Abstract: The invention relates to improvements and the formation of magnetrons for use in sputter depositing material from a targeted material mounted therein. The improvement allows contamination of the target to be reduced in comparison to those of conventional magnetrons, arcing of the magnetron to be reduced, and the deficiency and quality of the coating process and target utilization to be enhanced by providing an array of magnets around the periphery of the target in addition to a first array of magnets to the rear of the target, thus causing the effect of the magnetic field on the target to be substantially uniform.

Abstract: An ophthalmic composition that provides sustained release of a water soluble medicament is formed comprising a crosslinked carboxy-containing polymer, a medicament, a sugar and water. The composition has a pH of at least 6.7 but a viscosity of from about 1000 to 5000 cps.

Abstract: The present invention provides for significantly improved ultraviolet optical filters. This new class of optical filters benefits from improved optical performance, extended physical longevity, high imaging quality of transmitted radiation, transmitted wavelength stability, and minimal autofluorescence. Preferred filters of the invention do not require any sealing from the ambient, are stable, and do not degrade over time and exposure to UV irradiation, and offer superior transmittance for use as bandpass filters.

Abstract: A system for precompensating the refractive properties of an eye includes optical components for directing a beam of light through the eye for reflection from the retina. The reflected beam, which includes the refractive aberrations caused by the eye, is then separated into a plurality of individual beams by a lenslet. The plurality of individual beams are then collectively analyzed by a computer to establish an acuity map for the eye. Next, the acuity map is reversed by the computer to generate a negative acuity map, and this negative acuity map is then used to electronically configure the reflective surface of an active mirror in accordance with the negative acuity map. Subsequently, incoming light from a stimulus is reflected from the active mirror, and is thereby precompensated before reaching the eye as an undistorted light beam. It is contemplated by the present invention that a time history of the various active mirror configurations that are required by an eye can be used for diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: A motor vehicle headlamp comprises an ellipsoidal reflector with two focus regions, a light source in the region of the first focus and a convergent lens focused on the region of the second focus. At least one optical plate exposed to light emitted directly by the light source includes an optical processing arrangement which returns at least a part of the direct light into the illumination field of the headlamp. An intermediate framework part fixed to the reflector is provided between the reflector and the lens and the intermediate part includes an arrangement for fixing the optical plate. Applications include elliptical headlamps with an enlarged illuminating area.

Abstract: A head mounted display system is shown that is modular such that various components of the system are removably mounted and/or adjustably mounted on a frame that is supported on a user's head. The head mounted display system can thus accommodate different users and components of different configurations. In particular, the display system includes a mirror through which a displayed image is viewed, the position of the mirror being adjustable and the mirror being removable from the frame of the display system. The display system further includes a nose piece that is adjustably mounted on the frame so as to allow the distance between the frame member supporting the display and a nose bridge to be varied. The nose piece is further completely removable from the frame of the display system so as to allow the display system to accommodate a user wearing conventional glasses. The display system also includes removable earphones and removable earphone retainers disposed on the temples of the display system.

Abstract: A system for inspecting ophthalmic lenses and including transport, illumination, imaging and image processing subsystems. The transport system moves a multitude of ophthalmic lenses along a predetermined path to move each of those lenses, one at a time, into a lens inspection position, and the illumination subsystem generates a series of light pulses and directs a respective one light pulse through each ophthalmic lens. The imaging subsystem generates a set of signals representing selected portions of the light pulses transmitted through the ophthalmic lenses, and the image processing subsystem receives those signals from the imaging subsystem and processes those signals according to a predetermined program to identify at least one condition of each of the lenses.

Abstract: An interactive exercise system including exercise equipment having a resistance system, a speed sensor, a controller that varies the resistance setting of the exercise equipment, and a playback device for playing pre-recorded video and audio. The controller, operating in conjunction with speed information from the speed sensor and terrain information from media table files, dynamically varies the resistance setting of the exercise equipment in order to simulate varying degrees of difficulty while the playback device concurrently plays back the video and audio to create the simulation that the user is exercising in a natural setting such as a real-world exercise course.

Abstract: A laned conveyor apparatus includes an infeed roller and an outfeed roller rotatably mounted to a frame in spaced apart relation for movably supporting a flexible product-carrying belt that forms a closed loop about the rollers to define a conveying region having a length and a width. A plurality of elastic separating bands are removably positioned around the rollers and the product-carrying belt and spaced apart at intervals along the width of the conveying region to form lanes along the length of the conveying region. The separating bands contact an outer surface of the product-carrying belt to form a frictional interface with the product-carrying belt that causes the separating bands to move in coordination with movement of the product-carrying belt. A guide mechanism mounted to the frame includes multiple guide features spaced apart at intervals along the width of the conveying region for guiding the separating bands so that the lanes are accurately and precisely positioned in relation to the frame.

