Abstract: Application-specific and single-sign-on user-authentication credentials are analyzed and consolidated based on commonalities among the credentials and usage of the applications to which they are attributed according to a process whereby a plurality of user-authentication credentials each associated with a different computer application are received; at least a subset of the plurality of user-authentication credentials are associated with each other based on consistencies among the associated authentication credentials and observed application usage patterns attributed to each respective user-authentication credential; an identity signature is created for the individual based on the subset of associated user-authentication credentials; and the identity signature is attributed to the individual.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods for associating an implantable sling with a delivery device for delivering the sling to an anatomical location in a patient.

Abstract: This invention relates to the design and construction of a gene encoding an encephalogenic epitope of proteolipid protein (PLP), design and construction of a gene encoding an encephalogenic epitope of myelin based protein (MBP), to methods of expression of a PLP epitope, to methods of expression of a MBP epitope, to methods of in vivo secretion of a PLP epitope, and to methods of transferring the partial PLP gene to a host to ameliorate the progression of an immune response to self antigens derived from myelin proteins, to methods of in vivo secretion of a MBP epitope, and to methods of transferring the partial MBP gene to a host to ameliorate the progression of an immune response to self antigens derived from myelin proteins.

Abstract: Bulk single crystal of aluminum nitride (AlN) having an a real planar defect density?100 cm?2. Methods for growing single crystal aluminum nitride include melting an aluminum foil to uniformly wet a foundation with a layer of aluminum, the foundation forming a portion of an AlN seed holder, for an AlN seed to be used for the AlN growth. The holder may consist essentially of a substantially impervious backing plate.

Abstract: The problem of inefficient channel impulse-response processing is addressed by processing different parts of a channel impulse response to accurately locate channel taps, and to generate more than one set of equalization coefficients. This allows the most-suited equalization coefficient to be selected based on a selection criterion.

Abstract: A channel adaptive iterative turbo decoder for computing with MAP decoders a set of branch metrics for a window of received data, computing the forward and reverse recursive path state metrics and computing from the forward and reverse recursive path state metrics the log likelihood ratio for 1 and 0 and interleaving the decision bits; and identifying those MAP decoder decision bits which are non-convergent, computing a set of branch metrics for the received data, computing from the forward and reverse recursive path state metrics the log likelihood ratio (LLR) for 1 and 0 for each non-converged decision bit and interleaving the non-convergent decision bits.

Abstract: An instruction-based parallel median filtering processor and method sorts in parallel each combination of pairs of inputs into greater and lesser values; determines from that sorting the minimum, maximum and median filter values of the inputs; processes one of those values and provides the processed value as an input; and applies an instruction for providing one of the values to the processing step, and at least one other instruction for enabling indication of at least one of the maximum, minimum, median filter values.

Abstract: Multiple images are captured where the exposure times for some of the images overlap and the images are spatially overlapped. Charge packets are transferred from one or more portions of pixels after particular integration periods, thereby enabling the portion or portions of pixels to begin another integration period while one or more other portions of pixels continue to integrate charge. Charge packets may be binned during readout of the images from the image sensor. Comparison of two or more images having different lengths of overlapping or non-overlapping exposure periods provides motion information. The multiple images can then be aligned to compensate for motion between the images and assembled into a combined image with an improved signal to noise ratio and reduced motion blur.

Abstract: A method and means for determining the thickness, or curvature, of a thin film or stack of thin films disposed on the surface of a substrate having a curvature comprising generating a beam of radiation, focusing the beam through the one or more films onto a surface of the substrate, measuring the intensity across the reflected beam as a function of the angle of incidence of a plurality of rays derived from the focussed beam, determining the path of each of the plurality of rays and determining the thickness, or curvature of the film, or films, from the angular dependent intensity measurement.

Abstract: Embodiments of an implantable device for delivering a therapeutic agent to a patient include a reservoir configured to contain a liquid comprising the therapeutic agent, and a cannula in fluid communication with the reservoir. The cannula is shaped to facilitate insertion thereof into a patient's eyeball.

