Abstract: A pill crusher pouch, dimensioned to be received between a platen and anvil of a pill crusher wherein the anvil is integrally fixed to a base and wherein the platen is coupled to said base through a moveable handle, is constructed a seamless tube of flexible material having an open top and a closed bottom, wherein the closed bottom is formed a cup like seal that provides the pouch with a cornerless interior that facilitates easy pouring of pulverized material from the interior of the pouch.

Abstract: A tree smoke detection system and method which includes a conically shaped smoke collector housing having an interior wall extending between a wide entrance mouth opening and a narrow exit vent opening and a smoke detection device mounted to the interior wall to position the smoke detection device facing and adjacent to an imaginary center line passing through the wide entrance mouth opening and the narrow exit vent opening to facilitate detecting smoke flow along the imaginary center line.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for characterizing an illumination pupil of an exposure tool comprises forming a plurality of pinhole test patterns at a plurality of test site locations to facilitate locating test pattern edges for extracting therefrom the illumination pupil characteristics of the exposure tool.

Abstract: A projector employing a linear array of light-emitting sources forms a super pixel in the form of a plurality of beams that are focused onto scanning optics that cause the beams to move across a viewing surface on a first axis for defining image lines along the first axis and on a second axis such that super pixel overwrites every addressable spot on the viewing surface thereby producing interleaved and staggered scan patterns that hide the effect of burned out, misdirected, or marginally operating light-emitting sources that would otherwise result in a degraded projected image. An alignment system that includes alignment electronics that is responsive to a charge-coupled device facilitate adjusting the scanning optics to allow precise alignment of individual ones of the light-emitting sources and to detect burnt out individual ones of the light-emitting sources.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing kit includes a self-contained wall mountable fire-extinguishing device having a base plate with an upstanding igniter and a depending non-projectile thermal actuator. The base plate is surrounded by a hollow frangible hull, which in turn is supported by another base plate, which also supports from below a distal end portion of the depending non-projectile thermal actuator. The hollow frangible hull is loaded with a sufficient amount of a dispersible dry fire-fighting chemical agent to facilitate extinguishing a small-localized fire when dispersed by the isotropic explosive force of the igniter.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication system control apparatus and method to determine available wireless communication channels locally and remotely, and for sending a probe signal to a remote wireless communication control apparatus location on a determined available communication channel. A confirmation message is received from the remote wireless communication apparatus location to verify the establishment of the viable communication path.

Abstract: A pill crusher pouch, dimensioned to be received between a platen and anvil of a pill crusher wherein the anvil is integrally fixed to a base and wherein the platen is coupled to said base through a moveable handle, is constructed a seamless tube of flexible material having an open top and a closed bottom, wherein the closed bottom is formed a cup like seal that provides the pouch with a comerless interior that facilitates easy pouring of pulverized material from the interior of the pouch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wireless networking employs a wireless protocol module and a wireless device interface module for controlling a remote terminal unit, whereby the modules integrate the remote terminal unit software and wireless networking application software.

Abstract: This invention relates to a number of components, devices and networks involving integrated optics and/or half coupler technology, all of which involve the use of electronically switchable Bragg grating devices and device geometries realized using holographic polymer/dispersed liquid crystal materials. Most of the components and devices are particularly adapted for use in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems and in particular for use in switchable add/drop filtering (SADF) and wavelength selective crossconnect. Attenuators, outcouplers and a variety of other devices are also provided.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved digital camera has a capture mode of operation where a scene to be captured can be captured and stored in a removable memory device as a digital still image and subsequently retrieved and displayed on a LCD in a review mode of operation. Alternatively, the scene to be captured can be captured repeatedly and buffered to the LCD where the buffering rate is determined in a live view capture mode of operation allowing a user to preview the scene to be captured in various ambient lighting conditions. In one instance, under low ambient lighting conditions a control algorithm automatically adjusts the live view/preview apparent image brightness level of the displayed scene independently of any LCD brightness or contrast adjustments.

