Abstract: A glass manufacturing system is described herein that has a forming device (e.g., isopipe) which is made from a zircon refractory material that has an improved creep resistance property. The zircon refractory material has a composition with at least the following elements: ZrSiO4 (98.75–99.68 wt %); ZrO2 (0.01–0.15 wt %); TiO2 (0.23–0.50 wt %); and Fe2O3 (0.08–0.60 wt %).

Abstract: A hermetically sealed glass package and method for manufacturing the hermetically sealed glass package are described herein using an OLED display as an example. Basically, the hermetically sealed OLED display is manufactured by providing a first substrate plate and a second substrate plate and depositing a frit onto the second substrate plate. OLEDs are deposited on the first substrate plate. An irradiation source (e.g., laser, infrared light) is then used to heat the frit which melts and forms a hermetic seal that connects the first substrate plate to the second substrate plate and also protects the OLEDs. The frit is glass that was doped with at least one transition metal and possibly a CTE lowering filler such that when the irradiation source heats the frit, it softens and forms a bond. This enables the frit to melt and form the hermetic seal while avoiding thermal damage to the OLEDs.

Abstract: A system and method for suppressing the formation of gaseous inclusions in glass sheets and the resulting glass sheets are described herein. The system includes a melting, fining, delivery, mixing or forming vessel that has a refractory metal component (e.g., platinum component) which has an inner wall that contacts molten glass and an outer wall coated with an oxygen ion transportable material (e.g., zirconia) which is coated with a conductive electrode. The system also includes a DC power source that supplies DC power across the oxygen ion transportable material which causes oxygen ions to migrate from the refractory metal component to the conductive electrode and enables one to control the partial pressure of oxygen around an exterior of the vessel which helps one to effectively prevent hydrogen permeation from the molten glass in order to suppress the formation of undesirable gaseous inclusions and surface blisters within the glass sheet.

Abstract: A multi-beam antenna system is described herein that can be used in microwave frequency applications between 1 GHz and 100 GHz. The multi-beam antenna system covers four 90° sectors for full 360° coverage. Each 90° sector is covered with at least 1 narrow steerable transmit (TX) and 1 narrow steerable receive (RX) beam. The beams are steered in the azimuth dimension.

Abstract: An electronically steerable passive array antenna and method for using the array antenna to steer the radiation beams and nulls of a radio signal are described herein. The array antenna includes a radiating antenna element capable of transmitting and receiving radio signals and one or more parasitic antenna elements that are incapable of transmitting or receiving radio signals. Each parasitic antenna element is located on a circumference of a predetermined circle around the radiating antenna element. A voltage-tunable capacitor is connected to each parasitic antenna element. A controller is used to apply a predetermined DC voltage to each one of the voltage-tunable capacitors in order to change the capacitance of each voltage-tunable capacitor and thus enable one to control the directions of the maximum radiation beams and the minimum radiation beams (nulls) of a radio signal emitted from the array antenna.

Abstract: A grating-coupled waveguide (GCW) and a method are described herein that can be used to detect the presence of a biological substance (e.g., cell, drug, chemical compound) in a sensing region of the GCW. The GCW includes a substrate, a diffraction grating and a waveguide film that has a higher index of refraction than the substrate which has an index of refraction?1.5. The relatively low-index substrate effectively increases the sensitivity of the GCW by causing the waveguide mode to shift towards a biological substance located in a sensing region above the waveguide film, thereby increasing the field strength of the mode's evanescent tail in this region. In one embodiment, an array of the GCWs are incorporated within the wells of a microplate.

Abstract: An integrated wavelength combiner/locker is described herein that performs a multiplexing function of a wavelength combiner and a wavelength error measurement function of a wavelength locker. In the preferred embodiment, the integrated wavelength combiner/locker includes a filter (e.g., diffraction grating, glass plate) that receives multiple optical signals and outputs a multiplexed optical signal. The integrated wavelength combiner/locker also includes a partially reflective device (e.g., mirror, coupler/circulator) that directs a portion of the multiplexed optical signal back into the filter that splits the multiplexed optical signal back into individual optical signals. The integrated wavelength combiner/locker further includes one or more ordered pairs of photodetectors each of which receives one of the individual optical signals and is used to detect a wavelength error in that optical signal.

Abstract: A system and method are described herein for determining the quality of an optical material by measuring and analyzing birefringence (e.g., stress-induced birefringence, inherent birefringence) in the optical material (e.g., glass sheet). The method is a scanning technique in which a birefringence sensor is set to a first optical state and then moved in a direction at a constant velocity over a glass sheet while first power transmission measurements are made at a high data rate. At the end of this move, the birefringence sensor is set to a second optical state and then moved at the same velocity back over the glass sheet, while second power transmission measurements are made. This procedure is repeated the same number of times as there are optical states in the birefringence sensor. A computer then calculates birefringence values using profiles of the power transmission measurements so as to determine the quality of the glass sheet.

Abstract: A railroad collision avoidance system and method are disclosed that utilize impulse radio technology to effectively warn a person when there is a locomotive in their vicinity. In one embodiment, the railroad collision avoidance system includes a transmitting impulse radio unit coupled to a locomotive and a receiving impulse radio unit coupled to a vehicle. The transmitting impulse radio unit operates to transmit an impulse radio signal towards the vehicle when the locomotive is a predetermined distance from a railroad crossing. Upon receiving the impulse radio signal, the receiving impulse radio unit makes sure the person operating the vehicle is informed about the potentially dangerous situation. Several embodiments of the railroad collision avoidance system and method are disclosed all of which operate to warn a person when there is a locomotive in their vicinity.

