Abstract: The invention intends to provide an ear-pick, which is capable of safely and securely remove earwax, and foreign objects such as insects and water. Endoscopic auditory canal cleaning apparatus comprising: an ear-pick main body, which is equipped with a scraping part at its distal end and is formed to guide light to said distal end; a light source, which generates said light; a light source generates light; a fiber scope, which captures images in the inside of the auditory canal; a display unit, which displays the images captured by the fiber scope; and a holding part, which holds the ear-pick main body and the fiber scope; wherein the fiber scope passes through a hollow opening provided in the holding part; and the holding part holds the fiber scope to be able to rotate freely.

Abstract: A magnetic pick-up coil for measuring magnetic field with high specific sensitivity, optionally with an electrostatic shield (24), having coupling elements (22) with high winding packing ratio, oriented in multiple directions, and embedded in ceramic material for structural support and electrical insulation. Elements of the coil are constructed from green ceramic sheets (200) and metallic ink deposited on surfaces and in via holes of the ceramic sheets. The ceramic sheets and the metallic ink are co-fired to create a monolithic hard ceramic body (20) with metallized traces embedded in, and placed on exterior surfaces of, the hard ceramic body. The compact and rugged coil can be used in a variety of environments, including hostile conditions involving ultra-high vacuum, high temperatures, nuclear and optical radiation, chemical reactions, and physically demanding surroundings, occurring either individually or in combinations.

Abstract: A holiday ornament is attachable to a relatively soft candle in such a fashion that it is firmly held to the candle until the candle burns down far enough to permit the ornament to fall off. A metal strip is welded to the back of the ornament. The two opposite ends of the strip are bent upwardly, away from the soldered portion and disposed at an angle of approximately 10-15° so that, when pushed into the candle, the soft wax exerts a force on the two pins in order to keep it in place during normal use. The structure of the pins keeps the ornament in the vertical position until the candle has burned down at least half way, at which point the ornament falls off for lack of support. Thereafter, the ornament can be removed and placed on a holiday item, such as a Christmas Tree, wreath, etc.

Abstract: A rotary pulsation device having a body, at least one rotor and one or more stators, in which the increased efficiency of the device is effected through the presence of ultrasonic vibrations generated by the bulk vibration of the rotors, stators, or both, the generation of the vibrations is a function of a combination of one or more of: the clearance between the rotors and stators which can be adjusted; turbulizing elements on the rotors, stators, or both; incisions on the rotors; slots in the rotors; and choke channels for controlling and directing recirculated flow within the device.

Abstract: A method for the production of a stop valve for pipes, with a housing which consists of plastic, has two pipe connectors and in which a blocking element, which can be adjusted by an actuation unit between a flow position and a blocking position, is mounted at least by means of bearing rings and seals. This method includes injecting plastic around the inner part, which comprises the blocking element as well as the bearing and sealing rings, in the pre-assembled state with the use of an adhesion means to form the housing.

Abstract: A folding photovoltaic strip device is provided comprising a plurality of photovoltaic modules joined to form a strip and pleated by flexible, transverse creases so that the device may be stored folded together along the creases, in a compact form, and the creases sprung opened to expose the modules to energizing light. The creases are permanent to facilitate folding the device for storage, and the ends of the strip may be attached to a casing and a lid in which the strip is to be stored.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in wave division multiplexing optical telecommunication systems includes a dual photodiode array which converts parallel and perpendicularly polarized light beams at given wavelengths to electrical signals which are digitized and used to rapidly and simultaneously determine all wavelengths and associated components of power and angle of polarization. This information can be displayed for monitoring purposes, or can be used to control signals travelling through optical fiber.

Abstract: A water globe includes a programmable, multi-color, fiber optic display that can be synchronized with an audio source. The fiber optic bundle sits in a well where the first end of the bundle receives illumination from a three-color LED and the second end of the optical fibers is held in place by an inner top in such a way that the surface of the inner top produces an attractive changeable, multi-color display.

Abstract: In order to extend the available spectral range and to optimize spectral resolution while retaining a compact spectrometer setup, two diffraction gratings are operated with congruent focal curves in a Paschen-Runge geometry. The spectrometer features only one entrance slit and allows an adequate adaptation of the covered spectral range to the demands of analytical spectrometry. Apart from photomultiplier tubes commercial solid-state linear array sensors placed tangential at the Rowland circle are used for simultaneous detection of the spectrum. By employing angular cut cylindrical mirrors the radiation is deflected by 90% upward or downward in an alternating series. In this way two effects are achieved, an almost complete detection of the spectrum firstly and secondly a gain of intensity by focusing of radiation perpendicular to the plane of dispersion.

Abstract: An electrical connector terminal includes a planar wire connecting portion formed to connect with an outside wire lead, the connecting portion defining a first plane. A shoulder portion of the terminal has a planar first section extending from a first side of the connecting portion, and the first section defines a second plane that is normal to the first plane of the connecting portion so that the terminal is held stable when mounted on a wiring board and the first section of the shoulder portion is restrained by an outside part located out of the first plane of the wire connecting portion. An elongated mounting portion or tail is formed to fit axially in a terminal opening in the wiring board. The tail is joined to a free end of the first section of the shoulder portion remote from the wire connecting portion, and the second plane of the first section includes the axis of the mounting portion.

