Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes a curved VPH grating with tilted fringes and spectrographs, both retroreflective and transmissive, that use such gratings. A VPH grating according to the subject matter described herein includes a first curved surface for receiving light to be diffracted. The grating includes an interior region having tilted fringes to diffract light that passes through the first surface. The grating further includes a second curved surface bounding the interior region on a side opposite the first surface and for passing light diffracted by the fringes.

Abstract: A method of imparting colour to a plastic substrate comprising applying to the substrate, or incorporating within the substrate, a diacetylene compound of general formula (I) wherein n=1 to 20; R1=an optionally substituted C1-20 alkyl group which may contain heteroatoms; T=H, an optionally substituted C1-20 alkyl group which may contain heteroatoms or —(CH2)m—C(?O)-Q2R2; Q1=NH, CO, NHCONH, OCONH, COS, NHCSNH or NR3, wherein m, Q2 and R2 are independently selected from the same groups as n, Q1 and R1 respectively; R3 is an optionally substituted C1-20 alkyl group which may contain heteroatoms; and irradiating the substrate to impart colour to the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a plurality of microphone units including at least a first microphone unit and a second microphone unit, each of the first and second microphone units comprising a microphone, an analog-to-digital converter, and a local memory. The microphone is configured to capture an analog audio signal. The analog-to-digital converter is configured to convert the analog audio signal created by the microphone into a digital audio signal. The local memory is configured to store the digital audio signal. The apparatus further comprises, a controller unit comprising a processor configured to process the digital audio signals. The first microphone unit and the second microphone unit are operatively connected to the controller unit in a series configuration, the second microphone unit being configured to output the digital audio signal to the first microphone unit, and the first microphone unit being configured to output the digital audio signal to the controller unit.

Abstract: A method comprises providing at least one processing unit comprising a decomposing section and a playback section; receiving, at the decomposing section, audio data generated via an array of microphones, the audio data representing an acoustic scene; decomposing the audio data into a plurality of signals representing components of the acoustic scene arriving from a plurality of directions, using the decomposing section; and rendering the audio components for a listener based on the plurality of directions of the audio components, using the playback section.

Abstract: Spherical microphone arrays provide an ability to compute the acoustical intensity corresponding to different spatial directions in a given frame of audio data. These intensities may be exhibited as an image and these images are generated at a high frame rate to achieve a video image if the data capture and intensity computations can be performed sufficiently quickly, thereby creating a frame-rate audio camera. A description is provided herein regarding how such a camera is built and the processing done sufficiently quickly using graphics processors. The joint processing of and captured frame-rate audio and video images enables applications such as visual identification of noise sources, beamforming and noise-suppression in video conferencing and others, by accounting for the spatial differences in the location of the audio and the video cameras. Based on the recognition that the spherical array can be viewed as a central projection camera, such joint analysis can be performed.

Abstract: The dereverberation of signals in reverberating environments is carried out via acquiring the representation (image) of spatial distribution of the signals in space of interest and automatic identification of reflections of the source signal in the reverberative space. The technique relies on identification of prominent features at the image, as well as corresponding directions of propagation of signals manifested by the prominent features at the image, and computation of similarity metric between signals corresponding to the prominent features in the image. The time delays between the correlated signals (i.e., source signal and related reflections) are found and the signals are added coherently. Multiple beamformers operate on the source signal and corresponding reflections, enabling one to improve the signal-to-noise ratio in multi-path environments.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a row and column array of active pixels, each having an associated pitch. In response to respective control signals, each pixel outputs a reset level which includes noise components, or a signal level which includes signal and noise components. Multiple column buffers, each having a pitch equal to or less than that of a pixel, convey the outputs of respective pixel columns to a bus line. Each buffer comprises ‘odd’ and ‘even’ S&H/CDS circuits, which process the pixel outputs of odd and even rows, respectively. Each S&H/CDS circuit subtracts pixel reset level from signal level to produce an output in which correlated noise is suppressed. Each column buffer includes a buffer amplifier which conveys the output to the bus line. A gain amplifier separate from the column buffers is coupled to the bus line such that it amplifies the outputs of a multiple column buffers.

