Abstract: A dental model articulator of the type that has separable complementary articulation members is connected to a registration object having compatible complementary articulation members. The dental arches of each dental model articulator half is scanned with the reference object to give the axis of the articulator model. This facilitates generating a virtual dental model.

Abstract: Variable liquid crystal devices for controlling the propagation of light through a liquid crystal layer use a frequency dependent material to dynamically reconfigure effective electrode structures in the device. The frequency of a drive signal that generates an electric field in the device may be varied, and the frequency dependent material has different charge mobilities for the different frequencies. At a low charge mobility, the frequency dependent material has little effect on the existing electrode structures. However, at a high charge mobility, the frequency dependent material appears as an extension of the fixed electrodes, and may be used to change the effective electrode structure and, thereby, the spatial profile of the electric field. This, in turn, changes the optical properties of the liquid crystal, thus allowing the optical device to be frequency controllable.

Abstract: A dental tartar detection system (10), especially for detection of subgingival tartar (S), comprises a probe (12) adapted to be displaced along a tooth (T) an illumination system (14) for illuminating with an incident light a region on the tooth (T), a detection system (16) for collecting the light reflected thereat, and an analysis system (34) for providing a signal to an operator of the probe (12) when measurements on the reflected light in one or more predetermined range of wavelengths fall within any predetermined range of values that are characteristic of tartar (S). Typically, the detection of tartar (S) is achieved on the basis of the possible colors that tartar (S) can have such that the aforementioned one or more predetermined range of values cover wavelengths associated with colors of tartar (S).

Abstract: A method and system for scaling frames of a compressed image stream, each frame including a mosaic of pixels. For each frame of the encoded image stream, the even-numbered lines of the frame are scaled as a first grouping of lines, while the odd-numbered lines of the frame are scaled as a second grouping of lines. This grouping of the lines of the frame may occur within the frame itself or by dividing the frame into sub-frames, in which case the even-numbered lines of the frame are scaled independently from the odd-numbered lines of the frame and a scaled version of the frame is then generated by merging the scaled even-numbered lines of the frame with the scaled odd-numbered lines of the frame.

Abstract: The present document describes a storage locker in which a main lock having a movable latch may be installed. The storage locker comprises a housing defining a storage area having an opening. The storage locker also comprises a main door for covering the opening. The main door comprises a lock edge. The storage locker further comprises a back plate extending from the housing and a lock door linked to the back plate. The lock door is for covering the lock edge. The main lock is attached to the lock door. The storage locker further comprises a stop member attached to the back plate for acting as a stop limit for the latch to keep the lock door in the lock door closed position.

Abstract: A single composite stream of data is streamed to a user's terminal and displayed in two separate viewers. This composite stream embeds a series of substreams that are views of the same event, taken from different point of views. A first viewer, the global viewer, displays the entire composite stream of data, thus displays the n substreams the composite stream may contain. The second viewer, the focus viewer, displays only part of the composite stream in order to display the substream currently selected by the user. While the stream is played back, the user may interact with an external application's user interface to select which of the n embedded streams he wants to be displayed in the focus viewer, thus creating a cut. The series of cuts created by the user is stored internally for playback management. The user may export the series of cuts he created in an editing file (EDL formatted, for instance, without being restricted to) that can be loaded into a professional editing application.

Abstract: A variable optical device for controlling the propagation of light has a body of liquid crystal optical material with a center and a periphery, a heating system including an electrically controllable heat source and a thermal radiator arranged at the periphery for cooling a portion of the body of material. The heating system is operative to generate a spatially modulated temperature gradient and to provide a desired light propagation behavior.

Abstract: An electromagnetic source has an electrode structure coupled to a substrate. The electrode structure has interspaced electrodes, at least one of which is spiral-shaped. At least one electrical contact interconnects the electrodes of the electrode structure. The electrode structure is responsive to an applied electrical current to generate a spatially non-uniform magnetic field. This field can act on a LC layer such that optical properties of the layer are controllable.

Abstract: A tunable-focusing liquid crystal lens (TLCL) cell has a liquid crystal layer arranged within a cell gap defined between substrates, a layer of optically transparent material arranged between the first substrate and the LC layer, and a liquid crystal alignment layer arranged between the optically transparent layer and the LC layer. The alignment layer is provided on a third optically transparent substrate having a non-planar shape for giving a non-planar profile to the LC layer, which substrate is obtained from a flexible sheet initially provided with the alignment layer and then formed into the non-planar shape. The lens further has a first optically transparent electrode provided on the second substrate, a second optically transparent electrode provided on either or both of first and third substrates. The electrodes are arranged to generate an electric field acting on the LC layer to change the focal distance of the LC cell. Methods for fabricating such TLCL cell are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system that programmably interconnects integrated circuit chips and other components at near-intra-chip density. The system's contact structure allows it to adapt to components with a wide variety of contact spacings and interconnection requirements, the use of releasable attachment means allows component placement to be modified as needed, the system identifies the contacts and the components to facilitate specifying the inter-component connections, and the system provides signal conditioning and retiming to minimize issues with signal integrity and signal skew.

