Abstract: Systems and methods are described for presenting viewer-related programming to a particular viewer. In at least one embodiment, a wireless reader is configured to receive at least one identifier when the particular viewer is in proximity to the reader. A controller is configured to receive the identifier from the wireless reader and to associate the identifier with the particular viewer, and, upon successfully associating the wireless identifier with the particular viewer, to present the viewer-related programming associated with the particular viewer via the display or other presentation device located in proximity to the wireless reader. Viewer-related programming may including placeshifted content, viewing preferences, settings or other information as desired.

Abstract: Customer-specific information such as billing information, a listing of available services or the like can be provided to multiple receivers via a satellite or other high-bandwidth connection. The customers to receive customer-specific information are selected, and a broadcast message is created that includes the customer-specific information, as well as an identifier for each receiver associated with the selected customers. The broadcast message is transmitted on the high-bandwidth connection to thereby allow each of the receivers associated with the selected customers to extract the customer-specific information based upon the identifier and to display the customer-specific information to the customer.

Abstract: A portable electronic system comprises a portable electronic device having a screen and a visual extender. The visual extender has a thin film element and is coupled to the portable electronic device, positioning the thin film element to provide visual extension of the screen of the portable electronic device.

Abstract: Systems and methods allow for the distribution of a requested program to a consumer device via a high-bandwidth connection. Consumers cast votes for requested programs via communications channels other than the high-bandwidth connection. A portion of the high-bandwidth connection is allocated to a number of programs, including the requested program. An instruction is subsequently transmitted to the consumer device to thereby allow the consumer device to receive the requested program from the allocated portion of the high-bandwidth connection.

Abstract: Systems and methods determine an aggregate value of a portfolio of patents or other intellectual assets based upon a number of ratings. Each rating is determined with respect to one of a group of categories for each of the intellectual assets in the portfolio, including a category representing the claim strength of the asset being evaluated. For each of the intellectual assets in the portfolio, inputs corresponding to one of the plurality of ratings assigned to the asset are received. A value for each of the intellectual assets is computed as a function of the input representing the claim strength of the intellectual asset, adjusted by the other inputs for that intellectual asset. The aggregate value of the portfolio of intellectual assets is output as a function of the values of each of the intellectual assets in the portfolio.

Abstract: Various embodiments of network performance assessment apparatus, systems and processes collect performance information pertaining to a current capacity utilization of a network, identify an occurrence of a capacity constraint on a portion of the network that is communicating the program to at least one presentation device, select one of a plurality of paths coupling the receiving device and the presentation device, and modify the program to a format compatible with the selected path.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments of the method and system according to the present invention provide a system and method for controlling access to audiovisual content such as television shows, video-on-demand services or streaming video which can be delivered by cable, satellite, wired or wireless networks, cell phones, the Internet, etc. More particularly, the present invention provides a capability to define certain criteria which can be used to restrict access to content based on combinations of various parameters including, but not limited to, time of day, day of the week, type of content, source of content, content display device, etc. These criteria may also be provided by data storage arrangements or a network, and access restrictions specified by such criteria can be associated with a plurality of display devices.

Abstract: A slab laser includes two elongated electrodes arranged spaced apart and face-to-face. Either one or two slabs of a solid dielectric material extend along the length of the electrodes between the electrodes. A discharge gap is formed either between one of the electrodes and one dielectric slab, or between two dielectric slabs. The discharge gap is filled with lasing gas. A pair of mirrors is configured and arranged to define a laser resonator extending through the gap. An RF potential is applied across the electrodes creating a gas discharge in the gap, and causing laser radiation to circulate in the resonator. Inserting dielectric material between the electrodes increases the resistance-capacitance (RC) time constant of the discharge structure compared with the RC time constant in the absence of dielectric material.

