Abstract: A quick-release type axle system for in-line skates. A pair of axle shafts cooperate with each other to support a wheel between a pair of frames. A release pin is inserted into a central bore formed through the axle shafts to lock the axle shafts relative to each other. In one embodiment, the release pin is pulled outwardly to release the axle shafts from the locked configuration, whereas in another embodiment, the release pin is pushed inwardly to achieve unlocking of the axle shafts. In some embodiments, a pair of release pins are used to achieve the quick-release mechanism of the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatically-activated code symbol reading system comprising a code symbol reading mechanism contained within a hand-supportable housing having a manually-actuatable data transmission switch. The symbol reading mechanism automatically generates a visible laser scanning pattern for repeatedly reading one or more code symbols on an object during each symbol reading cycle, and automatically generating a new symbol character data string in response to each read symbol. The user visually aligns the laser scanning pattern with a code symbol on an object. Each time the scanned symbol is successfully read in a cyclical manner, a new symbol character string is produced, and an indicator light is actively driven. During the symbol reading cycle, the user actuates the data transmission switch producing a data transmission control activation signal and enabling a subsequently produced symbol character data string to be automatically selected and transmitted to the host system.

Abstract: An improved ophthalmic instrument including an extended source producing light that is formed as an image on the retina of the human eye and reflected there from to produce retinal reflections derived from the extended source, and a wavefront sensor that estimates aberrations in the retinal reflections. The wavefront sensor includes a plurality of subapertures that form a plurality of images of the extended source from the retinal reflections, an imaging device that captures the plurality of images and outputs image data representing the images, and an image processing computer that generates an estimate of the gradient field of the retinal reflections by applying image correlation techniques in the digital domain to the image data.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatically-activated body-wearable code symbol reading system comprising a bar code symbol reading mechanism contained within a body-wearable housing having a manually-activatable data transmission switch. During symbol reading operations, the bar code symbol reading mechanism automatically generates a visible laser scanning pattern for repeatedly reading one or more bar code symbols on an object during a bar code symbol reading cycle, and automatically generating a new symbol character data string in response to each bar code symbol read thereby. During system operation, the user visually aligns the visible laser scanning pattern with a particular bar code symbol on an object (e.g. product, bar code menu, etc.) so that the bar code symbol is scanned, detected and decoded in a cyclical manner.

Abstract: An improved ophthalmic imaging instrument including a wavefront sensor-based adaptive optical subsystem that measures phase aberrations in reflections derived from light produced by an imaging light source and compensates for such phase aberrations when capturing images of reflections derived from light produced by the same imaging light source. The high-resolution image data captured by the improved ophthalmic imaging instrument can be used to assist in detection and diagnosis (such as color imaging, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography) of abnormalities and disease in the human eye and treatment (including pre-surgery preparation and computer-assisted eye surgery such as laser refractive surgery) of abnormalities and disease in the human eye.

Abstract: A fully automated package identification and measuring system, in which an omni-directional laser scanning systems are used to read bar codes on packages entering the tunnel, while a package dimensioning subsystem is used to capture information about the package prior to entry into the tunnel. Mathematical models are created on a real-time basis for the geometry of the package and the position of the laser scanning beam used to read the bar code symbol thereon. The mathematical models are analyzed to determine if collected and queued package identification data is spatially and/or temporally correlated with package measurement data using vector-based ray-tracing methods, homogeneous transformations, and object-oriented decision logic so as to enable simultaneous tracking of multiple packages being transported through the scanning tunnel.

Abstract: The zone laser scanning systems by processing analog scan data signals with a scan data signal processor having a plurality of pass-band filters and amplifiers that are automatically selected for passing only the spectral components of an analog scan data signal produced when a bar code symbol is scanned at a particular focal zone in the laser scanning system. Two or more different pass band filter structures can be provided for use in the scan data signal processor, wherein each pass-band filter structure is: tuned to the spectral band associated with a particular focal zone in the laser scanning system. When a bar code, symbol is scanned by a laser beam focused within the first focal zone or scanning range of the system, the pass-band filter structure associated with this focal zone or scanning range is automatically switched into operation using a control signal produced by determining the spot speed of the laser scanning beam producing the analog scan data signal being processed.

