Abstract: An electro-active contact lens system and a method for making the electro-active contact lens system is disclosed. The system includes a contact lens, an electro-active element attached to the contact lens, a view detector attached to the contact lens and in electronic communication with the electro-active element, and a power source attached to the contact lens. In certain embodiments, the view detector may be a rangefinder which determines the distance of an object being viewed and these embodiments further include a means to stabilize the rangefinder between the opening of the eyelids when the electro-active contact lens system is worn by a wearer. The electro-active contact lens system provides electro-active vision correction of one or more focal lengths.

Abstract: A method for sensing the state of an electrophoretic display includes the steps of applying an electrical signal to a display element, measuring an electrical response for the display element, and deducing the state of the display element from the measured electrical response. Also, the parameters of the display materials are determined using the encapsulated electrophoretic display media as a sensor, either alone or in conjunction with other sensors.

Abstract: This invention provides the novel dielectric BiCu3Ti3FeO12. BiCu3Ti3FeO12 provides good dielectric tunability and low loss over a frequency range of from 10 kHz to 10 MHz and is especially useful in tunable devices such as phase shifters, matching networks, oscillators, filters, resonators, and antennas comprising interdigital and trilayer capacitors, coplanar waveguides and microstrips.

Abstract: An inventive procurement system includes a requisition system for special item purchases that are not found when searching a catalog database. Using the requisition system the buyer is provided with the desired item while the information associated with the requisition is selectively added to a rule-based knowledge base as well as to an item database. In a preferred embodiment a common language generator has been used to normalize free form data using pre-determined rules to place the data into a class/attribute/value relationship. By having the item requisition follow the same relationship, the pre-determined rules may be updated and the free-form data associated with the item properly coded for inclusion into an item database.

Abstract: A process for adjusting the energy of an imaging laser for imaging of a thermally imageable element and thermally imageable elements suitable for this purpose are described.

Abstract: Cementing compositions and methods of cementing in a subterranean formation are provided. The cement composition includes a hydraulic cement, lightweight beads, and a desegregating agent for inhibiting segregation of the beads. The lightweight beads may be, for example, cenospheres, glass spheres, and ceramic spheres. The desegregating agent comprises a particulate substrate such as precipitated silica. It also comprises a polar molecule producing chemical disposed on the particulate substrate. Preferably, the polar molecule producing chemical is absorbed on the particulate substrate. The polar molecule producing chemical comprises at least one of a polar molecule producing acid such as glacial acetic acid, a salt of such an acid, and an acid anhydride. The method of cementing includes forming a pumpable slurry using the cement composition, pumping the slurry into a subterranean formation, and allowing the slurry to set.

Abstract: Disclosed are fiber reinforced composite substrates comprising a polymeric matrix and one or more woven or non-woven para-aramid or fiberglass fabrics, sheets, or papers, said polymeric matrix consisting essentially of one or more cross-linked copolymers of monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbons and conjugated dienes useful for printed circuit boards and cards suitable for use in high frequency circuits.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions prepared by free-radical-driven grafting onto hydrocarbons or hydrocarbon ethers of olefinically unsaturated fluorocarbons containing sulfonyl fluoride, fluorosulfonate, fluorosulfonimide, or fluorosulfonyl methide groups, wherein the grafting step is followed by a hydrolysis step in the case of sulfonyl fluoride.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspection of fluids having a fluid analysis cell with a cavity therein enclosed by two light transmitting windows and having a spacer member fixedly positioned therebetween which provides a fluid analysis chamber of fixed pathlength where fluid flows by the windows and preferably wherein the flow laminar and at a uniform shear to provide accurate color measurements. Light transmitting and receiving probes are positioned adjacent to the viewing windows and wherein the faces of each probe are contiguous and flush with the viewing windows but are separated from the flow by the viewing windows, so that transmission measurements can be taken orthogonal to the direction of flow. The apparatus is particularly useful in the manufacture of dispersions and tints used in the manufacture of paints, so that the color of material being made can be accurately matched to a standard color in the wet state with confidence that the color will match in the dry state.

Abstract: Many diseases are related to variations in the genetically specified structure of proteins synthesized by cells. Genetic engineering is now able to identify the structural variations and to introduce new genes to synthesize more healthful proteins, but it is difficult actually to identify the specific protein or chemical variants in bodily fluids and extracts of tissues in order to diagnose diseases and to assess the effects of treatment. This invention provides apparatuses and methods which allow a user to finely discriminate between small variations in the structure, function and levels of specific biochemicals even when admixed with other biochemicals.

