Abstract: A juniper harvesting system and method including an array of select vehicles particularly adapted for the cutting, chipping and collecting of vegetation at a single location and transporting the collected vegetation to another site. The vegetation may be juniper, and its subsequent use being the generation of power. Conventional and customized logging equipment is provided in a system for the aforesaid cutting, chipping, and collecting of large volumes of biomass fuel chips from juniper in an economically viable and environmentally acceptable fashion.

Abstract: In a method of registering an image on a substrate, the substrate is placed on a substrate support and a radiation beam is directed toward the substrate. The radiation beam is reflectively diffracted to modulate the intensity of the radiation beam. The modulated radiation beam is scanned across the substrate to register an image on the substrate. In one version, the radiation beam is a laser beam which is projected onto a mask blank to form a mask.

Abstract: A mattress for comfortably supporting an individual with an abdominal condition requiring minimal contact between the mattress and the individual's abdomen, while also providing a structure for facilitating the turning of the individual between supine and prone positions. The mattress comprises a resilient mattress body including upper and lower surfaces, top and bottom edges, and first and second side edges. An inner abdominal support wall defines an abdominal receiving chamber positioned intermediate the top and bottom edges and extending downwardly form the upper surface of the mattress body. The mattress further comprises an outer abdominal support wall and an inflatable chamber defined intermediate the inner and outer abdominal support walls. An adjustable shoulder support is positioned intermediate the top edge and the abdominal receiving chamber. An adjustable pillow is positioned above the upper surface of the mattress body intermediate the shoulder support and the top edge.

Abstract: A voice-activated control system in which a voice command transmitted to an audio signal receiver such as a microphone is digitized by a voice recognition program that produces an address and a function corresponding to the component to which the voice command is directed. The digitized signal is converted by an IR transceiver or an encoder/decoder to an IR signal, which is transmitted via an LCC bus to one or more devices attached to it. The device that has the appropriate address is actuated to perform the function and/or provide feedback to the system. The invention also includes voice-activated systems that rely on a centralized control approach while a third type of system uses a hybrid system that uses both lcc-based and electrical-based input. The present invention is also directed to various methods of activating and controlling one or more components of a system through a voice-activated system.

Abstract: A central power source and method for distributing power to at least one sensor and/or actuators connected to or integrated in an LCC. In an aspect of the invention, a power distribution system is provided comprising a power source, at least one sensor, an LCC structure, and at least one routing means for directing the energy through the LCC structure. In another aspect, the at least one sensor is connected to an LCC bus connected to an electronic system. In still another aspect, an energy storage means for storing the energy received by the at least one sensor is provided. The invention is also directed to a method for distributing power comprising transmitting energy using a power source, directing the energy through an LCC structure, and receiving the energy from the power source using the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A method for electronic enforcement of licenses for software services installed on computers connected through a communications network employs a non-renewable electronic license that is uniquely identified with a specific computer, is of limited duration, and is digitally signed to detect tampering. The licenses are maintained on the computer that operates the licensed software service, referred to as the point-of-service computer. The method employs intelligent license servicing agents to periodically refresh the limited duration licenses on the point-of-service computer with new purchased limited duration licenses from a license server. The license servicing agent pushes the licenses to or back from the license server.

Abstract: A non-mechanical fluid level sensor based on light communication channel (LCC) technology. In a preferred embodiment, one end of the LCC is connected to a signal source while another end is connected to a sensor. The LCC is dipped in a fluid container and a signal propagates and undergoes internal reflection through the LCC towards one of its ends which is connected to the sensor. The fluid level is detected preferably by measuring the intensity of the signal reflected with the LCC that reaches a sensor. Different fluid levels preferably correspond to linearly varying detected signal intensities. A main LCC bus may communicate remotely with the sensor without wiring or other electrical connectors.

Abstract: A triggerable remote controller is disclosed which includes a trigger signal including a command, a GPS processor coupled to the trigger signal, a position signal carrying position information generated by the GPS processor in response to the trigger signal, a telemetry transmitter coupled to the position signal, a telemetry transmit signal transmitted by the telemetry transmitter, the telemetry transmit signal carrying the position information, a trigger signal controller coupled to the trigger signal, an actuator coupled to the trigger signal controller, the trigger signal controller being configured to attempt to activate the actuator depending on the command. A sensor may also be coupled to the trigger signal controller and the trigger signal controller may be configured to attempt to access the sensor. A GPS antenna embedded in a grommet-shaped housing is also disclosed.

Abstract: A film that includes a first reflective polarizer substantially reflecting light having a first polarization state and substantially transmitting light having a second polarization state, a polarization rotating layer or depolarizing layer (or both) positioned to receive light passing through the first reflective polarizer, and a second reflective polarizer positioned to receive light passing through the polarization rotating layer or depolarizing layer, the second reflective polarizer substantially reflecting light having a third polarization state back through the polarization rotating layer or depolarizing and substantially transmitting light having a fourth polarization state. Articles containing the film can be formed.

Abstract: An electron beam lithography system has an electron gun including at least one laser that is operable in a first mode to generate electrons for lithography. The electron beam lithography system is operable in a second mode to regenerate the photocathode of the electron gun by application of the laser. The photocathode includes a layer of cesium telluride.

