Abstract: An apparatus and method for spatially shifting a light using a multilayer thin-film stack of at least two materials having unequal optical properties, such as indices of refraction and absorption coefficients. The apparatus has an input face for admitting the light into the apparatus and an impedance matching mechanism for maximizing the in-coupling of the light into the multilayer thin-film stack at a non-normal incidence. The non-normal incidence is sufficient to generate a spatial shift of the light in the multilayer thin-film stack as a function of at least one light parameter, such as wavelength and/or polarization of the light, thereby separating the light into light components. The spatial shift is achieved by any one or any combination of effects including superprism, turning point and energy confinement. These effects are achieved in the multilayer thin-film stack by appropriately engineering its layer sequence.

Abstract: High speed data transmission schemes often use differential lines to reduce the effect of noise on the data signal. Unfortunately, the signal propagation on the positive and negative lines may be different, which leads to a signal skew problem. This document describes a novel way of compensating for differential line skew in data transmission lines.

Abstract: A novel electrokinetic instability (EKI) micromixer and method takes advantage of the EKI to effect active rapid stirring of confluent microstreams of biomolecules without moving parts or complex microfabrication processes. The EKI is induced using an alternating current (A/C) electric field. Within seconds, the randomly fluctuating, three-dimensional velocity field created by the EKI rapidly and effectively stirs an initially heterogeneous solution and generates a homogeneous solution that is useful in a variety of biochemical and bioanalytical systems. Microfabricated on a glass substrate, the inventive EKI micromixer can be easily and advantageously integrated in molecular diagnostics apparatuses and systems, such as a chip-based “Lab-on-a-Chip” microfluidic device.

Abstract: A single component sag-free liquid ebonite composition having silane coupling agents selected to chemically bond and convert liquid unsaturated rubber to alkoxy functionality, to consume and scavenge moisture originally present in the mixture, and to react with sulfur during vulcanization. The single component liquid ebonite composition is moisture activated and is particularly useful for coating applications in protecting metal from corrosion and chemical attack. In some embodiments, the liquid ebonite composition having a total mass percentage of 100 is mainly composed of liquid unsaturated rubber, sulfur, a vulcanization activator, a vulcanization accelerator, a first silane, a second silane, and a third silane. With the right reactive functional group, the third silane can replace the first or second silane. In some embodiments, the liquid ebonite composition includes a catalyst, carbon black, fillers, additives, and a diluent or solvent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a volumetric computed tomography (VCT) system capable of producing data for reconstructing an entire three-dimensional (3D) image of a subject during a single rotation without suffering from cone beam artifacts. The VCT system comprises an array of source positions distributed along a line parallel to an axis of rotation, a plurality of collimators, and an array of x-ray detectors. In a preferred embodiment, a reversed imaging geometry is used. A 2D array of source positions provides x-rays emanating from each focal spot toward an array of detectors. The x-rays are restricted by a collimator array and measured by a detector array separately per each source position. The axial extent of the source array and the detector array are comparable to or larger than the axial extent of the portion of the object being imaged.

Abstract: A controllable single-photon source having a single illuminated molecule in a condensed phase host is provided. The single molecule is illuminated with a pulse of radiation having a wavelength such that the molecule is excited to a vibrational state higher in energy than an associated excited electronic state. The molecule rapidly, incoherently and irreversibly decays, with a lifetime Tvib, from the vibrational state to the excited electronic state by transferring the corresponding vibrational energy to the host. The excited electronic state has a lifetime T, and with high probability the single molecule makes a radiative transition from this state to emit a single photon. The pump pulse duration Tp satisfies the condition Tvib<Tp<T. Room temperature operation and spectral separation of pump and single-photon radiation are thereby provided. A semiconductor nanocrystal can be used instead of a molecule.

Abstract: This invention discloses a leisure time use easy chair, especially for use in the garden or camping. The chair includes a back, a seat, and a leg rest, with a piece of fabric stretched over the surfaces being formed by these elements, a pair of armrests, and a base with front and rear legs. The chair further includes a transverse link between the front and rear legs. This link has a sliding locking mechanism to maintain a certain incline angle of the back and the leg rest. The position of the sliding mechanism decreases the risk of harm to the user's fingers. In addition, the chair is fully collapsible. The object of the present invention is firstly to solve the problem of safety, and secondly to provide an esthetic and more comfortable easy chair.

Abstract: Motion/Saturation detection system and method for synthesizing high dynamic range motion blur free images from multiple captures, the system and method utilizing photocurrent estimation to reduce read noise and enhance dynamic range at the low illumination end, saturation detection to enhance dynamic range at the high illumination end, and motion blur detection to ensure the photocurrent estimation is not corrupted by motion. Motion blur detection also makes it possible to extend exposure time and to capture more images, which can be used to further enhance dynamic range at the low illumination end. The present invention operates completely locally, making it well suited for single chip digital camera implementations.

Abstract: In a heterogeneous data network including both wired and wireless/lossy links, a transport protocol method implemented at the wireless host is fully compatible with existing wired networks and wireless gateways, and requires no modification to transport protocols at existing wired hosts. The wireless host calculates a temperament parameter [100] characterizing the error-proneness of the data connection and uses this parameter to determine whether error-induced losses or congestion-losses dominate the data connection [110]. If congestion-losses dominate the data connection, then the host uses a standard technique for acknowledging data packets [130]. If, on the other hand, error-induced losses dominate the connection, the host uses a modified technique for acknowledging data packets [120]. According to this modified technique, the wireless host sends a plurality of non-duplicate acknowledgements of a single packet whenever a packet is received after an out-of-order packet is received.