Abstract: A modular fundus camera including an adaptive optical module that detachably interfaces to a fundus camera body and image capture subsystem. The fundus camera body directs light produced from a first light source into the human eye and then collects and collimates retinal reflections. The adaptive optical module includes a wavefront sensor, controller and phase-compensating optical element. The wavefront sensor measures phase aberrations in the retinal reflections and operates in a closed-loop fashion with the controller to control the phase-compensating optical element to compensate for such phase aberrations to produce phase-compensated retinal reflections for output to the image capture subsystem.

Abstract: A multi-focal zone laser scanning system for scanning bar code symbols having a minimum bar element width (MBW). The multi-focal zone laser scanning system comprises a laser beam producing device for producing a laser beam, and a laser beam scanning mechanism for scanning the laser beam so as to generate a laser scanning pattern having a plurality of different focal zones. In the system, the scanned laser beam has a minimum beam dimension (MBD) with each focal zone, and the ratio of the minimum beam dimension (MDB) within each focal zone to the minimum bar element width (MBW) of a scanned bar code symbol therewithin (i.e. MDB/MBW) is greater than or equal to 2.0. Consequently, less modulation of the laser scanning beam is required during scanning operations, and therefore, bar code symbols having narrower minimum bar element widths can be resolved.

Abstract: Electro-optical glazing structures having bi-directional control of electromagnetic radiation during total-reflection, semi-transparent and totally-transparent modes of operation which are electrically-switchable for use in dynamically controlling electromagnetic radiation flow in diverse applications.

Abstract: A transportable basketball system having components which are arrangeable in a play configuration during which a basketball type game can be played on the sand. In a transport configuration the basketball system can be easily transported between a sand covered outdoor environment and a remote location. The transportable basketball system comprises a wind-transmissive backboard, a basketball hoop structure, a plurality of arrangeable pole sections, and a pole anchoring device.

Abstract: An improved ophthalmic instrument including an integral wavefront sensor and display device, wherein the wavefront sensor measures phase aberrations in reflections directed thereto to characterize aberrations of the eye and is operably coupled to the display device, which displays a graphical representation of the aberrations of the eye. Such graphical representation may include: two dimensional contour maps that graphically depict contribution of pre-specified terms (such as spherical aberration, astigmatism and coma) for the aberrations of the eye, coefficients corresponding to such pre-specified terms that characterize the aberrations of the eye, or predefined two-dimensional icons that provide a general graphical depiction of such prespecified terms.

Abstract: A scan data signal processor is disclosed for use with a laser scanning system having a plurality of different focal zones within which a laser scanning beam is scanned across one or more bar code symbols and an analog scan data signal is automatically produced. The scan data signal processor comprises a first and second derivative signal generation stages, a second-derivative zero-crossing detector, a real-time bar code element detector, and a control logic circuitry. The first derivative signal generation stage derives a first derivative signal from the analog scan data signal. The second derivative signal generation stage derives a second derivative signal from the first derivative signal. The second-derivative zero-crossing detector detects zero crossings in said second derivative signal. The real-time bar code element detector automatically detects the presence and absence of bar code element data encoded within said analog scan data signal.

Abstract: Reflective color filters using layers of cholesteric liquid crystals with two different center wavelengths and bandwidths per layer are stacked in two layers to provide colored light for displays. With a two layer stack circularly polarized light of one handedness can be provided. With a two layer stack circulary unpolarized colored light can be provided. With a broadband polarizing filter overlapping other filters in the stack a black matrix can be provided by reflecting all colors and transmitting no light in the overlapping areas. When broadband reflective cholesteric liquid crystals are used two primary colors can be reflected in the same pixel of a display making reflective layers with two reflective portions per layer possible. Color displays having three linear sub-pixels with three primary colors or with four sub-pixels of white, blue, green, and red in a pixel with two colors in a top row and two colors on a bottom row can are made with two colors per layer in two layer stacks.

