Abstract: Electron optical aberrations of an energy filtering system of an energy filtering transmission electron microscope (EFTEM) are automatically corrected under computer control to set up the EFTEM for use. Optics of the electron microscope preceding an energy filter are used to scan the beam at the entrance to the filter in a pattern corresponding to a defined geometry. The beam can either be finely focused to yield a spot at each position visited during the pattern scan, or the beam can be spread out and imprinted with a well-defined intensity distribution, such as normally occurs due to passage of the beam through a specimen, so that its relative scanned displacements can be assessed using cross-correlation techniques. In the case of the finely focused beam, electron images of the scanned pattern directly yield a spot pattern image. Deviation of the recorded spot pattern image from the defined scan geometry reflect the imaging aberrations introduced by the energy filter.

Abstract: A wood planing device includes a support carriage movably mounted on a wood planing machine, and a rotatable shaft rotatably mounted on the carriage and having a coupling segment. A coupling sleeve surrounds the shaft and is movable between engaging and disengaging positions to engage and disengage the shaft. A rolling member is driven to rotate by a rotational force from the coupling sleeve to feed-in a workpiece supported on the machine. A clutch member is disposed to connect the coupling sleeve and a reduction gear train when the coupling sleeve is in the disengaging position. As such, the rolling member can be rotated by a first rotational drive delivered by the shaft through the coupling sleeve at a high speed, or by a second rotational drive through the clutch member and the reduction gear train at a low speed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a quick release mechanism for securing and releasing a bicycle in a trainer, wherein said mechanism engages and secures the rear hub area of a bicycle without disassembly of said bicycle, comprising: (a) a housing adapted to slidably receive at least part of a piston, wherein said housing is mounted on a first hub supporting leg of said trainer; (b) a piston nesting within the housing and being slidable therein, wherein said piston has a first end and a second end, said first end bearing a first means for capturing a bicycle wheel hub; (c) means for slidably moving side piston within said housing in order to extend said first end toward the hub of a bicycle to secure said bicycle, including a lever mounted at the second end of said piston; (d) a second means for capturing said bicycle wheel hub, said capturing means being mounted on a second hub supporting leg of said trainer, wherein the hub supporting legs are mutually spaced to allow a bicycle wheel mounted on a bicycle wheel t

Abstract: Uniform cooling of complex surface shapes in injection mold tooling can be accomplished with cooling channels that conform to the shapes of the mold cavity or mold cone. By conventional methods this can be very difficult to accomplish. By applying methods of material deposition or material sintering, which include but are not limited to, laser metal deposition, where material is deposited on a layer by layer basis, certain cooling or heating passages could be integrated into the manufactured component that follow the contours and profiles of the mold's complex surfaces. These passages would act as internal heat sinks with a much higher surface area for heat transfer than traditional drilled and plugged straight passages. These geometries could also be incorporated into complex geometries such as, but not limited to, turbine blades where the cooling passages can follow the contour of the outer shape, provide a more uniform or controlled heat transfer from the component.

Abstract: A bi-directional pulsed ring laser that produces bi-directional light pulses that interact in such a way that they are phase conjugated. A nonlinear substance, such as a nonlinear crystal or fluid, that has an index of refraction that is dependent upon light intensity is located near a beam waist of the laser cavity to provide a self-lensing effect. Methods for reducing dead band beyond observable limits are also provided. The increased sensitivity of the bi-directional pulsed ring laser provides application in detecting magnetic susceptibility by detecting the change in phase between the arrival times of the bi-directional pulses at a modulator and the electrical signal of the modulator to determine the change in frequency of a coil that has magnetic susceptibility.

Abstract: A stereo loudspeaker system (1) consists of a unitary enclosure (2), the rear wall (3) of which is oriented towards a reflecting wall (13), said enclosure (2) including an even number of low-frequency loudspeakers (15) which are disposed symmetrically in the rear wall (3) at an angle to each other. In addition to the low-frequency loudspeakers, the system includes a number of the loudspeakers (16, 17) which are all housed in the same enclosure (2) and are disposed approximately in the same loudspeaker plane or, at least some of them, in pairs at equal distances therefrom. The reflecting wall (13) can consist of a wall of a listening room or of a reflector belonging to the stereo loudspeaker system and connected to said enclosure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hoisting mechanism comprising a rotatable reel and hoisting cables to be wound onto the reel, the hoisting cables running substantially parallel to one another, and a guide plate having feed-through apertures for the hoisting cables, with at most one hoisting cable running through each feed-through aperture. For each hoisting cable a guide member is provided between the rotatable reel and the guide plate, which guide member is embodied as a spiral spring whose coils abut to one another and whose inside diameter is dimensioned such that the hoisting cable fed through the spiral spring is able to move in the feed direction.

Abstract: A cuff device comprising an elongated body, a flexible cable within the body, a loop extraction system for extracting a loop of the cable from an end of the elongated body large enough to fit over an extremity of a suspect, and a loop retraction system for retracting the loop to fit snugly over the extremity. A second cable is preferred, with one cable deployed from each end of the elongated body, preferably a PR-24 form factor baton.

Abstract: A photoacoustic spectroscopy method and apparatus for maintaining an acoustic source frequency on a sample cell resonance frequency comprising: providing an acoustic source to the sample cell, the acoustic source having a source frequency; repeatedly and continuously sweeping the source frequency across the resonance frequency at a sweep rate; and employing an odd-harmonic of the source frequency sweep rate to maintain the source frequency sweep centered on the resonance frequency.

