Abstract: A microsensor for sensing a substance comprises a substrate, a source of light, an optical microresonator or semiconductor optical ring microresonator fabricated in the substrate exposed to the substance to allow an interaction between the microresonator and substance, a waveguide coupling the source of light to the optical microresonator, and a detector coupled to the microresonator to measure the resonant frequency of the microresonator, the absorption loss of whispering gallery modes in the microresonator or the quality factor of the microresonator, which are sensitive to interaction of the substance with the optical microresonator. A polymer coating disposed on the microresonator is reactive with the substance. The microsensor may comprise a plurality of microresonators corresponding to a plurality of different resonant frequencies to generate an absorption spectrum of the substance.

Abstract: A snap-hook that has a hook, forming a portion of an eye loop, and a lever that is pivotally movable relative to the hook. The lever forms a remaining portion of said eye loop with respect to the hook. A thumb tab is connected to the lever, and is positioned in a slot defined in the hook. The thumb tab is slidable in the slot relative to the hook, forming a release mechanism, such that the sliding movement of the thumb tab in the slot causes the lever to pivot relative to the hook to open said eye loop. The snap-hook has essentially broad, opposing, front and back sides, and relatively narrower edges, such that the back side of the snap-hook can be placed into the palm of a user's hand to hold the snap. The thumb tab is located on the front side of the snap-hook to allow simpler holding of the snap-hook and operation of the release mechanism with one hand while essentially eliminating swiveling of the snap-hook in the hand.

Abstract: A system and method for post filtering signal peak reduction adapted for use in a multi-carrier communication system incorporating a source of a multi-carrier communication signal band limited in plural bands corresponding to the plural carriers. A first signal path receives as an input the band limited multi-carrier communication signal. A second parallel signal path includes a peak reduction calculation circuit for calculating a peak reduction correction signal and a plurality of filters providing a plurality of parallel filtering operations on the peak reduction correction signal corresponding to the plural bands to which the communication system is limited. The filtered peak reduction correction signals and delayed input signal are combined to provide peak adjusted output signals without violating the band limits of the communication signal or the modulation scheme of the communication signal.

Abstract: A motion decision value provides a dependable estimate whether motion occurs in a given region of a video image in an interlaced video sequence. The motion detection is particularly applicable in the conversion from interlaced video to progressive video. An input first is fed to an absolute value former which computes a frame difference signal from a difference between the first field and the second field in one frame. A point-wise motion detection in the frame difference signal is then followed by a region-wise motion detection that combines the point-wise motion detection signal with an adjacent point-wise motion detection signal delayed by one field. The motion decision value is then computed from the region-wise motion detection signal and output for further processing in the video signal processing system, such as for choosing whether the spatially interpolated video signal value or the temporally interpolated video signal value should be used for the output.

Abstract: A tortilla press utilizing a single sensor provides improved efficiency and accuracy. The press has a belt driven by a motor and a platen driven by a hydraulic cylinder. The motor is controlled by an AC inverter. A programmable logic controller (PLC) controls the AC inverter and hydraulics associated with the hydraulic cylinder of the platen. The PLC coordinates the movement of the belt and the movement of the platen. A sensor detects detectible elements on the belt and sends a signal to the inverter to initiate stopping of the belt. The inverter detects the zero hertz from the motor once the motor and belt have stopped and sends a signal to the PLC indicating that the belt has stopped. The PLC in turn passes a command that sends a signal to bring the platen down.

Abstract: High-functionality bowl structure comprising a hollow containment body capable of containing food to be cooked or warmed, the said hollow containment body having a base, the peculiarity of which is that it comprises a thermal base fixed to the said base and capable of transmitting heat from an external heat source into the said hollow containment body.

Abstract: A plurality of light sources, each radiating a color of light; a corresponding plurality of reflectors are arranged and configured so that the reflector reflects light from a predetermined one of the plurality of light sources. The reflected light from the plurality of reflectors is mixed to generate a composite light from the plurality of light sources. A sequenced or stacked array of the light sources and dichroic reflectors mixes the reflected light from the reflectors. Each reflector is positioned on a common optical axis with an aligned corresponding one of the plurality of light sources to provide a light source and reflector pair. Each reflector is coated with a dichroic filter material which reflects the color of light radiated by the corresponding light source of the pair, and which transmits light radiated by all preceding light sources in the sequenced array.

Abstract: An apparatus provides automatically controlled facial rejuvenation treatments and is comprised of a scanner for scanning a patient's face, a treatment robot, including a plurality of dermatological devices for treatment of facial skin, and a computer coupled to the scanner and robot for determining a treatment protocol of the patient's face based on a scanned input of the patient's face and for generating a plurality of commands for the treatment robot for movement and/or control of the plurality of dermatological devices for the automated treatment of the skin of the patient's face. A dermatological laser, needle injector, and/or air injector are used. The needle injector injects a minute amount of substance at a multiplicity of points within a computer-identified treatment area on the patient's face.

Abstract: The sender of a multicast in a computer network attaches an official release time to the message being multicast, asking every receiver to process the message at or after the official release time. A receiver may receive a cancellation notice after receiving the multicast message but before its official release time. The official release time is chosen so that the multicast can succeed or be cancelled by the official release time with the probability at or above a user selected level under reasonably bounded numbers of occurrences of permanent and temporary faults and reasonably bounded durations of temporary faults. This multicast protocol is formulated to suit the environment where it is not worth it for a node to wait for a reply from another node beyond a certain time-period, called the timeout period.

