Abstract: The flatness of at least a portion of a substantially planar surface (16) is measured by illuminating the surface through a beam splitter (12) incorporating a grid (13) or other patterned shield. The light pattern reflected from the surface (16) is directed by way of a reflector (14) back through the beam splitter (12) and thus through the grid (13). The image exiting the beam splitter (12) has characteristics representative of the flatness of the surface.

Abstract: A laser projection system for projecting an image onto a surface comprises a laser projector operably connectable to a computer. The computer controls the operation of the system. The laser projector comprises a laser beam source for generating a laser light beam, a collimator comprising a focusing leans for focusing the laser light beam to a focal point, a collimating lens for collimating the laser light beam beyond the focal point and a wedge-shaped lens having an apertured interposed between the focusing lens and collimating lens. The aperture has a size for passing the laser light beam therethrough. Two scanners direct the light beam about a light path. A photo sensor receives light refracted by the wedge-shaped lens and generates a feedback signal. A plurality of target reflectors, each having a retroreflective material for retroreflecting light back to its source.

Abstract: A frame of digitized video data is compressed by dividing the frame into a plurality of rectangular blocks each typically measuring 4 pixels by 4 pixels. The entropy of each block is determined by measuring the difference between a maximum luminance of any pixel in the block and the minimum luminance of any pixel in the block. Those blocks which have a luminance value above a predetermined threshold (such as the average luminance for the block) are then subdivided into four blocks each including four pixels. Then, for each sub-block of 4 pixels a conventional video color compression technique is applied. For the non-subdivided blocks i.e., where the maximum luminance difference is below the threshold, the entire block is video compressed into a high color value and a low color value which are typically averages of the higher luminance and lower luminance group pixels respectively.

Abstract: A vehicle signal light comprises a support element carrying electroluminescent elements on its front face, together with an optical collimating element. Each electroluminescent element has supply terminals and a semiconductor light source, the electrical supply circuit interconnecting the terminals being arranged on the rear face of the support element, and the latter being non-planar and so shaped to allow mounting of all of the electroluminescent elements in such a way that they are all oriented in the same inclined direction.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements are provided to efficiently use 3-D vision systems to measure selected features of objects that are semi-constrained in compartmented trays having a uniform geometric arrangement. The methods are particularly well suited for optimizing the 3-D measurement of leads on integrated circuit devices which are packaged in trays.

Abstract: A motor vehicle headlamp comprises a housing, having a cover glass defining, with the casing, an internal space of the headlamp in which the light source is mounted. The headlamp includes ventilating means for ventilating the internal space, this being associated with the housing. The ventilating means comprises two projecting portions of the housing, one projecting outwardly and one inwardly. Each projecting portion is closed at its free end by a cap. The outward projecting portion and its cap together define a first duct and a second duct, communicating with each other through a bend, while the inward projecting portion similarly defines a third duct and a fourth duct, again communicating with each other through a bend. The first and third ducts also communicate with each other, and the second and fourth ducts are open, respectively, downwardly to atmosphere and upwardly into the internal space of the headlamp.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting concealed objects, such as explosives, drugs, or other contraband is disclosed. The apparatus uses CT scanning to identify concealed objects with a density corresponding to the density of target objects such as explosives or drugs. To reduce the amount of CT scanning required, a number of prescanning approaches are disclosed. Based upon the prescan data, selected locations for CT scanning are identified. CT scanning is undertaken at the selected locations. The resultant CT scan data is utilized to automatically identify objects of interest. This identification of objects may be verified through further automatic analysis of such attributes as shape, texture, context, and X-ray diffraction. Finally, the objects of interest may be reconstructed and displayed on a computer monitor for visual analysis by an operator.

Abstract: A motor vehicle headlamp of the closed type includes ventilation means for ventilating its inside volume, said means comprising at least one air inlet and one air outlet. According to the invention, the air outlet opens out into a hollow column that is disposed so as to have a substantial inclination relative to the horizontal. The top end of the column is closed. Along one of the outside walls of the column there is an elongate opening which opens out to the outside and which has a top end terminating at a certain distance from the closed top end of the column. Finally, the air outlet opens out into the column at a certain distance above the top end of the opening. This provides an air outlet associated with a device that ensures that extraction takes place adequately even when the vehicle is stationary, while nevertheless minimizing the risk of water penetrating into the headlamp, e.g. due to a cleaning jet.

Abstract: A lighting and indicating apparatus for a motor vehicle, for use in poor visibility. The unit includes a fog lamp and apparatus for automatically detecting the presence of poor visibility. The control system for automatic control of the lighting and indicating apparatus includes a humidity detecting circuit and an optical visibility detecting circuit, the outputs from which are combined by a combining circuit, the combined signal then being processed so as to control lighting or extinction of the fog lamp.

