Abstract: Interference measurements obtained by comparison of a same beam (i.e. same nominal polarization, intensity, coherence length and wavelength) striking a same region on a sample at a same angle, but having a different beam wavefront upon intersection with the region are shown to provide images with independent coherent speckle noise patterns. Accordingly a plurality of interference measurements with diverse beam wavefronts can be used to identify or reduce coherent speckle noise. Reduction of the coherent speckle noise can be performed by compounding the aligned images. A change in the beam wavefront may be provided by displacing the sample in the direction of the beam between or during the measurements, when the beam is a focused beam (i.e. converging or diverging).

Abstract: An apparatus for the evaluation of tissue parameters in the visible and near infrared as related to tissue status is presented. The apparatus comprises a light source capable of illuminating tissue in the visible and near infrared spectral region. The tissue absorbs some of the light while a large portion of the light is diffusely scattered within the tissue. Scattering disperses the light in all directions with a fraction of the scattered light penetrating into the tissue and remitted back out to the surface. The remitted light is collected by a detection system capable of dispersing the light into its wavelength components. The light can be collected using single or multiple fiber optic probes entering into a dispersive wavelength selection devices in which the dispersed light is detected using a photon detecting device in a spectroscopic milieu. Likewise, the remitted light can be detected in an imaging fashion using a non-dispersive wavelength selection and imaging optical system.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly with a structural seat back to accommodate the seat belt loads applied to the seat back by the belt system which is carried by the seat assembly. The seat back includes a reinforced beam along one side of the seat back frame to accommodate these loads with a recliner mechanism along the same side of the seat assembly and engaging the reinforced member to resist forward rotation of the seat back caused by seat belt loads applied thereto. The seat assembly while being reinforced to accommodate the seat belt loads is configured to be as similar to conventional seat assemblies as possible to minimize the need to redesign the non-structural components of the seat assembly. In addition, the seat assembly includes many features found in current production seat assemblies such as a fore and aft adjuster, an adjustable lumbar support, a seat cushion lift and a seat back recliner.