Abstract: A new transmission link configuration with remote Er post- and pre-amplifiers where pump power is shared between a pair of fibers carrying traffic in opposite directions is proposed. A budget increase of >4 dB is demonstrated.

Abstract: A treatment device for improving the cutting properties of the blade of a non-electric shaving razor. The device has a treatment surface for interacting with the cutting edge of the razor blade, as the blade is put into sliding contact with the treatment surface. The treatment surface has a plurality of resilient honing projections that are compressed as the blade is moved in sliding contact with the surface.

Abstract: A tunable optical imaging system uses a fixed lens and a tunable liquid crystal lens that is operated only outside of an operational range of high aberration. A voltage range applied to change the optical power of the liquid crystal lens is limited to a continuous tunable range of low aberration. The relative positioning between the lens and a corresponding photodetector, and the relative lens powers of a fixed lens and the tunable lens, may be selected to compensate for any optical power offsets resulting from the limitation of the voltage range of the tunable lens. The lens may be operated in either positive tunability or negative tunability mode.

Abstract: A method for providing a combined TV/PC video stream for TV display is provided. A TV video chip having a video input port for receiving a PC monitor display signal and an input for receiving a TV broadcast signal is provided, as well as a PC graphics chip. A PC monitor display signal is sent from the PC graphics chip to the TV video chip. The TV video chip mixing the PC monitor display signal with the TV broadcast signal to generate a combined TV/PC video stream in a format for TV display. A method for generating a combined TV/PC video stream in a format for TV display is further provided. A stream of encoded TV frames is received and the encoded frames are decoded to provide a stream of decoded TV frames. The stream of decoded TV frames is stored into a memory. A PC monitor display signal is provided and is converted into a stream of PC frames. The stream of PC frames are stored into the memory.

Abstract: An interference filter having a plurality of layers and a spectrum as a function of angle of observation is combined with a metameric element adjacent the interference filter and appearing to have a same color as the interference filter at at least one angle of observation and a contrasting color as said interference filter at least one other angle of observation. A plurality of interference filter layers, including a metallic layer, can be provided on a support structure for the layers. The support structure is then adapted to allow the layers to be seen from a top and a bottom side, with the layers being adapted to have different spectra as a function of angle of observation in reflection and transmission.

Abstract: Variable liquid crystal devices for controlling the propagation of light through a liquid crystal layer use a frequency dependent material to dynamically reconfigure effective electrode structures in the device. The frequency of a drive signal that generates an electric field in the device may be varied, and the frequency dependent material has different charge mobilities for the different frequencies. At a low charge mobility, the frequency dependent material has little effect on the existing electrode structures. However, at a high charge mobility, the frequency dependent material appears as an extension of the fixed electrodes, and may be used to change the effective electrode structure and, thereby, the spatial profile of the electric field. This, in turn, changes the optical properties of the liquid crystal, thus allowing the optical device to be frequency controllable.

Abstract: A variable focus liquid crystal lens includes a nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture having a spatially inhomogenous polymer network structure, and an electrode for applying a substantially uniform voltage to the nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture. The lens is created within a cell by applying a substantially uniform electric field to the nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture within the cell, while simultaneously irradiating the nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture using a laser beam having a shaped intensity distribution, so as to induce formation of a spatially inhomogenous polymer network structure within the cell.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for micro-machining a surface of a workpiece having a complex surface profile including desired profile features and finer undesired profile features to be removed, including shaping a formable polishing tool using either the workpiece itself or a replica of the workpiece to have at least said desired profile features, and using said formable polishing tool to micro-machine said surface to remove said finer undesired profile features while maintaining said desired profile features. The formable polishing tool can be shaped to have at least said desired profile features by pressing the formable polishing tool against either the workpiece itself or the replica of the workpiece when the formable polishing tool is in a formable state, and the formable polishing tool can be used for micro-machining when the formable polishing tool is in a solid state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for identifying and tracking gaming objects and game states on a gaming table. Through the use of imaging devices and identity and positioning modules gaming objects are detected. An identity and positioning module identifies the value and position of cards on the gaming table. An intelligent position analysis and tracking (IPAT) module performs analysis of the identity and position data of cards and interprets them intelligently for the purpose of tracking game events, game states and general game progression. As a game progresses it changes states. A game tracking module processes data from the IPAT module and keeps track of game events and game states. Ambiguity resolution mechanisms such as backward tracking, forward tracking and multiple state tracking may be used in the process of game tracking. All events on the gaming table are recorded and stored on video and as data for reporting and analysis.

Abstract: A wireless network covering a large local geographic area is used to link a large number of payment terminals provided in the same area. Each payment terminal is located near a plurality of parking spaces, either at the curbside or in municipal lots. Parking data is gathered from motorists at the payment terminals, the parking data including vehicle identification data or parking space identification data. The parking data is sent from the payment terminals to the wireless network in response to payment made at the payment terminals. A plurality of portable terminals are provided for use by parking wardens inspecting the parking spaces of the local geographic area. The wireless network is used to transmit the parking data substantially upon receipt from the payment terminals to the portable terminals in the local geographic area.