Abstract: A method for constructing a progressive varifocal lens having a far vision area, a near vision area and an intermediate progression area. the method comprises the steps of a) determining the x- and y-coordinates of a first point in the closed interval between the far vision reference point of the far vision area and the center point; b) determining the x and y coordinates of a second point as the near vision reference point of the near vision area; c) determining a mathematical function D(y) which obeys the following conditions: it contains the first and second points as local extrema and comprises exactly one point of inflection in the open interval between the two points; distributing the addition according to the said function along a principal meridian of progression connecting the first and second points; and d) forming the varifocal lens.

Abstract: A method and system for constructing a database management system for managing biometric data is disclosed. The disclosed system receives data from another database or from and enrollment process, encodes the data with an encoding plug-in, and stores the encoded data in a biometric data storage. The data may be enhanced before being stored. Incoming target data likewise is encoded using an encoding plug-in and may be pre-processed, and is sent to a matching algorithm that is either built-in or a plug-in algorithm. Further processing may occur after application of the matching algorithm. The disclosed database management system can be used not only for biometric database, but also for other similar types of data management.

Abstract: The system for taking images includes a portable base (2) for managing an image sensor (1) used to take the image of a tooth, providing an electronic image which is transmitted to display circuits (80), and it includes sequencing circuits, which respond to the action of image file validation circuits, the sequencing circuits managing a library, for filing a sequence of image files, by associating, with each validated image file, rank sequence data in the sequence.

Abstract: A circuit having dynamically controllable power. The circuit comprises a plurality of pipelined stages, each of the pipelined stages comprising two clocking domains, a plurality of switching circuits, each switching circuit being connected to one of the pipelined stages, first and second power sources connected to each of the plurality of pipelined stages through the switching circuits, the first power source supplying a first voltage and the second power source supplying a second voltage, wherein the first and second power sources each may be applied to a pipelined stage independently of other pipelined stages, first and second complementary clocks, and a plurality of latches connected to the first and second complementary clocks and to the plurality of pipelined stages for proving latch-based clocking to control the first and second clocking domains and to enable time-borrowing across the plurality of switching circuits.

Abstract: A ropeless jump rope for simulating the jumping of rope and for calculating, recording, and displaying a variety of data relating to the use of the ropeless jump rope. A preferred embodiment comprises a housing having a grip on at least a portion thereof and a display/control portion. The display/control portion houses a microprocessor, a display/control panel and a battery compartment. The housing further houses a pulse rate monitor for monitoring the pulse of a user.

Abstract: A multi-mode LLETZ or LEEP device for performing LLETZ surgery and argon plasma coagulation using a single device is disclosed. The disclosed device has a body with a channel therein and movable arms having a wire therebetween at a distal end of the body such that the arms may be extended to perform conventions LLETZ surgery or may be moved together for performing argon plasma or beam coagulation.

Abstract: A combination argon plasma coagulation (APC) and monopolar electrosurgical device and method are shown. An electrosurgical tool such as a spatula, hook, ball, or the like has a neck and a plurality of members biased to an open position. The electrosurgical tool is connected to the shaft having a channel therein for accommodating an APC probe. A collet is placed on the shaft and is provided with a mechanism such as threads to permit movement of the collet with respect to the shaft. Such movement causes the plurality of members of the surgical tool to move being open and closed positions.

Abstract: A system for collecting, storing, linking and processing license plate data to provide compilations of information and displays of such compiled information. The system has a license plate reading system that may record time and location data in addition to license plate data, license plate image data, and image data of a vehicle. The data is collected over an extended period of time and stored for later searching. The data may be correlated, indexed and/or categorized in storage. The collected data may be compared to various existing or other databases and correlated and/or indexed to such databases. That collected data may be processed, searched, and/or analyzed for a variety of purposes.

Abstract: A method is specified for determining the quality of a quantity of properties describing a machine, including a step for determining the existence of at least one sub-quantity of interrelated properties (P0, P1, . . . Pn) of the form Pi=(forall t. Ai(t)=>Zi(t)), wherein Ai(t) present an initial state and Zi(t) a target state for a corresponding property and at least one initial state Ai is dependant on internal signals and including a step for checking whether at least one aspect of the input/output behaviour of the machine described by the properties, which cannot be derived from an individual property Pi, is described to such an accurate extent that one property Q exists, which represents this aspect without being dependant on the internal signals. The procedure is capable of providing a measurement and can particularly be used in the verification and specification of circuits.

