Abstract: A polymer electrolyte includes a self-doped microphase separated block copolymer including at least one ionically conductive block and at least one second block that is immiscible in the ionically conductive block, an anion immobilized on the polymer electrolyte and a cationic species. The ionically conductive block provides a continuous ionically conductive pathway through the electrolyte. The electrolyte may be used as an electrolyte in an electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A self contained sensor apparatus generates a signal that corresponds to at least two of the three orientational aspects of yaw, pitch and roll of a human-scale body, relative to an external reference frame. A sensor generates first sensor signals that correspond to rotational accelerations or rates of the body about certain body axes. The sensor may be mounted to the body. Coupled to the sensor is a signal processor for generating orientation signals relative to the external reference frame that correspond to the angular rate or acceleration signals. The first sensor signals are impervious to interference from electromagnetic, acoustic, optical and mechanical sources. The sensors may be rate sensors. An integrator may integrate the rate signal over time. A drift compensator is coupled to the rate sensors and the integrator. The drift compensator may include a gravitational tilt sensor or a magnetic field sensor or both.

Abstract: High power microwave plasma torch. The torch includes a source of microwave energy which is propagated by a waveguide. The waveguide has no structural restrictions between the source of microwave energy and the plasma to effect resonance. The gas flows across the waveguide and microwave energy is coupled into the gas to create a plasma. At least 5 kilowatts of microwave energy is coupled into the gas. It is preferred that the waveguide be a fundamental mode waveguide or a quasi-optical overmoded waveguide. In one embodiment, the plasma torch is used in a furnace for heating a material within the furnace.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for an analog FM optical link having a low noise figure and a high spurious-free dynamic range. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a FM DFB laser and a balanced receiver. The balanced receiver includes an optical splitter to split the received beam into two optical paths. Each of the two paths includes an optical filter and a photodetector. A differentiator coupled to the electrical output of the photodetectors produces a demodulated electrical signal in response to the RF signal used to modulate the DFB laser. This configuration can eliminate the laser relative intensity noise and second order harmonics. In addition, third order distortion is eliminated when there is no intensity modulation or greatly reduced when intensity modulation is present.

Abstract: A method for scheduling transmission of cells through a data switch having a plurality of inputs and outputs provides a plurality of buffers at each input. Each buffer corresponds to an output, or to a virtual circuit. A weight is assigned to each buffer; and buffers are selected according to a maximal weighted matching. Finally, cells are transmitted from the selected buffers to the corresponding outputs. Weights are based on number of credits associated with each buffer. Optionally, the weight is zero if the associated buffer is empty. A credit bucket size may be assigned to each buffer to limit the number of credits when the buffer is empty. Alternatively, weights are set to either buffer length, or to the number of credits, whichever is less. Or, weights may be set to validated waiting times associated with the oldest cells. Each input/output pair is assigned the maximum weight of any associated virtual connection.

Abstract: An array of nanowires having a relatively constant diameter and techniques and apparatus for fabrication thereof are described. In one embodiment, a technique for melting a material under vacuum and followed by pressure injection of the molten material into the pores of a porous substrate produces continuous nanowires. In another embodiment, a technique to systematically change the channel diameter and channel packing density of an anodic alumina substrate includes the steps of anodizing an aluminum substrate with an electrolyte to provide an anodic aluminum oxide film having a pore with a wall surface composition which is different than aluminum oxide and etching the pore wall surface with an acid to affect at least one of the surface properties of the pore wall and the pore wall composition.

Abstract: Processes for providing enhanced thermal properties of tooling, particularly metal and metal/ceramic molds, made by solid free form fabrication techniques, such as the three dimensional printing process, and the tooling made by these processes are disclosed. The methods of enhancing thermal properties include incorporating integral contour coolant channels into the mold, adding surface textures to the coolant channels, creating high thermal conductivity paths between the surfaces and the coolant channels, and creating low thermal inertia regions in the mold.

Abstract: A method introduces variable time offsets into a stream of optical pulses. The method includes receiving a plurality of coherent optical pulses, receiving a plurality of control signals, and forming a coherent pulse array (CPA) from each pulse in response to one of the received control signals. Temporal spacings between pulses of each CPA are responsive to the associated one of the received control signals. For optical control signals, response times can be very short. The method further includes transmitting each pulse through a dispersive optical medium. The act of transmitting makes pulses of each CPA overlap to form an interference pattern.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a polariton wave within a material includes: generating the polariton wave; and imaging the polariton wave with optical radiation to produce a spatially-resolved image of portions of the optical radiation affected by the polariton wave. The method can be used to identify inhomogeneities in the material, detect electrical signals within the material, or characterize a polariton wave propagating within a waveguide, e.g., a waveguide formed within a photonic crystal. The optical imaging can be based on diffraction, polarization rotation, or spectral filtering of optical probe radiation transmitted through, or reflected by, the material.

Abstract: A rolling device in the form of a two-wheeled toy can record and play back physical motion. In a “training mode,” the user grasps the device and draws it along a surface on a desired path. The motion is sensed and recorded in an internal memory. In a “playback mode,” the previously imparted motion is repeated—i.e., executed by internal circuitry based on the recorded motion, preferably over and over.

