Abstract: A chocolate tempering machine is digitally programmable for controlling the heating, cooling and rotation within the machine. The machine may be programmed to enable agitated, liquid chocolate to retain its proper viscosity for extended periods of time as well as minimizing the amount of porosity in the final product and by controlling bowl rotation length of time, as well as automatically increasing heat at given timed intervals. The machine includes a menu program, whereby a user can adjust and save up to twenty-six different temperature menus or more. This menu program can also be accessed to set and save desired cool down temperatures. Sensors are located such that ambient air and relative humidity can be sensed and audio/visual warnings are provided to the user when these conditions must be altered. A wear-resistant ring for leveling purposes for the machine's bowl also serves to prevent contamination of the interior of the machine.

Abstract: Energy beams with different wavelengths or wavelength ranges may be passed through a gas sample in a test chamber. Ones of the energy beams may have wavelengths or wavelength ranges that are absorbed by particular gases. To determine whether any of those particular gases are in the gas sample, the loss of energy, if any, as the beams pass through the gas ample may be determined. The presence of one or more gases that do not absorb the energy beams may be determined by placing a chemical reactant that reacts with those one or more gases and then detecting a chemical reaction between the chemical reactant and the gas sample.

Abstract: An intraocular lens is provided that includes an optic body having anterior and posterior walls, a chamber, and optically transmissive primary and secondary fluids, and method for making and using the same. The secondary fluid is substantially immiscible with the primary fluid and has a different density and a different refractive index than the primary fluid. The primary fluid is present in a sufficient amount that orienting optical body optical axis horizontally for far vision positions the optical axis through the primary fluid, thereby immersing the anterior and posterior optical centers in the primary fluid. The secondary fluid is contained in the optic body in a sufficient amount that orienting the optical axis over a range of effective downward angles relative to the horizontal for near vision positions the optical axis to extend through the primary fluid and the secondary fluid, thus changing the focus of the intraocular lens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for creating shaped implants, such as intraocular lenses in vivo, as well as the novel implants themselves. Utilizing the method of the invention, it is possible to create an implant in vivo and to adjust either the physical properties such as refractive index, viscosity, etc., mechanical properties such as modulus, tensile strength, tear, etc., or the shape of the implant by noninvasive means. For example, using the method of the patent it is possible to create an intraocular lens in vivo and then adjust the shape and power of the lens through no invasion means. The novel implants are also addressed in this application.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for designing tinted contact lenses that permits the computer-assisted modeling of a tinted lens on-eye. The method of the invention provides a substantially accurate prediction as to the appearance of the lens on-eye and reduces the number of designs that must be clinically tested and the number of iterations that each design must go through.

Abstract: Autonomous personal service robot to monitor its owner for symptoms of distress and provide assistance. The system may include sensors to detect situations before they affect people such as smoke, heat, temperature and carbon monoxide sensors. The system can provide security for the home. The PRA may comprise features such as a medicine dispenser and blood pressure cuff. Features such as broadband internet, MP3 player, reading lights and eye glass tracker provide butler type capabilities that enable the system to appeal to markets beyond the elderly and infirmed. The system may also include an X10 transmitter/receiver to automatically control various household lights and appliances. Equipping the system with a robot arm enables the robot to fetch items, turn on and off wall switches and open the refrigerator.

Abstract: A method automatically corrects dust artifact within images acquired by a system including a digital acquisition device including a lens assembly and a translucent lens cap. Multiple original digital images are acquired with the digital acquisition device. Probabilities that certain pixels correspond to dust artifact regions within the images are determined based at least in part on a comparison of suspected dust artifact regions within two or more of the images. Probable dust artifact regions are associated with extracted parameter values relating to the lens assembly when the images were acquired. A statistical dust map is formed including mapped dust regions based on the determining and associating. Pixels corresponding to correlated dust artifact regions are corrected within further digitally-acquired images based on the associated statistical dust map.

Abstract: A method of playing a poker-type scratch ticket game where a scratch ticket has a plurality of two-card starter hands and five community cards. A player reveals any unrevealed playing cards. Each starter hand is combined with the community cards to form complete hands. The player is paid a predetermined amount if any of the complete hands is found in a pay table. Optionally, the predetermined amount is based on the rank of the hand. Optionally, there is more than one set of community cards.

Abstract: A method of providing an eye diagnosis. The method includes displaying stimuli to a patient, receiving indications of locations in which the stimuli were perceived by the patient, analyzing the spatial relationship between at least some of the received indicated locations and classifying the patient with regard to a retinal related disease, at least partially based on the spatial analysis.