Abstract: A system and method are described that use impulse radio technology to enhance the capabilities of a robot. In one embodiment, a system, a robot and a method are provided that use the communication capabilities of impulse radio technology to help a control station better control the actions of the robot. In another embodiment, a system, a robot and a method are provided that use the communication, position and/or radar capabilities of impulse radio technology to help a control station better control the actions of a robot in order to, for example, monitor and control the environment within a building.

Abstract: A tunable patch antenna is described herein that includes a ground plane on which there is located a substrate and on which there is located a patch. The patch is split into two parts (e.g., rectangular parts) which are connected to one another by one or more voltage-tunable series capacitors. Each part has a radiating edge which is connected to one or more voltage-tunable edge capacitors. Also described herein, is a method for electronically tuning the tunable patch antenna to any frequency within a band of operation which is in a range of about 30% of the center frequency of operation.

Abstract: A system, intelligent network service engine and method are described than can perform a real time fraud analysis on an originating side of a call stream to determine whether or not a call is a fraudulent call before the call is connected to a called party. In particular, the system includes a switch capable of receiving a call originated by a calling party and an intelligent network service engine capable receiving information (e.g., call origination data) about the call from the switch. The intelligent network service engine (e.g., home location register, service control point, INSight platform) then uses real time fraud management tools to analyze the call origination data to determine whether or not the call has a fraudulent attribute before the call is connected to a called party. The system can be configured as a wired communications network, a wireless communications network and/or an Internet network.

Abstract: An optical reading system is described herein which can be used to detect the presence of a biological substance (e.g., cell, drug, chemical compound) on a surface of a grating-based waveguide sensor. In one embodiment, the reading system includes a light source (e.g., laser, diode) for directing a light beam into the grating-based waveguide sensor and a detector (e.g., spectrometer, CCD imaging device) for receiving a reflected light beam from the grating-based waveguide sensor and analyzing the reflected light beam so as to detect a resonant wavelength/angle which corresponds to a predetermined refractive index that indicates whether a biological substance is located on the surface of the grating-based waveguide sensor.

Abstract: An intrusion detection system and method are provided that can utilize impulse radio technology to detect when an intruder has entered a protection zone. In addition, the intrusion detection system and method can utilize impulse radio technology to determine a location of the intruder within the protection zone and also track the movement of the intruder within the protection zone. Moreover, the intrusion detection system and method can utilize impulse radio technology to create a specially shaped protection zone before trying to detect when and where the intruder has penetrated and moved within the protection zone.

Abstract: A predistortion linearizer, transmitter and method for linearizing a nonlinear device (e.g., power amplifier, mixer) are described. The predistortion linearizer includes a coupling circuit, a diode and a direct current adjusting circuit that work together to generate a distorted signal which is reflected onto a signal path and inputted into the nonlinear device. The distorted signal compensates for at least some of the nonlinear spurs introduced by the nonlinear device to an input signal which was also applied to the signal path and inputted into the nonlinear device. As a result, the nonlinear device outputs a compensated output signal.

Abstract: A microplate is described that has a surface with an enhanced lubricious property which makes it easier to remove the microplate from a thermocycler. Basically, the microplate has a frame which includes an array of wells formed therein that are made from a thermoplastic material (e.g. polypropylene) mixed with a non-toxic surface active material (e.g., surfactant, stearyl alcohol). The non-toxic surface active material functions to enhance the lubricity of the surface of the microplate which makes it easier to remove the microplate from the thermocycler. In addition, the non-toxic surface active material within the microplate also makes it easier to remove a newly molded microplate from a mold cavity in an injection molding machine. Also described herein are details about methods for making and using such microplates.

Abstract: A telecommunications system, service control point and method are provided that can establish specialized dialing plan(s) utilizing one or more of the unused country codes in the traditional international dialing plan. In particular, the telecommunications system could translate the digits of a telephone call having an international access code and a previously unused country code to direct the telephone call to a service provider instead of a foreign country. The service provider could then manage one of the new dialing plans and offer a variety of services to their customers including, for example, global vanity numbers, global local number portability, global Internet access, and private dialing plans.

Abstract: A multiwell plate is described that is used for assaying samples and is made from a plastic upper plate which forms the sidewalls of one or more wells and a glass lower plate which forms the bottom walls of the wells. The plastic upper plate and glass lower plate are attached and bound to one another by an enhanced adhesive. The enhanced adhesive includes an adhesive mixed with an additive that interacts with the adhesive, the plastic upper plate and the glass bottom plate in a manner that strengthens a bond between the plastic upper plate and the glass lower plate. Also described herein is a method for making such multiwell plates.

Abstract: A system and method are described that use impulse radio technology to enhance the capabilities of a robot. In one embodiment, a system, a robot and a method are provided that use the communication capabilities of impulse radio technology to help a control station better control the actions of the robot. In another embodiment, a system, a robot and a method are provided that use the communication, position and/or radar capabilities of impulse radio technology to help a control station better control the actions of a robot in order to, for example, monitor and control the environment within a building.

Abstract: An impedance matching circuit includes a conductor line having an input port and an output port, a ground conductor, a tunable dielectric material positioned between a first section of the conductor line and the ground conductor, a non-tunable dielectric material positioned between a second section of the conductor line and the ground conductor, and means for applying a DC voltage between the conductor line and the ground conductor. The impedance matching circuit may alternatively include a first planar ground conductor, a second planar ground conductor, a strip conductor having an input port and an output port, and positioned between the first and second planar ground conductors to define first and second gaps, the first gap being positioned between the strip conductor and the first planar ground conductor and the second gap being positioned between the strip conductor and the second planar ground conductor.