Abstract: The present invention includes decorative, architectural, and building materials and methods of making these materials, using them or both. The present invention relates to an article of manufacture that includes a light source and a substrate with a plurality of volumes of material, where each volume is capable of transmitting light from one location to a second location on a surface of the substrate. The present invention also relates to an article of manufacture having a substrate with a first surface, and a volume of material contained within the substrate and adapted to transmit light from a first location on the first surface to at least a second location. The present invention also relates to methods of making the articles and to methods of transmitting information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an article of manufacture for detecting motion that includes a substrate with a plurality of volumes of material, where each volume is capable of transmitting light from one location on a surface of the substrate to a second location. The present invention also relates to an article of manufacture having a motion detector with a substrate with a first surface, and a volume of material contained within the substrate and adapted to transmit light from a first location on the first surface to at least a second location. The present invention also relates to methods of making the articles and to methods of transmitting information and detecting motion.

Abstract: A pulsation attenuator for a fluidic system with a fluidic pump. The pulsation attenuator includes a fluidic channel, a first fluidic device adapted to attenuate pulsations with a shallow rolloff slope, and a second fluidic device adapted to attenuate pulsations with a shallow rolloff slope. The first fluidic device and the second fluidic device are connected to the fluidic channel such that they cooperatively attenuate pulsations with a steep rolloff slope. Preferably, the first fluidic device includes a first fluidic resistor and a first fluidic capacitor, and the second fluidic device includes a second fluidic resistor and a second fluidic capacitor. Preferably, the pulsation attenuator is arranged, similar a second-order low-pass filter, in the following order: (1) first fluidic resistor, (2) first fluidic capacitor, (3) second fluidic resistor, and (4) second fluidic capacitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an article of manufacture for detecting motion that includes a substrate with a plurality of volumes of material, where each volume is capable of transmitting light from one location on a surface of the substrate to a second location. The present invention also relates to an article of manufacture having a motion detector with a substrate with a first surface, and a volume of material contained within the substrate and adapted to transmit light from a first location on the first surface to at least a second location. The present invention also relates to methods of making the articles and to methods of transmitting information and detecting motion.

Abstract: Multiwavelength interferometric images have the phase and/or frequency of the illuminating light corrected by statistically analyzing the data, and adjusting the phase and/or frequency until a statistical measure reaches a criterion.

Abstract: A precessional device having independent control of the output torque generated by the device and the oscillation rate of the device is disclosed. The device comprises a rotor supported by an axle wherein the ends of the axle are supported by a circular race. The circular race is rotatable, and may be driven by a motor or other means, thereby controlling the oscillation rate of the device independently of the output torque arising from the rotation rate of the rotor. The motor may be controlled by a control program that adjusts the rotation rate of the circular race to modify the shape of the resistance curve.

Abstract: The stackable motherboard 10 of the first embodiment includes: a circuit board 19 having a first side 14 and a second side 17 opposite the first side 14, a processor 16 mounted on the circuit board 19, a first peripheral interconnect 18, and a second peripheral interconnect 90. The stackable motherboard 10 also preferably includes: a first motherboard interconnect 99 mounted on the first side 14 of the circuit board 19 and adapted to communicate data between the processor 16 and a first auxiliary motherboard, and a second motherboard interconnect 94 mounted on the second side 17 of the circuit board 19 and adapted to communicate data between the processor 16 and a second auxiliary motherboard.

Abstract: The system 10 of the preferred embodiment includes a sensor 12 to detect temperature; a user interface 14 that includes a display 16 to output the detected temperature, controls 18 to receive a target temperature, and an alert 20 to signal the user when an event occurs; and a base 22. The system 10 of the preferred embodiment has been specifically designed to grasp the neck of a wine bottle of any various size, detect the temperature of the wine, compare the detected temperature to the target temperature, and signal the user when the detected temperature is equivalent to the target temperature.

Abstract: An off axis paraboloid mirror is used to provide object illumination in an interferometric imaging system. The light from an object illumination light source diverges from a point apart from the focus point of the paraboloid, proceeds to the parabolic mirror surface, and is reflected as a nearly parallel beam to illuminate the object.

Abstract: A environmental sensor network having at least two environmental sensor units and a central display unit. Each sensor unit includes a sensor adapted to measure a condition and a transmitter adapted to operate in an “activation” mode in which the transmitter transmits a predefined sequence and a sensor ID and a “data” mode in which the transmitter transmits data based on the measurement. The central display unit includes a receiver adapted to receive a transmission from the two environmental sensors, a memory device, and a processor adapted to selectively operate in an “add” mode in which the processor records the presence of an environment sensor unit in the memory device upon the receipt of the predefined sequence and the sensor ID, and a “display” mode in which the processor outputs information based on the measurement.