Abstract: A programmable apparatus for laser beam shaping including a preprogrammable mircomirror array produces a spatial energy distribution suitable for accurately and rapidly marking, machining and processing materials. The preprogrammed micromirror array redistributes the laser output beam energy to produce a desired two-dimensional machining pattern on a work piece. The energy pattern created by the preprogrammed micromirror array is changeable between successive pulses of the laser to create accurate, complex three-dimensional machined shapes in a work piece not easily achieved by conventional machining systems. A special application of this invention is laser beam shaping to produce a uniform spatial energy distribution, i.e. homogenizing the beam from a laser with non-uniform energy distribution. Continuous adjustment of beam shaping is provided to maintain beam homogenization in accordance with changes in laser beam output energy profile.

Abstract: A laser machining device is capable of simultaneously machining two- or three dimentional patterns on the surface of a workpiece. A micromirror array positioned within a laser cavity generates a patterned plurality of laser beamlets which can be homogenized and deflected by a second micromirror array onto the surface of a workpiece to create a two-dimensional pattern. Alternatively, the second micromirror array can deflect laser beamlets of unequal energy density to produce a three-dimensional pattern.

Abstract: A circuit board, for use with a high speed backplane, includes transmitter and receiver with circuitry for correcting for multipath signal errors. A training sequence that is often a pseudo-random signal is transmitted by the transmitter on a first circuit board to a receiver located on a second circuit board. The receiver on the second circuit board includes an analog-to-digital signal converter, an equalizer, and a binary digital-to-analog reconverter for receiving the training sequence. The equalizer preferably comprises a series of connected registers having taps in between, a plurality of individual weighting means attached to each of the taps, and a summing means connected to the weighting means. A training sequence is transmitted from the first circuit board to the receiver on the second circuit board, enabling the receiver to adaptively determine a set of weighting means coefficients for correcting the multipath errors in subsequent signals.

Abstract: A formulation which promotes gum and oral health through the presence of natural components exhibiting astringent, antiseptic and local stimulant effects. The formulation can be in the form of a concentrate, an oral rinse, gel, ointment, and other topical forms. The formulation also promotes healing of sores and wounds as well as preventing toothdecay. The use of cayenne as a preferred component has a synergistic effect on other components effects.

Abstract: A method for the refinement of a thrombin substrate, characterized by comprising therein a step of affinity chromatography formed by using an affinity adsorbent having as a ligand a thrombin or thrombin analogue deprived of nucleophilicity (activity) without causing stereostructure to the linkage with a substrate is disclosed.

Abstract: A microwave antenna is described, capable of simultaneous maximum gain communication with N≧2 satellites in geo-stationary orbit. The orbiting satellites are positioned offset relative to each other at a specific azimuth angle(s) &phgr;. The microwave antenna has radiating elements that are divided into N groups (1a, 1b; 1a′, 1b′; 1a″, 1b″ 1c″) of radiating elements. The antenna is characterized by the fact that each of the N groups of radiating elements is organized in a plane, with the planes arranged at specific angles relative to one another corresponding to the respective azimuth offset angle of the satellite to be communicated with, such that the surface normal (FN) of the planes, once the microwave antenna is oriented, point in the direction of the respective satellites.

Abstract: A surgically implantable radioactive wrap is positioned around the wall of a body vessel, duct or passageway to maintain patency of these structures by mitigating overexuberant cellular proliferation. Such excessive cellular growth may occur as the result of a disease process or following a trauma or an intentional surgical or intravascular intervention. The device provides for delivery of ionizing radiation to a localized target tissue site. Integral design features provide for the shielding of non-targeted tissues and for the attachment of the device to the target tissue structure. A radiation attenuation element serves to absorb extraneous low-energy electrons incidentally emitted by the treatment source and provides for a more uniform radiation dose distribution through the full thickness of the target tissues. The wrap can be easily applied with minimal handling and with limited radiation exposure to operating personnel.

Abstract: A continuous emissions monitor for the measurement of vapor phase and particulate-based metals in gas streams such as those at coal-fired utility plants, incinerators and manufacturing facilities, in which a pulsed plasma source (10), utilizing a resonant reentrant microwave cavity (12) which is powered by a microwave generator (34), operates at sub atmospheric pressures (<50 Torr.) by using a pump (48) in order to eliminate quenching of the light emission processes by other species in the gas stream and reduce the background emission and where the pulsed operation of the source reduces background light emission from oxides of nitrogen produced in plasma sources operating with nitrogen and oxygen gases thus enhancing the contrast and signal-to-background; resulting in the instrument having a minimum detection level of 0.01 micrograms/m−3 for mercury, as well as, other metal elements such as arsenic and selenium, and requiring less than 10 Watts of microwave power.

Abstract: In a semiconductor p-i-n photodiode an undoped absorption region (10) is epitaxially grown between two highly doped regions (14, 16). In prior art lattice matched InGaAs p-i-n photodiodes current epitaxial structures use low InP cap (16) doping (n˜2.5−6×1016/cm3), and nominally undoped (not intentionally doped, n˜1×1013−5×1014/cm3) InGaAs absorption regions (10). The shunt resistances of p-i-n photodiodes according to the present invention with intentional doping between n˜5×1017/cm3 and 1×1014/cm3, in the InGaAs absorption region (52, 60) are significantly increased over that of a standard structure (non-intentionally doped).

Abstract: A multi-projector video wall system employs a blending frame to blend the overlapping portions of two adjacent images I1 and I2. The blending frame is preferably located a distance Dframe from the aperture of the projector and has an optimal half frame width Wf from the axis of the lens of the projector. A camera-based feedback loop can be employed to fine-tune the optical blending by digitally altering the image source.