Abstract: Apparatus for lighting and/or indicating purposes, on a vehicle such as a motor vehicle that has a rear fog lamp. The apparatus includes an electrical supply and a control circuit connecting the electrical supply to the fog lamp and/or an indicator. The control circuit is responsive to activating signals from a fog detector that is adapted to produce the activating signal when a condition of reduced visibility exists in the environment of the vehicle. This activating signal, moreover, is generated in response to electromagnetic waves reflected to a receiver coupled to the fog detector.

Abstract: An interactive control system for controlling the automatic packaging of contact lenses in a contact lens fabrication facility, the interactive control system consisting of a first robot device for periodically transferring individual arrays of a first predetermined amount or discrete contact lens packages each containing a contact lens therein from a first station to an intermediate conveyor where the individual arrays are conveyed to a second station, and a controller for initiating a time stamp for each individual array transferred from the first station and determining elapsed time data for each individual array and for generating position status data indicating a good array or a bad array of defective lenses for each individual array as it is conveyed to the second station, the controller shifting the elapsed time data and position status data for each individual array as it is conveyed on the intermediate conveyor for transfer to the second station.

Abstract: A 3D vision system utilizes a CCD camera to first generate a two dimensional image of the object. A computer analyzes the two dimensional image to determine areas of interest, such as high contrast areas which indicate sharp discontinuities. A laser range scanner, controlled by the computer, then scans the object at a variable resolution, increasing its resolution in the areas of interest to generate a computer model.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of angiotensin antagonist or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the treatment of normal tension glaucoma, wherein said angiotensin antagonist and salt thereof have pronunced selectivity for the AT1 receptor.

Abstract: A system and method of operation performing automated optical inspection to remove peel-bearing defective potato pieces from a random mixture of peel-bearing defective and acceptable potato pieces use near infrared light as a source of illumination. The system implements a method of illuminating the mixture with near infrared light, detecting light reflected by the potato pieces under inspection, identifying defective potato piece surface regions based on the detected reflections, and removing the defective items from the mixture. The system and method the system implements permit the inspection of peel bearing potato pieces for the presence of peel covered defects.

Abstract: The heating plug has a shroud containing a heating resistance of spiral form. The base of the shroud has embossed annular sectors for contact with the outer end of the resistance.

Abstract: A conveying system (10) for foodstuffs comprising a first conveyor (11) and a second conveyor (12) placed side by side with the end of the first conveyor overlapping the start of the second conveyor. The overlapping portions of the conveyors are in close proximity so as to define a transfer zone (25). Each conveyor has a plurality of foodstuff supports each adapted to support a single piece of foodstuff, and a tilting device to tilt the foodstuff support of the first conveyor to cause the foodstuff to roll from the support of the first conveyor to the support of the second conveyor. The first conveyor (11) includes a photographic zone and the second conveyor includes a weighing zone and multiple ejection zones.

Abstract: A system for transporting messages that originate potentially with a third party to one or more other parties each of which is communicating with the other over a transmission system and videophones is disclosed. The messages in the form of video images remain on both videophone displays for a variable length of time. The system enables viewing of an important message by a significant number of individuals over their videophones. The system utilizes the captive time that two parties experience during the setup and connection period for a real time communication.

Abstract: An ophthalmic composition for preventing corneal haze and corneal refraction anomaly observed after anterior ocular tissues are damaged or during corneal diseases comprises, as an effective component, vitamin D such as ergocalciferols and cholecalciferols or active vitamin D.

Abstract: An electrically activated light emitting cylindrical or other shaped composite filament. A core conductor is optionally surrounded by a first optional insulation layer, surrounded by an outer electrode and an electroluminescent phosphor. The entire assembly may be coated with a second insulation layer. Light is produced by the phosphor when the core conductor and the outer electrode are connected to and energized by an appropriate electrical power supply. The filament may be used to form various one-, two- and three-dimensional light emitting objects.

Abstract: An endoscope for use with an elastomeric sheath for performing an endoscopic procedure. The endoscope includes a body, an insertion tube extending away from the body and terminating at a distal end portion, and a sheath retainer connected to the distal end portion of the insertion tube for releasably retaining the sheath on the insertion tube in a substantially fixed position during the endoscopic procedure. The sheath is an elastomeric member movable between a radially expanded position and a contracted position, and the sheath is biased toward the contracted position. The sheath retainer is a generally C-shaped member having a pair of retaining tabs spaced apart from each other and extending away from an outer surface of the insertion tube's distal end portion to define a working channel retaining area therebetween.

Abstract: A fixture device and method for uniformly and efficiently treating an article in a gaseous atmosphere. The fixture device provides a plurality of point contact support locations for supporting the article during the treatment. The fixture device and treatment method are especially useful in the plasma treatment of contact lenses to improve surface biocompatibility and hydrophilicity.

Abstract: A device for inserting a flexible intraocular lens into an eye comprising a tubular member and a plunger. The tubular member includes a staging area, a lumen and an open distal end. The staging area supports the lens in an unstressed state prior to engagement by the plunger. In the unstressed state, the optic of the lens is suspended in a pocket to avoid any substantial contact with interior portions of the tubular member. The plunger includes a slot in its distal tip for receiving and gripping the lens. With this construction, the lens can be inserted into the eye in one continuous motion. Further, the plunger holds the lens when the lens is moved out of the tubular member.

Abstract: A device useful as a display element has an electron emitter and an anode disposed to receive electrons emitted from the emitter. The anode has surface portions differing in resistivity, providing an electron sink portion at the surface portion of lowest resistivity. A preferred embodiment has a lateral field-emission electron emitter and has an anode formed by processes specially adapted to provide anode portions of differing resistivity, including the electron sink portion. The electron sink portion is preferably disposed at a position laterally spaced apart from the emitting tip of the device's electron emitter.

Abstract: Benzopyran compounds represented by 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 speech recognition manager receives representations of one or more words from a speech decoding system and interprets the received words based upon the current context state so as to provide extremely accurate, flexible, extendable and scalable speech recognition and interpretation. The speech recognition manager limits the number of words that the speech decoding system can recognize in a given context state in order to increase the speed and accuracy of the speech recognition process. Whenever the context state changes, the manager loads a new list of words that can be recognized for the new context state into the speech decoding system so that while the speed and accuracy of the speech recognition process is increased, the total grammatical structure recognized can be easily increased as well.

Abstract: A spray container for dispensing a liquid product as a fine mist incorporates a compliant bag-like inner reservoir in which the product to be dispensed resides. The container incorporates a built-in air pump for charging the chamber defined by the outer container with compressed air. A valve mechanism is provided which when actuated by depression of a push-button, causes a mixture of the compressed air and liquid to be dispensed to be ejected as a fine mist through a spray orifice.

Abstract: A method and device for automatically taking pictures of faces has a device for aligning and setting a camera to automatically take pictures of human faces, especially in connection with the electronic further processing (storage, identification, etc.) of face images. The face of a person is detected with the help of an opto-electronic image processing device to localize the direction of the person and his/her face, as a result of which, as a function of at least one positioning signal of the image processing device, a sensor aligning device (2) controls the viewing direction of the camera (8). The invention permits complete pictures, rich in detail, to be taken of faces (portraits) from a distance of several meters by means of a stationary camera without the need for any manual operations.