Abstract: An RFID enabled paper roll includes a tubular core, a paper stock wound around the core, and a radio frequency integrated circuit electrically coupled to an antenna and positioned on the core. A system for reading a radio frequency integrated circuit positioned on an item of inventory in a warehouse comprises a material handling device and an RFID reader coupled to the material handling device. The material handling device has at least member for use in transporting an item of inventory. The reader is configured to read the radio frequency integrated circuit associated with the item of inventory when the item is in proximity to the material handling device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a technique for controlling one or more devices within a physical room of a structure is provided. One or more devices in the structure are coupled, either directly or indirectly, to a programmable multimedia controller configured to issue control commands which, when implemented, change the state of the devices. A virtual room-based user interface is displayed on a display screen. The virtual room-based user interface may include one or more virtual rooms, each virtual room including a substantially photo-realistic depiction of a portion of the structure, including substantially photo-realistic depictions of one or more devices located within the portion of the structure. In response to the selection of a particular substantially photo-realistic visual depiction, the programmable multimedia controller may issue control commands which, when implemented, change the state of a particular device. The appearance of the particular virtual room may be updated to reflect the changed state.

Abstract: Automated image quality assessment methods, which include locating a region of interest, region assessment, contrast assessment, blur assessment, and contaminant detection, on video data and high-resolution imagery. Where the blur assessment is performed without a reference image by dividing the region into non-overlapping block, measuring the wavenumber frequency of the blocks and calculating the ratio of the low frequency to high frequency areas.

Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses, methods and techniques for converting a discrete-time quantized signal into a continuous-time, continuously variable signal. An exemplary converter preferably includes: (1) multiple oversampling converters, each processing a different frequency band, operated in parallel; (2) multirate (i.e., polyphase) delta-sigma modulators (preferably second-order or higher); (3) multi-bit quantizers; (4) multi-bit-to-variable-level signal converters, such as resistor ladder networks or current source networks; (5) adaptive nonlinear, bit-mapping to compensate for mismatches in the multi-bit-to-variable-level signal converters (e.g., by mimicking such mismatches and then shifting the resulting noise to a frequently range where it will be filtered out by a corresponding bandpass (reconstruction) filter); (6) multi-band (e.g.

Abstract: A falling film plasma reactor (FFPR) provides a number of benefits for the treatment of process gases. The falling film plasma reactor uses high voltage alternating current or pulsed direct current which is applied to radially separated electrodes to thereby create a dielectric breakdown of the process gas that is flowing within the large radial gap between the two electrodes. Typical plasma reactors often utilize fixed dielectric construction which can result in potential failure of the device by arcing between the electrodes as portions of the dielectric fail. Such failures are prevented by using a dielectric liquid that constantly flows over the electrodes, or over a fixed dielectric barrier over the electrodes.

Abstract: A vertebral body replacement device includes a body member and a central rod member having two threaded portions and configured to be operatively associated with the body member. The device also includes a first end member and a second end member with the end members configured to threadingly engage the threaded portions of the central rod member. The body member and the two end members are further constructed to inhibit rotational movement of the two end members when the device is positioned within a space within a spine as the two end members will engage the adjacent respective vertebral bodies following rotational actuation of the central rod member causing the end members to move in an axial direction relative to the body member, thereby allowing the two end members to apply a force to the two vertebral bodies. A surgical instrument and method for using the device are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a multimedia resource is shared among a plurality of devices based upon a physical location of an active wireless endpoint unit within a structure. Devices are associated with corresponding zones within the structure. Each device provides functionality within the device's corresponding zone. Using one of a number of techniques, the physical location of the active wireless endpoint unit is determined to be within a particular zone. In response, one or more devices associated with the particular zone are provided with access to the multimedia control resources. Access is withheld to one or more other devices associated with another zone that is remote from the physical location of the active wireless endpoint unit.

Abstract: A cell management system and method for balancing energy across a plurality of cells coupled to a circuit bus. The system can include a transformer, two transformer switches, and for each cell, a first switch pair allowing transfer of energy between the transformer and the cell, and a second switch pair allowing removal or inclusion of the cell in the serial connection of cells. The system can include an energy storage device, a switch pair allowing transfer of energy between the transformer and the storage device, and for each cell, a third switch pair allowing transfer of energy between the storage device and the cell. The system can include cell, bus and storage device sensors and state estimators. The system can include a controller that controls the transformer switches, cell switches, and storage device switches based on the sensor readings and states.

Abstract: The disclosure comprises a pair of inflatable substantially inelastic lobes. A single lobe can be mounted on each of the rear trailer doors of a standard tractor-trailer unit. Each lobe can be inflated or deployed to provide an aerodynamic substantially planar contour extending rearwardly of the rear end of the vehicle. The aerodynamic shape of the lobes with stable and substantially planar external surfaces for air to pass over can be created by a series of internal cords and flag sets extending substantially horizontally and vertically in an array from one side of the lobe to the other side of each lobe. When the lobes are deflated, the trailer doors can be opened and latched to the side of the trailer in a conventional manner.

Abstract: This invention uses LEDs and cross-polarization to produce bright, high-resolution digital images, both with and without glint (which adversely affects the clarity of standard colposcopic images), as well as streaming video at lower resolution. The invention allows for deeper layers of the tissue to be more efficiently visualized at multiple magnifications, thereby enhancing the invention's diagnostic capabilities, and it includes a focusing subsystem and a computerized data management system to archive and annotate still image data.

