Abstract: The present invention is a an effective thermal barrier between the thermistor and higher temperature solids or electrical components in a thermostat or its equivalent device. The invention thermal barrier substantially reduces or essentially eliminates undesired conductive heating of the thermistor from support means or other electrical components.

Abstract: Method and system for illuminating a selected body component with light to encourage selected beneficial reactions of the body component as a result of such exposure and to provide phototherapy. Light is provided using a light delivery module having one or more components that fit around a body component, or fit within a mouth, or other body cavity, for dental or mouth interior or cavity interior therapy, or are located at a particular site (such as an acupuncture terminal) on the body, where each light delivery component can be independently controlled. The body component is exposed to light in a first wavelength range and to light within a second wavelength range, in a first time interval and in a second time interval, respectively, that are separated by a selected dark field time interval where substantially no light exposure occurs, except for ambient lighting.

Abstract: A thermostat system according to the invention includes: a central control device (typically a programmable thermostat with a processor having: a CPU, real time clock and a memory for storing a control program and data information), multiple rooms comprising a conditioned space, environmental control equipment, and multiple environmental sensors capable of sensing an environmental condition (such as temperature, humidity, or other condition). The sensors are associated with transmission means, which control transmission of sensor signals, and occupancy sensors. Each sensor measures a local environmental condition. Occupancy sensors comprise infrared or other motion sensors, light detection sensors, door opening sensors, and other such sensors that detect the presence of humans in a room of the conditioned space where its associated sensor is located. Space conditioning equipment is activated by comparison of a setpoint to a control value averaged from values of environmental conditions in occupied rooms.

Abstract: A point-to-multipoint passive optical network transmits downstream data from an optical line terminal (OLT) to multiple optical network units (ONUs) in variable-length packets and upstream data from the ONUs to the OLT in variable-length packets utilizing time division multiplexing to avoid transmission collisions. In an embodiment, the variable-length downstream packets and the variable-length upstream packets are formatted according to IEEE 802.3. In an embodiment, the length of the variable-length downstream and upstream packets is related to the length of Internet protocol (IP) datagrams carried within the packets.

Abstract: An apparatus for the distribution and display of jewelry includes a plurality of precious or semi-precious gems coupled together in a “T” shape with at least one horizontalbar and one downbar, the horizontalbar having clasps at both ends and the downnbar having a clasp at one end. The apparatus further includes a clothing article requiring at least one strap for support with a semi-permnanently attached loops being configured to receive a respective attachment device. The apparatus further includes a flexible strand or chain having attached loops at both ends, each of the loops being configured to receive a respective attachment device. The jewelry article is designed in order to be distributed and displayed as an integral structural member of the clothing and jewelry combination or the flexible strand or chain and jewelry combination.

Abstract: A laser diode optical transmitter and a method of operating the optical transmitter utilize a transistor to quickly enable and disable a laser diode by selectively shorting the laser diode. In an embodiment, the transistor is separated from the laser diode by an inductor. The inductor provides a high impedance between the transistor and the laser diode to at least reduce the effect of a parasitic capacitance associated with the transistor when the laser diode is driven to generate optical signals of different power levels. The use of the transistor and the inductor (i) reduces the amount of leakage light generated by the laser diode when in a disabled state, (ii) shortens the enable and disable times of the optical transmitter, and (iii) allows the laser diode to be modulated at a high rate of speed.