Abstract: A scanning ophthalmoscope scans an object plane in the interior of the eye by employing a first spatial light modulator to generate a time-varying first modulation pattern. A second spatial light modulator receives the illumination field generated by the interaction of the first modulation pattern with the interior of the eye. The second spatial light modulator generates a second modulation pattern corresponding to the first modulation pattern and transmits this second modulation pattern to an image detector, thereby forming an image of the object plane in the interior of the eye. The first and second spatial light modulators are linked by a function or mapping such that a modulation pattern generated by the first spatial light modulator maps to a particular modulation pattern generated by the second spatial light modulator.

Abstract: A system (method and apparatus) for hemodynamic measurements of the cardiac activity, including the stroke volume and cardiac output on the basis of a blood pressure pulse wave of a patient. Using a function that relates cardiac activity to an anthropometric parameter of the patient (height or arm span), ordinates of the pulse wave, and time intervals of certain characteristic points of the pulse wave, the stroke volume and/or cardiac output are obtained. The pulse wave can be determined by means of an optical sensor clipped to an ear lobe of the patient. The characteristic points and time intervals from the initial point of the pulse wave to the characteristic points are obtained under computer control. The measured values of the time intervals and ordinates are inputted to the computer which computes cardiac output, stroke volume and other cardiac information related thereto.

Abstract: An improved mechanism for centering a roll of paper stock for printing in a portable printer is provided, in which the printer has a housing with a cavity and an opening from a side thereof to provide a receptacle for the roll. The centering mechanism includes a spindle disposed in the cavity toward the opening and mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis, and a pair of arms coupled to each other to move in opposite directions with respect to a center between the arms. The arms engage the two opposing ends of the roll when received on the spindle for centering the roll on the spindle. The arms are coupled to each other by a rack and pinion assembly which moves the arms in opposite direction to each other responsive to a force applied by an operator to one of the arms when a roll is received on the spindle.

Abstract: A resilient mount for rotating warning light systems includes a mounting base having a plurality of mounting feet, each of which includes a special grommet mounted within an aperture formed therein. The grommets are selectively shaped so as to absorb and dissipate substantially all shock loads which would ordinarily be delivered to the rotating warning light system, and particularly, to the fragile bulb itself. The resiliently mount further prevents noise from being transmitted from the rotating light back into the vehicle to which the mounting base is connected.

Abstract: A hand held microsurgical instrument for applying laser energy to selected locations (sites) in an area under the skin (or other exposed translucent tissue) to provide localized photothermolysis of underlying tissue at these sites, is described. The laser energy is focused into a spot within the tissue. This spot is of sufficiently small size so that the energy density is sufficient to provide surgical or treatment effects within the tissue without damaging the surface tissue. In dermatology, for example, the technique can be used to destroy endothelial cells in blood vessels which are desired to be removed, such spider veins (nevi) in the skin, hair follicles to prevent hair growth therefrom, or other microsurgical procedures. The area is visualized while the laser beam is steered, using a deflection system, in X and Y coordinates.

Abstract: A system is described for providing one or more remote paging receivers with accurate time of day information utilizing a paging provider which encodes page messages into RF signals corresponding to baseband signals for transmission via a paging channel to the receivers. The system includes the receivers and a controller. The controller sends a first page message, which defines an on-time point, to the paging provider for transmission via the paging channel to the receivers, and then sends a second page message to the paging provider for transmission via the paging channel to the receivers. Further, the controller detects the transmission of the first page message in the paging channel and determines a time of day when the on-time point of the first page message was transmitted by the paging provider in the paging channel. The second page message sent by the controller comprises data defining this determined time of day.

Abstract: A hair forming device for arranging a pony tail or braid. The device comprises a series of rings each attached to an adjacent ring in end to end fashion. Adjacent rings overlap just enough to enable a connecting pin formed in one ring to pass through a hole formed in the adjacent ring, and thus connect the two rings. Any two adjacent rings may therefore be arranged to describe a figure eight. Hair is preferably divided into two braids, each braid being passed through each ring. The novel device secures the braids in this manner, and is worn as long as the hair style thus achieved is maintained. Preferably, the connecting pins are arranged parallel to the central axis of the circle described by each ring. In alternative embodiments, the pins permanently connect adjacent rings, or may removably connect adjacent rings, for example by snap fit. In a further alternative embodiment, the device is extended by adding rings and attaching the succession of rings in head to tail fashion, thus forming a closed loop.

