Abstract: A coffee refractometer includes a prism that receives a brewed coffee sample, thus forming a prism-sample interface. A processor or microcontroller controls a light source to provide incident light to the prism-sample interface. The prism-sample interface refracts light toward a photodetector. A temperature sensor provides temperature information to the processor. The refractometer includes a memory store that stores a TDS formula that expresses the TDS of brewed coffee as a function of the index of refraction (ns) of brewed coffee and the temperature of brewed coffee. The processor determines the TDS of the brewed coffee sample by accessing the TDS formula in the memory store and employing the determined index of refraction (ns) of the brewed coffee sample to find the TDS from the TDS formula. The refractometer displays the resultant TDS % on a display of the refractometer and/or transmits such information to an information handling system.

Abstract: Systems and methods that process a plurality of surgical instruments for cleaning and/or packaging. A device identifies a robot-ready insert having a predetermined configuration for accepting at least one type of surgical instrument. The surgical instruments are identified and oriented according to type using an automated apparatus. Specialized tools are also provided for automatically opening and closing surgical instruments, flipping instruments and assisting in the processing and maintenance of surgical instruments. The automated apparatus then places each of the surgical instrument types in one or more predetermined areas of the insert, configured to accept a predetermined set of surgical instrument types.

Abstract: A telecommunication system and method for communicating between at least two end users over a telecommunication network, where the communication is defined by a set of parameters. At least two entities, such as one or both of the end users and/or the service providers negotiate an agreed set of values for said parameters that define the desired communication. The entities also negotiate a warranty agreement with the network service provider defining at least one of the agreed parameters to be warranted including a compensation method to be applied should said at least one monitored parameter fail to meet the corresponding one of said agreed values. The agreed warranted parameters are monitored once the communication is established and, in the event of a failure of the monitored parameters to meet agreed values, at least one of the entities is compensated in accordance with the agreed compensation method.

Abstract: A PDP constructed out of one or more plasma-shells with an organic luminescent substance(s) located in close proximity to each plasma-shell. Each plasma-shell is a hollow geometric body filled with an ionizable gas. Photons from the gas discharge inside the plasma-shell excite the luminescent substance. In one embodiment the luminescent substance is located on the external surface of the plasma-shell. In another embodiment, the luminescent substance is located inside the plasma-shell. The plasma-shell may be made of an inorganic luminescent material with organic luminescent material located on the inside or outside of the plasma-shell. Plasma-shell includes plasma-sphere, plasma-disc, and plasma-dome. The plasma-shell may be used in combination with a plasma-tube.

Abstract: A treatment planning, simulation, and verification system is described. According to one embodiment, a treatment plan and a fluoroscopy data image of a treatment volume are received and the treatment plan is automatically adjusted based on the movement of the fluoroscopy data image. According another embodiment, a system includes a treatment planning component to generate a treatment plan and a simulation component to simulate the execution of the treatment plan.

Abstract: A microwave imaging process, and a system controlled by an associated software product, illuminate a target with microwaves from a transmitting antenna. Receiving antennas receive microwaves scattered by the target, and form microwave data. The illumination and receiving repeat over multiple transmitting antennas and multiple microwave frequencies. The microwave data is processed to form permittivity and conductivity images by selecting a background dispersion model for permittivity and conductivity. Permittivity and conductivity dispersion coefficients are determined, and permittivity and conductivity distributions are calculated, for each of the microwave frequencies. Forward solutions at multiple frequencies are determined from property distributions, and a dispersion coefficient based Jacobian matrix is determined. Dispersion coefficient updates are determined using the microwave data, and the dispersion coefficients are updated.

Abstract: A light emitting diode structure has a silicon substrate, a conductive layer, and a light emitting diode. The top surface of the silicon substrate has a cup-structure like paraboloid, and the bottom of the cup-structure has a plurality of through-holes penetrating the silicon substrate. The conductive layer fills up the through-holes and protrudes out from the through-holes. The light emitting diode is disposed on the top of the conductive layer protruding out from the through-holes and is located at the focus of the cup-structure.

Abstract: A chlorine resistant polyamide is formed from the reaction product of an amine and an acid chloride monomer wherein the acid chloride monomer is modified with electron-withdrawing groups that exhibit sufficient activity to (i) minimize any chlorination on both the amine and acid chloride side and (ii) minimize N-chlorination. A membrane is made from the polyamide and, in one application, the membrane is used in a desalination unit.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent display device connected by a blocking diode in series to an organic light-emitting diode (OLED). Each pixel or subpixel of the electroluminescent display device comprises an OLED, a blocking diode to prevent the OLED from being reversed biased, a rectification diode to isolate the column electrode from unselected rows and a capacitor as a memory device. The charge stored in each memory capacitor may be increased by the blocking diode in series with each OLED. A frame period of the display device is divided into sub-frames that have address and light emission periods. Current mode data programming is used to address the device in each sub-frame. A ramp waveform is applied to the row electrode during the light emission period, to cause the capacitor to discharge through the OLED and control the forward current level.

