Abstract: A rimless frame system and method is provided to address among other things durability control issues of conventional rimless eyewear designs involved with connection of temples and bridges with lenses of the rimless eyewear. The rimless frame system includes tapered caps that are threaded onto pins located on the temples and on the bridge. As the tapered caps are tightened onto the pins they radially expand sleeves that in turn apply radial forces to inner surfaces of holes properly positioned in the eyewear lenses. These radial forces between the sleeves and the inner surfaces of the lenses holes affix the temples and the bridge to the lenses of the rimless eyewear.

Abstract: A system and method for clam farming includes a supply ship coupled to a clam planter via a supply tube bundle having a plurality of individual tubes. The supply ship has a separation station configured for introducing individual clams into the individual supply tubes at a periodic interval. The clam planter includes an underwater vehicle and a plurality of row components that are slideably engaged with the underwater vehicle. Each of the row components is coupled to one of the individual tubes. As the underwater vehicle travels in a forward direction, the row components plow furrows and transport the individual clams into the furrows as they exit the individual tubes according to the periodic interval. A clam farm results having rows of clams near node points spaced from one another by node and row separation distances.

Abstract: A system and method for clam farming includes a supply ship coupled to a clam planter via a supply tube bundle having a plurality of individual tubes. The supply ship has a separation station configured for introducing individual clams into the individual supply tubes at a periodic interval. The clam planter includes an underwater vehicle and a plurality of row components that are slideably engaged with the underwater vehicle. Each of the row components is coupled to one of the individual tubes. As the underwater vehicle travels in a forward direction, the row components plow furrows and transport the individual clams into the furrows as they exit the individual tubes according to the periodic interval. A clam farm results having rows of clams near node points spaced from one another by node and row separation distances.

Abstract: A survey network system that allows gathering of information across a network quickly and efficiently, including a questionnaire server, a communication interface, a questionnaire distributor, a questionnaire designer and a questionnaire library.

Abstract: A laser system and method having an output laser beam uses an gain medium with one or more output beam transverse profile tailoring (OBTPT) longitudinal strips to tailor the transverse profile of the output laser beam to a desirable shape such as having a symmetrical profile transverse to the direction of propagation of the output laser beam. The laser system has two reflector systems on opposite ends in the long z-axis dimension of the gain medium to form a resonator that outputs the output laser beam following the same long z-axis dimension. In some embodiments the gain medium has a narrow y-axis dimension and a wide x-axis dimension. In these embodiments the OBTPT longitudinal strips have lengths running the long z-axis dimension, widths running the wide x-axis dimension and thicknesses running the narrow y-axis dimension of the gain medium. The widths of the OBTPT longitudinal strips are generally chosen with respect to coupling width of the output laser beam.

Abstract: A system and method for laser beam coupling between waveguide optics uses extension members to reduce power losses in a laser beam traveling within a resonator cavity of the laser beam. In some embodiments, the extension members are made of electrically conducting material and are spaced from longitudinal ends of electrodes by electrically insulating material. The electrically insulating material is sized to prevent electrical discharge from occurring between the electrode and the extension member adjacent thereto. In other embodiments, the extension members are fashioned from a lasing medium such as from a solid-state crystal lasing medium.

Abstract: A system includes a first coil, a signal source and a first control module. The first control module regulates coupling between the signal source and the first coil. The system also includes an implantable device having a second coil coupled to a therapeutic transducer comprising an ultrasonic transducer. When the first coil is aligned with the second coil, the signal source is able to supply electrical power to the implantable device to enable the therapeutic transducer to operate. The control module is able to activate the therapeutic transducer under the control of a physician.

Abstract: An advanced circuit breaker system and method includes first and second terminals to electrically couple the advanced circuit breaker to an electrical circuit. A cam applies a first torque to a rotatable contact arm, having an arm contact electrically coupled to the first terminal, from a first position to a second position of the contact arm and a second torque to the contact arm from the second position to a third position. A bimetal blade, having a blade contact electrically coupled to the second terminal, changes shape when electrical current flowing through it exceeds a threshold for at least a predetermined amount of time. The arm contact maintains contact with the blade contact when the first torque occurs and separates from the blade contact when the second torque occurs. The blade contact changes shape to increase separation from the arm contact if electrical current exceeds at least a certain amount above the threshold.

Abstract: A receiving circuit is described for a CAN (Controlled Area Network) system with digital data transfer via a bus with parallel, redundant pulse signal transfer via two fines. The receiving circuit includes a comparator circuit assembly for differential evaluation of the two pulse signals received via the two lines, with an offset voltage being superimposed on the pulse signal received via one of the two lines prior to said differential evaluation. The comparator circuit assembly superimposes both a positive offset voltage and a negative offset voltage. A bistable multivibrator circuit is connected between the output side of the comparator circuit assembly and the output of the receiving circuit.

Abstract: The device comprises a current mirror circuit having a first and a second node connected, respectively, to a constant current source and to a drain terminal of a memory cell to be programmed. A voltage generating circuit is connected to the first node to bias it at a constant reference voltage (VR); an operational amplifier has an inverting input connected to the first node, a non-inverting input connected to the second node, and an output connected to the control terminal of the memory cell. Thereby, the drain terminal of the memory cell is biased at the constant reference voltage, having a value sufficient for programming, and the operational amplifier and the memory cell form a negative feedback loop that supplies, on the control terminal of the memory cell, a ramp voltage (VPCX) that causes writing of the memory cell. The ramp voltage increases with the same speed as the threshold voltage and can thus be used to know when the desired threshold value is reached, and thus when programming must be stopped.

Abstract: A method of fabricating non-volatile memory devices integrated in a semiconductor substrate is presented. The memory devices include a matrix of non-volatile memory cells, each having floating-gate MOS transistors with associated gate electrodes, as well as control circuitry formed of MOS transistors also having gate electrodes. The method includes forming gate electrodes above the substrate, then depositing a first dielectric layer onto the entire exposed surface. Next the first dielectric layer is etched back to form isolating spacers on the side walls of the gate electrodes of the matrix cells. Then a second dielectric layer is deposited onto the entire exposed surface, and the memory matrix is overlaid with a protective layer. In the circuitry area, the second dielectric layer is etched back to form isolating spacers on the side walls of the gate electrodes of the circuitry transistors, while the floating-gate MOS transistors are protected.

Abstract: The memory device has hierarchical sector decoding. A plurality of groups of supply lines is provided, one for each sector row, extending parallel to the sector rows. A plurality of switching stages are each connected between a respective sector and a respective group of supply lines; the switching stages connected to sectors arranged on a same column are controlled by same control signals supplied on control lines extending parallel to the columns of sectors. For biasing the sectors, modification voltages are sent to at least one selected group of biasing lines, and control signals are sent to the switching stages connected to a selected sector column.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit architecture for processing multi-channel frames of broadband synchronous digital signals, in particular signals of the SONET/SDH standard. The circuit includes an input portion and an output portion. It also contains at least one modular component adapted to process frames comprising a single channel and connectable modularly to N further identical components corresponding to the number of frame channels.