Abstract: A contact cleaning roller (CCR) system includes a shell having an electrostatically active outer surface and being supported by a close-fitting rotatable shaft. The shaft within the shell is provided with a cam groove extending from a first axial location to a second axial location disposed 180.degree. from the first axial location, and then back to the first axial location. A cam follower attached to the inner surface of the shell rides in the cam groove, causing the shell to oscillate axially of the shaft at a frequency of oscillation which is the numerical difference between the rotational frequencies of the shell and shaft. In a preferred embodiment, the CCR shell is nipped against a backing roller, which may be an idle roller or a driven roller, the web passing therebetween in contact with the working surfaces of both rollers.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for rapidly collecting aerosols containing solid particles and micro organisms, such as viruses and bacteria, from relatively large volumes of air and concentrating these particulates as samples in water. This apparatus operates under conditions conducive to preserving the integrity and viability of the collected micro organisms. Ambient air containing aerosols drawn into and through the collector's interior by an air mover, is mixed with very warm air saturated with moisture and then with cold air, to cause the resulting vapor mixture to become supersaturated. This supersaturated water vapor rapidly condenses onto the incoming aerosol particles to form droplets with particles at their centers. The airstream carrying these droplets enters a cloud of air ions produced by a corona generator or, alternately, by a radioactive source emitting alpha particles.

Abstract: Halftone correction systems are provided for producing dot overlap corrected halftone images at a digital printer. In the first embodiment, a system is provided for halftone correction on a black-and-white digital printer. The system first calibrates the black-and-white digital printer with seven test patterns to provide halftone correction information. Multi-level digital image signals representing a continuous-tone image are then received and stored. The system next halftones these multi-level digital image signals to provide an overlap corrected halftone image responsive to the halftone correction information at the digital printer. Halftoning is performed using an overlap corrected ordered dithering screen, which was generated based upon the correction of the partial overlap of adjacent dots in an uncorrected ordered dithering screen. In the second embodiment, a system is provided for producing dot overlap corrected color halftone images on a digital color printer.

Abstract: A system for threshing podded produce such as peas and beans, which may be harvested with their vine attached. A horizontal, cylindrical, rotating screen encloses a main beater having numerous paddles of height about one-twelfth the beater diameter. Paddles are pitched at an angle of about 25 degrees to a plane including the axis of the main beater and are also raked backwards by about 15 degrees from radial. A counter-rotating first satellite beater disposed above the main beater collects produce which has been macerated between the main beater and the screen and cooperates with the main beater, the linear tip speeds of the paddles and blades of both beaters being identical, to discharge a radially narrow, high-speed stream of macerated material across the interior of the cylindrical screen against a first sieving region of the screen above a second satellite beater.

Abstract: A self-contained, high power, solid state, battery voltage switching system applies battery voltage to a thermal printhead when the printer is turned on and disconnects voltage from the battery to the thermal printhead when the printer is turned off, thereby conserving battery power and increasing battery life. FET switches connect the battery to the printhead and to a circuit for applying operating voltage to a drive and control circuit for the printhead. Gate voltage is applied to the FET, or FETs when a plurality thereof are connected in parallel, to enable the FETs to provide the connection between the battery and the printhead. The gate voltage is supplied from a flip-flop and a FET driver which are self-contained with the FETs and the other circuitry in the printer.

Abstract: A roller cleaning system includes a pad disposable against a roller for cleaning the surface of the roller when the roller is rotated. The pad is supported in a frame which may be stationary or mounted for translation so that the pad may traverse a length of the roller while cleaning the roller surface. The pad may be further provided with an actuator for urging a portion of the pad against the roller at an additional force. The frame has a first portion disposed at a fixed distance from the surface of the roller and a second portion carrying the cleaning pad, the second portion being pivotable from the first portion about an axis parallel to the axis of the roller. Means are included for measuring torque exerted on the pivot, which torque is indicative of frictional drag on the cleaning pad. In a preferred embodiment, a piezo-electric strain gauge disposed between the frame portions is connected in a feedback loop with a controller and the pad actuator.

Abstract: A convenient, easily transportable holder for a large number of artists' paintbrushes of various sizes and diameters arranged for ready-access by the artists. The holder has a base of sheet metal with a top and sides which provides support for a spiral band along the top. The sides may be so dimensioned or angularly oriented with respect to the top so that the top is canted at an acute angle to the surface of a support of table on which the edges of the sides rest. The paintbrushes are held by friction fit because of the spring-like characteristics of the band between the turns of the spiral, notwithstanding that the brushes may be of different diameter. The artists may readily insert or remove one or more of the multiplicity of brushes for use while the others remain between the spiral turns of the band. The holder may have one side which defines with the top, a clip so that the holder is receivable over the edge of an artist's palette.

