Abstract: A migration tool and methods for migrating computer personalization information from one computer to another when a network is not available, when a network is available but use of the network is undesirable for some reason, and/or when the computer which is the source of the data being migrated has limited or unknown resources to support conventional forms of data migration.

Abstract: A flexible mounting assembly is provided for a retroreflector assembly. The mounting assembly has a base member comprising three radial arms situated at substantially 120° from each other. In a preferred embodiment, a connector is mounted to the end of each arm, with the connector connecting the arm of the base to a resilient support member. Each support member has a pair of co-planar receiving surfaces, for receipt thereon of a mounting block, which mounting block is adhered to the underside of the retroreflector. The co-planar receiving surfaces of each of the support members are separated by a notch in the structure of the support member. In other embodiments, the radial arms of the mounting member and the connectors can be uniformly formed members. Another embodiment could have the mounting blocks an integrally formed part of the support members; i.e., integrally extending out from the co-planar surfaces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing a collect call originated through a packet based network is provided. In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, a system is described that facilitates voice communication between a calling party and a party to be called while the costs of the communication session are charged to the called party. In one embodiment, the called party is queried as to whether they wish to accept the costs associated with the pending voice communication session, prior to the two parties being placed in voice communication with each other.

Abstract: Provided is a film package assembly to be used within a camera such that conventional winding and rewinding components are eliminated. Provided is a film package assembly which includes a new light-tight film canister device, a roll of film and a film take-up cartridge. The film package assembly being designed so as to be loadable within a camera in non-darkroom or lighted conditions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing and facilitating a voice call connection from a client computer to a PSTN extension includes incorporating offers to participate in a voice communication session into a call invitation list providing convenient and persistent access to such offers for present and/or future acceptance by a user of the client computer.

Abstract: A method of efficiently testing optical chips while still on the wafer is presented. One or more gutters for each chip on the wafer is provided, and either (1) a test signal is applied to the gutter to generate a response from the chip; or (2) a test signal is applied to the chip to generate a response from the gutter, where the gutter is in optical communication with the chip, and can reflect light incident or outgoing light at substantially a ninety degree angle.

Abstract: A rotary electrical machine (1) has at least one stator (23). The stator is provided with at least one radial channel (107) for ducting cooling air. The channel (107) extends between a first position (113) at or substantially near the rim (109) of a winding region of the stator (23) and a second position (119) at or substantially near the center (51) of the winding region. The machine (1) has cooling means (91-97) for causing cooling air to enter the radial channel (107) via the second position (119) and exit via the first position (113). The stator may have electrical windings arranged as coil sectors (183-197) disposed substantially equi-angularly in a generally circular pattern. At least some of the coil sectors are wound in a generally spiral fashion when viewed axially. A rotor (13), for the machine may have a plurality of equi-angularly spaced magnets (127), which are generally circular but with a cut-away portion, when viewed axially.

Abstract: A camera comprises a camera body with a lens and shutter operating control and film cartridge removable from the camera body having an unexposed film spool region and an exposed film spool region and a bridging portion between those regions. An opening in the cartridge permits light from the lens to pass through the opening to the film at the bridging portion. A door closes the opening of the cartridge and the door is openable with the cartridge installed in or attached to the camera body. Cooperating elements on the camera body and the cartridge open the door or close the door with the door being openable when the cartridge is fully engaged with the camera body. There is a detented connection of the film cartridge in the camera body.

Abstract: A system is described including services for generating an electronic offer to participate in a voice communication session with a destination party, with the offer being contingent upon the satisfaction of a set of one or more offeror-stipulated conditions. The system further including services for receiving an indication from an offeree via a data network indicating acceptance of the offer and establishing the voice communication session between the offeree and the destination party in conformance with at least a subset of the one or more offeror-stipulated conditions.

Abstract: A reflector for a precision optical device is provided. The reflector comprises a reflective surface, a back surface, a thickness between the reflective surface and the back surface defining an edge of the reflector, at least one mounting pad located along at least a portion of the edge of the reflector for adhesion to a portion of the precision optical device, and a mounting pin extending from another portion of the edge of the reflector for adhesion within a hole in the precision optical device.

Abstract: An improved lateral transfer retroreflector assembly is provided. The lateral transfer retroreflector assembly of the invention comprises a first segment comprising a mirror panel housing, a second segment comprising a roof mirror housing, and a third segment comprising an off-the-shelf connecting member between the two housings. The mirror panel housing will have mounted thereto a mirror panel. The roof mirror housing will have mounted thereto a roof mirror assembly, and the connecting member will be mounted between the mirror panel housing and the roof mirror housing. The off-the-shelf aspect of assembling the connecting allows the assembly to be built to customer specifications, thereby allowing for customized creation of lateral transfer retroreflectors, but at a time and cost savings to the customer.