Abstract: An image registration apparatus has a substrate support capable of supporting a substrate, the substrate support having a support motor capable of moving the substrate support. A radiation beam source is provided that is capable of providing a radiation beam. A beam intensity modulator is also provided that has an adjustable reflective diffraction grating capable of reflectively diffracting the radiation beam to modulate the intensity of the radiation beam. A controller is also provided that is adapted to control the substrate support, radiation beam source, and beam intensity modulator to modulate and scan the radiation beam across the substrate to register an image on the substrate.

Abstract: An electron beam lithography system includes a laser for generating a laser beam, and a beam splitter for splitting the laser beam into a plurality of light beams. The intensity of the light beams is individually modulated. The light beams are of sufficient energy such that, when they impinge on a photocathode, electrons are emitted. Modulation of the light beams controls modulation of the resulting electron beams. The electron beams are provided to an electron column for focusing and scanning control. Finally, the electron beams are used to write a scanning surface, for example, using an interlaced writing strategy.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are disclosed for producing air-activated, i.e., oxygen (O2) activated, disinfectant-sterilent solutions. Solutions containing a haloperoxidase (i.e., a halide:hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) oxidoreductase, such as myeloperoxidase, eosinophil peroxidase or lactoperoxidase) plus a halide or combination of halides (i.e., chloride, bromide and/or iodide), an oxidase (i.e., a substrate:O2 oxidoreductase) capable of generating H2O2, and a substrate specific for that oxidase, are separately prepared under aerobic conditions, but all of the component solutions are made anaerobic prior to final combination and mixing. The anaerobic formulations are dispensed into containers capable of maintaining the anaerobic condition (e.g., pressurized canisters). Dispensing the solution at the time of use exposes the formulation to air (i.e., O2) which activates its disinfectant-sterilent properties. O2 is the rate limiting component for oxidase generation of H2O2.

Abstract: Isolated coding sequences and to the protein sequences they code for. This invention is directed to three coding sequence of the BRCA1 gene. The three coding sequences, BRCA1(omi1), BRCA1(omi2), and BRCA1(omi3) and their frequencies of occurrence are provided together with the protein sequences they code for. Another aspect of this invention is a method of determining the consensus sequence for any gene. Another aspect of the invention is a method of identifying an individual having an increased genetic susceptibility to breast or ovarian cancer because they have inherited a causative mutation in their BRCA1 gene. This invention is also related to a method of performing gene therapy with any of the isolated BRCA1 coding sequences.

Abstract: A golf club includes an electroactive assembly attached to the club and electrically tuned to capture energy from one or more vibrational modes with high efficiency. More generally, a sports implement includes an electroactive element, such as a piezoceramic sheet attached to the implement, and a circuit attached to the electroactive element. The circuit may be a shunt, or may include processing such as amplification and phase control to apply a driving signal which may compensate for strain sensed in the implement, or may simply alter the stiffness to affect performance. The electroactive element is located in a region of high strain to apply damping, and may include plural subassemblies mounted to capture energy in different planes, or to capture an asymmetric strain distribution while maintaining structural symmetry. In a ski the element captures between about one and five percent of the strain energy of the ski.

Abstract: A triggerable location-reporting apparatus is disclosed. A trigger signal from a page receiver triggers a GPS receiver to determine the location of the apparatus using GPS signals. The resulting GPS signal is transmitted by a telemetry transmitter, such as a cellular network telemetry transmitter.

Abstract: A triggerable remote controller is disclosed which includes a trigger signal including a command, a GPS processor coupled to the trigger signal, a position signal carrying position information generated by the GPS processor in response to the trigger signal, a telemetry transmitter coupled to the position signal, a telemetry transmit signal transmitted by the telemetry transmitter, the telemetry transmit signal carrying the position information, a trigger signal controller coupled to the trigger signal, an actuator coupled to the trigger signal controller, the trigger signal controller being configured to attempt to activate the actuator depending on the command. A sensor may also be coupled to the trigger signal controller and the trigger signal controller may be configured to attempt to access the sensor. A GPS antenna embedded in a grommet-shaped housing is also disclosed.

Abstract: A lithography apparatus including both a laser beam source and an electron beam column, where the electron beam column has a support(in one embodiment a window in the column housing) having an index of refraction n. The support, having a photocathode source material disposed on its remote surface, is located in some embodiments such that the internal angle of the incident laser beam is &thgr; with respect to a line perpendicular to the remote surface. The numerical aperture of the substrate(equal to nsin &thgr;) is greater than one in one embodiment, resulting in a high resolution spot size diameter incident on the photocathode source material at the remote surface. Incident energy from the laser beam thereby emits a corresponding high resolution electron beam from the photocathode source material. Electromagnetic lens components are disposed downstream in the electron beam column to demagnify the electron beam.

Abstract: A process of producing at least one filament of refractory material comprising: (a) preparing a spin mix of a solution of cellulose and particles of refractory material; (b) wet spinning the spin mix to form at least one filament of regenerated cellulose having at least a portion of the particles dispersed therein; and (c) heating the filament of regenerated cellulose to remove substantially all of the regenerated cellulose and to sinter the portion of the particles dispersed therein to form a filament of the refractory material.

Abstract: A self-centering device for assuring that two plates that are rotatable with respect to one another will automatically align in one of two-stable positions. The device includes an O-ring entrained about two spaced posts located on the upper face of a bottom one of the plates and a roller depending from the bottom face of the upper one of the plates into a circumscribed space defined by the O-ring. When an external rotatable force is applied to the upper plate, an elastic force is applied to the roller such that when the external force is removed, the roller will move into one of the two stable positions.