Abstract: A method of fabricating metal interconnects and an inter-metal dielectric layer thereof. A first metal interconnect pattern and a second metal interconnect pattern disposed thereon are formed on a substrate by plating processes. Subsequently, an inter-metal dielectric layer is formed on the substrate, the first metal interconnect pattern and the second metal interconnect pattern. The inter-metal dielectric layer is then planarized and the second metal interconnect pattern is exposed.

Abstract: A non-invasive microwave analysis method determines scattered phase and/or amplitude data for a liquid in a container. A transmitter antenna transmits microwaves that scatter from the container and the liquid in the container. One or more receiver antennas convert the microwaves into microwave electronic signals that are processed to determine the scattered phase and/or amplitude data. Another non-invasive microwave screening method includes placing a container of an unknown liquid in a tank. The container is separated by a membrane from coupling liquid in the tank. Microwave radiation transmits from a transmitter antenna and scatters from the container and the unknown liquid. One or more receiver antennas convert the microwave radiation into microwave electronic signals. The microwave electronic signals are processed to determine scattered phase and/or amplitude data. A pass result or a fail result is determined based on the scattered phase and/or amplitude data.

Abstract: A white light emitting diode package structure having a silicon substrate is disclosed. The white light emitting diode package structure comprises a silicon substrate having a plurality of cup-structures thereon, one of a plurality of blue light emitting diodes is respectively disposed in each cup-structure, and a phosphor structure covering the silicon substrate and the cup-structures. The blue light emitting diodes have various wavelengths and the phosphor structure has a plurality of kinds of phosphor powders and a sealing material. Each kind of phosphor powder is able to convert blue light within a certain wavelength into yellow light.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel 3-phase electronic tap changer commutation and related device. In one embodiment, the invention includes firing a commutation silicon controlled rectifier (SCR), removing a gating signal from a first SCR connected to a first of the plurality of taps, firing a second SCR connected to a second of the plurality of taps, and removing a gating signal from the commutation SCR.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a patient includes obtaining a first image of an object, obtaining a second image of the object, determining a level of similarity between the first and second images, obtaining a third image of the object, determining a level of similarity between the first and third images, analyzing a time series of values that includes the determined level of similarity between the first and second images and the determined level of similarity between the first and third images, and determining a state of the patient based at least on a result of the act of analyzing.

Abstract: A method of determining a similarity with a portion of a physiological motion, includes obtaining a first image of an object, obtaining a second image of the object, determining a level of similarity between the first and second images, and correlating the determined level of similarity between the first and second images with a portion of the physiological motion. A computer product having a set of instructions, an execution of which causes a method of determining a similarity with a portion of a physiological motion to be performed, the method includes obtaining a first image of an object, obtaining a second image of the object, determining a level of similarity between the first and second images, and correlating the determined level of similarity between the first and second images with a portion of the physiological motion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of fabricating a hinge. First, a wafer is provided, and a hinge region and at least two through regions are defined on the wafer. The wafer in the hinge region is partially removed from a bottom surface of the wafer. Subsequently, the wafer in the through regions is completely removed from a top surface of the wafer, and the hinge is formed. Thereafter, a wafer level test is performed on the hinge of the wafer. Next, an etching process is performed to adjust the shape of the hinge. According to the method of the present invention, the thickness of the hinge is no longer limited by the thickness of the wafer, and the hinge can accept the wafer level test.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a process to regulate power for a particle accelerator includes a first circulator, a second circulator, a tee coupled between the first and the second circulator, and a tuner coupled to the tee. An apparatus for use in a process to regulate power for a particle accelerator includes a first circulator, a second circulator, a 3-dB coupler coupled between the first and the second circulator, and a tuner coupled to the 3-dB coupler.

Abstract: A cutting method for wafer-level packaging capable of protecting the contact pad, in which several cavities and precutting lines are formed at the front surface of a cap wafer, and the depth of each precutting line is lesser than the thickness of the cap wafer, followed by the bonding of the cap wafer to the device wafer, which has several devices and several bonding pads disposed on the surface of the device wafer, followed by performing a wafer dicing process, along the precutting lines cutting through the cap wafer, and after removing a portion of the cap wafer that is not bonded to the device wafer, for exposing the bonding pads at the surface of the device wafer, and finally performing a dicing process for forming many packaged dies.

Abstract: A cap wafer with cavities is etched through areas not covered by a patterned photoresist to form a plurality of openings. The cap wafer is bonded to a transparent wafer at the surface having the cavities and is segmented around the cavities to form a plurality of cap structures. The cap structures are hermetically sealed to a device wafer to form hermetic windows over devices and pads located on the device wafer.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a first image element in a first row, a second image element in the first row, a third image element in a second row, the third image element and the first image element being in a first column, a gate driver, a first electrical line extending from the gate driver, wherein the first and the second image elements are connected to the first electrical line, a second electrical line, wherein the first image element is connected to the second electrical line, and a third electrical line, wherein the third image element is connected to the third electrical line.