Abstract: Surgical scissors having argon plasma coagulation capability are shown. The surgical scissors include in their body a channel for receiving a flexible tube having a wire within it. The flexible tubing and wire within it are connected to a generator that provides electrical energy to the wire and argon or other inert gas to the tube. The flexible tubing travels a portion of the length of the scissors and ends with a coaxial connector in the proximity of the cutting edges of the scissors. An argon plasma coagulation sleeve is placed on the cutting end of one or both sides of the scissors and is connected to the flexible tubing and wire through the coaxial connector. Each sleeve has one or more ports for discharging electrified argon gas that coagulates tissue.

Abstract: This invention relates to a circuit technique for rapidly and efficiently correcting for read and write data errors in a digital semiconductor memory. More generally, this can also be in any type of digital memory or digital communication channel. As semiconductor memories get smaller and smaller, the memory cells are subject to higher rates of manufacturing defects and soft errors. Correction of manufacturing defects is achieved through extensive testing and use of redundant memory cells to replace defective memory cells. Soft errors are very difficult to detect and correct and only the simplest parity check codes have been implemented. The cost in terms of delay time and computational complexity are barriers to the implementation of ECC. This invention represents a device that introduces very little delay and requires minimal hardware complexity to implement.

Abstract: A method for approximating a plurality of digital signals or images using compressed sensing. In a scheme where a common component xc of said plurality of digital signals or images an innovative component xi of each of said plurality of digital signals each are represented as a vector with m entries, the method comprises the steps of making a measurement yc, where yc comprises a vector with only ni entries, where ni is less than m, making a measurement yi for each of said correlated digital signals, where yi comprises a vector with only ni entries, where ni is less than m, and from each said innovation components yi, producing an approximate reconstruction of each m-vector xi using said common component yc and said innovative component yi.

Abstract: A seating element for an automobile vehicle with a cushion formed from a central portion (10) with an exterior face for supporting a user seated on the seat and at least a lateral portion (20) on the door side, the lateral portion (20) being provided with at least one insert (30) lodged in the cushion, and in which the said insert (30) has a directional elasticity resulting in a stiffness in a first direction along the transversal axis with a first value and a stiffness in a second direction perpendicular to the said exterior face for support with a second value inferior to the said first value.

Abstract: An portable integrated identification and verification system is disclosed. The station includes multiple devices integrated for identifying or verifying the identity of a person. The multiple devices, which may include a camera, a document scanner, and a fingerprint scanner, are mounted in a housing along with a computing device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing refractive index, birefringence and optical activity measurements of a material such as a solid, liquid, gas or thin film. The apparatus has an optical ring-resonator with a closed optical path that constitutes a cavity. A sample is introduced into the optical path of the resonator such that the light in the resonator is transmitted through the sample and relative and/or absolute shifts of the resonance frequencies or changes of the characteristics of the transmission spectrum are observed. A change in the transfer characteristics of the resonant ring, such as a shift of the resonance frequency, is related to a sample's refractive index (refractive indices) and/or change thereof. A reflecting surface may be introduced in a ring resonator. The reflecting surface can be raster-scanned for the purpose of height-profiling surface features.

Abstract: A device or apparatus that reduces the number of utility pole breakages occurring during severe weather events and facilitates quicker and more cost efficient repair of downed utility lines. The device secures utility lines such as power service lines to utility poles during normal operating conditions, but allow the lines to break free of the poles when severely stressed. This breakaway feature prevents the utility pole from breaking under high stress conditions such as storm damage, ice accumulation, felled trees and other unexpected emergency situations. Furthermore, the device allows for quick and efficient repair of downed power lines, thereby reducing the man hours and equipment necessary for repair. By protecting the utility pole, utility companies will realize significant cost savings by not having to replace the pole and, in some cases, having to replace expensive transformers.

Abstract: A bistatic radar system having a transmitter that generates unique signals at spatially independent transmitter degrees of freedom and a receiver that filters the signal at each receiver degree of freedom into a group of signals identical in number to the number of transmitter degrees of freedom. The receiver formats the filtered signals into a 2-dimensional array of elements. The receiver rotates the array so that the new axes are aligned with the Doppler gradient. The data is then re-sampled and projected to linearize the clutter signal. The receiver may be integrated with a broad class of adaptive and non-adaptive clutter mitigation approaches such as electronic clutter tuning and projected bistatic space-time adaptive processing, or STAP.