Abstract: The use of electroactive materials having regions of high electron density as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging is described. The electroactive materials may be electroactive polymers, inorganic clusters, carbon clusters, molecules that inherently exhibit electron donor-acceptor behavior having regions or moieties of high electron density, or any combination of the abovementioned contrast agents. The contrast agents of the invention decrease relaxation times of water when introduced into a subject for magnetic resonance imaging. It is particularly preferred that the contrast agents be introduced in the form of a colloidal suspension.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for assisting a user in retrieving documents or other data items of interest operates in tandem with a conventional document-retrieval facility, such as a web browser, by tracking the choices made by the user in retrieving and viewing data items. The invention identifies additional items likely to be of interest to the user. Preferably, the invention operates automously, without interruption of the user's activities, delivering (in real-time or upon request) a set of current recommendations. The recommendations take the form of (or include) links to the recommended items, and the user is free to execute any of these links to examine the contents of a recommendation.

Abstract: The invention provides processes for producing a high-quality silicon dioxide layer on a germanium layer. In one example process, a layer of silicon is deposited on the germanium layer, and the silicon layer is exposed to dry oxygen gas at a temperature that is sufficient to induce oxidation of the silicon layer substantially only by thermal energy. In a further example process, the silicon layer is exposed to water vapor at a temperature that is sufficient to induce oxidation of the silicon layer substantially only by thermal energy. It can be preferred that the exposure to dry oxygen gas or to water vapor be carried out in an oxidation chamber at a chamber pressure that is no less than ambient pressure. In one example, the chamber pressure is above about 2 atm. The temperature at which the silicon layer is exposed to the dry oxygen gas is preferably above about 500° C., more preferably above about 600° C., even more preferably above about 700° C., and most preferably above about 800° C.

Abstract: An autostereoscopic display system is capable of tracking one or more users within a viewing zone and presenting complementary stereoimages to each of the viewer's (or viewers') eyes. Polarization is used to segregate the images that are to be directed to different spatial regions. The two images are interdigitated within a single display—that is, each band of image points from the first image alternates with a band of image points from the second image on the display. The bands of the first image are polarized in a first mode and the bands of the second image are polarized in a second mode orthogonal to the first, e.g., through use of a liquid-crystal display (LCD) in which alternating, contiguous bands of pixels correspond to bands of one or the other image, and a “patterned polarizer” also organized into bands and aligned with the pixel bands.

Abstract: High-damage-threshold output couplers with reflectivities suitable for use in high-power Q-switched lasers can be constructed from two pieces of high-damage-threshold bulk material. The output couplers are formed by a thin fluid-filled gap between parallel faces of bulk materials. This forms a reflective Fabry-Perot etalon with a large bandwidth. By avoiding the use of dielectric coatings to form the output coupler, a common source of damage—optical damage to the dielectric coating—can be avoided, making it possible to produce higher-performance lasers.

Abstract: Two distinct scavenger receptor type proteins having high affinity for modified lipoproteins and other ligands have been isolated, characterized and cloned. HaSR-BI, an AcLDL and LDL binding scavenger receptor, which is distinct from the type I and type II macrophage scavenger receptors, has been isolated and characterized and DNA encoding the receptor cloned from a variant of Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells, designated Var-261. dSR-CI, a non-mammalian AcLDL binding scavenger receptor having high ligand affinity and broad specificity, was isolated from Drosophila melanogaster. The isolated receptors are useful in screening for drugs that inhibit uptake of cholesterol in endothelial or adipose cells or macrophages, respectively. They are also useful as probes for the isolation of other lipoprotein receptors and in research the roles of these receptors.

Abstract: An ultrasonic computed tomography tree or log scanner has a plurality of ultrasonic transceivers carried on a belt (102) sized to encircle a tree (100). The belt includes an apparatus for engaging is tightly around the tree (104). The transceivers are strapped around the tree, and their mutual relative distances are known. Electronic circuitry energizes the transmitters in a known sequence. The signals received at each of the receivers are also collected and analyzed. Computed tomographic techniques analyze the time of arrival of the acoustic pulse that is first to arrive at each receiver. A signal processor generates a two-dimensional image of a slice of the tree (110) at the locus of the belt.

Abstract: A transceiver for transmitting and receiving high frequency radiation is described. The transceiver includes a first light source that generates radiation at a first frequency and a second light source that generates radiation at a second frequency. The first and the second light source have a difference frequency that is approximately equal to the difference between the first and the second frequencies. The transceiver also includes a transmitter that comprises a first photomixer that is optically coupled to the first and the second light source. A first antenna that radiates a signal at the difference frequency is electrically coupled to the first photomixer. The transceiver also includes a receiver that comprises a second antenna positioned to receive the signal radiated by the first antenna. The second antenna generates a time varying voltage in response to the signal. A second photomixer is electrically coupled to the second antenna and optically coupled to the first and the second light source.

Abstract: A computer system for displaying representations of processes, including models of complex business transactions in an information management system. The system includes a memory for storing the representations of the processes. The representation of a process is decomposed. Additionally, specializations of the process are represented. Alternatively, the dependencies among processes in a decomposition are indicated along with associated coordination processes. An indication of where a process is used within another process may also be provided. Specializations may also be bundled together to allow for evaluation of alternatives within a bundle.

Abstract: Electrically (and, possibly, mechanically) active patterns are applied using a colloidal suspension of nanoparticles that exhibit a desired electrical characteristic. The nanoparticles are surrounded by an insulative shells that may be removed by therefrom by application of energy (e.g., in the form of electromagnetic radiation or heat). The nanoparticle suspension is applied to a surface, forming a layer that is substantially insulative owing to the nanoparticle shells. The applied suspension is exposed to energy to remove the capping groups and fuse the particles into cohesion. If the nanoparticle suspension was deposited as a uniform film, the energy is applied in a desired pattern so that unexposed areas remain insulative while exposed areas exhibit the electrical behavior associated with the nanoparticles. If the nanoparticle suspension was deposited in a desired pattern, it may be uniformly exposed to energy.