Abstract: A night vision apparatus and method comprising employing a detector operating in the 7 to 14 microns wavelength region, converting via electronics and/or photonics the received light to the region visible to the human eye, and displaying the visible light on a display, wherein a housing contains the detector, the electronics and/or photonics, and the display.

Abstract: Laser amplification methods and apparatuses. With the invention, one can increase laser intensity on a target by computing a distance to the target, based upon the distance determining an ultra short laser pulse that will in traveling through a medium compress to approximately a minimum width, and emitting the pulse at the target, whereby an intensity of the pulse is approximately maximized upon contact with the target. One can also amplify and detect a laser return signal by receiving the laser return signal, amplifying the received return signal by optical parametric amplification and detecting the amplified signal. One can further perform spectroscopy by determining an ultra short laser pulse such that the pulse compresses and then expands in traveling through a medium, emitting the pulse at a target, and performing spectroscopic analysis of the pulse after propagation.

Abstract: An optical cell mount and a corresponding method of mounting an optical cell comprising inserting into the optical cell an adjustable nut portion comprising an upper section threaded on the outside and a lower section threaded on the inside and rounded on the bottom exterior thereof, contacting with the adjustable nut portion a seating portion for receiving the lower section, and securing the adjustable nut portion with a set screw portion having threading corresponding to that of the lower section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing solid or semi-solid material from within a container, for example removing an energetic material from the casing of an explosive shell. The method is applicable to the demilitarization of aged or obsolete explosive ordnance, for example mortar rounds, and uses ultrasonic energy rather than heat like previous methods. An item to be demilitarized and cleaned is immersed in a fluid contained within a vessel. An ultrasonic probe or wand is inserted into the submerged item, in proximity with the material to be removed. The fluid is the medium for transmitting sonic energy from the probe to the material to fracture and mobilize the material. Mobilized particulates are expelled from the casing, and settle to the bottom of the fluid vessel for collection. At the conclusion of the process, the emptied container shell, now relatively clean, is retrieved from the vessel and salvaged as desired.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting objects. In one embodiment, a person entering a secured zone is illuminated with low-power polarized radio waves. Differently polarized waves which are reflected back from the person are collected. Concealed weapons are detected by measuring various parameters of the reflected signals and then calculating various selected differences between them. These differences create patterns when plotted as a function of time. Preferably a trained neural network pattern recognition program is then used to evaluate these patterns and autonomously render a decision on the presence of a weapon. An interrupted continuous wave system may be employed. Multiple units may be used to detect various azimuthal angles and to improve accuracy.

Abstract: Eyeglasses having an integral case. The eyeglasses may swivel or slide out from a protective case. An attachment mechanism, such as a clip, may be integrated with the case. A file or other personal care item may also be integrated with the case or frame. In another embodiment, the earpieces of the eyeglasses can be folded to cover at least a majority of the surface area of the lenses.

Abstract: An optical apparatus and a method of using an optical instrument comprising providing to a primary optical axis of the instrument a plate tilted so as not to be perpendicular to the primary optical axis and continuously rotating the plate about the primary optical axis.

Abstract: A body armor cooling system for law enforcement officers having a hook-shaped nozzle attached to one end of a flexible hose member and a bellows assembly attached to the other end of the flexible hose member. The end of the hook-shaped nozzle is tucked beneath the protective armor that the law enforcement officer is wearing in order to provide a cooling effect. The bellows assembly is connected to the air conditioner vent opening on the dash of the vehicle. The bellows assembly makes an air tight seal with the dash of the vehicle and it can be easily attached and detached.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of stable aqueous polycarbodiimide dispersions, to be used as crosslinking agent, which are free of organic solvents is described. Sid process is characterized in: reacting a polyisocyanate in the presence of a carbodiimide catalyst to form a polycarbodiimide, terminating and/or chain extending the polycarbodiimide chain by the addition of formation dispersion of the resulting compound in water, wherein pH is adjusted to a value between 9 and 14 by the addition of a base and/or a buffer to the water used for the dispersion and/or to the obtained aqueous dispersion. According to the present process said terminating or chain extending with the compound containing a hydrophylic group and one or more amine functions may also occur during or after the dispersion of the polycarboiimide in water. The preferred pH of the polycarbodiimide dispersions is between 11 and 13.

