Abstract: Lighted refrigerated display case with remote light source comprises a closed container with an interior of the container refrigerated to a temperature below 7 C. The container is thermally insulated from ambient, having internal and external walls. A solid fiber optic luminaire is at least partially mounted within the container, having an elongated side-light emitting portion for emitting light from the side of the luminaire onto contents in an interior of the display case. The side-light emitting portion comprises an extractor of light arranged to preferentially extract light from the luminaire and direct the light in at least one radial direction along the length of the side-light emitting portion to at least one target area of said contents along a longitudinal axis of the side-light emitting portion. A light-delivery system provides light to the fiber optic luminaire, having a light source mounted remotely from the interior of the container.

Abstract: Luminaire with directional side-light extraction comprises a light pipe with a light-carrying core, and with a light-extraction structure along a first longitudinal side of the luminaire, confined to a radial swath of the luminaire, along the longitudinal axis of the luminaire, of substantially less than 180°. The second end of the light pipe has light-saving means for directing saved light from the second end towards the first end. The light-extraction means is adjustable to accommodate angular distributions of light from various light sources.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises a light source, an optical member and a spatial light modulator. The optical member comprises optically transmissive material and has a textured major surface receiving light from the light source. The textured surface comprises first and second pluralities of non-intersecting elongate features. The pluralities are angled with respect to each other by less than about 90° and intersect each other so as to form total internal reflection structures. The spatial light modulator has rows or columns of pixels for receiving light from the optical member at a major surface. The light source may be (i) a light guide, or (ii) a source of light providing, to the optical member, light having a peak luminance that is shifted from a normal direction to the textured major surface by more than about 30°.

Abstract: A ballast for a low pressure gas discharge lamp, preferably of the heated-filament type, includes an on-off indicator for a lamp. The ballast includes a load circuit with a lamp, and a driver for supplying AC load current to the lamp. Such driver includes circuitry for shutting off the load current in the presence of a lamp fault condition. The ballast also includes a pair of nodes having voltage across them when the lamp operates normally, and having substantially no voltage across them when the lamp is off. An on-off lamp indicator circuit includes a light-emitting device and is coupled to the pair of nodes for causing the light-emitting device to emit light when the driver supplies load current to the lamp and for causing the light-emitting device to cease to emit light when the driver no longer supplies load current to the lamp.

Abstract: A finger actuated display peripheral interface input device having a first axis roller for inputting positional information for a first axis and coupled to a transducer for producing a first signal indicative of the rotation of said first axis roller. A second axis roller and transducer is used for inputting positional information for a second axis and produce a second signal indicative of the rotation of said second axis roller. A first switch is adapted to produce a first switch signal upon actuation of said first switch. Both of the rollers can be rotated simultaneously or selectively. The miniature size rollers are located so close to each other that both axis rollers can be rotated simultaneously by a touch a finger pad of a distal phalanx of one finger to simultaneously change positional information in said first and second axes.

Abstract: Three aspects are disclosed of an airstream control system for a hovercraft that includes a platform and a lift gas chamber beneath the platform. Firstly, the system includes an impeller for receiving air at an inlet and discharging pressurized air at an outlet as an airstream. The impeller is positioned above an orifice of the lift gas chamber. The impeller is supported along a first axis transverse to the airstream and about which the impeller is rotatable by a first axis frame that is rotatable about a pair of first axis supports fixed to the platform. The impeller is further supported along a second axis transverse to the airstream and about which the impeller is rotatable by a second axis frame that is attached to the first axis frame and that comprises a first arm supporting a first point of the impeller and extending upstream of the impeller.

Abstract: Method of producing multi-dimensional print media, comprising the following steps: Providing a substantially flat sheet of print media. Providing an image for printing on a first side of the sheet; the image including an active area that eventually separates from the rest of the sheet; the active area being bounded by a periphery. Performing one or both of cutting and microperfing a substantial portion of the periphery that adjoins an adjacent portion of the sheet. Scoring the first side of the sheet in the active area to provide at least one fold line for facilitating folding of the sheet into a multi-dimensional shape using only the at least one fold line for folding. Printing the image on the first side of the sheet with a printing device. The foregoing performing step is carried out in such manner as to keep the sheet sufficiently intact while passing through a printing device so as to prevent malfunction of the printing device. Die-pressed print media is also provided for use in the method.

Abstract: The invention provides a freely detachable insole and wooden mold as well as a method of manufacturing shoes, the method using the freely detachable insole and wooden mold, and the method being characterized in that the operation of attaching the insole to the wooden mold can be done in speedy fashion; the alignment of the insole can be easily adjusted even when the insole is attached to the mold not in alignment; there is no danger of failing to pull out nails; and there is no requirement of any special equipment cost. The method of manufacturing shoes comprises the steps of: providing suckers on a wooden shoe mold, attaching the wooden mold and the insole together by such means of causing adherence by suction between a generally flat surface mating the suckers and being provided on the shoe insole and the suckers being provided on the wooden mold made to be freely detachable, and covering the wooden mold by a shoe vamp to thereafter complete a tucking operation.

