Abstract: An entirely wearable electrical connector for power/data connectivity. The principal element of a modular network is the wearable electrical connector, which is integrated into a personal area network with USB compatibility. Several wearable connector embodiments are disclosed. An enhancement to the wearable connector includes OSI Layer 2 (and potentially Layer 3) functionality. Data Link layer functionality is supported by including electronic serial numbers at wearable snap-connector points.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for still image compression, video compression and automatic target recognition are disclosed. The method of still image compression uses isomorphic singular manifold projection whereby surfaces of objects having singular manifold representations are represented by best match canonical polynomials to arrive at a model representation. The model representation is compared with the original representation to arrive at a difference. If the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, the difference data are saved and compressed using standard lossy compression. The coefficients from the best match polynomial together with the difference data, if any, are then compressed using lossless compression. The method of motion estimation for enhanced video compression sends I frames on an “as-needed” basis, based on comparing the error between segments of a current frame and a predicted frame.

Abstract: An entirely wearable electrical connector for power/data connectivity. The principal element of a modular network is the wearable electrical connector, which is integrated into a personal area network with USB compatibility. An embodiment comprises a non-conductive elastomeric environmental seal.

Abstract: An entirely wearable electrical connector for power/data connectivity. The principal element of a modular network is the wearable electrical connector, which is integrated into a personal area network with USB compatibility.

Abstract: A carton-centric security system that uniquely combines a low-cost version of the rugged connector technology and a novel smart skin is provided. The carton-centric security system includes RF electronics for communication. The system can fully meet the homeland security need to autonomously seal, secure, and monitor the integrity of shipping cartons/parcels below the ISO intermodal shipping container level. The system can seal the contents of a shipping carton within a “smart skin/wrapper,” which physically surrounds the contents, monitors the physical integrity of the shipping carton and detects any intrusion into the carton. In case of an intrusion, the system provides notification of the intrusion of the carton or tampering with the carton security system, including alteration of the carton contents, theft or unauthorized removal of the entire carton.

Abstract: An entirely wearable electrical connector for power/data connectivity. The principal element of a modular network is the wearable electrical connector, which is integrated into a personal area network with USB compatibility. An embodiment comprises a non-conductive elastomeric environmental seal.

Abstract: An entirely wearable electrical connector for power/data connectivity. The principal element of a modular network is the wearable electrical connector, which is integrated into a personal area network with USB compatibility. Several wearable connector embodiments are disclosed. An enhancement to the wearable connector includes OSI Layer 2 (and potentially Layer 3) functionality. Data Link layer functionality is supported by including electronic serial numbers at wearable snap-connector points.

Abstract: An entirely wearable electrical connector for power/data connectivity. The principal element of a modular network is the wearable electrical connector, which is integrated into a personal area network with USB compatibility.

Abstract: One subject of this invention is the development of a novel region of interest (ROI) method, or Frame Segmentation Method that can be provided within a video stream, in real-time, or more precisely within a few milliseconds of video frame duration of 30 msec, or even in the sub-millisecond range. This video frame segmentation is the basis of Pre-ATR-based Ultra-Real-Time (PATURT) video compression. Still other subjects of this invention are morphing compression, and watermarking, also based on the PATURT. The applications of the PATURT innovation include ROI-based real-time video recording that has special applications for aircraft pilot/cockpit video recording in “black-box” devices, recording aircraft accidents, or catastrophes. Such black-box devices usually need to pass high impact (3400 g), high temperature (1100° C., in 1 h), and other harsh environmental tests. In this invention, they also have the capability of reporting the last cockpit events up to 0.

Abstract: An entirely wearable electrical connector for power/data connectivity. The principal element of a modular network is the wearable electrical connector, which is integrated into a personal area network with USB compatibility. Several wearable connector embodiments are disclosed. The first, an O-ring based version, was subsequently replaced by a more mature second version, which is based on anisotropic pressure sensitive conductive elastomer. Both are snap-style, low-profile, 360°-moving, round, blind operable plug-and-play, reconfigurable wearable connectors with power/data daisy-lattice-style connectivity. A third embodiment comprises a non-conductive elastomeric environmental seal. A fourth embodiment utilizes a self-acting, automatic shutter-type environmental seal. A fifth embodiment comprises a smaller version that resembles a conventional snap fastener commonly used on clothing.

Abstract: An information carrier in a preferred embodiment is worn like a dog-tag and carries data such as medical information. The tag operates wirelessly, communicating with a nearby reader which interrogates the tag with a selected combination of RF signal frequencies. Extremely long term battery usage is achieved by connecting the battery in the tag only when the proper combination of RF signals, each at least at a minimum threshold power level, is received at the tag to produce a trigger voltage in activation logic to close a solid state switch. After a sequence of communications between the reader and the tag is then completed to transfer selected data from the memory, the battery is again disconnected to preserve battery energy for very long periods of time. The battery may be slowly recharged by ambient energy using a scavenging antenna array.