Abstract: An enhanced entropy camera provides enhanced image quality by utilizing a custom analog-to-digital conversion function. The analog-to-digital conversion occurs according to a custom non-linear quantization function that provides enhanced entropy in the digitized image, yet avoids the harsh artifacts that tend to arise in images quantized according to a maximum entropy function. A plurality of custom non-linear functions are made available for selection depending upon imaging conditions, such as light intensity, pigmentation of the retina, or the part of the retina being imaged. Each of the plural non-linear quantization function comprises a distinct non-linear look up table for each of plural bands (e.g., red, green, and blue color channels).

Abstract: A ophthalmic aberrometer uses a wavefront sensor aligned with an eye under examination through an optical path and a light source for introducing a light beam into the eye via the optical path, wherein the optical path has a reference through which the light beam passes before passing to an eye retina to form a reference spot on the retina, a focus dynamic range extender, and an astigmatism dynamic range extender positioned in the optical path between the reference and an eye under examination. The wavefront sensor is positioned to receive a wavefront reflected from the eye retina via the optical path.

Abstract: The present invention provides for pulsed powered drilling apparatuses and methods. A drilling apparatus is provided comprising a bit having one or more sets of electrodes through which a pulsed voltage is passed through a mineral substrate to create a crushing or drilling action.

Abstract: The invention provides synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs of formulas I or II as given in the specification, having two peptide chains branched from a dipeptide branch moiety composed of at least one and preferably two trifunctional amino acid residues, which peptide chain or chains bind a heparin-binding growth factor receptor. The synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs are useful as pharmaceutical agents, soluble biologics or as surface coatings for medical devices.

Abstract: The invention provides a non-stage transmission which shifts gear in response to a load without requiring any independent actuator for changing a change gear ratio, and can achieve a large change gear ratio on the basis of a small-sized and low-cost structure. The non-stage transmission is structured such that a rocker arm 4 is reciprocated via a connection rod 18, a means for changing a stroke of the reciprocating motion is provided, and an output shaft 2 is driven in one direction whichever of forward and backward directions of the reciprocating motion of the rocker arm 4. An input side turning body 13 is structured such as to drive an output side turning body 14 via an energizing spring 12. The stroke of the reciprocating motion is changed by rotating a crank shaft lever by a cam groove 13d in a clockwise direction in correspondence to an increase of a load so as to shorten a distance between points Q, S.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating pre-stressed zones in concrete. In one embodiment, a circular blade is coated with a chemical which retards the setting of the concrete. The circular blade is then rolled through the wet concrete, thus transferring the retarding chemical from the blade into the concrete. The region of wet concrete that has the retarding chemical introduced into it does not set until after the surrounding concrete has set and shrunk, thus creating a pre-stressed zone which typically manifests itself as a crack, visible upon setting of the wet concrete. Other embodiments describe alternative ways of introducing the chemical into the wet concrete.

Abstract: A revolving door for placement in a facade of a building to provide an entrance and exit to the building, comprising a rotation axis and door leaves mounted on the rotation axis, placed between cylinder segment-like shell elements, wherein the shell elements comprise at least one movable wall segment. The movable wall segment either blocks or gives way to an area between the entrance and the exit.

Abstract: Eyeglasses having an integral case. The eyeglasses may swivel or slide out from a protective case. An attachment mechanism, such as a clip, may be integrated with the case. A file or other personal care item may also be integrated with the case or frame. In another embodiment, the earpieces of the eyeglasses can be folded to cover at least a majority of the surface area of the lenses.

Abstract: Computer software for, computer apparatus for, and a method of automatically generating a user interface for a relational database comprising extracting schema information from the relational database and automatically generating corresponding schema and user interface metadata, storing the metadata in a repository, and automatically developing from the metadata a user interface appropriate to the relational database.