Abstract: Methods and apparatus of integrating multimedia materials with didactic printed materials present selected relevant multimedia material in response to the sensing of control codes embedded in context sensitive and/or content sensitive didactic printed material. A store of multimedia information is created, and the store is correlated to related context and/or content sensitive didactic printed material. The store is categorized to transmit certain categories of the stored information from the store to a multimedia display in response to the reception of certain input signals obtained from certain codes embedded in the didactic printed material. The printed didactic material controls the display of the multimedia material. Either preexisting didactic printed material or currently created didactic printed material can be efficiently and economically integrated with multimedia materials to display certain selected multimedia materials at sensitive places of the printed materials.

Abstract: An improved soft style snowboard boot which is internally reinforced by a multi-piece boot support assembly that includes a rigid molded plastic shank portion, a semi-rigid molded heel cup portion, and a molded or die-cut plastic highback portion. The shank portion is designed to resist flex, and provide ergonomic support for the foot, and further includes molded-in features which permit positive mechanical fastening of conventional step-in binding attachment structure, to the outsole of the boot. A pair of length adjustable tensioning strap members are connected between the shank and highback portions and when tightened the straps induce a desired forward lean in the highback portion. The straps may be tightened independently of each other to provide a desired side bias, left or right, to the highback portion. In one embodiment, the straps are contained within the outer boot portion. In another embodiment, the straps are routed exteriorly of the outer boot portion for more convenient forward lean adjustment.

Abstract: Foldable tent frame for coupling a tent cloth with the tent frame in an integral form is disclosed. Each of the foldable tent frame members for tension-supporting the tent cloth from all sides includes a plurality of rods each having protuberances on both ends thereof with an elliptical flat spring coupled with it, hinged straight joints each having a securing sleeve, and a hinged bent joint, so that the tent can be folded into a compact size so as to make it convenient to carry and store, and that the tent can be set up into a firm large tent in a simple manner by unfolding the frame. Further, the structure of the frame is simple, and the materials constituting the frame are strong. Further, the replacement of the components is easy, and the sleeve has holes for discharging foreign materials such as sands. Thus the tent is ensured of a convenience of use and structural safety.

Abstract: Real time correction to ground generated satellite ephemeris implements a reference trajectory management module (334), an error estimation module (336), an parameter calculation module (338) and a position information management module (340). The reference trajectory management module (334) accesses reference trajectory data such as ground generated ephemeris data which is uplinked to a spacecraft through a communications unit (312). The position information management module (340) accesses and interprets position information such as Global Positioning System (GPS) measurement data to provide measured spacecraft positions. The parameter calculation module (338) calculates spacecraft position and velocity from the reference trajectory data.

Abstract: The invention discloses a deployable, inflatable conformable fuel tank assembly constructed to be installed at a certain location on an aircraft and to be retained at that certain location throughout the entire flight operation of the aircraft. The fuel tank assembly is constructed to be movable between a first, deployed aerodynamic configuration in which the assembly can hold a supply of liquid fuel, and a second, stowed aerodynamic configuration in which the exterior surface of the assembly conforms to a surface of the aircraft underlying the assembly.

Abstract: A cylindrical slide puzzle system including a cylindrical member, such as an open cylinder, cup or mug, having a slide puzzle incorporated with an outer cylindrical surface thereof. The slide puzzle includes a plurality of slide puzzle elements or pieces which are preferably arranged to form three horizontal rows between the top and bottom edges of the open cylindrical member, cup or mug--this allows for better fit as the slide puzzle elements proximate both the top and bottom are firmly held in place along at lease one side surface and a better fit is assured between the puzzle pieces. A single jamb or vertical stop extending between the top and the bottom edges of the cylindrical member is also provided. A handle, if desired, may be attached to the jamb so as to convert the cylindrical member from a cup to a mug in the case where a solid bottom wall is provided. This jamb serves as part of the frame of the puzzle.

Abstract: A dithered image reconstruction system and method that compensates for inter-detector errors in a manner that does not adversely affect detection of small-amplitude images in the presence of a very bright large-amplitude background. An overlapping dither pattern is employed in a detector array (103), and outputs generated by individual detectors (302) are adjusted in an iterative fashion to hold all outputs for a particular detector substantially constant, while allowing each set of outputs for each image section to converge on a solution. The system and method do not substantially distort the received signal, nor do they fail when the image characteristics have little spatial variation, such as when a large target area is being detected.

Abstract: Computerized system for dynamically creating a document from a database responsive to input from a remote user and transmitting the document to the user's facsimile machine. When the user desires to access a remote database according to the present invention, that user calls the apparatus of the present invention and in response to a voice menu system creates queries to the database. The apparatus of the present invention can also handle queries created by computer programs on remote computer systems. After receipt of the user's request, the system processes the request into a dynamically created document which meets the user's specifications and automatically transmits the document to the user's facsimile machine. The system has complete flexibility and control over the textual and graphical characteristics of the created document to enhance the presentation and usefulness of the information to the user.

Abstract: A method of forming a scratch resistant color ink pattern of multi-color coatings (5) onto a see-through panel (6) with exact registration between successive color coatings of the pattern.

Abstract: A charging cradle for recharging cordless telephones which is modular and configurable in a variety of ways is provided. The cradle includes a charging unit and interchangeable telephone support structure. The charging cradle has at least two interchangeable support elements, one of which includes recharging elements. The support elements are removably attachable to support struts and may be attached in any order. The support struts are in electrical communication with the charging unit. The recharging support element includes electrical communication elements which connect the charging unit with the recharging contacts located on the external surface of the telephone handset. The charging cradle is adapted to hold the telephone handset in a nested relation while recharging the batteries located within the handset. Safety features prevent overcharging. The charging cradle may be constructed in such a manner to permit the recharging of most cordless portable telephones.

