Abstract: A gas sensor assembly detects the presence of a constituent in a first gas stream. The assembly comprises: (a) a flexible circuit having a pair of oppositely-facing surfaces, (b) a sensor mounted on one surface of the flex circuit, the sensor electrically connected to conductors in the flex circuit, and (c) a channel for directing a second gas stream across the flex circuit surface facing away from the sensor, the channel formed at least in part by the flex circuit surface facing away from the sensor. The first and second gas streams can be derived from a common gas stream. In operation, thermal conductivity between the sensor and neighboring heat-conducting structures components is reduced, thereby reducing sensor electric power consumption.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of deciding whether a data set is acceptable for making a decision. A first probability partition array and a second probability partition array may be provided. A no-match zone may be established and used to calculate a false-acceptance-rate (“FAR”) and/or a false-rejection-rate (“FRR”) for the data set. The FAR and/or the FAR may be compared to desired rates. Based on the comparison, the data set may be either accepted or rejected. The invention may also be embodied as a computer readable memory device for executing the methods.

Abstract: The invention includes biometric security systems and related methods. In a device according to the invention there is an interface plate, a housing and a biometric receiver. The housing and biometric receiver may be mounted to the interface plate, and the interface plate may be secured to a mounting plate.

Abstract: A system including a mobile or portable fingerprint scanner and one or more docking stations adapted to operatively receive the scanner. The scanner can be hand carried to various locations for obtaining fingerprint images and other information such as images from bar code scanning. The scanner is battery operated and has the capacity of storing a number of such images. The docking station is in the form of a receptacle into which the scanner is inserted after obtaining one or more images. While the scanner is operatively received in the docking station, the image(s) stored in the scanner are downloaded via a connection to a personal computer or the like, the scanner battery is recharged and the docking station performs various diagnostic operations on the scanner before it is withdrawn from the docking station for further use.

Abstract: A system including a mobile or portable fingerprint scanner and one or more docking stations adapted to operatively receive the scanner. The scanner can be hand carried to various locations for obtaining fingerprint images and other information such as images from bar code scanning. The scanner is battery operated and has the capacity of storing a number of such images. The docking station is in the form of a receptacle into which the scanner is inserted after obtaining one or more images. While the scanner is operatively received in the docking station, the image(s) stored in the scanner are downloaded via a connection to a personal computer or the like, the scanner battery is recharged and the docking station performs various diagnostic operations on the scanner before it is withdrawn from the docking station for further use.

Abstract: An unsealed optical encoder does not function properly in a fluid other than air because the optics do not function when interfaced with a medium having an index of refraction significantly higher than air. The collimating lens of an optical encoder has two refracting surfaces, at least one of the refracting surfaces being convex. An orthogonal cap of the present invention is attached over an optical encoder's collimating lens to create a sealed air cavity between the convex refracting surface of the collimating lens and the orthogonal cap. This placement of the orthogonal cap is such that the collimated light leaving the sealed air cavity may enter the surrounding medium at an angle that is normal to the surface of the medium, such as transparent oil, so that the collimated light does not bend even though the light is traveling from air to a much slower medium.

Abstract: An automatic finger guide for fingerprint scanners includes active scan area on the scanner surface upon which one finger rests and a non-active scan area on the scanner surface on which the other finger(s) rest to provide stability, a stop post to indicate how far forward to place the hand, a guide post to assist in positioning the finger left to right or right to left as the case may be, sensors on the post to provide feedback to the user to when the hand is properly in place and to determine the position as to where the finger comes to rest on the active scan area.

Abstract: An unsealed optical encoder does not function properly in a fluid other than air because the optics do not function when interfaced with a medium having an index of refraction significantly higher than air. The collimating lens of an optical encoder has two refracting surfaces, at least one of the refracting surfaces being convex. An orthogonal cap of the present invention is attached over an optical encoder's collimating lens to create a sealed air cavity between the convex refracting surface of the collimating lens and the orthogonal cap. This placement of the orthogonal cap is such that the collimated light leaving the sealed air cavity may enter the surrounding medium at an angle that is normal to the surface of the medium, such as transparent oil, so that the collimated light does not bend even though the light is traveling from air to a much slower medium.

Abstract: An unsealed optical encoder does not function properly in a fluid other than air because the optics do not function when interfaced with a medium having an index of refraction significantly higher than air. The collimating lens of an optical encoder has two refracting surfaces, at least one of the refracting surfaces being convex. An orthogonal cap of the present invention is attached over an optical encoder's collimating lens to create a sealed air cavity between the convex refracting surface of the collimating lens and the orthogonal cap. This placement of the orthogonal cap is such that the collimated light leaving the sealed air cavity may enter the surrounding medium at an angle that is normal to the surface of the medium, such as transparent oil, so that the collimated light does not bend even though the light is traveling from air to a much slower medium.

Abstract: The most preferred method of augmenting an existing token-based identification system is to splice into a data stream transmitted from a token reader to a control panel such that an acquired token factor from a user is intercepted by a biometric identification, or authentication, system that is wedged in series at a splice in the data stream. When the token reader transmits a data stream, such as a Wiegand interface, to the control panel, the data stream is used by the biometric identification system to prompt the user to present an anatomical feature to a biometric reader. The biometric reader creates a biometric inquiry template that is transmitted to a biometric search engine, along with the acquired token factor, such as a PIN or barcode, to perform data match analysis against one or more enrollment templates associated with the acquired token factor. The search engine will either match an authorized user or reject an unidentifiable user.