Abstract: An slab CO2 laser includes spaced-apart elongated slab electrodes. A lasing gas fills a discharge gap between the electrodes. An RF power supply is connected across the electrodes and sustains an electrical discharge in the lasing gas in the discharge gap. Either one or two ceramic inserts occupy a portion of width of the electrodes and in contact with the electrodes. A discharge gap is formed between the portions of the width of the electrodes not occupied by the insert or inserts. Provision of the ceramic insert or inserts increases the resistance-capacitance (RC) time constant of the electrode impedance by increasing the capacitive component of the time constant. This hinders the formation of arcs in the discharge, which, in turn enables the inventive laser to operate with higher excitation power or higher lasing-gas pressure than would be possible without the dielectric insert. The ceramic insert also decreases the difference in impedance of the electrodes with and without a discharge.

Abstract: This disclosure discusses techniques for obtaining wavelength selected simultaneously super pulsed Q-switched and cavity dumped laser pulses utilizing high optical damage threshold electro-optic modulators, maintaining a zero DC voltage bias on the CdTe electro-optic modulator (EOM) so as to minimize polarization variations depending on the location of the laser beam propagating through the CdSe EOM crystal, as well as the addition of one or more laser amplifiers in a compact package and the use of simultaneous gain switched, Q-switched and cavity dumped operation of CO2 lasers for generating shorter pulses and higher peak power for the hole drilling, engraving and perforation applications.

Abstract: A simultaneously super pulsed Q-switched CO2 laser system for material processing is disclosed. The system comprises sealed-off folded waveguides with folded mirrors that are thin film coated to select the output wavelength of the laser. The system also comprises a plurality of reflective devices defining a cavity; a gain medium positioned within the cavity for generating a laser beam; a cavity loss modulator for modulating the laser beam, generating thereby one or more laser pulses; a pulsed signal generation system connected to the cavity loss modulator for delivering pulsed signals to the cavity loss modulator thereby controlling the state of optical loss within the cavity; a control unit connected to the pulsed signal generation system for controlling the pulsed signal generation system; and a pulse clipping circuit receptive of a portion of the laser beam and connected to the pulsed signal generation system for truncating a part of the laser pulses.

Abstract: The above discussed and other drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art are overcome or alleviated by a laser of the present invention. In accordance with the present invention the laser comprises a housing defining a plurality of compartments therein, a folded waveguide disposed within the housing, the folded waveguide defining a plurality of channels having a substantially rectangular cross section for guiding a laser beam, a plurality of electrodes disposed in the plurality of compartments and juxtaposed along opposite surfaces of the waveguide and at least one power supply connected to the plurality of electrodes. The channels having a prescribed width to height ratio for a prescribed channel length for a given Fresnel number. At least one optical housing is provided. The optical housing is mounted to the laser housing, the optical housing including a plurality of beam turning mechanisms disposed within a plurality of compartments accessible for adjusting the beam turning mechanisms.

Abstract: An EOM Q-switched CO2 laser produces bursts of laser pulses delivered at a high PRF such as 20-140 kHz and having a short high-power spike of about 80-150 ns followed by a lower-power tail of about 0.05-12.0 &mgr;s. The bursts and/or laser pulses can be shaped by controlling the RF pumping duty cycle, the delay between the onset of RF pumping and the initiation of Q-switching, the pulse repetition frequency, and/or the duration of the tail. The bursts of laser pulses can be adapted to facilitate machining of metal layers and/or layers containing materials having disparate vaporization temperatures and/or disparate melting points, such as FR4 or green ceramics.

Abstract: This disclosure discusses techniques for obtaining wavelength selected simultaneously super pulsed Q-switched and cavity dumped laser pulses utilizing high optical damage threshold electro-optic modulators, maintaining a zero DC voltage bias on the CdTe electro-optic modulator (EOM) so as to minimize polarization variations depending on the location of the laser beam propagating through the CdSe EOM crystal, as well as the addition of one or more laser amplifiers in a compact package and the use of simultaneous gain switched, Q-switched and cavity dumped operation of CO2 lasers for generating shorter pulses and higher peak power for the hole drilling, engraving and perforation applications.

