Abstract: The system in one embodiment relates to tightly integrating parameter estimation, symbol hypothesis testing, decoding, and rate identification. The present invention provides Turbo-decoding for joint signal demodulation based on an iterative decoding solution that exploits error correction codes. The system iteratively couples an initial amplitude estimator, a symbol estimator, a bank of decoders, and a joint amplitude estimator to produce the symbol estimates.

Abstract: A penetration resistant garment that may be comfortably worn by a user while offering protection against injury from a penetrating object, such as a water jet for example, includes a plurality of light-weight, rigid, discrete penetration resistant sections cooperating with and arranged relative to one another to provide a flexible garment. The sections may be layered in an overlapping manner to provide substantially complete coverage extending over an area of desired coverage. Also, a length of the garment may be less than a sum of the lengths of the individual sections.

Abstract: A meander line antenna (MLA) is fabricated by using printed circuit techniques to form a one-piece meander line. Previous MLAs so constructed required hand assembly. The present method of the invention utilizes photolithographic methods and plated through hole construction to fabricate the antenna without the need for hand assembly. A conductor trace is etched on both sides of a printed circuit board, and slotted vias are milled into the board, wherein the vias are plated through to form the continuous meander line circuit.

Abstract: A method for preparing a release coating and applying it to crucibles used to contain molten material while it solidifies, by mixing a release coating power with a dry organic binder into a powder and binder dry mixture, mixing a defoamer with a liquid into a liquid and defoamer mixture, mixing the dry mixture with the liquid and defoamer mixture into a wet release coating, sieving to remove lumps and particles, checking the viscosity, wet-spraying onto a crucible, evaporating the liquid from the wet release coating so as to leave a dry release coating on the crucible, and separating the binder from the dry release coating by thermal decomposition.

Abstract: A sequence of low force, high compliance, long extension, piezofilm-based sensors for a biofeedback system for self-monitoring of selected body motions. Flexible, large area, piezofim sensors are mounted on compliant but less flexible, larger area, backbone structures so as to distribute localized stress anomolies and produce a useful, coherent, signal voltage for realtime body motion monitoring. The sensors are used in combination with body appliances that permit suitable placement of the sensors proximate the body, in areas suitable for measuring body motion, such as twist, stretch and flexure. The sensors provide input signals to a small, self contained signal processing and feedback module that generates a limited sequence of stepped announcements indicating the amount of motion detected. Instant feedback is provided to the user in the form of audible tones, colored lights, or other means intended to provide periphery feedback without directly interferring with the intended motion.

Abstract: An array antenna capable of use with a single signal feed has a transmission line oriented substantially parallel to a ground plane, which transmission line has a multiplicity of sequential sections with each sequential section having a different spacing from the ground plane than each of its immediately adjacent sequential sections. This stepped or varied impedance transmission line forms an array in which the sections spaced further from the ground plane become active antenna elements. Controlling an electrical spacing between the ground plane and transmission line provides relative phase control between the active elements and thereby phased-array directional control of the antenna.

Abstract: A method for making optoelectronic devices with interdigitated arrays of photonic devices is disclosed wherein an array of first type photonic devices and sacrificial device(s) is hybridized to a driver circuitry substrate, the sacrificial devices are removed, and an array of second type photonic devices is hybridized into the spaces left by removal of the sacrificial devices.

Abstract: A bubble trap for an extracorporeal blood handling or other fluid handling system has a chamber (10) constructed from a top section (20) and bottom section (30). There is a fluid inlet (50), gas vent port (70) for purging gas that has separated from the fluid in the chamber, and a fluid outlet (50). There are two balls (64) and (74), which act as check valves to prevent fluid flowing out the vent port, and gas escaping through the fluid outlet. The chamber geometry prevents entrapment of either ball in the corner as blood level rises or falls. Squeeze bulbs (66) and (76), and shutoff valves (68) and (78), provide for unseating the check balls.

Abstract: A thermodynamically stable, protective coating layer is applied by thermal spray technique to the inner and outer surfaces of a quartz crucible used for mono or polycrystalline silicon crystallization processing, inhibiting fusion between the silicon melt and the vitreous silica of the crucible, contamination of the silicon melt by contaminants released from the crucible by devitrification, and any chemical reaction occurring between the crucible and any supporting graphite structure. A powdered form of a suitable protective coating material compatible with high temperature plasma spray techniques, such as magnesium zirconate, barium zirconate, or stabilized zirconium oxide, is fed into a high temperature and high speed plasma jet directed at the crucible. The powder particles are softened or melted in the jet and deposited on the surfaces of the quartz crucible, and allowed to cool and harden into a protective coating.