Abstract: A light reflector having a row of light reflecting segments separated by fold lines, wherein one segment is located at a top of the row and another segment is located at a bottom of the row. A pair of wings is connected at the sides of the row, each one of the wings including a plurality of light reflecting segments separated by fold lines, wherein at least some of the light reflecting segments of the row and at least some of the light reflecting segments of the wings form a shell-shaped arrangement wherein at least some light reflecting segments of the row and at least some light reflecting segments of the pair of wings are bent at their respective fold lines whereby the arrangement is generally curved along an imaginary line connecting the one segment and the another segment and generally curved along an imaginary line perpendicular to the first mentioned line.

Abstract: An unimpeachable chain of custody system and method includes a confirmation authentication system that facilitates receiving and storing a communication signal that is indicative of an evidentiary item captured at a determined location and at a determined time. The confirmation authentication system and method further facilitates generating and transmitting a chain of custody confirmation signal to a transportable input system that the communication signal has been authenticated and stored for subsequent retrieval. The transportable input system includes a positioning device and a communication device that cooperate to facilitates generating and transmitting the communication signal in response to receiving the chain of custody confirmation signal.

Abstract: In a wireless network with point-to-point, multi-point or broadcast communications links, a method is provided for adaptively setting frequency channels for wireless devices within the network by dynamically exchanging time-varying spectral maps and communication parameters to utilize available frequency channels efficiently.

Abstract: A computerized method, containable in a computer memory device, is disclosed for tristimulus color space coordinate data nonlinear storage, retrieval, and interpolation, and, more specifically to memory mapping and data interpolation for 24-bit L*H*C* to 24-bit RGB color mapping (three 8-bit words to each coordinate). Predetermined output tristimulus color space coordinate data points are stored in nodes of a memory construct based upon use of input values of a cylindrical-based tristimulus color space coordinate system, where a non-linear selection of stored data points is provided in the memory construct. The number of linear interpolations of each of the coordinates is determined by the number of available bits in each data word after providing sufficient bits to address the surrounding stored nodes.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved digital camera has a capture mode of operation where a scene to be captured can be captured and stored in a removable memory device as a digital still image and subsequently retrieved and displayed on a LCD in a review mode of operation. Alternatively, the scene to be captured can be captured repeatedly and buffered to the LCD where the buffering rate is determined in a live view capture mode of operation allowing a user to preview the scene to be captured in various ambient lighting conditions. In one instance, under low ambient lighting conditions a user is able to manually adjust the live view/preview apparent image brightness level of tie displayed scene independently of any LCD brightness or contrast adjustments.

Abstract: A medical knife assembly includes an outer clamp assembly and an inner clamp blade assembly having a cutting blade assembly. The inner and outer clamp assemblies are pivotally connected at about their proximate ends so they may be squeezed together with one hand to affect a novel method of clamping and cutting in a single motion operation. A set of shear pins holds the component parts of the inner and outer assemblies together in a ready position that enables a user to properly position the knife assembly for severing an umbilical cord at the time of birth. Once the umbilical cord is severed, the component parts of the inner and outer assemblies separate providing independent clamps, one staying with an infant segment of the umbilical cord and one staying with a maternal segment of the umbilical cord.

Abstract: A venipuncture site protector having a slotted securement, which has mounted thereto, a transparent tapered body member defined by a slotted rear wall at its proximal end and a perforated front wall at its distal end. The rear wall and front wall are integrally connected to a flange having a tube receiving slot that is aligned with another tube receiving slot disposed in the rear wall as well as a slot within the slotted securement. The rear wall and the front wall rise up to a dome apex from which an internal wall depends into the interior space of the dome. The internal wall is disposed between the rear wall and the front wall and includes yet another tube receiving slot that is sufficiently wide to receive therein an I.V. tube associated with an I.V. connected catheter but not sufficiently wide to allow the I.V. connected catheter to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A light fixture having a base for housing a light producing source and a flat plate disposed within the base. The plate has a well formed in it, the well having light reflecting walls. A lamp socket is located in a light reflecting bottom wall of the well. A plurality of light reflecting elements is attached to the plate and a pair of light reflecting assemblies, one on either side of the well, is fixed to the plate. Each light reflecting assembly includes a plurality of light reflecting fins affixed to the plate and projecting at an angle away from the plate. A frame having a convex lens affixed thereto is hingedly attached to the base. A light shield is fixed to the frame for reducing dispersion of unwanted light.