Abstract: A spectrographic apparatus and method comprising providing a spectrometer, digitizing a sample spectrum in a spectral range that includes at least one feature of an analyte, and comparing, via a linear least squares computation, the sample spectrum to a spectrum known to closely approximate the sample spectrum at a reference condition and to one or more derivatives of the known spectrum taken with respect to one or more parameters of the reference condition.

Abstract: A device and method wherein electrical components are mechanically suspended and electrically interconnected in an insulative elastomeric body, such as silicone, thereby eliminating the need for a circuit board or other circuit substrate. The device can change shape through compression, distension, flexure, and other external forces while maintaining its electrical performance and mechanical integrity. The device can be compressed and deformed to fit snugly within another device, such as the shell of an electrical connector or a plastic clamshell, simultaneously creating spring forces for reliable electrical contacts and an environmental seal. Accordingly, the device and method can be used for a wide variety of purposes such as electrical filtering for avionics, computer or automotive connectors, or a non-intrusive manner to package electronics for medical implants.

Abstract: A tone burst spectrometer and spectrometry method comprising employing a narrow bandwidth light source, a tone burst modulation waveform generator, synchronization of a lock-in amplifier to a burst frequency of the generator, and one or more of the following: use of a semiconductor laser; setting the tone frequency of the generator to an integer multiple of the burst frequency; using a tone modulation waveform other than a sine wave; setting the tone frequency of the generator to less than a half width at half maximum of a targeted spectral transition; and producing a spectral feature with a high signal to noise ratio while synchronizing the lock-in amplifier to the tone frequency of the generator or an odd harmonic of the tone frequency and wherein the output of the lock-in amplifier is low pass filtered and negative feedback is employed to stabilize the operating wavelength at or near a center wavelength of a spectral feature of the sample.

Abstract: An arrangement for transferring an ovum from a follicle by implementing a technique of simultaneous flushing and aspiration, the arrangement comprising a double lumen needle having an elongate needle body with a cuspidated needle end to be inserted into a follicle, the needle lumen comprising an ovum pick-up lumen for removing an ovum from a follicle, and an interior flushing lumen made of a flexible material for inserting a flushing fluid into the follicle. The flexible inner lumen is elastically deformable when the ovum is passed through the outer ovum lumen. Also disclosed is a connector body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhanced optical emissions, the apparatus comprising a light source, a microcavity, and a medium comprising nanoparticles, located within or near the microcavity. The nanoparticles are either non-aggregated or are aggregated in the form of fractals. The nanoparticles and microcavity exhibit enhanced linear and non-linear optical emission. The light emitting apparatus can be used for wavelength translation, amplification, optical parametric oscillation, light detection and ranging, increased sensitivity, high density optical data storage, and near-field optical spectroscopy.

Abstract: A fluid monitoring and control apparatus and method including providing a programmable and reprogrammable control unit comprising a display, user inputs, and input/output connections; placing a programmable logic controller in direct communication with the control unit, which programmable logic controller is programmable and reprogrammable through the control unit; and placing a plurality of fluid parameter sensors in direct communication with the control unit. The invention is also of a fluid control apparatus and method comprising providing a membrane and estimating salt rejection by the membrane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of converting a carbon-comprising material at elevated temperature in the presence of a molecule that comprises at least one oxygen atom. According to the invention the carbon-comprising material in the fuel cell is converted substantially to carbon monoxide in a reaction with a negative enthalpy (&Dgr;H) and a positive entropy change (&Dgr;S), heat is supplied to the fuel cell, and at least one of the contributing reactions resulting in the formation of carbon monoxide is an electrochemical reaction producing electricity. This is a more efficient method of converting heat into electricity and at the same time converting the enthalpy of the gasification reaction into electricity.

Abstract: A photoacoustic spectroscopy method and apparatus for maintaining an acoustic source frequency on a sample cell resonance frequency comprising: providing an acoustic source to the sample cell to generate a photoacoustic signal, the acoustic source having a source frequency; continuously measuring detection phase of the photoacoustic signal with respect to source frequency or a harmonic thereof; and employing the measured detection phase to provide magnitude and direction for correcting the source frequency to the resonance frequency.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a banderole around one or a plurality of products creating an electrostatic attraction between the band material being supplied and the conveyor unit. The conveyor unit is connected to earth potential, and electrodes are positioned in the vicinity of the trajectory to be followed by the band material.

Abstract: A method for making a catch-pit, such as the catch-pits often associated with underground pipeline junctions, manholes, or the like, where it is desirable to join a horizontal pipe with a larger-diameter, vertical, hollow, cylindrical works by means of a cottering or sleeve joint. The method includes the use of a removable profile component at the time the wall element of the pit or manhole is manufactured, to create a specially contoured opening in the wall to receive a correspondingly-shaped sleeve joint, which in turn receives the pipe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an aqueous dispersion of an anionic polyurethane. According to the invention, a tertiary amine functional urethane polymer or oligomer acts as acid neutralizing agent. The process of the invention comprises the steps of: dispersion of an anionic isocyanate functional polyurethane prepolymer in water in the presence of a tertiary amine functional urethane polymer or oligomer and chain extension of the anionic polyurethane prepolymer with a reactive hydrogen functional material during or after the dispersion in water.