Abstract: A lighting and/or signaling device for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one light source emitting a light beam and at least one optical guide in which the light beam propagates, the optical guide comprising: a first face forming an exit face for the light beam, and a second face, opposite to the exit face, forming a reflection face for the light beam, such that the light guide is associated with a diffusing screen disposed opposite the reflection face of the light guide.

Abstract: Device for transferring electronic components (2) from a inclined gravity supply track (3) to another element, more particularly a receiving element (6), characterised in that it comprises at least one swing arm (14) fixed to an inclined rotating shaft (13) that is connected to driving means (15) and that is positioned between the supply track (3) and the receiving element (6), whereby the swing arm (14) forms an angle (C) with the rotating shaft (13) and is at least rotatable between a first position, whereby it is situated parallel to and above the supply track (3), and a second position whereby the swing arm (14) is situated above the receiving element (6), said device (1) further comprising suction means to suck up and to hold a concerned component (2) against the swing arm (14).

Abstract: A headlight apparatus has a lighting element with a connector base disposed in an aperture formed in the lighting element. The connector base has a set of terminals arranged to make contact with a set of electrical contact zones of a complementary module. Each electrical contact zone is so disposed, on a surface portion of an electronic printed circuit of the complementary module, as to be directly accessible for the corresponding terminal.

Abstract: A conveying assembly for fruit handling, comprising a carriage (20) adapted to be attached to a conveying chain arranged to displace the carriage in a conveying direction, a cup (30) adapted to support a single piece of fruit, the cup being secured to the carriage via a parallelogram linkage (41, 42, 22, 35) extending transversely to the conveying direction, the cup being pivotally secured to the linkage to be moveable from a conveying position to a discharge position, the linkage having release means (60) to cause the cup to pivot relative to the linkage transversely of the conveying direction to the discharge position to effect discharge of the fruit, the linkage allowing the cup to be vertically displaceable to effect weighting of the fruit.

Abstract: An optical module for lighting and/or signalling apparatus for a motor vehicle, the optical module comprising at least one main reflector associated with at least one light source for emitting a main light beam. The optical module includes at least one supplementary reflective zone outside the main reflector and adapted to receive some of the light which comes directly or indirectly from the light source, and to reflect it so as to create a secondary light beam in a mean direction which is different from the mean direction of the main light beam.

Abstract: A two piece sealed capsule that is inserted into a liquid bearing container including but not limited to the neck of a bottle, said capsule being a container or receptacle for sealably containing a liquid and/or dry material and a dispenser for releasing the material when desired into the container. The top of the capsule is depressed manually forcing two or more blade like prongs against the bottom of the capsule ripping a portion away, dispensing the material. The present invention allows the use of materials that would discolor, degrade or interact with other substances when added to the contents of the bottle, to remain stable and/or inactive until the time of use.

Abstract: A protective assembly for a printed-circuit electronics card having a metal substrate and a metal screening cover electrically connected to the substrate. The substrate includes a recessed gutter in which the edge of the cover is accommodated. The edge is crimped onto the substrate in the gutter.

Abstract: A system and method for remotely ordering and purchasing eyeglasses via a network includes a user interface unit, an eyeglass ordering and marketing service center, and a network that connects therebetween. The system includes an eyeglass frame selection unit for selecting eyeglass frames from among a plurality of eyeglass frames in response to user input, a unit for creating display information concerning eyeglass frames, a unit for testing the vision of the user, and an eyeglass lens selection unit for selecting lenses from among a plurality of eyeglass lenses in response to user input. The system also includes an eyeglass ordering and marketing processor wherein the frame selection unit, the vision test unit, and the lens selection unit performing a vision test in response to the requirements of the user. Appropriate eyeglass frames and eyeglass lenses are determined which best fit the user.

Abstract: Methods and devices for detecting eye disease and for assessing the clinical stage of an eye disease in an individual. The methods include projecting test patterns onto the retina of a tested eye and subjecting the individual to a competing sensory stimuli. The competing stimuli may be of various different sensory modalities including visual, auditory, or other sensory modalities. If the individual perceives a difference in at least one localized part of the perceived image of a test pattern as compared to a predefined reference pattern, the individual provides a response indicative of the difference or differences. The responses are processed to assess the severity of eye disease if a disease is detected, or to determine the clinical stage of a detected eye disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a shunt for the flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye to Schlemm's canal. The device comprises at least one lumen and optionally has at least one anchor extending from the proximal portion within the anterior chamber to assist in placement and anchoring of the device in the correct anatomic position.

Abstract: A technique for processing a digital image uses face detection to achieve one or more desired image processing parameters. A group of pixels is identified that corresponds to a face image within the digital image. A skin tone is detected for the face image by determining one or more default color or tonal values, or combinations thereof, for the group of pixels. Values of one or more parameters are adjusted for the group of pixels that correspond to the face image based on the detected skin tone.