Abstract: A spectral densitometer system reads dosimeter cards. The cards contain bar codes with information for calibration of the system and for identification of the cards (serial numbers for each card). The densitometer has compartments optically and physically separated by a mechanism which contains a slide for receiving the cards and moving them into alignment with openings which expose the bar code to a bar code scanner in one of the compartments. The compartment containing the scanner also contains a source of illumination which projects through another opening and through a radiation sensitive patch. A scanning spectrophotometer in the other compartment reads the spectrum of the transmitted illumination. The system includes a computer, which may be a separate host computer, connected to the spectrophotometer and the bar code reader via communication ports. The computer computes the dosage based upon the wavelength measurements and the calibration information contained in the bar code.

Abstract: A mixer gearbox assembly for driving a mixer shaft capable of receiving either a complete electric drive motor on a first face of the gearbox housing for operatively coupling with a first end of a long cross-shaft in the housing, or alternatively a partial electric drive motor on a second face of the gearbox housing for operatively coupling with an opposite end of the cross-shaft. In an alternative configuration for use with only a partial motor, an assembly containing otherwise identical components is provided with a short cross-shaft replacing the long cross-shaft, which short shaft is supported by a single bearing and is colinearly matable only at the outer end thereof with the drive shaft of a partial electric motor. The rotor and short shaft act as a unitary structure when assembled.

Abstract: An improved acoustic source array system is provided by the invention to generate acoustic signals underwater. The system has an array of acoustic signal sources, such as air guns, towable while underwater behind a surface vessel. The array includes a plurality of these sources, and spreader bar assemblies including these sources. The sources are attached by these assemblies at predetermined separation distances in the array. The spreader bar assemblies provide manifolds for storing and regulating energy, such as compressed air, to operate the sources. The array is connected to the vessel by an umbilical. The sources are controlled by a shipboard controller for firing the sources to provide acoustic signals underwater at selected times. The array may be towed from the ship with the flat side of the array assuming an angle of approximately 45.degree. or less with respect to a vertical axis. The flat side of the array includes a horizontal axis that is normal to the direction of tow.

Abstract: A system for processing freshly picked ears of sweet corn in the field. In the preferred embodiment, a portable, towable processing machine having an on-board hydraulic power system includes a hopper for receiving whole ears, a husking bed for removing the husks, a bucket elevator for raising the husked ears to an upper level, a plurality of kernel cutting machines for cutting kernels from the ears, scalping beds for separating cut kernels from cutting debris, and a hopper for receiving and storing the cut corn and for delivering it to another vehicle or receptacle. The ears and kernels are moved through the machine by an integrated system of conveyors and bucket elevators. The conveyors and the cutting machines are so arranged that a stream of ears is recirculated past entrances to the machines, which are arranged in parallel flow so that any ear may be presented for kernel removal to any cutting machine. Ears enter the first available cutting machine they encounter.

Abstract: In order to facilitate pathological examination of a lesion in in-vivo tissue, a system and method are provided having a computer system in which both a camera for producing a digital macroscopic picture of the lesion and an imager are coupled to the computer system. The imager is responsive to the computer system and has optics for scanning the lesion to generate images representing microscopic sections of the lesion which provide sufficient information for pathological examination of the lesion. The computer system generates location information, referencing the location in the macroscopic picture of the lesion where the lesion was scanned to the images, and stores data in an electronic file structure which contains at least a representation of the images, a representation of the macroscopic picture, and the location information.

Abstract: An improved optical system having diffractive optic elements is provided for scanning a beam. This optical system includes a laser source for emitting a laser beam along a first path. A deflector, such as a rotating polygonal mirror, intersects the first path and translates the beam into a scanning beam which moves along a second path in a scan plane. A lens system (F-.theta. lens) in the second path has first and second elements for focusing the scanning beam onto an image plane transverse to the scan plane. The first and second elements each have a cylindrical, non-toric lens. One or both of the first and second elements also provide a diffractive element, which provides not only astigmatic correction, but may further provide chromatic aberration correction of the scanning beam. This astigmatic correction is achieved without the presence of any lens having a toroidal (toric) surface. The system may further have a third element in the first path of the beam prior to the deflector.