Abstract: Reading data stored on an optical fiber medium includes receiving an optical fiber having data stored thereon in a light-affecting format, guiding the optical fiber through a readback guide system causing a length of the optical fiber to align with an axis, directing light through at least a portion of the optical fiber, the light producing an observable light dispersion pattern based on the light-affecting data stored on the optical fiber, observing the light dispersion pattern as a manner of reading the stored data of the optical fiber, determining the stored data based on the observing the light dispersion pattern, and outputting the determined stored data to a host.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method, a computing device, and a computer readable storage medium, for providing alignment information data for the alignment of an orthopaedic implant for a joint of a patient. The computer-implemented method comprises the steps of being responsive to patient specific information data for deriving patient data, where the patient specific information data is indicative of one or more dynamic characteristics, and being responsive to the patient data for providing the alignment information data for the alignment of the orthopaedic implant.

Abstract: A unique web-based advertising model permits an automated method for advertising a merchant's goods or services on-line by offering electronic prize tickets to interested participants over one or more websites in exchange for either visits by participants to the merchant's website or referrals by participants to other prospective participants via electronic communication.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for forming an aluminum tubular assembly in a controlled atmosphere brazing furnace. The assembly includes a variety of components of differing compositions, sizes and masses. Multiple, distinct brazing materials are used on the assembly to accommodate the differing components.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating for input threshold variations in input buffers is provided. The method and apparatus compensate for input threshold variations by applying a bias voltage on a known capacitance of an RC calibration circuit using, for example, a pulse width modulator. The bias voltage helps ensure that the time to charge the known capacitance from the bias voltage to the input threshold voltage of the input buffer is independent of the threshold voltage. The bias voltage is chosen using an iterative process in which the time to charge from the bias voltage to the threshold voltage is compared with a reference time. The bias voltage is adjusted based on the comparison.