Abstract: A method of casting polymer contact lenses between two mold halves in an ambient (air) environment containing molecular oxygen (O2) in which the mold halves forming the cast geometry are exposed to the environment where the air exposure time, the time between which the injection mold used to form the mold halves is opened until the mold halves are assembled is less than 70 seconds, more preferably 40 seconds or less, and most preferably 24 seconds or less.

Abstract: A temple structure for eyeglasses is formed of a spring hinge box, a piece of elastic metal wire folded in two, a flange connecting the spring fringe box and the piece of elastic metal wire, and an ear chip. The spring hinge box has a one-piece knuckle and a hollow with an opening, on its front side, and a longitudinally frontward threaded hole at the end of its rear side. The piece of elastic metal wire folded in two is designed to have its two free ends located near the ear of a wearer with its head portion positioned on the side face of the spring hinge box and its arm portion formed in a streamline or tear-drop shape to have a hollow. The flange, provided with a screw hole, is positioned in the hollow, through which a screw is driven into the threaded hole provided at the rear end of the spring hinge box, thereby fixing the piece of elastic metal wire onto the side face of the spring hinge box. The two free ends of the piece of elastic metal wire are fit in the ear chip.

Abstract: A motor vehicle headlight has a single light source and a single reflector which receives the light from the source, and which is tripod mounted on three bearing points defining the three apices of a triangle. The headlight has controlled displacement means for selectively displacing at least one of these bearing points in straight line movement. The controlled displacement means comprise a single beam switching device for displacing one of the three bearing points into one of only two discrete positions, namely a first position corresponding to a dipped beam and a second position, higher than the first position, corresponding to a main beam.

Abstract: The topical application of an azalide antibiotic such as azithromycin to the eye is useful in treating or preventing ocular infections. In one embodiment, the azalide antibiotic is supplied to the eye in a depot for sustained release. A more convenient dosing regimen can also be provided by the use of an appropriate depot. Furthermore, a composition containing a combination of medicaments is also provided.

Abstract: An illumination method and apparatus for machine-vision systems, including a ring-light source (e.g., LEDs arranged in one or more circular rows), and a reflective-ring focusing element. The illumination source exhibits multidirectional ring-illumination properties which are useful for illumination of small components (which are being inspected or measured) without unwanted shadows. One embodiment provides a dark field illumination system. One embodiment of the present invention uses a strobed (or pulsed) power supply to drive the LEDs. Yet another embodiment of the present invention uses a xenon strobe ring-light source and a backplane slit in place of the row of LEDs. In one such xenon strobe embodiment, a color filter is also placed in series with the light path in order to obtain a monochromatic light.

Abstract: A contact lens and a method of manufacturing a contact lens having areas of different thickness, the contact lens being compensated for differential shrinkage during the manufacturing process. The unwanted toricity induced by the differential shrinkage caused by a particular manufacturing process is experimentally determined, both in terms of angular position and power. The lens compensation is achieved by providing an equal and opposite power to the unwanted toricity induced by the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A motor vehicle headlamp has a reflector which is mounted on a support element of the headlamp by means of an interposed intermediate fastening element having a first end for cooperating with the support element of the headlamp, and a second end which cooperates with a mounting component of the reflector, in a fitting direction along which the intermediate fastener is inserted into the mounting component. The intermediate fastener has resiliently deformable fins which extend transversely to the fitting direction and which are engaged with a smooth surface of the mounting component of the reflector, while deforming so as to retain the fastener by friction irremovably in the mounting component of the reflector.

Abstract: A new method of forming a photogate structure called a “Charge Snare Device” (CSD) uses only a single layer of polysilicon where prior art methods used two or more layers for constructing the gate nodes. Typical CCD structures utilize three layers of polysilicon and CID structures utilize two layers of polysilicon and neither of the prior art structures are suitable for standard sub micron processes. The new CSD device allows biasing of the photogate to the full potential that the process will allow for greater full well for a given pixel size and therefore an improved signal to noise ratio. Charge transfer between the collection site and the sense site isn't controlled as in all previous devices, rather the collection site is completely enclosed by the sense site, effectively snaring all collected photon generated charge as it diffuses and drifts to the sense site. The new photogate structure is suitable for passive pixels, Active Pixel Sensors (APS) or Active Column Sensors (ACS).

Abstract: The invention provides progressive addition lenses in which unwanted lens astigmatism is reduced and channel width is increased. The astigmatism reduction and channel width increase are achieved without functional compromise of the distance and reading zone widths, as compared to conventional progressive addition lenses.

Abstract: A motor vehicle indicating light unit comprises a light source, an optical plate having optical arrangements to redirect the light from the region of the source so that it propagates with a mean direction generally parallel to a horizontal optical axis and a flux recovery and distributor bonnet disposed between the source and the optical plate. The bonnet assures a given distribution of the light onto the inside surface of the optical plate in at least a given direction. The optical plate is curved and has optical arrangements having different light transmission coefficients. The bonnet assures the given distribution of light which allows for the different transmission coefficients to obtain an evolution of the illumination at the exit from the plate in the given direction that satisfies a predetermined law.

