic field emanated by the hunter or observer, by (i) providing to the hunter or observer apparel that includes the electromagnetically shielding fabric, and (ii) instructing the hunter or observer to wear it while hunting or observing wildlife, respectively. The attenuation of the emanated electromagnetic field decreases the likelihood of detection by an animal. A wearable article of apparel comprises the electromagnetically shielding fabric, and can also comprise one or both of (i) a visual camouflage pattern on at least a portion of the its outer surface, or (ii) an odor absorber, suppressant, attenuator, or blocker.

Abstract: A compound archery bow comprises a riser and two limbs extending therefrom; first and second pulley members on the corresponding limbs; a draw cable, and a power cable. The pulley members include corresponding draw cable journals, and the draw cable is engaged to be let out from them and to rotate the pulley members as the bow is drawn. The first and second pulley members further include power cable take-up and let-out mechanisms, respectively. The power cable is engaged to be taken up by the power cable take-up mechanism and to be let out by the power cable let-out mechanism as the bow is drawn and the pulley members rotate. The power cable let-out mechanism comprises paired let-out members disposed on opposite sides of the second bow limb, and the power cable is engaged with the let-out members in a split cable arrangement or a yoke arrangement.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises at least one primary diffraction grating and at least one reference diffraction grating each formed on or within a common grating substrate. The reference diffraction grating is arranged so as to diffract and disperse spatially according to wavelength a reference optical signal incident on the reference diffraction grating at an input incidence angle. The primary diffraction grating is arranged so as to diffract and disperse spatially according to wavelength an input optical signal incident on the primary diffraction grating at the input incidence angle. The reference and primary diffraction gratings exhibit at least one differing grating structural parameter. The reference and primary diffraction gratings are arranged so that a diffracted and spatially dispersed reference optical signal having at least one known wavelength component defines at least one spatial wavelength calibration reference for the diffracted and spatially dispersed input optical signal.

Abstract: An optical grating comprising a grating layer and two surface layers, the layers being arranged with the grating layer between the surface layers. The grating layer comprises a set of multiple, discrete, elongated first grating regions that comprise a first dielectric material and are arranged with intervening elongated second grating regions. The bulk refractive index of the dielectric material of the first grating regions is larger than the bulk refractive index of the second grating regions. The first surface layer comprises a first impedance matching layer, and the second surface layer comprises either (i) a second impedance matching layer or (ii) a reflective layer. Each said impedance matching layer is arranged to reduce reflection of an optical signal transmitted through the corresponding surface of the grating layer, relative to reflection of the optical signal in the absence of said impedance matching layer.

Abstract: A method comprises: i) presenting to a subject a training stimulus, the training stimulus eliciting from the subject a desired response; ii) presenting to the subject a diffuse visual stimulus along with the training stimulus; and iii) repeating the presenting to the subject of the training stimulus along with the diffuse visual stimulus sufficiently many times so that subsequent presentation of the diffuse visual stimulus to the subject without the training stimulus elicits from the subject the desired response. The diffuse visual stimulus is arranged so as to be perceived by the subject only at a subliminal or near-subliminal level. Another method comprises presenting to the subject the diffuse visual stimulus in order to elicit the desired response, the subject having been conditioned according to the previous method.

Abstract: A system comprises: a) storage and distribution means; b) inventory upload means; c) product information download means; d) order upload means; and e) delivery download means. A method comprises: (a) digitally transferring the goods and pertinent product information from a provider of the goods to a storage and distribution means; (b) storing the goods, pertinent product information, order information, sales information, or marketing information on the storage and distribution means; (c) digitally transferring product information to a shopper; (d) digitally transferring order information from a buyer of goods to the storage and distribution means; and (e) digitally transferring the goods to the buyer. The storage and distribution means may be provided with a network connection for access by providers, shoppers, and buyers.

Abstract: A hammer spring assembly comprises a spring and a member operatively coupling the spring and a hammer of a firearm when the hammer spring assembly is connected to a firearm. The hammer is biased by the spring to rotate forward toward a cartridge or firing pin. The spring exerts a bias force on the member in the forward direction, which urges the member against a curved rearward surface of the hammer at a hammer contact point. As the hammer rotates rearward, the hammer contact point moves along the rearward hammer surface so as to cause a desired variation of an effective lever arm about the hammer pivot point of the bias force exerted on the hammer. Methods comprise connecting the hammer spring assembly to a firearm, or providing the hammer spring assembly and instructing a user to connect it to a firearm.