Abstract: This invention is a vacuum centering device which may be used in conjunction with other surgical instruments in opthomological surgery. The device provides an improved interface with the eye by way of features that reduce interference with a patient's eyelids interocular pressure and/or the propensity to rotate. These features may include a flared outer wall portion which may either be curved or straight for a section, providing a low profile vacuum chamber, and/or the use of a non-circular outer sealing region potentially producing a saddle-shaped outer periphery providing for potentially increased vacuum exposure to the eye and a contour resistant to rotation.

Abstract: A motor vehicle headlight comprises a light source having a given geometry, a mirror and a lens. The mirror co-operates with the source to generate a beam delimited by a cut-off at least part of which is horizontal. The source has the general shape of a cylinder having a horizontal axis perpendicular to an optical axis and a length less than the width of the mirror. At least one vertical section of the mirror has a profile such that a ray emitted tangentially by an edge of the source is reflected parallel to the optical axis and rays emitted by the rest of the source are reflected downwards relative to the optical axis. The mirror has at the height of the source a horizontal section adapted to assure a predetermined horizontal distribution of light.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for use in the coating of surfaces of substrates by Physical Vapor Deposition systems (PVD) wherein the deposition in material is applied onto the said surfaces by the sputtering of the same using the PVD system. The invention provides means for preventing sputtering material from applying or landing onto surfaces other than which is desired to be coated in the said coating process. The masking means allow the prevention and/or removal of such material which is known as backscattered material and the invention described claims protection for several embodiments and methods of achieving this thereby improving subsequent adhesion propertied and optical quantities, if applicable, of the coating.

Abstract: The invention provides progressive lenses with reduced unwanted astigmatism obtained by combining progressive addition and regressive surfaces. The unwanted astigmatisms of the progressive and regressive surfaces act to cancel each other. Thus, the lens has reduced unwanted astigmatism compared to prior art lenses of comparable dioptric add power.

Abstract: A contact lens and a method and apparatus for manufacturing a contact lens having areas of different thickness, the contact lens being compensated for differential shrinkage during the manufacturing process. The angular offset of the cylinder axis due to differential shrinkage is compensated for by introducing an equal and opposite offset during the manufacturing process. The axis offset caused by a particular manufacturing process is experimentally determined, i.e., for each intended cylinder axis, the corresponding offset (in terms of degrees of rotation) is determined. The lens compensation is implemented by adjusting the manufacturing process so that upon curing the lens corresponds to the desired, prescribed lens, without any axis offset.

Abstract: A barcode image processing system which processes video signals including video data representing images of barcode labels to be decoded and verified. A video signal containing video data representative of successive images of a plurality of barcode labels is processed to extract the video data and the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals from the video signal. A digitalization circuit is provided which digitalizes the video signal over a varied threshold voltage. The range or deviation of the threshold voltage which yields decodable video data is used as a measure of a quality of a barcode label. A gate trigger signal is generated which is synchronized to the vertical synchronization signal and which controls when a barcode decoder decodes video data for a horizontal line taken from a barcode image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fixing device for fixing a housing of a motor vehicle lighting or signalling device to the bodywork of the vehicle. The fixing device comprises a body having a portion that is elastically deformable in elongation connecting a fixing portion for fixing to the body work to a fixing portion for fixing to the housing, the fixing device having one of the two ends suitable for being engaged in an enclosure associated with the housing or with the bodywork so as to provide, in said enclosure, two degrees of freedom transverse to the elongation direction of the elastically-deformable portion.

Abstract: A towable recreational vehicle includes main living quarters having solid side and end walls with panels pivotably mounted on each of the end walls supported by removable light weight support rods engaging sockets on the end walls and on the vehicle frame. A flexible fabric enclosure is supported on a frame carried by the panels which includes a removable component which may be snapped out of a socket in the main living quarters and stored when the panels are folded to the closed position. A mattress includes portions supported on the panel and on a shelf within the unit, the portion on the shelf being flipped over to rest on the panel and secured in place before the panel is closed against the unit. Accordingly, auxiliary living space is provided by unfolding the panels from the main living quarters, but the panels may be easily closed when the unit is moved.

Abstract: A lightweight and low cost replacement display for a conventional cathode-ray tube (CRT) display is provided that projects distortion free digital images directly without conversion to analog signals. The display does not exhibit cross-talk interference when a plurality of displays are placed adjacent one another, and does not present large gaps between adjacent displays. The display utilizes a digital micromirror device that projects a 1:1 bit mapped digital signal to a plurality of micromirrors that are switchable between an on and an off state and projects the image of light reflected from the "on" mirrors onto a direct view screen.

Abstract: An electron beam exposure method is described which provides a means of curing spin-on-glass formed on a semiconductor wafer which insulates the conductive metal layer and planarizes the topography in the process of manufacturing multilayered integrated circuits. The method utilizes a large area, uniform electron beam exposure system in a soft vacuum environment. A wafer coated with uncured siloxane spin-on-glass is irradiated with electrons of sufficient energy to penetrate the entire thickness of the spin-on-glass and is simultaneously heated by infrared heaters. The wafer is exposed to a predetermined dose of electrons while simultaneously raised to a peak temperature in a soft vacuum environment. The electron beam and infrared heaters are then extinguished and the substrate cooled before removing from vacuum.