Abstract: A binocular head mounted display unit utilizing a single display and binocular optical system is shown for projecting an enlarged image of displayed information in the direct line of sight and central field of view of each of the user's eyes, while maintaining the user's peripheral vision free from obstruction to allow the user to selectively focus on the virtual image or not. The binocular optical system directs the user's eyes inward at an angle that is natural for a person viewing an object at a distance that is less than infinity. Further, the binocular optical system automatically compensates for variations in the interpupillary distances of various users, wherein those variations may be as great as one inch. This head mounted display unit is suitable for a variety of applications, including virtual reality applications, as well as a display for a compact portable computer.

Abstract: The invention provides a self-powered display unit for displaying at least two consecutively changing images to be viewed by a viewer, the unit comprising a housing, at least one wall portion of the housing being made of an array of linear lenses having a lenticular front face and a flat rear face; at least one displaceable, light-weight, substantially planar indicia carrier disposed inside the housing at a distance from the rear face at most equalling the focal length of the lenses, and a high efficiency, low energy consumption, battery-powered DC drive means for periodically displacing the indicia carrier for a distance at least equalling the distance between two adjacent lenses of the array.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for identifying an image feature of an object. The system preferably includes a machine vision system for capturing an original color image of the object in a first color space defined by a first set of color axes to obtain a first set of image data. The first set of image data is transformed within the machine vision system to a second set of image data in an optimal color space having an optimal set of color axes which define an optimal direction wherein the amount of inter axis correlation of the second set of image data is minimized. The machine vision system then manipulates the second set of image data to identify the image feature. Color differences existing in the original color image are amplified and separation between chromatically different regions of the original color image are maximized in the optimal color space. Preferably, the optimal set of color axes are three orthogonal axes. The first set of image data is rotated to match the optimal direction.

Abstract: An assembly including a printed-circuit electronics card mounted on a metal substrate, and in electronic communication with the same, includes a capsule which is crimped into a cavity in the metal substrate and which extends through a hole in the electronics card, the edges of said hole being metallised, the capsule being soldered to the metallised area of the edges.

Abstract: Optical systems are disclosed that enable an image sensor to generate an image of either a wide-angle view of an area of interest, or a direct view of an area of interest. In an embodiment, a wide-angle optical system is mounted to reflect radiation reflected from the area of interest along an optical axis. Radiation on the optical axis is directed to a zoom lens of the image sensor. Optionally, a planar mirror redirects the radiation, so that the optical axis is angled with respect to a central axis of the image sensor. In the preferred embodiment, the image sensor is a pan-tilt-zoom camera that can move from the wide-angle view to a direct view of a target or region of interest, using pan, tilt, and zoom controls, under either remote or automatic control. The disclosure also provides a method for maintaining registration of the image sensor when it is moved from a wide-angle view of a target to a direct view of a target.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for partially curing a polymerizable monomer or monomer mixture to form a soft contact lens includes a transport device for transporting a plurality of contact lens molds to a precure station in a low oxygen environment, each contact lens mold including a first and second mold half with a polymerizable monomer or monomer mixture therebetween. A clamping member having a plurality of mold engagement members clamps a first contact lens mold half against a second contact lens mold half for a predetermined pressure and time. While the mold halves of the contact lens mold are clamped, the polymerizable monomer or monomer mixture is exposed to a radiant energy source for polymerizing the polymerizable monomer or monomer mixture contained in each contact lens mold.

Abstract: There is provided a self-powered display unit for displaying at least two consecutively changing images to be viewed by a viewer, the unit including a housing having at least one window-like opening; at least one lenticular panel mounted in the housing behind the window-like opening, the lenticular panel having front and rear faces, the focal length of the lenses being substantially equal to their width; at least one displaceable, lightweight, substantially planar indicia carrier in the form of a replaceable film or sheet disposed inside the housing; an edge of the indicia carrier at least indirectly freely abutting against a cam; a high-efficiency, low-energy consumption, battery-powered DC drive including a DC motor coupled to the cam for periodically displacing the indicia carrier for a distance at least equalling the distance between two adjacent lenses of the panel, and a guide facilitating smooth reciprocating movement of the indicia carrier in juxtaposition with the rear face of the lenticular panel, w

Abstract: A data transmission system for transmitting an encoded stream via a network, has a video transmission unit having a stream coding unit for generating an encoded stream which is packetized in units of abandonable data, and in which a header including a packet identifier also serving as packet priority is added to each packet, and a stream shaping processing unit for determining transmission or abandonment of each packet in the encoded stream generated by the stream coding unit using the packet identifier included in the header of each packet in accordance with the designated bit rate.

Abstract: A panel which comprises a substrate of transparent or translucent material having applied to one or both sides a design superimposed on, or forming part of, an opaque pattern so that the design on one side of the panel cannot be seen from the other side. This is a Reissue of a Patent which was the subject of a Reexamination Certificate No. B1 4,673,609, dated Jul. 25, 1995, Request No. 90/003,201, Sep. 21, 1993.