Abstract: An objective optical system for endoscopes has, in order form the object side, a single lens with negative power, a cemented lens with positive power, and an image sensor unit. The cemented lens has a plano-convex lens, located at the image-side end, with a convex surface facing the image side and an aperture stop placed proximate to a cemented portion and the image sensor unit includes an optically cemented body of at least one optical part, a path bending prism, and a solid-state image sensor to satisfy the following conditions: 1.5<TB/f<3.5 2.4<TC/f<4 where f is the focal length of the whole of the objective optical system, TB is the optical path length of the cemented lens, and TC is the optical path length of the image sensor unit.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for clock generation are disclosed herein. As just one example, a system for clock generation is disclosed that includes a phase/frequency control circuit that provides a feedback control; a multi-range selector circuit that receives the feedback control; and a controlled oscillator that provides an output with a phase and frequency at least in part governed by the multi-range selector circuit and the feedback control. In various instances of the aforementioned embodiments, the controlled oscillator is a ring oscillator relying on inherent capacitance.

Abstract: A stent fixture for supporting a stent during the application of a coating substance is provided.

Abstract: A method for managing recipes using an electronic device controls a camera unit to capture a label image of a food source, converts a description in the label image into text. The method further searches a storage in the electronic device for the recipes containing the text of the food source, displays the found recipes containing the text corresponding the food source on the user interface of the electronic device.

Abstract: Example embodiments include an endoprosthesis that has a first annular segment that is radially expandable and a second annular segment that is also radially expandable. An axial segment, which includes one or more struts, is operatively associated with the first annular segment and the second annular segment to maintain a specified distance between the first annular segment and the second annular segment.

Abstract: An electronic fence system capable of guiding animals under training to return to a predetermined restricted area is disclosed. The fence system may utilize either a plurality of loops to determine direction of travel for a receiver unit or, alternatively, a GPS system. For embodiments utilizing the GPS system, electronic fences are defined in relation to GPS location information. A lock-down mode is used to contain an animal to a very constricted area when a control command is received to initialize the lock down mode or upon a specified condition. Specified conditions include the animal approaching or entering a specified area or, alternatively, a threshold level of charge being reached for a battery that provides power for the receiver unit.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus to separate X or Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells in a population by first placing the population of sperm cells at physiological pH environment, and simultaneously contacting the population of sperm cells with one or more additional sub-environments with different pH values. The exposure allows mobile sperm cells bearing X or Y-chromosome to migrate to the different pH sub-environments, wherein each cell only exposed or come in contact with one pH sub-environment. Finally, the collecting X or Y-chromosome enriched population of sperm cells is performed.

Abstract: A method is presented that makes possible the labelling of powders that can be applied as building material in a layer-additive manufacturing method such as a selective laser sintering method. To this effect the powder is mixed with at least one salt of a metal of the rare earths, wherein the salt has the property that it shows a luminescence when being irradiated with photons having a wavelength outside of the visible spectrum or with particle radiation. Thereby, parts that have been manufactured by means of the layer-additive manufacturing method can be identified with regard to the manufacturer, the place of manufacture or the manufacture date.

Abstract: A method for location tracking that includes identifying a subset of users of a mobile communication network who are located in a predefined area of interest using a first location subsystem of the mobile communication network. One or more of the identified users are assigned to a second location subsystem of the mobile communication network, which is different from and has a higher resolution than the first location subsystem, to measure their respective locations. In variations, the locations may be passed to an operator, the subset of the users may be identified by passively monitoring location information generated in the mobile communication network, the second location subsystem may be provided with information regarding the users, and profiles of the users may be determined.

Abstract: A device (10) for capturing energy from a fluid flow is disclosed. The device (10) comprises a base (12) adapted for stationary mounting relative to the fluid flow. A member (20), having a longitudinal axis (21), is movably connected relative to the base (12) and is adapted to move relative to the base (12) towards a position in which the longitudinal axis (21) generally aligns with a vertical plane parallel to the direction of the fluid flow passing the member (20). A lift generating element (26) is connected to the member (20) and is movable relative to the direction of the fluid flow to vary a direction of lift produced by the lift generating element (26) as fluid flows therearound. The lift generated by the lift generating element (26) drives the member (20) in oscillatory motion relative to the base (12). An energy transfer mechanism is attached to the member (20) and is adapted to be driven by the oscillation of the member (20).