Abstract: The most preferred method of augmenting an existing token-based identification system is to splice into a data stream transmitted from a token reader to a control panel such that an acquired token factor from a user is intercepted by a biometric identification, or authentication, system that is wedged in series at a splice in the data stream. When the token reader transmits a data stream, such as a Wiegand interface, to the control panel, the data stream is used by the biometric identification system to prompt the user to present an anatomical feature to a biometric reader. The biometric reader creates a biometric inquiry template that is transmitted to a biometric search engine, along with the acquired token factor, such as a PIN or barcode, to perform data match analysis against one or more enrollment templates associated with the acquired token factor. The search engine will either match an authorized user or reject an unidentifiable user.

Abstract: An apparatus for introducing one or more branch fluid lines into IV tubing is disclosed. The apparatus including a pair of first and second fluidic blocks having a pair of contact surfaces that may be arranged to respectively engage each other in sealing contact. At least one cutting member is operatively moveable through, or connected, to the other block. In a two cutting member embodiment, a conduit extends between two cutting members and has opposite open ends in communication with an outer side of the associated cutting member. As the second block contact surface is moved towards the first block contact surface, the cutting members cut a portion of the IV tubing extending between the grooves. As cutting occurs, the cut end of the tubing sealingly engages with an associated open end of the conduit to thereby provide for uninterrupted fluid communication through the IV tubing. facilitate connection of IV extension lines by simply connecting the extension line to the conduit through the fluid port.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system and method for imaging human or animal tissue having a surface and including a probe comprising a platen for defining the surface in a manner supporting the human or animal tissue for imaging the same, a transducer positioned closely adjacent the supporting platen for providing an output ultrasonic beam directed on the surface so that the size of the beam at its focal point is as small as possible to maximize the resolution of the system an electrically operated motor for moving the transducer in a manner such that the ultrasonic beam is directed in a path along the surface. A fluid-tight housing extends from the tissue-supporting surface and has an interior region containing the transducer and motor which region is filled by an electrically non-conductive fluid having an acoustic impedance substantially equal to that of water and having a viscosity sufficiently low so as not to impede the movement of the transducer.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system and method for imaging human or animal tissue having a surface and including a probe comprising a platen for defining the surface in a manner supporting the human or animal tissue for imaging the same, a transducer positioned closely adjacent the supporting platen for providing an output ultrasonic beam directed on the surface so that the size of the beam at its focal point is as small as possible to maximize the resolution of the system an electrically operated motor for moving the transducer in a manner such that the ultrasonic beam is directed in a path along the surface. A fluid-tight housing extends from the tissue-supporting surface and has an interior region containing the transducer and motor which region is filled by an electrically non-conductive fluid having an acoustic impedance substantially equal to that of water and having a viscosity sufficiently low so as not to impede the movement of the transducer.

Abstract: An ultrasonic system and method for imaging a surface wherein a C-mode ultrasonic scan is performed over a fixed area of the surface and range gating is applied to that area to a given depth below the surface. For use of the system and method in fingerprint imaging, a live finger is placed upon a sensitive surface, the portion of the finger on the surface is scanned using the ultrasonic energy, and ultrasonic energy returned from the finger portion is received to capture an electronic image of the pattern of ridges and valleys of the fingerprint.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system and method for imaging human or animal tissue having a surface and including a probe comprising a platen for defining the surface in a manner supporting the human or animal tissue for imaging the same, a transducer positioned closely adjacent the supporting platen for providing an output ultrasonic beam directed on the surface so that the size of the beam at its focal point is as small as possible to maximize the resolution of the system an electrically operated motor for moving the transducer in a manner such that the ultrasonic beam is directed in a path along the surface. A fluid-tight housing extends from the tissue-supporting surface and has an interior region containing the transducer and motor which region is filled by an electrically non-conductive fluid having an acoustic impedance substantially equal to that of water and having a viscosity sufficiently low so as not to impede the movement of the transducer.

Abstract: An ultrasonic system and method for imaging a surface wherein a C-mode ultrasonic scan is performed over a fixed area of the surface and range gating is applied to that area to a given depth below the surface. For use of the system and method in fingerprint imaging, a live finger is placed upon a sensitive surface, the portion of the finger on the surface is scanned using the ultrasonic energy, and ultrasonic energy returned from the finger portion is received to capture an electronic image of the pattern of ridges and valleys of the fingerprint.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system and method for imaging human or animal tissue having a surface and including a probe including a platen for supporting the human or animal tissue for imaging the same, a transducer positioned closely adjacent the supporting means for providing an output ultrasonic beam directed on the surface so that the size of the beam at its focal point is as small as possible to maximize the resolution of the system and a mechanism for moving the transducer in two directions so as to provide a two dimensional scan of the surface by the ultrasonic beam. There is also provided a scan controller operatively connected to the probe for controlling the mechanism to provide the scan of the surface and a signal processor operatively connected to the probe for receiving signals produced in response to the scan of the surface and for processing the signals.

Abstract: A scanning electron microscope useful for obtaining microscopic data or images of wet specimens is provided with comprises an electron source capable of emitting a beam of electrons; an electron optical vacuum column with means for focussing the beam of electrons; means for scanning the focussed beam of electrons across a specimen; a differentially pumped aperture column attached to the electron optical vacuum column and having at least two walls perpendicular to the sides of the differentially pumped aperture column defining a suitable series of pressure gradients, each wall having an aperture aligned to permit the beam of electrons to pass through said differentially pumped aperture column; a specimen chamber which may be maintained at normal atmospheric pressure; a specimen mount; means of preventing the buildup of negative charge on the surface of the specimen; and a detector and image recording system.