Abstract: A modulated Class E transmitter is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the modulated Class E oscillator achieves high coil currents (˜1 A) and voltages (˜500V) with low power components by precisely timed injection of current when the oscillating current in the inductor passes through zero. A detector circuit is used to trigger the current injection at the appropriate instant regardless of changes in the resonant frequency of the system. Its phase can be adjusted to compensate for propagation delays in the drive circuitry, while amplitude modulation is accomplished by switching in additional reactive conductance to increase the current injected into the tank circuit. Frequency modulation is accomplished in an alternate embodiment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a valve stem to the rim of an automotive vehicle wheel includes rims being supplied in series by a conveyor to a gauging station where the type and/or size of the rim and the location and alignment of an aperture for receiving the valve stem is determined by a machine vision system. An electronic control system directs a robotic manipulator to grasp either the valve stem or the rim, move the valve stem or the rim to a mounting station, position the valve stem or the rim with respect to the other such that the aperture in the rim is in coaxial alignment with the valve stem, and insert the valve stem through the aperture in the rim. If necessary, a power-actuated nut runner, mounted on the robotic manipulator or adjacent the mounting station, is used to tighten a nut over the valve stem.

Abstract: A windshield packaging system that provides effective support for the windshield during substantial vertical drops, protects the windshield against side impacts, is simple in design, requires only modest skill to effectively assemble, protects windshields of different size with the same size carton, and minimizes inventory management problems. The windshield packaging system includes jaw components having a synergistic effect, horizontally-running flutes, and pressure-regulated clamps.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a hydrophilic membrane to provide by the process of pervaporation through the membrane water suitable for agricultural irrigation, industrial use, hydrating or rehydrating of food or agricultural or pharmaceutical compositions. The present invention also relates to a water purification apparatus which includes the hydrophilic membrane, comprising one or more layers of hydrophilic polymers, to purify water which may contain suspended or dissolved impurities and solids, including but not limited to seawater, brackish water and other kinds of polluted water.

Abstract: A process for preparing nonwoven webs including multiple component continuous filaments having high levels of three-dimensional helical crimp utilizing draw rolls to provide a high degree of orientation to each of the polymeric components by mechanically drawing the filaments under conditions wherein the polymeric components remain substantially amorphous and a stretchable nonwoven web including multiple component, continuous filaments having high levels of three-dimensional helical crimp.

Abstract: An insulated packaging material includes a thermal insulating layer, which may a fiberfill batt. The batt is laminated to at least one facing layer of film, paper or fabric. The packaging material can be used as a container, such as a pouch. A food-contacting polymer material is applied to the facing layer to form the inner surface of the pouch. The packaging material may be coated on the outer facing layer with a coating material so that it is printable, thus imparting both insulating properties and print capability to the pouch.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to heat a direct methanol fuel cell stack system at start-up without using any external energy source. During the start-up period, the fuel cell stack is at open circuit state so that the fuel cell stack is not connected to any external circuit. The methanol solution introduced at the anode side of the fuel cell stack will diffuse through the proton conductive membrane to the cathode side of the fuel cell stack. The methanol diffused from the anode side will be oxidized at the cathode side by oxygen in the air stream. This oxidation reaction generates heat that heats up the fuel cell stack and the system. The concentration of methanol in the methanol solution can be varied depending on the initial stack temperature. The lower the initial stack temperature, the higher the concentration of the methanol solution required. At an initial stack temperature of ?40° C., a solution having 40 wt % methanol is preferred to avoid freezing of the solution.

Abstract: Fluorinated polymers, photoresists and associated processes for microlithography are described. These polymers and photoresists are comprised of esters derived from fluoroalcohol functional groups that simultaneously impart high ultraviolet (UV) transparency and developability in basic media to these materials. The materials of this invention have high UV transparency, particularly at short wavelengths, e.g., 157 nm, which makes them highly useful for lithography at these short wavelengths.

Abstract: A security system for detecting and expelling external intrusions at individual windows is provided. The security system includes an intrusion detection transmission system (100) having a human body detection sensor (110), an infra-red sensor (120), a switching unit (130) for connecting the detection signals from the sensors (110 and 120), and a wireless transmitter (140) for encoding and wirelessly transmitting the signal transmitted from the switching unit (130), and a central processing system (200) including a wireless receiver (210) for receiving, and demodulating the wireless receiver (210) for receiving and demodulating the wireless transmission signals from the wireless transmitter (140) in the intrusion detection transmission system (100), and a home switching unit (220) for controlling operations of a home automation unit (400) and a warning siren portion (240) according to the outputting signal of the wireless receiver (210).

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a means for searching numerical data across networks such as the Internet, and removing the middle layer of query engines or servers used by conventional systems in retrieving data from relational databases over the Internet. The methods and systems in accordance with the present invention also provide a means for tying millions of computers together into a single database, thereby a query introduced to the system returns a table of data as a single database is capable of providing. Furthermore, the methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide the means for performing navigational, line item (or record-level), semantic, numerical, transformational, arithmetic, time-dependent, and cost based queries on numerical data. In addition, a user may also conduct select queries between unrelated databases.