Abstract: Fluorescence imaging of tissue is used as a diagnostic tool in which geometric effects and specular reflections are compensated for by normalizing a fluorescence image with a cross-polarized image.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the control of injection molding and, in particular, for determining a suitable time for transfer from injection velocity control to packing pressure control. The invention uses a derivative of, preferably the nozzle pressure, and inputs this to a fuzzy inference system. The fuzzy inference system uses said rules and knowledge to provide a suitable transfer time as an output. It is preferred that the sample pressure is filtered prior to calculation of the derivative.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for obtaining highly stereoregular polyacetylenes from organorhodium catalysts in aqueous media in high yield. These methods afford substantial advantages in that they are rapid, economical, and utilize environmentally benign solvents. The present invention further provides methods for making thin films of polyphenylacetylenes that are tough and transparent.

Abstract: A one-way or single-channel communication network utilizing electromagnetic radiation signals of a fixed single or narrow-band frequency in free air space consists of a plurality of transmitters and a central receiver in which each message is encoded in a wave train and is tagged with a sender identity (ID). The central receiver, which can be a single unit or a plurality of units connected in cascade, detects the messages in the free air space and send them along to a central processing unit (CPU) for message handling.

Abstract: A three stage amplifier is disclosed provided with a novel frequency compensation technique. Only a single feedback loop with a single compensation capacitance is provided. Instead of a conventional nested compensation technique, damping factor control is provided by means of a fourth gain stage in order to stabilize the amplifier. The resulting amplifier is particularly useful to drive large capacitive loads for low-voltage low-power applications.

Abstract: A circuit architecture for computing the outputs of odd and even symmetric spatial filters simultaneously comprises at least two resistive networks interconnected by at least one controlled current source. In one embodiment the nodes of the resistive network are arranged in a two-dimensional array to allow filtering of two-dimensional signals such as images. The resulting filters are orientation selective. The spatial orientation and the scale of the filter can be selected by appropriately tuning the resistive elements forming the resistive networks and the gains of the controlled sources. The controlled sources may be voltage controlled (eg transconductance amplifiers) or current controlled. This circuit architecture may be implemented in VLSI to incorporate both image sensing and orientation selective filtering on the same chip.

Abstract: A servowriter positioning apparatus for hard disk drives comprises an optical read head 2 for directing three focussed light beams on grating sections formed at the end of a grating member 1 connected to the servo write head(s) 3 in order to indicate the position and movement of the head(s) 3. The optical read head 2 may be based on CD or DVD technology. The servo write head(s) 3 are mounted on an actuator arm 5 to which the grating member 1 is fixed for rotation therewith and which are both driven in rotation by a rotary actuator. The grating member 1 comprises two grating sections 11,12 separated by a smooth section 13 for generating a focus error correction signal. The apparatus of the invention can be used to sense and control the position and movement of the servo write heads, or of the read/write heads of the hard disk themselves, thus eliminating the need for any servo pattern.

Abstract: A low-diversity antenna diversity receiver suitable for TDMA PCS handset implementation employing two diversity branches. The receiver is capable of selecting a diversity scheme which is anticipated to give optimum signal reception among a plurality of diversity schemes installed on the receiver. This receiver, more conveniently termed multi-diversity receiver comprises a single conventional wireless digital receiver chain augmented with a few additional low-cost passive RF components and minor control circuits. A plurality of diversity algorithms, for example, selection diversity (SD), equal-gain combining (EGC) or interference-reduction combining (IRC) scheme, which are suitable for implementing on this multi-diversity receiver are also described. Simulation results showing performance of this multi-diversity receiver are also presented.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for the dimming control of a fluorescent lamp driven by an electronic ballast. A small portion (eg less than 15°) of the phase of the input supply voltage is removed, and the precise amount of the phase removed is used to generate a switching signal that controls the switching frequency of the electronic ballast and hence the light power output. The switching frequency is generated by producing pulses of a width proportional to the amount of phase removed, integrating the pulses to produce a voltage proportional to the phase removed, converting that voltage to a current that varies with a frequency depending on the voltage, and using that varying current to generate the switching frequency.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrically-energized device for the rapid generation of steam or other vapors. The high-speed steam generator includes a wicked evaporator, a liquid reservoir, a liquid supply pipe, and a vapor transport tube. The evaporator consists of a low-thermal-conductivity porous wick, heated from a downward-facing grooved heating block that is in intimate contact with the upper surface of the wick structure. The grooved heating block is made of a copper block in which electric cartridge heaters are installed. As a heat load is applied on the heating block, an extremely steep temperature gradient is established immediately at the upper surface of the wick so that water from the saturated wick evaporates rapidly adjacent to the heated surface. Subsequently, menisci are formed at the vapor/liquid interface to develop a capillary force to pump subcooled liquid into the wick from the liquid reservoir.