Abstract: Two embodiments of a connector that can be mated without regard for its orientation are disclosed. One embodiment is mated and demated autonomously as part of a system for recovering, docking with, recharging and re-launching unmanned aerial vehicles. Another embodiment is employed on the decks of vessels to facilitate mating and demating of various equipment providing different functions to reconfigure the vessel. Because both embodiments are configured for connection irrespective of angular orientation over 360°, they are especially suited for harsh environments including autonomous operation, rough seas, darkness and the like.

Abstract: A panoramic annular lens system (PAL), a unitary video camera and a PC-based software system that unwraps a 360° video image into a seamless, distortion free horizontal image image in real time. The PAL system of the preferred embodiment has a 360° horizontal field of view and a 90° vertical field of view in a 40 mm diameter compact package. The invention is not limited to any particular type of lens system. In fact, there are numerous lens systems for providing a 360° panoramic view. The video camera may be a CCD or CMOS based device having a pixel resolution of either 1280×1024 (high resolution) or 720×480 (NTSC). The unwrapping system is a radiometric ray tracing program carried out using a computer's graphics card capabilities to produce highly efficient regional transformation while minimizing software overhead. The result is real time, high resolution 30 fps conversion from a spherical distorted image to a flat panoramic image in Cartesian coordinates.

Abstract: An authentication system using a correlator that correlates an input with a reference wherein at least one of the input and reference comprises a phase volume mask having structures, preferably points, that are each less than about six microns in size and can have an aspect ratio (AR) greater than 1:1 so as to produce a phase encoded random pattern having millions of combinations in a mask that is as small as one square millimeter. The random pattern can be convolved with a second pattern, such as a biometric pattern, to produce a phase convolved mask. The correlator preferably is a nonlinear joint transform correlator that can use “chirp” encoding to permit the input to be located in a different plane than the reference. The correlator optically Fourier transforms images of the reference and input that are thereafter nonlinearly transformed and inverse Fourier transformed by a processor to determine the presence or absence of a correlation spike indicative of authenticity.

Abstract: An improved stacked rotary connector assembly wherein each connector comprises a pair of rings and the rings of each rotary connector thereof are individually split and mechanically separable. Because the input and output rings are each split and separable, any one rotary connector may be removed from the stack without requiring removal of any other rotary connector and without disturbing the input/output buses of the assembly.

Abstract: A system and method that will improve QoS (Quality of Service) of wireless video transmission systems. This is done by “in-fly” monitoring of BER by periodically transmitting “test images”, which images are known to the RF-receiver (Rx). BER can be automatically computed, within a related BIT (Built-in-Test) procedure that is also the subject of this invention. This allows predictions of a proper increasing, or decreasing of bandwidth OVH-level, in order to compensate for a BER-change. BER computation is facilitated by distinguishing video frames based on whether they depict new spatial events or related temporal events. Another subject of this invention is a motion-based pre-ATR method that is an introduction to common ATR, or pattern recognition methods. Yet another subject of this invention is a process of implanting error correcting bits into a payload, in the form of imperceptible watermarks.

Abstract: An entirely wearable electrical connector for power/data connectivity. The principal element of a modular network is the wearable electrical connector, which is integrated into a personal area network with USB compatibility. Several wearable connector embodiments are disclosed. The first, an O-ring based version, was subsequently replaced by a more mature second version, which is based on anisotropic pressure sensitive conductive elastomer. Both are snap-style, low-profile, 360°-moving, round, blind operable plug-and-play, reconfigurable wearable connectors with power/data daisy-lattice-style connectivity. A third embodiment comprises a non-conductive elastomeric environmental seal. A fourth embodiment utilizes a self-acting, automatic shutter-type environmental seal. A fifth embodiment comprises a smaller version that resembles a conventional snap fastener commonly used on clothing.

Abstract: An improved stacked rotary connector assembly wherein each connector comprises a pair of rings and the rings of each rotary connector thereof are individually split and mechanically separable. Because the input and output rings are each split and separable, any one rotary connector may be removed from the stack without requiring removal of any other rotary connector and without disturbing the input/output buses of the assembly.

Abstract: Two embodiments of a connector that can be mated without regard for its orientation are disclosed. One embodiment is mated and demated autonomously as part of a system for recovering, docking with, recharging and re-launching unmanned aerial vehicles. Another embodiment is employed on the decks of vessels to facilitate mating and demating of various equipment providing different functions to reconfigure the vessel. Because both embodiments are configured for connection irrespective of angular orientation over 360°, they are especially suited for harsh environments including autonomous operation, rough seas, darkness and the like.

Abstract: An entirely wearable electrical connector for power/data connectivity. The principal element of a modular network is the wearable electrical connector, which is integrated into a personal area network with USB compatibility. Several wearable connector embodiments are disclosed. The first, an O-ring based version, was subsequently replaced by a more mature second version, which is based on anisotropic pressure sensitive conductive elastomer. Both are snap-style, low-profile, 360°-moving, round, blind operable plug-and-play, reconfigurable wearable connectors with power/data daisy-lattice-style connectivity. A third embodiment comprises a non-conductive elastomeric environmental seal. A fourth embodiment utilizes a self-acting, automatic shutter-type environmental seal. A fifth embodiment comprises a smaller version that resembles a conventional snap fastener commonly used on clothing.