Abstract: A communication system for tracking an asset globally accesses multiple communication networks and switches among them, choosing the most economic, available communication mode without need for a constant power supply. An integrated motion sensor uses a combination of GPS updating and dynamic movement calculation to obtain the most reliable position estimation. Current location is identified within a small radius at all times. While taking advantage of the GPS system to obtain accurate location information, direct exposure to GPS satellites is not required at all times. The system obtains position information from GPS satellites whenever valid GPS signals are available, and provides its own location tracking capability when GPS signals are not accessible. The position accuracy of the device is preferably within a 20-meter radius from the exact location.

Abstract: In optical coherence tomography (OCT), Axial and lateral resolutions are determined by the source coherence length and numerical aperture of the sampling lens, respectively. While axial resolution can be improved using a broadband light source, there is a trade-off between lateral resolution and focusing depth when conventional optical elements are used. The incorporation of an axicon lens into the sample arm of the interferometer overcomes this limitation. Using an axicon lens with a top angle of 160 degrees, 10 ?m or better-lateral resolution is maintained over a focusing depth of at least 6 mm. In addition to high lateral resolution, the focusing spot intensity is approximately constant over a greater depth range.

Abstract: A rank-determining device determines the rank of a particular sample value from a set of digital sample values by utilizing two different thresholders that are implemented by comparators. The rank of the sample value is decomposed by thresholding the sample value with all of the sample values in the set of digital sample values, and in this manner eliminates the necessity of a sorting operation. This decomposition of the rank will is referred to as self-threshold decomposition. A plurality of these rank-determining devices can be combined to form a rank determining apparatus in order to find the rank of each one of the digital samples in the set of digital samples. Because the rank-determining apparatus implements self-threshold decomposition, rank- and order-statistic based filters, such as the median filter, can be realized in a feasible manner.

Abstract: A new embolic agent, bioabsorbable polymeric material (BPM) is incorporated to a Guglielmi detachable coil (GDC) to improve long-term anatomic results in the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms. The embolic agent, comprised at least in part of at least one biocompatible and bioabsorbable polymer and growth factors, is carried by hybrid bioactive coils and is used to accelerate histopathologic transformation of unorganized clot into fibrous connective tissue in experimental aneurysms. An endovascular cellular manipulation and inflammatory response are elicited from implantation in a vascular compartment or any intraluminal location. Thrombogenicity of the biocompatible and bioabsorbable polymer is controlled by the composition of the polymer. The coil further is comprised at least in part of a growth factor or more particularly a vascular endothelial growth factor, a basic fibroblast growth factor or other growth factors.

Abstract: A rank-determining device determines the rank of a particular sample value from a set of digital sample values by utilizing two different thresholders that are implemented by comparators. The rank of the sample value is decomposed by thresholding the sample value with all of the sample values in the set of digital sample values, and in this manner eliminates the necessity of a sorting operation. This decomposition of the rank will is referred to as self-threshold decomposition. A plurality of these rank-determining devices can be combined to form a rank determining apparatus in order to find the rank of each one of the digital samples in the set of digital samples. Because the rank-determining apparatus implements self-threshold decomposition, rank- and order-statistic based filters, such as the median filter, can be realized in a feasible manner.

Abstract: A smart location information processor automatically detects the location of a moving object in real-time, using either a receiver from the satellites or from any terrestrial location detection network. The device processes the location information and activates responsive functions according to location and status. Messages are transmitted through one of multiple wireless communication networks to other units. At any time, the device may receive instructions wirelessly from other stationary or mobile objects. All the events of the installed moving object are stored in a history file which can be sent to a remote server and then cleared from the installed object, either regularly or instantaneously. The device in one object may automatically activate certain functions controlling the object in response to the location of another object installed with the same device.

Abstract: A group delay adjusting circuit. The group delay adjusting circuit comprises an electronically adjustable variable capacitance, and an electronically variable virtual inductor coupled in parallel to the electronically variable capacitance at a node.

Abstract: The contrast of a time varying video signal is enhanced. Each digital picture is represented by samples having gradation levels in a range from a lower limit C to an upper limit U. The mean value of the gradation levels of the samples representing a first digital picture is determined. A first transform function is constructed in dependence on a distribution of samples with gradation levels less than or equal to the mean value. A second transform function is constructed in dependence on a distribution of the samples with gradation levels equal to or greater than the mean. The first transform function and the second transform function are used to form a contrast enhancement transform, which is preferably constructed in the form of a look-up table. The contrast enhancement transform is applied to a set of samples representing the first digital picture or representing the temporally subsequent picture.

Abstract: A method for adjusting and limiting a color saturation level S of a color pixel of an input image includes steps of: obtaining a first chrominance value U and a second chrominance value V representing the color pixel of the input image; determining the color saturation level S in dependence on the first chrominance value U and the second chrominance value V; determining a saturation limiting parameter ? in dependence on the color saturation level S; obtaining an adjusted first chrominance value by multiplying the first chrominance value U by the saturation limiting parameter ?; obtaining an adjusted second chrominance value by multiplying the second chrominance value by the saturation limiting parameter ?; and representing a color pixel of an output image with the adjusted first and second chrominance values. The process is repeated for each pixel of each image of the input video signal.