Abstract: Micromodule subunit cables are constructed to allow for ease of identification between optical fibers in differing groups of optical fibers. In one cable, a first group of fibers is located within a buffer tube core while a second group of fibers is located within the cable jacket, but outside of the core. The fibers in the first and second groups can accordingly use the same color coding sequence without requiring additional indicia such as stripes or binding.

Abstract: Fiber optic cable assemblies having furcation bodies with features that are advantageous for manufacturing are disclosed along with methods of making the same. The furcation body include at least one anti-rotation feature for mounting the furcation body and a viewing portion and/or weep hole. The viewing portion is advantageous since it allows the observation during filling of the cavity with an epoxy, adhesive, or the like to strain relieve components of the fiber optic cable assembly within the furcation body. Simply stated, the viewing portion is translucent or clear for observing the filling of the furcation body and detecting if an air bubbles/air pockets are formed so that they can be reduced and/or eliminated. The furcation body may also have a weep hole for allowing air bubbles/air pockets to escape. Additionally, the furcation body of the fiber optic cable assembly may be secured within a clip or other suitable structure for mounting the same.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes a pair of amplifying devices, a first balun coupled between an input port of the amplifier circuit and RF input ports of the pair of amplifying devices and a second balun coupled between RF output ports of the pair of amplifying devices and an output port of the amplifier circuit wherein the first and second baluns are configured such that the amplifier circuit operates under open condition for signals at a second harmonic frequency even when the second harmonic frequency is within an operating frequency band of a fundamental frequency of the amplifier circuit. In one embodiment, the amplifier circuit includes a bypass circuit which selectively couples balun ports to ground such that in response to a first control signal, the amplifier circuit operates in an amplifying mode and in response to a second control signal, the amplifier circuit operates in a bypass mode.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a receiver is provided for use in a multiple-input system that includes a receiving antenna receiving a time-domain signal corresponding to a plurality of signals transmitted from a plurality of transmitting antennas. The receiver includes: (a) a transform unit adapted to transform the time-domain signal into a frequency-domain signal; (b) a channel estimation unit adapted to estimate, based on the frequency-domain signal and a frequency-domain pilot signal, a combined transfer function corresponding to a plurality of transfer functions of respective channels between the plurality of transmitting antennas and the receiving antenna; and (c) a channel separation unit including a plurality of frequency-domain convolution units that separate the combined transfer function into a plurality of estimated channel transfer functions.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed include fiber optic module housings used for fiber optic modules and methods for manufacture and assembly of same. The fiber optic module housing comprise at least one hinge to allow a component of the housing to be opened and closed to allow easy access to the fiber optic module housing and/or its internal chamber. The hinge may be a living hinge disposed within a single part to allow each side of the living hinge to be bent or folded. The hinge may be disposed on a panel configured to support one or more fiber optic components to allow the panel to be opened and closed about the module housing for access. The fiber optic module housing may also be entirely comprised of a single part employing the use of living hinges between foldable parts. In this manner, no sides or parts of the fiber optic module housing need be provided as separate parts.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for writing data to a storage-device array (i) including three or more storage devices and (ii) having a plurality of stripes, each stripe having two or more sector levels, each sector level containing one sector on each storage device in the array at corresponding addresses across the storage devices. The method includes: (a) calculating a parity index based on (i) an index value for a current stripe and (ii) the number of storage devices in the array, the parity index identifying a first storage device for parity data for the current stripe; and (b) at each sector level of the current stripe: (b1) writing parity data to the first storage device identified by the parity index; and (b2) writing information to the remaining storage devices.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method may include mapping an ellipse with its center at the origin of an xy-coordinate plane to a circle with its center at the origin of the xy-coordinate plane. The method may also include transforming a three-dimensional subject image including a curved profile in the xy-coordinate plane to an intermediate image based at least on the mapping of the ellipse to a base circle. The method may further include transforming the intermediate image to a transformed image having a linear profile by distorting each of one or more points of interest of the intermediate image based at least on a dimension of the circle and a coordinate of such point.

Abstract: An apparatus and technique for operating an RF amplifier having a pre-distortion processor and a drain modulation circuit includes generating a compensating drain bias signal having a value which is a function of an RF input signal, a sampled RF output signal and a sampled drain bias signal. The compensating drain bias signal is applied to the RF amplifier. By sampling both the drain bias signal and the RF output signal and providing drain feedback and RF output feedback signals to a pre-distortion processor, RF amplifier distortions can be linearized enabling the RF amplifier to operate over a bandwidth which exceeds the bandwidth of the drain modulation circuit (i.e., the RF bandwidth can exceed the bandwidth of the drain modulator).

Abstract: A RFID tag including an antenna positioned on a first substrate and a chip positioned on a second substrate. The tag is manually shiftable from a first state to a second state, wherein one of the first or second states is a state in which the chip and the antenna are electrically coupled, and wherein the other one of the first or second states is a state in which the chip and the antenna are electrically uncoupled.

Abstract: A method may include displaying one or more interactive 2D images, each 2D image representing at least bony tissue cranio-facial features of a patient and each 2D image having one or more portions each associated with a corresponding portion of the patient's bony. The method may also include displaying a 3D image representing exterior soft-tissue cranio-facial features of the patient. The method may additionally include receiving input from a user regarding movement of a particular portion of the one or more portions of the 2D image. The method may further include redrawing the 3D image based at least on the movement of the particular portion of the 2D image to simulate response of the exterior soft-tissue cranio-facial features of the patient to movement of a portion of the patient's bony tissue corresponding to the particular portion of the 2D image.