Abstract: A photonic digital-to-analog converter employing a plurality of heterojunction thyristor devices that are configured to convert a digital word encoded by a parallel digital optical signal (e.g., a plurality of synchronous optical bits) to an output analog electrical signal whose magnitude corresponds to the digital word. Each heterojunction thyristor device is configured to convert an optical bit in the digital word to a corresponding digital electrical signal. The voltage levels (e.g., magnitudes) of the ON state of the digital electrical signals produced by the heterojunction thyristor devices may be supplied by voltage divider networks coupled between the cathode terminal of the devices and ground potential or voltage reference sources coupled to the input terminals of the heterojunction thyristor devices. In this manner, electrical signals whose magnitude corresponds to contribution of each optical bit in the digital word are produced.

Abstract: A reconfigurable chair arranged for ease of operation by an elderly or disabled person, to change configuration to assist a person in sitting and standing, to limit the risk of a person becoming trapped in the operating mechanisms thereof and/or comprising means for sensing an abnormal load condition.

Abstract: Methods for allocating bandwidth among MCR and best effort connections include listing MCR connections in an MCR service list and best efforts connection in a best efforts (BE) service list. Assigning an MCR value to each MCR connection and setting a Cell Count Register (CCR) with it. During a service interval, dequeueing each MCR connection queue in round robin fashion according to the MCR service list and decrementing the associated CCR. If the CCR reaches zero before the end of the service interval and there are still cells in the queue, the connection is moved from the MCR service list to the BE service list for the remainder of the service interval. If the CCR reaches zero before the end of the service interval and/or there are no cells remaining in the queue, the connection is removed from the MCR service list.

Abstract: A trigger actuated fluid dispenser for simultaneously dispensing disparate fluids separately stored in separate fluid compartments of a container includes a mixing manifold for intimately mixing the fluids together and the nozzle assembly in which the mixture is channeled into a pair of spray nozzles through which the mixture of fluids issue as it sprays, upon simultaneous pumping of the disparate fluids by a single trigger actuator directing the disparate fluids along separate discharge paths to the mixing manifold.

Abstract: A distributed client/server computer network wherein the identity of at least one complex image, selected from a plurality of complex images stored by a client, is transmitted to a remote server. The remote server then determines, from the identity of the or each image selected, whether the client is authorised to gain access, via the server, to a particular network resource. The network is thus efficient, as the complex images themselves do not need to be transmitted from the client to the server, and secure, as no authorization information is stored by the client.

Abstract: An optoelectronic integrated circuit comprises a substrate, a multilayer structure formed on the substrate, and an array of thyristor devices and corresponding resonant cavities formed in the multilayer structure. The resonant cavities, which are adapted to process different wavelengths of light, are formed by selectively removing portions of said multilayer structure to provide said resonant cavities with different vertical dimensions that correspond to the different wavelengths. Preferably, that portion of the multilayer structure that is selectively removed to provide the multiple wavelengths includes a periodic substructure formed by repeating pairs of an undoped spacer layer and an undoped etch stop layer. The multilayer structure may be formed from group III-V materials. In this case, the undoped spacer layer and undoped etch stop layer of the periodic substructure preferably comprises undoped GaAs and undoped AlAs, respectively.

Abstract: An eyeshield (10) for protecting babies' eyesight during phototherapy treatment for neonatal jaundice includes a strap (11) of soft material sized and shaped to pass around and secured to the head of the baby. An eye pad (18) is attached or formed integrally with the strap (11). A tab (13) extending from the strap (11) adjacent to the eye pad (18) can be grasped to aid in positioning the eyeshield (10) such that the eye pad (18) lies over the baby's eyes.

Abstract: A high performance bipolar transistor device is realized from a series of layers formed on a substrate, the series of layers including a first set of one or more layers each comprising n-type dopant material, a second set of layers forming a p-type modulation doped quantum well structure, and a third set of one or more layers each comprising n-type dopant material. The first set of layers includes an n-type ohmic contact layer. A collector terminal metal layer is deposited and patterned on one layer of the third set. P-type ion implant regions and a patterned base terminal metal layer (which contact the p-type modulation doped quantum well structure) are formed in an interdigitated manner with respect to a patterned emitter metal layer formed on the n-type ohmic contact layer. Preferably, a capping layer that covers the sidewalls of the active device structure (as well as covering the collector metal layer) is used to form the interdigitated base and emitter metal layers of the device.

Abstract: A helical stent having a central helically wound portion, and cylindrical ends is provided. A transition zone having struts of different lengths is provided between the helical portion and each cylindrical portion. A junction defining a strut trident is provided between the transition zone and the helical portion. This construction provides a highly flexible stent, permits connecting bridges that are in the same basic orientation, and enables the hoops of the helical, cylindrical, and transitions zones to remain “in phase” such that the stent can easily expand and collapse. According to another aspect of the invention, the kerf between adjacent struts does not go all the way to the end of those struts. The longer struts can have substantially the same flexibility and expansion force as the shorter struts of the transition by making all the kerfs approximately the same length.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for treating animals, such as humans and dogs, with primary glaucoma by draining or diverting aqueous humor extraocularly comprising a shunt implant wherein the length and tubing of the shunt ensure fluid flow from the eye directly into the frontal sinus cavity via tubing. The device has crossbeam aids in anchoring the device; four slit valves to control fluid flow at required volume; and bulb that anchors in the frontal sinus cavity. The device is preferably made of medical grade radiopaque silicone rubber, and is flexible. Other improvements and a method for implanting the device are disclosed as well.