Abstract: An electro-optic modulator (300) comprises a multiple quantum well core layer (320) in which the band gap and refractive index are adjusted to make the core layer (320) transparent to light at a selected wavelength and a voltage tunable, multiple quantum well cladding layer (330) in which an exciton absorption provides the cladding layer (330) with a first refractive index that is less than the core refractive index when a first voltage is applied and a second refractive index that approaches or exceeds the core refractive index when a second voltage is applied. The exciton absorption also provides the voltage tunable cladding layer (330) with a substantially greater absorption coefficient at the selected wavelength than that of the core layer (320).

Abstract: Stabilization of pointing and stabilization mirror systems is provided by using the inherent moment of inertia of the mirrors. Inertially stabilized mirror systems have mirror orientations and rotation axes such that the mirrors reflect incident radiation parallel to the rotation axes. One mirror is provided for each axis of stabilization. In order to maintain stabilization in space for incident radiation to the mirror, any prior mirrors are provided with rotation axes parallel to the stabilization axis.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming stabilized thermal images of thermally active objects in an objected scene using a pyroelectric detector and which does not require chopping or rapid panning. The invention includes focusing optics for focusing thermal radiation flux from a thermally active object under investigation onto a pyroelectric detector. The output signal generated by the pyroelectric detector is decoupled of its DC offset component. The output signal is then mixed with the results of the decoupled signal passing through a gain and level control. The result is that the invention acts to track and boost the decay in the pyroelectric image when the detector is staring at a static image. The resulting image is amplified to match the input requirements of a level detector that drives a selected thermal image display. In order to adequately display the thermal center of mass, the thermal image is combined with the visual image of the thermally active object under investigation.

Abstract: Analytical optical system design optimization implements an optical material selection module (302), a thin lens power calculation module (304), a prescription module (306), a figure of merit determination module (308), a bending adjustment module (310), and a focal length scaling module (312). The optical material selection module (302) selects a set of optical materials that are appropriate for use together in an optical system using the dispersion coefficients of the materials. Potential optical designs are screened according to thin lens power criteria. For each design with acceptable power distribution, a lens prescription is arranged and thickness is added to each lens by the prescription module (306) to provide a thick lens assembly. Designs can then be analyzed according to a figure of merit that evidences optical system performance by the figure of merit determination module (308). In an exemplary embodiment the polychromatic RMS spot radius for each design is analyzed.

Abstract: A flat panel display incorporates an array of color separation microlenses. Each color separation microlens in the array is a single, micro-optical element which disperses color by orders to distinct color spots and focuses these color spots to related liquid crystal sub-pixels located in a common plane. Substantially all of the areas of the color spots fall directly and only on the liquid crystal sub-pixels. Little, if any, light energy is lost by falling outside areas occupied by the individual liquid crystal sub-pixels. Because the color separation microlenses provide the color separation, no color filter is required in the flat panel display. Eliminating the color filters eliminates light losses which are incurred when transmitting light through a color filter. The flat panel display makes more efficient use of light transmitted through the components of the display than was possible with prior art flat panel displays.

Abstract: A disposable insulated container comprises an inner container structure and n outer insulating wrap. The outer insulating wrap comprises a microflute laminated structure having a first corrugated laminate of microflute corrugations which extends substantially circumferentially around the side wall of the inner container and a second, outer sheet laminate of the thin flexible paper which presents a substantially smooth outer surface for engagement by the hand of a user of the container.

Abstract: A containment structure for radially deployable devices in the form of a self-coiling composite band. The composite band is fabricated as a lay up of epoxy resin-impregnated ply layers of cloth material that are wrapped about a mandrel and cured in a specific ordered sequence. The ordered sequence of fabrication steps of applying and curing the resin-impregnated cloth layers to the mandrel provides a desired separation of the cured ply layers of the final composite so that they are located at the outer most regions of the composite and are separated by an intermediate resin layer of desired thickness. This ensures a composite band which is effective to function as a negator-spring or composite clock spring and which also exhibits a good combination of mechanical properties, such as elastic modulus, strength, and resilience. In use, the self-coiling composite band is applied about the periphery of a central hub of a radially deployable device by wrapping it therearound in a reverse curl orientation.

Abstract: A wedge window changes the direction of radiation passing through the window to shorten the window required for unvignetted viewing. An orthogonal reflection pointing mirror reduces the window size that is required for unvignetted viewing through a window over a finite range of viewing angles. A wedge window is used in combination with an orthogonal reflection pointing mirror to reduce the window size that is required for unvignetted viewing over a finite range of viewing angles that includes large incidence angles.

Abstract: An improved display product and method of making a display wherein a perforated panel is provided with layers of paint which are kept on the panel. Thus, a sign painter can have a wide latitude of designs which can be applied to see-through graphics. The resulting product can be opaque to an observer looking from one side of a display product yet the observer is able to see through the product from the other side of the product. A window to be provided with a display product is masked with masking paper and masking tape to cover the exposed parts. A perforated panel is cut to fit the window and attached over the masking paper and the masking tape. The perforated panel is painted with an image that is desired.

Abstract: Lithium polymer battery charger methods for charging a plurality of equal charge point lithium polymer battery cells prevent overcharging of any cell, whether the cells are arranged in a series stack or are arranged in parallel. When the cells are connected in a series stack, a power supply is connected to the series stack to apply a charge current to the series stack. The state of charge of each cell in the stack is monitored. Information that the state of charge of any cell is approaching full charge is used to control the charge current and to prevent overcharging of any cell.