Abstract: An admixture for enhancing the durability of concrete to repeated freeze-thaw cycles is disclosed. The admixture comprises as an essential element a natural polymer material derived from millet. The admixture further comprises smaller quantities of naphthenic sulfate salt, triethanolamine and formaldehyde. In addition the admixture can improve concrete's impermeability and chloride ion binding capability.

Abstract: The present invention provides endonuclease-protected vegI promoters, constructs comprising same, bacteria transformed with same, expression products of said constructs produced by bacteria transformed with same, and methods of manufacturing said expression products using said transformed bacteria. Also provided are E. coli transformed with constructs having the vegI promoter, expression products of same and methods of manufacture of said expression products using said transformed E. coli.

Abstract: An information network architecture is described that can handle both ATM and IP traffic. The network emplpoys unbuffered switches that employ a system of priorities in the handling of ATM and IP traffic whereby ATM data is given higher priority to IP traffic, and the remaining cells of an IP packet that is being transmitted are given greater priority than the first cells of a new IP packet so that the cells of different IP packets are not interleaved.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display is described in which the need for a conventional output polarizer is eliminated and the display comprises only a liquid crystal cell, a single input polarizer, a reflector placed behind the cell, and a retardation film placed between the reflector and the cell. A Jones matrix simulation approach is used in order to obtain the parameters corresponding to solution spaces for the above design and several combinations are disclosed that give good results.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for measuring the optical properties, eg twist angle, cell gap, input director, of a transmissive or reflective liquid crystal cell. For a transmissive liquid crystal cell the cell is placed between a polarizer and an analyzer and the transmission spectrum observed while rotating the analyzer until zero transmission is obtained at at least one wavelength. The twist angle and the surface rubbing orientations of the liquid crystal cell are determined by the relative angle between the polarizer and the analyzer while the cell gap is determined from the calculated retardation value d.DELTA.n with known .DELTA.n. For reflective cells cell gap is determined based on a knowledge of twist angle and is accomplished by observing zero reflection wavelengths from a reflective cell with the polarizer and analyzer in cross-orientation.

Abstract: 3-Hydroxy-propanamine derivatives and acid salts thereof having chiral centers at the C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 positions exhibit synaptosomal reuptake inhibition of neurotransmitters, and as such represent a new class of psychotropic agents useful as antidepressants.

Abstract: Optical glasses and polymers are described that incorporate homogeneously dispersed fullerene molecules. The resultant materials may be used as optical filters, the cut-off frequency being easily adjustable by changing the fullerene content. To prepare glasses fullerene molecules are firstly functionalized by amination prior to being incorporated into a sol-gel process to prepare the glass. To prepare polymers a pre-existing polymer may be subject to fullerenation, or fullerene may be copolymerized with a selected monomer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for creating durable blends of polystyrene and polyolefin. The blends of the present invention have improved mechanical properties evidenced by measurement of impact strength, tensile strength, and elongation at break. Polyolefin is first crosslinked by creating a melt of polyolefin and a small amount of peroxide in a mixer at elevated temperature. The crosslinked polyolefin is then melt-blended with polystyrene at elevated temperature. Finally, a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer is mixed into the melt. The method of the present invention can be applied to various blend systems of otherwise incompatible polymers provided it contains at least one component and a compatibilizer that are crosslinkable.

Abstract: A packet scheduling system is disclosed in which a plurality of first-in-first-out input buffers are provided each corresponding to a respective input data stream to a switching node or multiplexer. Credit is allocated to each stream having packets waiting to be transmitted and which is unable to transmit, and the next stream to be transmitted is based on the allocated credit values, the credit of a transmitted stream being reduced after transmission of a data packet from that stream.

Abstract: A character recognition system is described, in particular a system suitable for use in monitoring cargo container codes or vehicle number plates. An image of the code is first analyzed to extract potential characters. As part of this process, long horizontal and vertical line segments are filtered out. The extracted potential characters are then input to a two-level character recognition means. The first level comprises a neural network classifier that classifies a character into a smaller set of possible characters; and then the second level comprises another neural network classifier which identifies which character among the smaller set of possible characters the extracted character is.