Abstract: This invention relates to a spinal fusion system and method for use as a prosthetic implant. The system and method includes a housing dimensioned to be situated between adjacent spinal bones, such as adjacent vertebrae. The housing cooperates with the spinal bones to define a graft area for receiving graft material, which may be inserted anteriorly into the housing during a surgical operation such as a vertebrectomy or discectomy. A housing may have various features such as migration preventers to prevent the housing from migrating posteriorly towards a spinal column and can be used with a cover that permits the housing to “float” relative thereto. Screws are provided in one embodiment and are dimensioned or configured to lock against each other to retain the screws and, consequently, the cover in place.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a main body, a camera positioned in the main body, a fill-in light emitting unit positioned in the main body adjacent to the camera, and an optical lens positioned between the fill-in light emitting unit and outside of the main body. The optical lens includes an incident surface facing the fill-in light emitting unit, a light emitting surface opposite to the incident surface, and a plurality of elongated V-shaped ridges formed on the incident surface. The elongated V-shaped ridges are substantially parallel to each other and symmetrical about a central portion of the optical lens. Vertex angles between symmetric elongated V-shaped ridges progressively increase along a direction away from the fill-in light emitting unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for document and product authentication using a variety of absorption and emission signatures are disclosed. Emission signatures in the form of florescent or phosphorescent coatings, inks and substrates are used for authentication and protection of items such as documents, currency, and secondary packaging for tobacco, luxury goods and pharmaceuticals. Spectrally overlapping absorption and emission materials are combined to provide a unique spectral fingerprint detectable by a scanner.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to scanning of large flat substrates for reading and writing images. Examples are flat panel displays, PCB's and photovoltaic panels. Reading and writing is to be understood in a broad sense: reading may mean microscopy, inspection, metrology, spectroscopy, interferometry, scatterometry, etc. of a large workpiece, and writing may mean exposing a photoresist, annealing by optical heating, ablating, or creating any other change to the surface by an optical beam. In particular, we disclose a technology that uses a rotating or swinging arm that describes an arc across a workpiece as it scans, instead of following a traditional straight-line motion.

Abstract: A switching power source device which has main switch elements which switch a current path of the series resonant circuit, and a transformer which induces a current to a secondary side, controls the main switch elements on a primary side. Synchronous rectification switch elements are turned ON and OFF in response to one of the main switch elements. A synchronous control circuit which turns the synchronous rectification switch element ON in synchronization with an ON timing of the main switch element, or a conduction timing of internal diodes in the synchronous rectification switch elements detected by an inter-terminal voltage signal of the synchronous rectification switch element, whichever timing is later, determines a maximum ON width of the synchronous rectification switch element in accordance with a delay time of the conduction timing of the internal diodes with respect to the ON timing of the main switch element.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a main body and a supporting stand. The main body defines a sliding groove. The supporting stand includes a fixed bracket assembled in the sliding groove of the main body, and a rotatable bracket rotatably connected to the fixed bracket. The fixed bracket defines a receiving groove. The rotatable bracket is received in the receiving groove of the fixed bracket at a first state, and the rotatable bracket is rotated out from the receiving groove of the fixed bracket at a second state to support the portable electronic device to stand on a flat surface.

Abstract: When a plurality of X-ray images in a time sequence is stored in an image data storing unit (25), a marker coordinate detecting unit (26a) detects coordinates of a stent marker in each X-ray image, and a motion vector calculating unit (26b) calculates, with coordinates of the stent marker detected in a first frame as reference coordinates, a motion vector of the coordinates of the stent marker detected in each X-ray image of a second and subsequent frames with respect to the reference coordinates. Then, a filter application range determining unit (26c) moves and determines an application range of a smoothing filter in each X-ray image based on the motion vector, and the filtered image generating unit (26d) generates a filtered image by performing a process by the smoothing filter between application ranges determined in a process target image and a reference image.

Abstract: The invention is a method for amplification and detection of nucleic acids using primers and at least one hybridization probe labeled with a first fluorescent moiety and a second moiety, capable of changing the fluorescence of said first fluorescent moiety. The method comprises the steps of effecting denaturation of said target, formation of hybrids between said primers and probe and said target and detecting the change in fluorescence of said first fluorescent moiety, upon formation of said hybrids. Reaction mixtures and kits for practicing the method of the present invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention involves methods and systems for using electrical stimulation to treat neurological disorders. More particularly, the method comprises surgically implanting an electrical stimulation lead that is in communication with spinal nervous tissue associated with a first, second, or third cervical vertebral segment to result in spinal nervous tissue stimulation, thus treating a wide variety of neurological disorders.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for generating a motion-corrected 3D image of a cyclically moving object by means of an ultrasound probe, comprising the steps of providing at least one 3D reference image of the object, the 3D reference image showing the object substantially at one particular phase in its cyclic movement; acquiring a set of sub-images of the object by sweeping the ultrasound probe over the moving object; registering at least two, preferably all, of the sub-images with the 3D reference image, thereby generating at least two motion-corrected sub-images; and reconstructing a motion-corrected 3D image from the motion-corrected sub-images. The invention is also directed to a corresponding device, computer program, and digital storage medium.