Abstract: A collimator is provided to collimate light from a lambertian light source in which light from a fluorescent lamp is reflected towards an exit slit and in which light which leaves the slit at 180 degrees and is collimated in one direction to +/−1/2 degree. The collimator is utilized in one application to maximize the diffraction efficiency of a diffractive color separator microlens array to increase the brightness of a color liquid crystal display and to increase color saturation. In order to provide collimation, the light exiting the exit slit is collimated by parabolic surfaces of an optical waveguide to provide a beam which has a collimation of +/−3 degrees in one direction. This light in one embodiment is spread out by a reflective array and is further collimated by a cylindrical lens array so that it exits a panel with the required +/−1/2 degree collimation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a puncture-resistant glove and a puncture-resistant glove liner, each suitable for protecting a hand comprising a palmar side and a dorsal side. In preferred embodiment, the glove or glove liner comprises a palmar portion designed to fit over the palmar side of the hand, the palmar portion being made of a puncture-resistant material. The glove or glove liner also comprises a dorsal portion designed to fit over at least part of the dorsal side of the hand, and optionally being made of a puncture-resistant material, the dorsal portion being sewn to the palmar portion along seams substantially located on a dorsal side of the glove.

Abstract: The present invention features a packaging system for two-dimensional optoelectronic arrays. In one embodiment, the packaging includes a heat spreader, a housing with embedded electrical interconnections, a substrate including electrical contacts, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) including a hybridized array with vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), detectors or both. The waveguide assembly includes a plurality of individual one-dimensional waveguides formed in waveguide sheets, wherein the waveguides match the array footprint on one end and a connector footprint on the other end.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a blow molded article with a smooth appearance and to the method of making the article. More particularly, the blow molding system of the present invention utilizes a thermal cycle to eliminate certain molding defects and a non-mirrored mold cavity surface to eliminate other molding defects. The thermal cycle sets the cavity temperature to a prescribed range to eliminate spot marks and line marks. The mold cavity surface has minute concavities/convexities and thereby produces an article with minute concavities/convexities such that when the article is painted, a smooth surface is produced without the need for sanding either the mold surface or the paint surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a molded article laminated with fabric wherein a thermoplastic resin (A) has a fabric, made up of fibers of a highly heat resisting thermoplastic resin (B), adhered to the surface thereof, wherein the thermoplastic resin (A) of the molding contains the highly heat resisting thermoplastic resin (B) constituting the fibers and wherein the highly heat resisting thermoplastic resin (B) is present as minute particles in the thermoplastic resin (A), and a method not only for reprocessing the mold flashes at the time of the preparation of molded articles laminated with fabric but also for reprocessing the defective molded articles laminated with fabric which come from the production line and are destined to be discarded.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device with an array of passive optical elements mounted thereon which provide optical communications between the active optical elements of the transceiver array as well as optical signal processing.

Abstract: The present invention features a stacked, multi-band, antenna system consisting of a low-frequency, forward portion and a gridded, rear portion designed for operation at a higher frequency. Both front and rear radiating elements may share a common ground plane or the rear element may form a ground plane for the front element. Typically, the front antenna is a relatively narrow-band, gridded, bow-tie dipole or a similar radiating structure and the rear antenna is a wide-band dipole or slot element. Additional frequency bands may be designed into the inventive system by adding additional dipole or similar antenna elements above, below, or between the front and rear antennas. By properly choosing element sizes and spacings, and orienting the various antennas, a frequency band ratio of as little as 4:1 may be obtained.

Abstract: A dual use desk for use with a monitor and keyboard, the desk having a retracting lid section conforming to a lid opening in the front edge of the desktop, the lid retraction mechanism consisting of the lid being hingedly attached to commonly available linear drawer sliders mounted at a rearward sloping angle below the desktop. The lid is retracted with a simple front edge tilt up, and slide back motion, to expose a lower level keyboard tray. The keyboard tray may be extendible outward as well, and may have an accessory tray attached, which is exposed for access when the lid is retracted and the keyboard extended. Alternative configurations permit a monitor to be located below desktop level, visible when the lid is retracted and the keyboard extended.

Abstract: A connector and cable provide a two dimensional array of optical channels for interconnecting electronic circuits using a two-dimensional, integrated circuit array of emitter and/or detector elements affixed to the fiber bundle, an ASIC substrate including drive circuitry electrically connected to the array and adapted to drive emitter elements and/or sense detector elements within the array, fanout circuitry associated with the ASIC substrate and drive circuitry for spatially separating the electrical signal channels, and an electrical connector means connected to the fanout circuitry. Applications include all manner of interconnecting circuit boards or similar components within a single system or between systems.

Abstract: Microperforated packaging materials for use in modifying or controlling the flow of oxygen and carbon dioxide into and/out of a fresh produce container, where the microperforations are specifically tailored in size, location and number for the specific produce. A packaging system of designating specifically tailored microperforated containers for particular fresh produce to optimally preserve the produce. A method of making the registered microperforations on the packaging material using a CO2 laser and a sensor mechanism.