Abstract: This disclosure discusses techniques for obtaining wavelength selected simultaneously super pulsed Q-switched and cavity dumped laser pulses utilizing high optical damage threshold electro-optic modulators, maintaining a zero DC voltage bias on the CdTe electro-optic modulator (EOM) so as to minimize polarization variations depending on the location of the laser beam propagating through the CdSe EOM crystal, as well as the addition of one or more laser amplifiers in a compact package and the use of simultaneous gain switched, Q-switched and cavity dumped operation of CO2 lasers for generating shorter pulses and higher peak power for the hole drilling, engraving and perforation applications.

Abstract: A simultaneously super pulsed Q-switched CO2 laser system for material processing is disclosed. The system comprises sealed-off folded waveguides with folded mirrors that are thin film coated to select the output wavelength of the laser. The system also comprises a plurality of reflective devices defining a cavity; a gain medium positioned within the cavity for generating a laser beam; a cavity loss modulator for modulating the laser beam, generating thereby one or more laser pulses; a pulsed signal generation system connected to the cavity loss modulator for delivering pulsed signals to the cavity loss modulator thereby controlling the state of optical loss within the cavity; a control unit connected to the pulsed signal generation system for controlling the pulsed signal generation system; and a pulse clipping circuit receptive of a portion of the laser beam and connected to the pulsed signal generation system for truncating a part of the laser pulses.

Abstract: This disclosure discusses techniques for obtaining wavelength selected simultaneously super pulsed Q-switched and cavity dumped laser pulses utilizing high optical damage threshold electro-optic modulators, maintaining a zero DC voltage bias on the CdTe electro-optic modulator (EOM) so as to minimize polarization variations depending on the location of the laser beam propagating through the CdSe EOM crystal, as well as the addition of one or more laser amplifiers in a compact package and the use of simultaneous gain switched, Q-switched and cavity dumped operation of CO2 lasers for generating shorter pulses and higher peak power for the hole drilling, engraving and perforation applications.

Abstract: A clamping device for an RF excited laser is provided which reduces stress on ceramic components and also is less expensive than existing clamping devices. The RF excited laser lacking an electrode over the waveguide channel intersection regions. Ceramic covers are provided over a portion of these channel intersection regions to reduce plasma build up. Increased power is achieved by adding a fourth channel to a conventional waveguide to form a ring resonator. The optical component mount uses radial compressive forces to hold the optical component to a post, thereby preventing the face of the optical component from being distorted. Mirror mounts are also configured to allow more mirrors to be mounted at each end of the laser. The waveguide channel of the RF excited laser having a U-shaped cross section and an aspect ratio grater than one-to-one, which improves laser performance. A beam redirection device allows the laser head to serve as a mounting surface for other optical components.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention significantly improves the optical intensity induced damage limit of optical quality crystals, and in particular crystals used in the conversion of laser radiation at a specific wavelength to another wavelength or other wavelengths through non-linear interaction of the input laser radiation with the optical crystal medium. In accordance with the present invention, passive optical elements are positioned at the laser beam exiting and entrance surfaces of the active optical element. The surfaces of the passive optical elements are placed up against respective exiting and entrance surfaces of the active optical element. Since the optically transparent passive optical elements have higher mass than optical coatings, they provide vastly superior cooling, and therefore, considerably higher laser damage threshold for the surfaces.

Abstract: A phase-locked staggered ridge array waveguide gas laser includes a body that circumferentially bounds an internal space extending along a central plane and containing a gaseous lasing medium. The gaseous medium is excited at radio frequency with attendant light emission from the gaseous medium. Mirrors are so positioned relative to the body as to provide lasing of the light emission. Two arrays of ridges extending into the internal space along a height dimension partition the internal space into two pluralities of laser resonator cavities each sustaining a guided mode of the lasing light emission. Each of the cavities extends longitudinally of the body and is spaced from an adjacent cavity in a width direction of the internal space.