Abstract: An efficient system for directing light comprises a light source and a generally tubular, hollow coupling device. The coupling device has an interior light-reflective surface for receiving light from the source at an inlet and transmitting it as a generally diverging light beam through an outlet. The device is shaped in accordance with non-imaging optics and increases in cross sectional area from inlet to outlet so as to reduce the angle of light reflected from the surface as it passes through the device. The foregoing system provides a discharge-based directional light source that can be of the size of a directional halogen source (e.g., an MR16 or MR 11 lamp) while substantially preserving the discharge efficiency, light-output capacity and lifetime of discharge-based sources. This results from the coupling device that provides light with good spatial uniformity in light intensity and color. Embodiments of the invention can simply split the light to multiple (e.g.

Abstract: A method of making an optical device comprises the steps of providing a body of vitreous material that is generally tubular along an axis. A portion of the body is molded with external mold structure for forming a bulbous portion when the interior of the tube is pressurized. An axial portion is cut from the bulbous portion to form a first coupling device with first and second axially oriented openings. This method can produce optical coupling devices with excellent optical quality in an economical manner.

Abstract: A light fixture with a submersible enclosure for an electric lamp (e.g, HID lamp) is disclosed. The fixture includes a ballast for supplying power to a high intensity discharge lamp. A submersible enclosure seals the lamp from water in normal operation. The fixture includes a water-sensitive circuit having a conductance that increases in response to water that leaks into the enclosure for conducting current from the ballast and limiting the ballast voltage. Alternatively, the submersible enclosure may contain a power lead for supplying power to an electrical load such as a lamp ballast, a non-ballasted lamp, or a color wheel. The power lead includes a fuse region that corrosively reacts in the presence of leaked water in the container, so as to sufficiently wither away the fuse region and terminate power to the load. The foregoing alternative versions may advantageously be combined.

Abstract: The present invention provides polymeric material compositions having excellent white light transmission that is substantially free of color over long light path lengths. This invention also provides polymeric material compositions that provide for the transmission of light having a controlled color when illuminated with a white light source.

Abstract: The invention provides a freely detachable insole and wooden mold as well as a method of manufacturing shoes, the method using the freely detachable insole and wooden mold, and the method being characterized in that the operation of attaching the insole to the wooden mold can be done in speedy fashion; the alignment of the insole can be easily adjusted even when the insole is attached to the mold not in alignment; there is no danger of failing to pull out nails; and there is no requirement of any special equipment cost. The method of manufacturing shoes comprises the steps of: providing suckers on a wooden shoe mold, attaching the wooden mold and the insole together by such means of causing adherence by suction between a generally flat surface mating the suckers and being provided on the shoe insole and the suckers being provided on the wooden mold made to be freely detachable, and covering the wooden mold by a shoe vamp to thereafter complete a tucking operation.

Abstract: An adjustable holder for a container comprises a stationery member having a first surface for pressing against a first side of the container. A moveable member has a second surface for pressing against a second side of the container. First and second structures allow the moveable member to telescope with respect to the stationary member along a direction of adjustment. Third and fourth structures set a plurality of distances between the first and second surfaces. The third structure comprises a plurality of slots arranged along the direction of adjustment and oriented generally orthogonal to such direction. The fourth structure comprises a resiliently biased projection with a user-operated handle for being inserted into a desired slot. The holder adjusts to the size of the container, and, in preferred embodiments, can be made especially economically.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a multi-stranded fiberoptic light delivery system for delivering light to a plurality of fixtures. Each of the fixtures receives light from one or more active strands of a fiberoptic cable. A light source provides a light beam for transmission through the cable. A light-coloring device receives the light beam and sequentially imparts to the light beam different colors. A rod is interposed in the light beam between the color wheel and the fixtures. The rod has an inlet for receiving the light beam and an outlet for transmitting light to the cable. The rod has a length at least high enough to cause it to pass to all active strands a portion of the light of a color just starting to be received at its inlet.

Abstract: A window (26) is masked accurately by placing the side (44) of a tape roll (42) against a window frame (28) and pressing the outer rim (46) of the tape roll (42) against the window (26). Pressure bonds the adhesive (22a) to the window (26). The side (44) of the tape roll (42) is guided and supported against the window frame (28) and tape (100) is simultaneously unwound against the window (26). The outer longitudinal periphery of the tape (100) accurately follows the corner (36).

Abstract: A ballast for a fluorescent lamp incorporates in an integrated circuit (IC) complex circuit functions, such as driving a switching arrangement that provides AC power to the lamp. Beneficially, such IC's may be widely available and inexpensive. Additional circuitry complements such IC by protecting against one or more of the following three conditions: (1) the lamp starting to significantly rectify current in either direction, (2) the lamp voltage exceeding a predetermined level for a prolonged duration, and (3) the power mains supply voltage falling below a predetermined level.