Abstract: A multifocal refractive lens to focus light on the retina of the eye. The lens is comprised of a plurality of segments, having different optical powers, at least one for distance vision and another for near. The lens does not require orientation to produce adequate far and near vision and normal stereoscopic effect. One or both of the segments having the optical powers may have aspherical lens surface. The central zone of the lens consists of only one lens segment, providing a clear central axis. Segments of the other optical power border the first segment along a path defined by a semi-circle or hyperbola that extends from one point along the periphery of the adjoining segments to another point along the periphery of the adjoining segments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fusion of three dimensional data due to an active optical triangulation based vision sensor, and two-dimensional data obtained from an independent TV camera. The two sensors are aligned so that their view volumes are partially overlapped. In the course of a calibration process, a planar target is placed and depressed through the common view volume of the two sensors. The illuminant of vision sensor projects a stripe onto the target. As the stripe is traversed across the target incrementally, it is imaged at every position not only by the camera of the vision sensor, but also by the independent TV camera. The calibration process yields a table which connects the resolution cells of the TV camera to a set of rays whose equations are established in the coordinate measurement system of the three dimensional vision sensor. The calibration table is subsequently used to inter-relate points in either sensory space via their connecting rays.

Abstract: A matrix array image sensor integrated circuit chip is provided including horizontal and vertical scanning means with the sensor cells within columns of the array being associated with an analogue charge sense amplifier. The analogue charge sense amplifier includes a first amplifier in the form of an inverting charge integrator which provides a preliminary detection of the charge accumulated in the sensing cell by integrating the charge to produce a voltage which is capacitively stored in a voltage storage means. The sensing cell may then be reset by control logic while it is isolated from the stored voltage which is in turn selectively sampled using a switch to read out through a second amplifier stage to be provided as an output from the integrated circuit chip. A method for operation of the device in processing an image read cycle is also provided.

Abstract: Topical ophthalmic medicament delivery system combining an aqueous ophthalmic gel suspension at a pH equal to or greater than 7.5 and an osmotic pressure of from 10 to about 400 mOsM containing a pharmaceutically effective amount of one or more ophthalmic medicaments of from about 0.05% to about 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the suspension, of a carboxyl-containing polymer prepared by polymerizing one or more carboxyl-containing monoethylenically unsaturated monomers and less then about 5% by weight of a cross-linking agent. The systems have a viscosity of from about 1,000 to about 30,000 centiposes prior to administration to the eye and remain a gel in the eye for a prolonged period of time allowing for the sustained release of one or medicaments such as amine containing antibiotics alone or in combination with cortiscosteroids.

Abstract: There is provided a lacrimal fluid control device for blocking the flow of lacrimal fluid away from the surface of a wearer's eye through a punctal opening and into an associated caniculus. The lacrimal fluid control device includes a tip portion comprising a generally inverted truncated cone and a head portion comprising a generally enlarged dome. The tip is operable to facilitate placement of the lacrimal fluid control device at least partially through a wearer's punctal opening and the enlarged dome or head portion prevents drift of the lacrimal fluid control device completely through the punctal opening and into a generally vertical portion of an associated canaliculus.

Abstract: A fastener, for fitting a lighting or indicating unit on to a fixed part of a motor vehicle having a hole, comprises a first portion defining a threaded shank adapted to be engaged in the hole and to cooperate with a nut, and a second portion extending from a first end of the threaded shank and adapted to secure the fastener on the lighting or indicating unit. The second portion of the fastener includes an external thread which is essentially coaxial with the threaded shank, and which is adapted to cooperate with a complementary thread provided on the lighting or indicating unit. A spigot is provided on the other, free, end of the threaded shank, this being profiled to enable the fastener to be rotated by a tool so as to drive the thread of the second part into the lighting or indicating unit.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable (10) suitable for lateral illumination lighting installations has a tubular central core (12), wrapped perimetrically with angularly evenly distributed bundles (15) of optical fibers (16) and covered with a transparent sheath (17). The core includes an outer cylindrical surface (14) of reflective material (24) that deflects inwardly directed lateral emissions back outwardly, so they can contribute usefully to the visible light. In manufacture, the bundles are wound about the core by a cabling machine which simultaneously extrudes the sheath about the winding. In a modified embodiment, a cable (10') includes an arcuate cutout (30) that mates with a complementary track (39, 40) of a mounting strip (35) . Strip (35) includes a reflective substance in an area (38) between upper and lower cables (10') to present a continuous, top to bottom lateral illumination effect.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for stabilizing amino-substituted steroid therapeutic agents in topical ophthalmic and other pharmaceutical formulations using effective stabilizing amounts of lightly cross-linked carboxy-containing polymers; Stabilized and stabilized/solubilized pharmaceutical compositions adapted for various routes of administration are also described.

Abstract: A device for automatically correcting the elevation angle of at least one vehicle headlight during changes in the attitude of said vehicle, the device being of the type comprising at least two lighting sensors integrated in the headlight and constrained to move therewith, the two sensors being disposed to detect the brightness of the road in the field of illumination of the headlight in two different directions at two predetermined angles relative to a reference direction of said headlight, an actuator suitable for varying the angle of inclination of the headlight relative to the vehicle, and processor means suitable for generating an actuator control signal as a function of the signals delivered by the sensors which are essentially proportional to the quantity of light that each of them receives.