Abstract: A method and circuit are presented for an all-optical format independent preprocessor that processes an arbitrary optical input signal by converting a NRZ signal to a PRZ signal, or if the input optical signal is RZ, by merely amplifying it. The method involves subtracting a delayed copy of the signal from the original, thereby effectively doubling its frequency, and inserting a pulse at each transition of the original signal, whether rising or falling. In a preferred embodiment this stage is implemented via an integrated SOA in each arm of an asymmetric interferometric device. The asymmetry consists of a delay element in one arm. In a preferred embodiment the entire device is fabricated on a semiconductor substrate, allowing for compactness as well as minimization of interconnectivity losses and overall power consumption. The output of the preprocessor, having a significant frequency component at its original clock rate, can then be fed to a clock recovery stage for all-optical clock recovery.

Abstract: A method and circuit are presented for an all-optical format independent preprocessor that processes an arbitrary optical input signal by converting a NRZ signal to a PRZ signal, or if the input optical signal is RZ, by merely amplifying it. The method involves subtracting a delayed copy of the signal from the original, thereby effectively doubling its frequency, and inserting a pulse at each transition of the original signal, whether rising or falling. In a preferred embodiment this stage is implemented via an integrated SOA in each arm of an asymmetric interferometric device. The asymmetry consists of a delay element in one arm. In a preferred embodiment the entire device is fabricated on a semiconductor substrate, allowing for compactness as well as minimization of interconnectivity losses and overall power consumption. The output of the preprocessor, having a significant frequency component at its original clock rate, can then be fed to a clock recovery stage for all-optical clock recovery.

Abstract: A sample cell in a polarimeter comprises a thermally conductive body enclosing a substantially cylindrical internal volume with an insulating outer cover which leaves one face exposed for complementarily contacting a temperature controlled base plate so as to keep the sample cell at a predetermined temperature, and a means for positioning the sample cell at a predetermined position such that a measuring light beam longitudinally passes through the sample cell. The water jacket system required for the conventional cylindrical sample cells is eliminated. A cell holder for holding a cylindrical sample cell in a polarimeter comprises a heat transfer element having a concave cylindrical heat transfer surface for complementarily contacting an external cylindrical surface of the cylindrical sample cell so as to keep the sample cell at a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A battery charger for simultaneously charging a plurality of rechargeable batteries for example of AA or AAA size. The invention allows such batteries to be fully charged in up to about half the time previously considered to be possible without damaging or destroying the batteries. It has been found that by mounting the batteries on the base of a charger such that they are substantially exposed and spaced apart, an average charging current of up to about twice that previously considered to be possible can be applied without overheating the batteries.

Abstract: A method and circuit are presented for the all optical recovery of the clock signal from an arbitrary optical data signal. The method involves two stages. A first stage preprocesses the optical signal by converting a NRZ signal to a PRZ signal, or if the input optical signal is RZ, by merely amplifying it. In a preferred embodiment this stage is implemented via an integrated SOA in each arm of an asymmetric interferometric device. The output of the preprocessing stage is fed to a clock recovery stage, which consists of a symmetric interferometer that locks on to the inherent clock signal by using the second stage input signal to trigger two optical sources to self oscillate at the clock rate. In a preferred embodiment the second stage is implemented via SOAs integrated in the arms of an interferometer, with two DFB lasers as terminuses. The output of the interferometer is an optical clock signal at the clock rate of the original input.

Abstract: A method and circuit are presented for the all optical recovery of the clock signal from an arbitrary optical data signal. The method involves two stages. A first stage preprocesses the optical signal by converting a NRZ signal to a PRZ signal, or if the input optical signal is RZ, by merely amplifying it. In a preferred embodiment this stage is implemented via an integrated SOA in each arm of an asymmetric interferometric device. The output of the preprocessing stage is fed to a clock recovery stage, which consists of a symmetric interferometer that locks on to the inherent clock signal by using the second stage input signal to trigger two optical sources to self oscillate at the clock rate. In a preferred embodiment the second stage is implemented via SOAs integrated in the arms of an interferometer, with two DFB lasers as terminuses. The output of the interferometer is an optical clock signal at the clock rate of the original input.