Abstract: A medical sling made from material that is suitably shaped for use in a medical application has sides, portions of which are smoothed to prevent abrasion of surrounding tissue.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an illumination structure includes a discrete light source disposed proximate a bottom surface of a waveguide and below a depression in a top surface thereof. A top mirror may be disposed above the discrete light source to convert modes of light emitted from the discrete light source into trapped modes, thereby increasing the coupling efficiency of the illumination structure.

Abstract: A programmable compute unit with an internal register with a bit FIFO for executing Viterbi code is configured to accumulate in the forward path the best-path to each state in an internal register and store the survivor trace back information bit for each state in each stage in a bit FIFO; and in the trace back, selecting the optimal best-path through the Viterbi trellis by tracing through the bit trace back information survivor bits beginning with the survivor bit of the last stage path; and generating in response to the Viterbi constrain length and a current bit FIFO address, the next bit FIFO address and decoded output bit for the next previous stage.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an illumination structure includes a discrete light source disposed proximate a bottom surface of a waveguide. A top mirror may be disposed above the discrete light source to convert modes of light emitted from the discrete light source into trapped modes, thereby increasing the coupling efficiency of the illumination structure.

Abstract: A lighting device is disclosed which provides for an adjustable beam. The adjustable beam involves the use of a hologram diffuser with areas that have different diffusing properties. The different diffusing areas are selectively positionable in a light beam created by the lighting device to provide for an adjustable beam by providing different diffusions of the light.

Abstract: A pixel array in an image sensor includes multiple pixels. The pixel array includes vertical shift registers for shifting charge out of the pixel array. The vertical shift registers can be interspersed between the pixels, such as in an interline image sensor, or the photosensitive areas in the pixels can operate as vertical shift registers. The pixels are divided into blocks of pixels. One or more electrodes are disposed over each pixel. Conductive strips are disposed over the electrodes. Contacts are used to connect selected electrodes to respective conductive strips. The contacts in at least one block of pixels are positioned according to one contact pattern while the contacts in one or more other blocks are positioned according to a different contact pattern. The different contact patterns reduce or eliminate visible patterns in the contact locations.

Abstract: Methods, wires, and apparatus for use in cutting (e.g., slicing) hard, brittle materials is provided. The wire can be a super-abrasive wire that includes a wire core and super-abrasive particles bonded to the wire core via a metal bonding layer. This wire, or another type of wire, can be used to slice workpieces useful for producing wafers. The workpieces can be aligned within a holder to produce wafers using the device and methods presently provided. The holder rotates about its central axis, which translates to workpieces moving in orbit around this axis. A single abrasive wire, or multiple turns of wire stretched tightly between wire guides, is then contacted with the rotating holder to slice the workpieces.

Abstract: A charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor includes a layer of a semiconductor material having a first conductivity type. A horizontal CCD channel region of a second conductivity type is disposed in the layer of the semiconductor material. The horizontal CCD channel region includes multiple phases that are used to shift photo-generated charge through the horizontal CCD channel region. Distinct overflow drain regions are disposed in the layer of semiconducting material, with an overflow drain region electrically connected to only one particular phase of the horizontal CCD channel region.

Abstract: Multiple images are captured where the exposure times for some of the images overlap and the images are spatially overlapped. Charge packets are transferred from one or more portions of pixels after particular integration periods, thereby enabling the portion or portions of pixels to begin another integration period while one or more other portions of pixels continue to integrate charge. Charge packets may be binned during readout of the images from the image sensor. Comparison of two or more images having different lengths of overlapping or non-overlapping exposure periods provides motion information. The multiple images can then be aligned to compensate for motion between the images and assembled into a combined image with an improved signal to noise ratio and reduced motion blur.

Abstract: Lookup table addressing of a set of lookup tables in an external memory is achieved by: transferring a data word from a compute unit to an input register in a data address generator; providing in at least one deposit-increment index register in the data address generator including a table base field for identifying the location of the set of tables in memory, and a displacement field; and depositing a section of the data word into a displacement field in the index register for identifying the location of a specific entry in the tables.