Abstract: A portable flashlight includes a housing having a first end, a second end, a base, and an axis running from the first end to the second end of the housing. A rechargeable battery is connected to the base of the housing, so that the battery may be used as a stand for the battery. In the first end of the flashlight, a parabolic reflector having a focus is positioned, so that the focus of the reflector is positioned on the axis of the housing. A fixture or socket for holding an electric light is positioned so as to hold the light at the focus of the reflector. A handle is connected to the housing, where the handle has a first end and a second end. An elastic cord runs from the first end of said handle to the second end of the handle; and one end of the elastic cord may be released from the handle, wrapped around a support for the flashlight, and reattached to the handle. The handle may be rotated relative to the axis of the housing.

Abstract: A deadbolt lock assembly comprising a retractable and extendable deadbolt, a housing, an outside member movably mounted on the housing, the member being normally disconnected from the deadbolt, and an operator input device on the housing, the device connecting the member to the deadbolt in response to presentation of an appropriate credential, such that a force applied to the member by the operator is mechanically transmitted to the deadbolt to move the deadbolt.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a row and column array of active pixels, each having an associated pitch. In response to respective control signals, each pixel outputs a reset level which includes noise components, or a signal level which includes signal and noise components. Multiple column buffers, each having a pitch equal to or less than that of a pixel, convey the outputs of respective pixel columns to a bus line. Each buffer comprises ‘odd’ and ‘even’ S&H/CDS circuits, which process the pixel outputs of odd and even rows, respectively. Each S&H/CDS circuit subtracts pixel reset level from signal level to produce an output in which correlated noise is suppressed. Each column buffer includes a buffer amplifier which conveys the output to the bus line. A gain amplifier separate from the column buffers is coupled to the bus line such that it amplifies the outputs of a multiple column buffers.

Abstract: Spherical microphone arrays provide an ability to compute the acoustical intensity corresponding to different spatial directions in a given frame of audio data. These intensities may be exhibited as an image and these images are generated at a high frame rate to achieve a video image if the data capture and intensity computations can be performed sufficiently quickly, thereby creating a frame-rate audio camera. A description is provided herein regarding how such a camera is built and the processing done sufficiently quickly using graphics processors. The joint processing of and captured frame-rate audio and video images enables applications such as visual identification of noise sources, beamforming and noise-suppression in video conferenceing and others, by accounting for the spatial differences in the location of the audio and the video cameras. Based on the recognition that the spherical array can be viewed as a central projection camera, such joint analysis can be performed.

Abstract: A battery pack with a housing, at least one battery cell contained within the housing, a first terminal and a second terminal. The housing includes a substantially ovoidal surface which is substantially symmetric about a first axis of symmetry and a second axis of symmetry which is transverse to the first axis. The surface has first and second substantially linear terminal openings. The first opening extends substantially parallel to and is non-coincident with the first axis, while the second opening extends substantially parallel to the second axis. The first and second terminals are disposed within the housing adjacent to the surface. The first terminal is accessible through first opening and the second terminal is accessible through the second opening. A device for using the battery pack is also provided.

Abstract: A portable flashlight includes a housing having a first end, a second end, a base, and an axis running from the first end to the second end of the housing. A rechargeable battery is connected to the base of the housing, so that the battery may be used as a stand for the battery. In the first end of the flashlight, a parabolic reflector having a focus is positioned, so that the focus of the reflector is positioned on the axis of the housing. A fixture or socket for holding an electric light is positioned so as to hold the light at the focus of the reflector. A handle is connected to the housing, where the handle has a first end and a second end. An elastic cord runs from the first end of said handle to the second end of the handle; and one end of the elastic cord may be released from the handle, wrapped around a support for the flashlight, and reattached to the handle. The handle may be rotated relative to the axis of the housing.

Abstract: Described are substrates for magnetic media which have excellent surface properties as prepared directly from a slot drawdown glass sheet forming process. The substrate blanks cut directly from the glass sheet, as drawn, require little or no surface treatment for use as substrates for magnetic media, particularly hard disk drives. Also described are methods for preparing such substrates and methods for preparing magnetic media therefrom. Further described are the substrates and magnetic media prepared by such processes.