Abstract: The invention concerns a device for fixing additional lenses on spectacles, comprising a flexible bridge (10) consisting of a single piece with lateral branches (12) comprising means for fixing a flexible wire for mounting additional lenses on said branches (12). The invention is in particular useful for fixing additional filtering or correcting lenses on spectacles.

Abstract: A method of carrying out the controlled oxidation of A material, such as Al(Ga)As is oxidized in a controlled manner placing it in a reactor, and causing a carrier gas containing an oxidizing vapour, such as water, at a controlled partial pressure to flow over the oxidizable Material. In this way, the reaction process can be made sensitive to only one variable.

Abstract: A calorimetric flow measuring device is characterized by a single thermistor for measuring flow. The thermistor is connected within a bridge circuit which compensates for the temperature of the medium whose flow is being measured and a pulsing heater is provided to periodically heat the thermistor, the rate of cooling of which is a function of the rate of flow. A control devise such as a transistor is connected in the bridge circuit and with the pulsing heater so that temperature compensation is prevented when the heater is activated.

Abstract: A railway vehicle safety shunt system includes a pair of axle-mounted rail wheels having outer circumferential surfaces that engage the upper surfaces of the rails, respectively, radially outwardly flange portions that engage the lateral portions of the rails, respectively, and adjacent end surfaces that are respectively engaged by a pair of spring-biased wire brushes arranged parallel with the axis of rotation of the associated rail wheel. The brushes are electrically connected by a shunt conductor, thereby to present an indication of the location of the railway vehicle at a remote vehicle position monitoring and dispatching station.

Abstract: A versatile hand-held scissors-type cutting and stripping tool includes a pair of pivotally connected handle members, a cutting and stripping blade carried by one of the handle members for cutting flat and round insulated conductors, and for stripping insulation from round insulated conductors, and a pair of flat stripping blades for stripping the outer insulation layer from a flat thin multi-conductor cable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for annotation of medical imagery to facilitate patient identification, diagnosis, and treatment is characterized by an imaging device for producing a first signal representative of sensed characteristics of the individual and a minutiae generator which receives the first signal and produces a second signal representative of minutiae of the individual, the minutiae corresponding to specific branch points of blood vessels of the individual. A minutiae data generator analyzes the characteristics of minutiae and produces a third signal representative of the characteristics which is stored in a minutiae database for each of the plurality of known individuals and their medical conditions. The minutiae and minutiae data may be used to annotate medical imagery to facilitate subsequent image comparison by providing standardized registration points and time-varying characteristics.

Abstract: A method and device for measuring the speed of at least one object by Doppler effect, whereby the light diffused by an object illuminated by a laser sheet is transmitted to a CCD video camera by spectral filtering means which are substantially tuned to the laser illumination frequency, means being provided to generate reference monochromatic luminous fluxes having frequencies which are different from the laser illumination frequency by fixed known amounts, and the reference luminous fluxes being transmitted to the CCD video camera.

Abstract: A porous semiconductor is created by electrochemical etching. Selected regions of a semiconductor are first treated to reduce the threshold potential at which pore formation occurs, and then an electrochemical etch is carried out on the semicnoductor at a potential at least equal to the reduced threshold potential for the selected regions and less than the threshold potential for untreated regions. The selective treatment preferably involves implantation with the same ions as the semiconductor, i.e. Si ions for silicon. The treatment results in the formation of highly defined etch patterns or patterns of porous material depending on the process conditions.

Abstract: A method for producing an additive for bread including adding charcoal to rice bran, a water elimination process, which eliminates water by roasting or drying the rice bran and an oil-fat coating process by adding an oil-fat to a dried rice bran and mixing therewith, such process covering a surface of the dried rice bran. Therefore, the smell and bitterness derived from the rice bran is prevented.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a filtering device comprising at least one filtering membrane, at least one counter surface opposite to the filtering membrane, and at least one gap-shaped liquid space formed between the filtering membrane and the counter surface. The present invention further refers to a filtering method, in which a liquid is introduced into a gap-shaped liquid space formed between a filtering membrane and a counter surface and is moved relative to the filtering membrane and/or the counter surface. To obtain an improved filtering method and an improved filtering device, it is suggested by the present invention that the filtering device comprises a disk at whose circular surface at least the filtering membrane or the counter surface is formed.

Abstract: A vertically adjustable seat post assembly for cycles includes a light-weight vertical seat post formed from a relatively soft high strength-to-weight material, such as a carbon fiber composition, and a relatively hard tubular protective tubular sleeve permanently secured concentrically about the lower end of the seat post. The outer diameter of the sleeve is slightly less than the inner diameter of the seat tube opening of the cycle frame, whereby the carbon fiber seat post is protected by the sleeve when the seat post is vertically adjusted and clamped within the seat tube opening.

Abstract: A terminal block assembly includes an actuator member that is displaceable relative to a terminal block housing to transport an insulated conductor toward the insulating penetrating knife edges of a stationary electrical contact mounted within the housing, characterized by the provision of a guide pin and guide groove arrangement for guiding the actuator member during the displacement thereof relative to the housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for comparing an infrared image of a person to a database of visual images of persons and calculating the probability that each is a match to the infrared image is characterized by extracting minutiae from the infrared image and extracting visible minutiae from the visible images. Coincident minutiae which occur in both spectra are used to scale and register the infrared and the visible images. Other minutiae are spectrum-dependent, but must obey rules relative to minutiae of the other spectrum, due to the anatomical structure of the human face and body. The primary application is for identification of persons seen in infrared surveillance imagery, using a reference database of visual images. Other applications include compression of talking head video and animation of synthetic faces. The method and apparatus can also be applied to areas of the body other than the face, to compare images from different spectra including images from medical sensors.

Abstract: A coding arrangement is connected between a pair of components that are to be laterally displaced into engagement with each other, thereby to assure that only authorized components may be connected with each other. The coding assembly includes a pair of matching coding elements one of which has at least one projection that carries a pair of angularly arranged coding surfaces which engage a corresponding pair of coding surfaces on the other coding element. According to the method of assembly provided by the invention, the coding elements are mounted on the ends of a synthetic plastic strap by tear strip means, and the strap is deformed to bring the coding elements together into coded engagement with each other, thereby to form a preassembled coding assembly. One coding element of this preassembled coding assembly is initially mounted on one of a pair of components, such as a terminal board to which an authorized printed circuit board or the like, which are to be physically mounted and electrically connected.

Abstract: A unique organic toothpaste characterized by the use of saponin as the cleansing/foaming agent. The saponin is a refined product derived from the bark of the Quillaja and/or Yucca tree and its content may form up to 10% by weight of the toothpaste. Other organic products for whitening teeth, soothing irritated gums or other tissues, and fighting microbes are also provided.

Abstract: A leak detection method and apparatus is characterized by the production of analog signals representative of the fluid inlet flow and fluid outlet flow of a closed system. The signals are compared, and a difference signal is generated which is a function of changes in the flows. This signal is processed to provide an indication of a leak within the system. By processing the analog signals, more accurate measurement of fluid differential, and thus fluid leakage, is obtained.

Abstract: A terminal block assembly includes at each end a generally U-shaped support spring having leg portions that extend upwardly in straddling relation on opposite sides of the stationary resilient contacts at opposite ends of the bus bar, thereby to support the stationary contacts as insulated conductors are displaced by actuator members toward cutting engagement with knife edges on the adjacent ends of the reversely inwardly directed stationary resilient contacts.