Abstract: Disclosed is a personal organization tool comprising an indicator and an analog display divided into areas representing days of the week to help people organize themselves and remind them of various events or activities. The tool may be used in co-operation with an apparatus for providing information. The tool is particularly useful for people with short-term memory loss who often experience difficulty in keeping track of when they are supposed to do something.

Abstract: A method for replenishing a pre-paid telecommunications account utilizes the short message service (SMS). When an account balance is low, a pre-paid service control point (PP-SCP) sends a message to a pre-paid payment server which composes an SMS message and sends it to a short message service center (SMSC). The SMSC forwards the message to a mobile switching center (MSC) which passes the message to the subscriber's mobile unit. A confirmation message is automatically sent in a similar manner back to the pre-paid payment server. To replenish the account, the subscriber composes an SMS message using the mobile unit and sends the message to an MSC which forwards it to the pre-paid payment server via an SMSC. The pre-paid payment server validates the request via a billing and finance system, then sends a message to the PP-SCP for account update.

Abstract: A volar plate includes a head portion with two sets of pegs. The first set of the pegs is substantially linearly arranged and the axes of the pegs are preferably oblique relative to each other, and are preferably angled relative to each other in two dimensions. The second set of pegs is provided relatively distal of the first set through a buttress of the head portion of the plate. The second set of pegs is preferably angled relative to the plate such that the pegs are oriented substantially perpendicular to the body of the plate and extend between the pegs of the first set. The first set of pegs provides support for subchondral bone fragments, while the second set of pegs provides support behind the articular bone surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for extending the transmission range of a UTOPIA ATM (or packet) interface include providing two UTOPIA extension devices, one for coupling a PHY layer device to a transmission cloud and one for coupling an ATM layer (or LINK layer) device to the transmission cloud. Each device includes a UTOPIA interface emulator, a link controller, and a media transceiver. The media transceiver can be made to support various media such as a backplane, copper cable, optical fiber, or a wireless medium. The UTOPIA extension device preferably includes a UTOPIA inlet buffer, a UTOPIA outlet buffer, an inlet clock decoupling buffer, an outlet clock decoupling buffer, and a flow control module. The UTOPIA inlet and outlet buffers are used for traffic management and the clock decoupling buffers allow the UTOPIA interface emulator and the link controller to operate in different clock domains. The link controller provides error control and backpressure delivery to support flow control.

Abstract: A hybrid rocket motor is provided with a precombustion chamber supplied with propellant from separate fuel and oxidizer sources. The propellant can be in the form of gas or liquid and injected substantially tangentially into the head end of the hybrid motor adjacent the oxidizer injector to form a propellant swirl. As the hybrid motor oxidizer is injected into the swirl, it is heated and gasified, and assumes a swirling motion which increases the oxidizer path length and thereby increases the dwell time of the oxidizer. The increased dwell time increases combustion efficiency and permits multiple restarts of the hybrid motor. The propellant may also be a combination of solid and fluid reactants. In one embodiment, the oxidizer injector is extended into the combustion chamber to form a toroidal precombustion chamber which has an annular nozzle adjacent a face of the oxidizer injector.

Abstract: A telephone call control system includes a database containing user identifiers and call control limitations assigned to the user identifiers. Call control limitations may include budgetary, time, geographic (e.g., area code or city and/or country codes), and other limitations to a call. A telephone line is subscribed to the system, and users of the line are provided user identifiers which may have one or more of the call control limitations. When making an outgoing call, the telephone network queries the database and determine whether the telephone line is subscribed. If the telephone is subscribed, the telephone network communicates with a server which requests the user to enter the user's identifier, e.g., a dialing code or voice print. It is then determined which, if any, call control limitations, are placed upon the user and whether and for how long the call can be connected.

Abstract: An improved GPS signal receiver (and corresponding method of operation) includes a plurality of antenna elements each receiving a plurality of GPS signals (e.g., GPS LI signals or GPS L2 signals). A plurality of mixers (which correspond to the array of antenna elements) and a combining node convert the GPS signals received at the antenna elements in a frequency-division-multiplexed (FDM) manner over FDM frequency bands logically assigned to the antenna elements to produce a composite signal representing such GPS signals. An analog-to-digital converter converts an analog signal derived from the composite signal (which may be an intermediate frequency signal or a baseband signal) into a digital word stream. Demultiplexing logic extracts GPS signal components in the digital word stream. The GPS signal components correspond to the FDM frequency bands logically assigned to the antenna elements.

Abstract: A edge emitting waveguide laser is obtained that derives its optical power from a vertical cavity laser structure. The vertical cavity laser with top and bottom Distributed Bragg Reflectors produces stimulated emission by resonance in the vertical direction but the optical power so generated is diffracted by a second order grating into an optical mode propagating in the optical waveguide formed by the upper and lower mirrors as cladding layers. The efficiency of the diffraction grating and the reflectivity of the mirrors are maximized so that essentially all of the light is coupled into the guide and the loss through the mirrors can be neglected. The same structure can be utilized as a detector, a modulator or an amplifier. The designated laser structure to achieve this form of operation is the inversion channel laser which is a laterally injected laser having both contacts on the top side of the device.

Abstract: Unauthorized removal of articles e.g. from a retail store, each article carrying a read/write tag, is detected by a security system having at least one point-of-sale apparatus (30) arranged to write specific data into (or erase specific data from) the tag to indicate that the article has been paid for, and a detector apparatus (40) for the or each exit of the store and arranged to read each tag to determine if the specific data has been written into (or erased from) the tag, and otherwise to initiate an alarm. The system also includes a refunds/returns detector apparatus (50) to read the tag of each article presented to it, to determine if the specific data has been written into (or erased from) the tag, and to erase (or write in) that data so that the article can be returned to stock.