Abstract: The system of the preferred embodiments includes a housing, an input element to detect the characteristics of an area, a processor to convert the detected characteristics of an area to an output signal, and an aiming device to adjust the orientation of the input element with respect to the housing. The system has been designed to detect the characteristics of an area and convert the detected characteristics to an output signal to a visually impaired user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light scrambling system that includes a substrate and a plurality of light pipes. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. Each of the plurality of light pipes includes a first end on the first surface of the substrate, a second end on the second surface of the substrate, and at least one inside surface formed by a refractive index boundary. The light input is received by the first end at a plurality of input angles, and the light output is transmitted at the second end at a plurality of output angles. At least a portion of the input angles are different from at least a portion of the output angles, thereby scrambling the light received by the first ends of the light pipes and transmitted by the second ends of the light pipes.

Abstract: The flow cytometry system of the present invention includes a flow channel including an interrogation zone. A light source and a light detector are connected to the interrogation zone, such that a sample flowing through the interrogation zone can be optically analyzed through methods known in the art of flow cytometry. A bubble detector is connected to the flow channel. A controller is connected to the bubble detector and is adapted to perform a predetermined output in response to the detection of a bubble in the flow channel. The predetermined output may include alerting a user as to the presence of a bubble, flagging potentially corrupted data, and ceasing data collection until the interrogation zone is clear of bubbles.

Abstract: A method of combining holograms or phase images of an object is disclosed, where attributes of the data used to record two phase images of overlapping portions of the surface of an object are compared and used to match pixels of the two recordings. A relative tilt angle and direction correction is added, and a third phase image is generated. Phase images of objects which are too large to be imaged in an interferometric imaging system can thus be produced.

Abstract: The preferred mailbox of the invention includes a body and a first door. The body preferably defines a first opening adapted to receive a mail item, and a cavity adapted to contain the mail item. The body also includes a primary section that substantially prevents light from entering into the cavity, and a secondary section that substantially allows light to enter into the cavity. The first door is preferably coupled to the body and adapted for movement between an open position that allows access through the first opening into the cavity and a closed position that prevents access through the first opening. In the closed position, the first door substantially allows viewing of the cavity.

Abstract: A pulsation attenuator for a fluidic system with a fluidic pump. The pulsation attenuator includes a fluidic channel, a first fluidic device adapted to attenuate pulsations with a shallow rolloff slope, and a second fluidic device adapted to attenuate pulsations with a shallow rolloff slope. The first fluidic device and the second fluidic device are connected to the fluidic channel such that they cooperatively attenuate pulsations with a steep rolloff slope. Preferably, the first fluidic device includes a first fluidic resistor and a first fluidic capacitor, and the second fluidic device includes a second fluidic resistor and a second fluidic capacitor. Preferably, the pulsation attenuator is arranged, similar a second-order low-pass filter, in the following order: (1) first fluidic resistor, (2) first fluidic capacitor, (3) second fluidic resistor, and (4) second fluidic capacitor.

Abstract: An interferometry method using a laser of nominally fixed—but unknown and changing—frequency and phase angle, for example, attributable to laser drift. The interference pattern is periodically sampled at a frequency considerably higher than the phase shift of the object. The wavelength is reconstructed from the sampled patterns using a correlation algorithm. The phase angle is determined using an n-bucket algorithm. After all of the complex information has been determined at all of the multiple wavelengths, the surface of the object is calculated using conventional interferometry techniques. Accordingly, laser drift—typically considered a negative attribute—is used positively.

Abstract: The container 10 of the preferred embodiment comprises an outer shell 12 and an inner membrane 14 which cooperatively define a first compartment 16 and a second compartment 18. The first compartment 16 defines a first opening 20, through which the first compartment 16 receives a consumable liquid. The second compartment 18 defines a second opening 22, through which the second compartment 18 receives a second liquid. The first compartment 16 and the second compartment 18 are shaped and arranged such that greater than 50% of the surface area of the second compartment 18 is located adjacent to the first compartment 16. Alternatively, the first compartment 16 and the second compartment 18 may be shaped and arranged such that the first compartment 16 substantially surrounds at least a portion of the second compartment 18.

Abstract: The cargo system of the preferred embodiment includes a container, a first mount coupled to the container, and a second mount coupled to the container for movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The cargo system is preferably attachable and securable to a roof rack of a vehicle having a first bar and a second bar.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an article of manufacture for detecting motion that includes a substrate with a plurality of volumes of material, where each volume is capable of transmitting light from one location on a surface of the substrate to a second location. The present invention also relates to an article of manufacture having a motion detector with a substrate with a first surface, and a volume of material contained within the substrate and adapted to transmit light from a first location on the first surface to at least a second location. The present invention also relates to methods of making the articles and to methods of transmitting information and detecting motion.