Abstract: A volumetric computed tomography system with a large field of view has, in a forward geometry implementation, multiple x-ray point sources emitting corresponding fan beams at a single detector array. The central ray of at least one of the fan beams is radially offset from the axis of rotation of the system by an offset distance D. Consequently, the diameter of the in-plane field of view provided by the fan beams may be larger than in a conventional CT scanner. Any number of point sources may be used. Analogous systems may be implemented with an inverse geometry so that a single source array emits multiple fan beams that converge upon corresponding detectors.

Abstract: A brain machine interface for decoding neural signals for control of a machine is provided. The brain machine interface estimates and then combines information from two classes of neural activity. A first estimator decodes movement plan information from neural signals representing plan activity. In one embodiment the first estimator includes an adaptive point-process filter or a maximum likelihood filter. A second estimator decodes peri-movement information from neural signals representing peri-movement activity. Each estimator is designed to estimate different aspects of movement such as movement goal variables or movement execution variables.

Abstract: An interface for selective excitation or sensing of neural cells in a biological neural network is provided. The interface includes a membrane with a number of channels passing through the membrane. Each channel has at least one electrode within it. Neural cells in the biological neural network grow or migrate into the channels, thereby coming into close proximity to the electrodes. Once one or more neural cells have grown or migrated into a channel, a voltage applied to the electrode within the channel selectively excites the neural cell (or cells) in that channel. The excitation of these neural cell(s) will then transmit throughout the neural network (i.e. cells and axons) that is associated with the neural cell(s) stimulated in the channel.

Abstract: A split-band amplifying apparatus that has a first section for amplifying a long wavelength band of an optical signal and a second section equipped with a fiber amplifier for amplifying a short wavelength band of the optical signal. The fiber amplifier in the second section uses a short-pass fiber with a depressed cladding cross-section and core doped with an active material, e.g., Erbium, and pumped to a high relative inversion D. The split-band amplifying apparatus can be used to amplify signals whose short wavelength band includes at least a portion of the S-band and whose long wavelength band includes at least a portion of the C- and/or L-band.

Abstract: The invention includes compositions comprising at least first and second polymers and optionally a third polymer wherein acid subunits, basic subunits and elastomeric subunits are contained in the polymers. In one aspect, the composition comprises a ternary polymer blend comprising an acidic polymer comprising acidic subunits, a basic polymer comprising basic subunits and an elastomeric polymer comprising elastomeric subunits. In an alternate aspect, the composition comprises a binary polymer blend which comprises acidic or basic subunits in one polymer and a copolymer comprising the other of the acidic or basic subunit and an elastomeric subunit. Such polymer compositions may be formed into a membrane having electrochemical properties which permit the use of such a membrane in an electrochemical device.

Abstract: An enclosure for a cavity enhanced optical spectroscopy instrument provides a highly temperature stable environment by positioning the instrument optical cavity away from the enclosure walls and providing a wall mounted heat pump, fan and heat exchanger. The fan causes the gas contained within the enclosure to circulate over the heat exchanger and in a laminar, non-turbulent flow path along interior wall surfaces of the enclosure thereby maintaining the optical cavity in a temperature and vibration stable zone.

Abstract: A diffractive optical filter having a fractional level density s[j] and a transfer function C[m] that is an approximation to a desired Hermitian, passive transfer function B[m] is provided. The fractional level density s[j] is obtained by Fourier (or inverse Fourier) transforming B[m] to obtain t[j], calculating u[j]=t[j]?min(t[j]), calculating v[j]=u[j]/D where D is the sum of u[j] over j, and setting s[j] substantially equal to v[j]. A 2-D tiltable mirror array can be used to provide a 1024 tap optical filter having 10-bit tap resolution. Applications of the invention include laser tuning elements, spectroscopy and wavelength-division multiplexing, switching, and/or filtering.

Abstract: A self-sufficient retinal prosthesis powered by intra-ocular photovoltaic cells illuminated only by ambient light is provided. Photovoltaic cells can be disposed at the periphery of the retina or in the anterior chamber of the eye. An adaptive retinal prosthesis is also provided, such that the number of pixels energized in the prosthesis is selected according to the variable available power from ambient light.

Abstract: A compact pinlifter assembly is fitted in a substantially enclosed cavity within a wafer chuck such that an overall outside shape of the wafer chuck remains highly unaffected. The pinlifter assembly includes wedge guides providing a movement path in a wedge angle relative to the wafer holding face. A pin actuator is driven along the wedge guides transforming its movement along the wedge guides into a vertical movement of the lifting pins perpendicularly sliding between the cavity and the wafer holding face. The combination of wedge guides and pin actuator takes advantage of the relatively large lateral dimensions of the wafer chuck to move the pin actuator between end positions that are in a distance multiple of the pin lifters movement. Due to the wedge angle, the actuators comparatively large scale movement is transformed in a highly precise, smooth and balanced movement of the pin lifters.