Abstract: The invention relates to a cigar lighter, comprising a removable heating plug and a lighting body including a lighting socket in which the heating plug is accommodated along an assembly direction and the bottom of which carries a bimetallic strip with electrical insulation. A potential difference exists between the socket and the bimetallic strip for supplying electrical power to the heating plug. The cigar lighter includes a safety blade terminal in electrical contact with the bimetallic strip, and able to be linked electrically to the socket in the event of overheating.

Abstract: The invention provides progressive addition lenses in which lens unwanted astigmatism is reduced and channel width through the intermediate and near vision zones is increased as compared to conventional progressive addition lenses. This result is achieved by combining two or more progressive addition surfaces, which surfaces in combination provide the dioptric add power of the lens.

Abstract: A lighting device (100) for an automobile has a light source (101), a reflector (102), and a convergent lens (103) positioned in front of the reflector in order to form an illuminating light beam. The reflector is of the hyperbolic type with an internal focus (F.sub.1), and an external focus (F.sub.2) positioned behind said reflector in a region of the focus of said convergent lens, the light source being placed in a region of the internal focus of said reflector so that the latter forms a virtual light source in the region of the focus of said convergent lens.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a surgical procedure on a patient is described. An incision is made into tissue of the patient to create a tissue pocket. The tissue has an anterior surface. Preferably, the tissue is corneal tissue of an eye. A reflective element is inserted into the pocket. An energy source generates a radiant energy signal, which is directed toward the reflective element. Reflected energy is received from the reflective element. A detector determines the depth of the reflective element below the anterior surface based upon the energy reflected by the reflective element. The speed of transmission of the radiant energy in the reflective element is different (preferably slower) than the speed of transmission of the radiant energy in the tissue. The reflective element may be in the form of a tool on which is disposed a biocompatible polymer layer, the layer comprising trapped air spaces, or a tool having an open space for containing trapped air.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for encoding signs in a given sign language. The sign typically uses a dominant hand for some signs and a second hand is used for other signs the dominant hand remaining dominant of the two hands. In order to encode the signs into a useful form, each hand has various articles defined. The first article is that of handshape for both hands. The next article is that of palm orientation, with location and movement being the next two articles. A parametric value is associated with each of these particular articles. A combination of the articles, such as an article's concatenation in a parametric value string, allows for the transcription of a particular sign. Using this parametric value or even parts of the parametric value for the combined sign, a desired sign or a group of signs may be identified that closely resembles the particular sign being encoded.

Abstract: An information distribution system provides information requested from a user for the user through an information communication medium. The information distribution system comprises a billing processor which is individually from a data processor realized by an application program, the billing processor being realized by middle ware (an operating system). The information comprises a content, billing attribute data including a billing method and a settlement method, and correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the content and the billing attribute data. When a request is made from the user, the information distribution system retrieves the content which meets the request and transfers a request to the billing processor to perform the billing process. The billing processor uses the billing attribute data corresponding to the content to perform a predetermined billing process.

Abstract: A system for staking a haptic to an optic to form an intraocular lens using a laser beam operating near the infrared range with a coaxial aiming laser beam operating in the visible range. A portion of the haptic is inserted into the optic through a radial bore and is exposed through an axial bore spanning from the optic upper surface to the radial bore. The coaxial laser beams are collimated and then focused using a microscope objective through the axial bores, onto the exposed haptic. Aiming of the coaxial beams onto the optic and haptic is aided by the use of a magnifying CCD camera positioned with its optical axis at a 45.degree. angle to the optic horizontal plane. The coaxial lasers, which are typically focused to a minor diameter which is greater than or equal to the inner diameter of the axial bore, make contact with the exposed haptic. Consequently, the haptic is melted and is then allowed to cool, coalescing into a bead staking the haptic to the optic.

Abstract: A photochromic article that includes a host material and a photochromic amount of a benzopyran compound, the benzopyran compound represented by one of the formulas: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7, R.sub.8, R.sub.9, and R.sub.10 are selected from hydrogen, a stable organic radical, a heterocyclic group, halogen, a nitrogen-substituted group, and a nitrogen-substituted ring compound.

Abstract: A continuous monitoring system for regulating access to a computer system or other restricted environment is disclosed. The system employs real-time face recognition to initially detect the presence of an authorized individual and to grant the individual access to the computer system. In some embodiments, the system also employs real-time face recognition to continuously or periodically track the continued presence of the authorized individual. Access to the computer system is revoked when the individual's presence is no longer detected. In other embodiments, the system employs a screen saver program to deny access to the computer system when a predetermined period of user inactivity is detected.

Abstract: The present provides progressive addition lens designs and lenses in which unwanted lens astigmatism is reduced as compared to conventional progressive addition lenses.