Abstract: A novel electronic-commerce enabling method and system are disclosed, wherein an electronic-commerce enabling Java-Applet is embedded within an HTML-encoded document stored in an HTTP server at predetermined URL. When a code symbol (e.g., magstripe or bar code) encoded with the URL is read using a code symbol reader interfaced with a Java-enabled Internet terminal, the corresponding HTTP document is automatically accessed and displayed at the terminal, and the electronic-commerce enabling Java-Applet initiated for execution so that the customer, consumer or client desiring to conduct an electronic-commerce transaction can simply and conveniently conduct electronic-commerce over the Internet. The electronic-commerce enabling Internet terminal can be in the form of an Internet kiosk installed in a public location, in the manner as conventional ATMs.

Abstract: A bar-code-driven data acquisition and management system includes at least two input computers, operably coupled via a communication link, each coupled to a respective local database of data records. The system includes at least two portable computing devices, each operably coupled to one of the two input computers via a wireless communication channel for accessing the data records of the local databases of the at least two input computers. Each portable computing device comprises a CPU, memory, and a touch sensitive display device that cooperate to display multiple virtual regions (which comprise on a data I/O screen and sense location of contact by a user in these virtual regions to thereby provide for user input. These multiple virtual regions preferably include one of a virtual keypad for entering symbols associated with keys of the keypad, at least one scroll bar, at least one rolling key, multiple icons, a menu screen and a graphing screen.

Abstract: A novel fuel cell battery construction having arrays of different type metal-air fuel cells. The first type-cells are preferably formed by a cathode structure having a plurality of first-type cathode elements, and an anode structure having one or more anode-contacting elements on an anode-contacting element support plate. The second-type-cells are preferably formed by a cathode structure having a plurality of second-type cathode elements, and an anode structure having one or more anode-contacting elements on an anode-contacting element support plate. In one embodiment, the first-type cathode elements and corresponding cells are optimized for discharging operations, while the second type of cathode elements and corresponding cells are optimized for recharging operations.

Abstract: A metal-air fuel cell battery (FCB) electrical power producing module for supplying electrical power to a host system that incorporates a module housing with a multi-element discharging head enclosed within the module housing and a recess formed therein into which a metal-fuel card can be slid for discharging. The module housing has a pair of electrical terminals for contacting the power terminals of a host system.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved beam steering and scanning devices which utilize cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) elements arranged in branches to form a logic tree structure. Each branch thereof comprises an active and passive CLC element; the former further comprising a half-wave retarder and an electrode and the latter only the CLC element. Each succeeding branch contains twice as many branches as a preceding branch and, by activating active CLC element electrodes under control of a programmable pulsed source, inputs applied to the first stage of a logic tree are delivered as a scanned line of electromagnetic energy or light to the imaging cells of the last stage of the logic tree. By stacking identical logic tree structures with a laser source for each tree, a flat panel imaging array or display panel is formed in which the transmission intensity losses are minimized.

Abstract: A method of and system for automatically identifying packages during package transport operations carried out by a human operator walking through the doorway of a storage warehouse, wherein, a laser scanning system is supported above the doorway defining a passageway of 3-D spatial extent, through which a human operator may walk while manually transporting packages bearing bar code symbols. In the illustrative embodiment, the laser scanning system includes a housing having a light transmission aperture, and a laser scanning pattern generator disposed within the housing. During operation of the system, the laser scanning pattern generator employs a holographic scanning disc to project through the light transmission aperture, an omnidirectional laser scanning pattern which is substantially confined within the spatial extent of a predefined 3-D scanning volume that spatially encompasses a substantial portion of the passageway of 3-D spatial extent.