Abstract: Equipment for imaging a target organ in a small animal by SPECT uses the LOrA technique, wherein each gamma detector of the imaging system includes a plurality of sensitive crystals, curved to a segment of an essentially annular body, and a rake collimator with a small slit width.

Abstract: A rotor kite is characterized by a stabilizer bar connected between the wing and stabilizer ring components of the kite to maintain the wing and the stabilizer ring in a perpendicular orientation with respect to each other during flight. The stabilizer bar is connected at its ends with the inner edge of the annular stabilizer ring so that the bar extends across the inner diameter of the ring. The wing is connected with the bar at multiple locations within the stabilizer ring, with the bar extending normal to the longitudinal axis of the wing. When the kite is released, the wind rotates the wing which in turn lifts the kite into the air. The stabilizer acts as a rudder to maintain the wing perpendicular to the wind direction.

Abstract: A digital phase locked loop includes a phase acquisition unit receiving a sampled input signal and applying its output to a first input of a digital phase detector, a digital controlled oscillator producing a digital output, and a feedback path coupling the digital output of the digital controlled oscillator to a second input of the digital phase detector in the digital domain. The input signal may be sampled asynchronously.

Abstract: A four wheel drive system for bilaterally symmetric vehicles is characterized by separate drive systems for the front and rear wheels. Each drive system is operable to independently drive each wheel. The rear wheels of the vehicle are steering wheels which are connected with the vehicle frame for independent rotation about a vertical axis. Steering and driving of the wheels is controlled by a controller. The combination of independent steering for the rear wheels and independent powering of all four wheels provides the vehicle with a zero turning radius for improved mobility as well as improved traction on unstable surfaces.

Abstract: OCT cross section images of a part of a curved object are displayed by creating a series of image points and placing each image point into a corrected image in such a way that the positions of scattering points within the image coincide with or are at least closer to their real spatial distribution within the curved object.

Abstract: A phase locked loop provides an output frequency that bears a fractional relationship to an input frequency and includes a controlled oscillator for generating the output frequency. The phase information is scaled in the amplitude domain to provide the fractional relationship.

Abstract: A point-supported cladding system for finishing the exterior of a building or like structure has a plurality of like rigid box-like glazed cladding units. Each cladding unit includes a rigid spacer frame bounding the cladding unit, a pair of parallel light-transmissive glass lites having a thickness of not more than about 9 mm mounted at their periphery on said rigid spacer frame by means of a resilient seal, and a plurality of first attachment elements provided at discrete attachment points on said cladding unit. The cladding unit is dimensioned and configured to have sufficient rigidity to maintain its structural integrity when supported only at the discrete attachment points. A plurality of complementary second attachment elements are provided for mounting on structural members of the building.

Abstract: OCT apparatus includes an interferometer, having an input beam splitter and a 50/50 output splitter. The splitting ratio of the input splitter may be optimized depending on the source power of light source and on the mismatch of the balanced receiver. The input splitter is a plate beam-splitter to minimize the stray reflected light in the interferometer and allow sequential operation of the apparatus in the OCT or in the confocal regime. The switching between the two regimes may be at will, or synchronous with the en-face scanning which results in quasi-simultaneous OCT/confocal imaging or in alternatives frames, confocal and OCT. By using polarization sensitive elements, two channels are provided in each regime, OCT and confocal. The two confocal polarization sensitive channels may allow adjustments of compensators prior to OCT measurements or OCT imaging.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of optimizing the scheduling of program threads within an operating system based on quality objectives, and a system implementing said method.

Abstract: A pot holder/mitt is characterized by formation from a single layer of Z-folded fabric which is formed from hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials which extend from opposite surfaces of the fabric. The front surface of the holder/mitt is formed of hydrophobic material and is adapted to receive a decorative pattern which is printed thereon. The rear surface of the holder mitt is formed of hydrophilic material. The inner surfaces of the pocket are also formed of hydrophilic material for comfort and heat protection for the hand of the user.

Abstract: A cam tremolo device for a stringed musical instrument includes a frame secured to the instrument and a tailpiece rotatably connected with the frame and is characterized by a locking mechanism which is manually operable to prevent the tailpiece from rotating. The locking device is preferably a screw which is manually displaced by the operator relative to a threaded opening in the frame and a slot in the string attachment device connected with the tailpiece. When the screw is rotated to a locking position, the screw advances through the frame opening into the slot in the string attachment device. When the screw is rotated to a release position, the screw is retracted from the slot in the string attachment device, thereby allowing the tailpiece to rotate relative to the frame. Thus, the tailpiece is in either a fixed or floating condition, but not both at the same time.

Abstract: An optic fiber connection arrangement has a module mountable on a printed circuit board, and an optic fiber coupler including mating components. One of the mating components is adapted for coupling into the module. A frame supports one of the components. The frame is releasably latchable to the module so as to couple and decouple the mating component to the module. In this way, the optic fiber coupler can be removed from the module by releasing the frame. The other mating component can be removed from the one mating component after removal of the frame from the module.

Abstract: A time division multiplex switch supporting multi-rate input and output serial data streams has a double-buffered data memory with buffer extensions associated respectively with each portion of the memory. The extensions store residual data for a delay period after the main portion of the double-buffered data memory has switched.

Abstract: A drill fixture enabling drilling through hard objects in a confined area includes a housing, a threaded rod connected with the housing, and a tubular adjustment sleeve rotatably connected with the rod. A drill is arranged in the housing and has a drill bit extending in a forward direction. The sleeve is rotated relative the threaded rod for displacement along the length of the rod until the sleeve engages a fixed surface opposite the object to be drilled. With the sleeve rear portion engaging the fixed surface, further rotation of the sleeve displaces the housing in a forward direction during rotation of the drill bit so that the bit bores through the hard object until a hole is formed. Rotation of the sleeve in the opposite direction causes the drill bit to be retracted from the object. In lieu of a rotatable sleeve, a piston may be provided which is extended and retracted relative to the housing to provide a linear drilling force to the drill bit relative to a fixed surface.

Abstract: A FIR filter for use in an adaptive multi-channel filtering system, includes a first memory for storing data, and a second memory for storing filter coefficients. The second memory stores only non-zero valued coefficients or coefficients that are above a predetermined magnitude threshold such that the overall number of coefficients processed is significantly reduced.