Abstract: A rope pull exercising device in which the rope follows a tortuous path around a figure eight braking bar of the type used conventionally in rock climbing. The rope threads through one of the rings of the figure eight bar at least once and around the connecting region that joins through the rings. Mounting structure secures the second ring to a stationary object such as, for example, a door frame.

Abstract: A motor vehicle headlight comprising a light source, a reflector and a cover lens. The reflector generates a pre-formed light beam such that its modification by any optical elements on the cover lens is unnecessary. The cover lens receives, from at least a substantial part of the reflector, radiation having a mean angle of incidence in a horizontal plane which varies progressively with horizontal displacement over the cover lens. The cover lens includes a set of striations for lateral deflection of the light, with each striation having an individual angular distribution law which is determined by the orientation of the light from the reflector and by the lateral spreading characteristic of the striation. The spreading characteristics of the striations are determined in such a way that the aggregate angular distribution law of the different striations has a curve which is essentially flat.

Abstract: A miniature microscope is extremely small, fitting in a palm of a user's hand while providing powerful magnification and enhanced brightness so that the details of an object which cannot be resolved by an unaided eye can be easily seen. The microscope includes a housing have a holder for supporting an object to be viewed. At least one light source is position in the housing off-axis with respect to the object to be viewed. A first prism includes a first prism surface for reflecting light from the light source to a beam splitter surface wherein the beam splitter surface reflects light from the first prism surface to the object to be viewed. The beam splitter surface also passes light reflected from the object therethrough to a second prism. The second prism is positioned with respect to the first prism to provide refraction correction.

Abstract: A hand held, omnidirectional symbology or bar code reader for imaging linear and two dimensional (matrix, maxi-code) bar codes over relatively long working distances. The reader includes an imaging system including a focusing objective taking lens and a two-dimensional photodetector that operate to form an image of a bar code in X and Y directions simultaneously and generate an electrical signal representative of the code for subsequent downstream processing which extracts information embedded in a bar code. Focusing is achieved via a rotating disk that carries a plurality of optical shims for different focus zones. A through-the-lens (TTL) targeting system is provided to visually assist the user in positioning the reader for a variety of code modalities to assure that a bar code will be captured within the field of view and be sharply imaged on the photodetector when the lens is focused.

Abstract: The present invention describes a novel coating process that comprises the use of a functional photoinitiator, or a macroinitiator derived therefrom, in a cascade of process steps, wherein, on the one hand, a functional photoinitiator or a macroinitiator derived therefrom is covalently bonded to a carrier and, on the other hand, an oligomer or polymer forming a new surface layer is covalently bonded to the functional photoinitiator, or to the carrier modified by a functional photoinitiator, via functional groups that are co-reactive with isocyanate groups. The invention relates also to novel intermediates that are carriers to which functional photoinitiators that contain free isocyanate groups are bonded.

Abstract: This invention provide silicone-based, biomedical devices that exhibit improved wettability as well as biocompatability through the use of functional silane agents. More specifically, the invention provides devices at least one surface of which has a functional silane coupling agent and hydrophilic polymer.

Abstract: A system in which a plurality of network nodes are connected through a network, wherein when a computation object of a first network node calls a function (facility) of a computation object of a second network node, the first network node obtains a facility identification codes (numeral) of the object and the function from a remote reference table and outputs the facility identification codes through the network as a message together with the arguments of the function to the second network node. The second network node uses the input facility identification code as a key to obtain the execution address of the facility from a local reference table and executes that facility.

Abstract: A modular submersible video viewing system. The system includes a viewing monitor, multi-conductor cable and camera that store at a portable housing and deploy for underwater viewing. The camera can be submersed for stationary viewing, towed from a watercraft or manipulated with an operator pole. The camera can be secured with clips or bottom support plates in various orientations or be secured to a swivel coupler and steering guide and/or pole. A rudder, ballast weight (with or without a keel), lens' sunshield, lights and/or lenses and filters are optionally mountable to the camera. In one portable assembly, a cable spool mounts to a carry case that stores the system components. In another portable assembly, the viewing monitor, battery and attendant control circuitry are mounted in a monitor housing having an integral sunshield. A handle and a pair of cable wrap arms contain the cable. A recess at the monitor housing supports the camera.

Abstract: A rear projection screen assembly including a screen that is illuminated from behind by at least two image sources, and that has a front side having light dispersing elements for reception of light beams from the image sources in order to display an image with a mainly homogeneous luminosity over a wide viewing angle. The light dispersing elements are defined by a number of closely positioned, substantially parallel, vertically running lens elements, where the lens elements include a number of triangular lenses arranged in pairs of two, each triangular lens having two side faces and a symmetry plane. The symmetry planes of the two triangular lenses for each pair are symmetrically inclined with respect to each other and to a normal of the plane of the projection screen.