Abstract: System and method for generating information regarding the functionality of a system. Input specifying at least a portion of functionality of a system may be received, e.g., from a user via a graphical user interface (GUI), and may specify one or more components of the system at a component level. The input may specify one or more components of the system, e.g., software component(s), hardware device(s), function(s) of the system, etc. Information, e.g., help information and/or documentation, describing one or more aspects of the functionality of the system may be automatically generated based on the input. The descriptions of the aspects may include information regarding the synergistic/combinatorial interactions of the components at a system level, e.g., via calculation or derivation from data retrieved from various sources regarding the components of the system. The information may be automatically stored and/or automatically displayed in the GUI substantially in real-time.

Abstract: System and method for generating information regarding the functionality of a system. Input specifying at least a portion of functionality of a system may be received, e.g., from a user via a graphical user interface (GUI), and may specify one or more components of the system at a component level. The input may specify one or more components of the system, e.g., software component(s), hardware device(s), function(s) of the system, etc. Information, e.g., help information and/or documentation, describing one or more aspects of the functionality of the system may be automatically generated based on the input. The descriptions of the aspects may include information regarding the synergistic/combinatorial interactions of the components at a system level, e.g., via calculation or derivation from data retrieved from various sources regarding the components of the system. The information may be automatically stored and/or automatically displayed in the GUI substantially in real-time.

Abstract: A laser power control system (150; 150') having a first pulse stretch capability, as may be used in a rapid prototyping system (100), is disclosed. According to one disclosed embodiment, a one-shot multivibrator (156) generates a pulse responsive to a gate signal (LON/LOFF.sub.--) indicating that the laser (110) is to be turned on. The pulse, which is of a selected duration suitable for achieving population inversion, is applied to the laser (110); upon the end of this pulse, pulse-width-modulation (PWM) control of the laser begins. According to another disclosed embodiment, a first pulse stretch store (166) retains a digital value corresponding to the duration by which the first PWM pulse is to be lengthened; adders (176; 178) add this digital value to the parameters indicated by the desired laser power signal (DLP) to ensure population inversion and laser output of the laser (110) in the first pulse.

Abstract: A System for Collecting Weakly Scattered Electromagnetic Radiation is disclosed. The present invention overcomes problems suffered by previous collection systems by providing a reliable and efficient device for intensifying and collecting the scattered radiation generated by laser induced scattering. The present invention employs a laser source which illuminates an unknown gas contained by a long hollow tube having a highly reflective sheathing. The illuminating electromagnetic radiation from the laser is directed along the entire length of the tube and collides with the molecules of the unknown gas in the tube. The collisions cause the emission of weakly scattered electromagnetic radiation that is shifted in reference to the illuminating radiation. The sheathing is sufficiently reflective of the scattered radiation to substantially contain it. An exit is coupled to the long hollow tube in such a way that the scattered radiation may pass from the reflective sheathing and be collected for analysis.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining the composition and concentration of gases present in a patient's airway by measurement of the spectrum of Raman scattered light from these gases. The efficiency is improved by collecting Raman scattered light generated outside the collection region. The gases present are assumed to be drawn from a predetermined set of gases with known Raman scattering spectra, and the concentrations are determined by solution of a matrix equation Ac=b, where the c vector components are the unknown concentrations and the b vector components are determined from measurements of the Raman scattering intensifies in a plurality of wavelength or wavenumber intervals. The linear system of equations represented by the matrix equation may be overdetermined and may require solution by non-conventional methods, such as singular value decomposition.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser power build-up system includes a semi-conductor laser. An optical resonance cavity is defined between at least two reflective elements and has an intracavity light beam along an intracavity beam path. A return light beam, which is a portion of the intracavity light beam, is transmitted through one of the reflective elements and is coincident with but oppositely directed relative to the incident beam. The laser is wholly optically locked to the cavity and the intracavity beam passes substantially without loss within the cavity. In a preferred application, a sample is placed in the cavity and a detector is provided to sense chemicals in the sample by, for example, detecting Raman-scattered light. A wavelength-determining element such as a grating or an etalon is preferably in the incident beam path between the laser and the cavity.

Abstract: A spectrophotometric sensor assembly that may find particular use in a capnometer, a medical device for measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide in the exhaled breath of a patient, includes at least one microlamp. A microlamp is a very small source of electromagnetic radiation including a heated filament disposed over a substrate. The microlamp may be constructed using semiconductor fabrication techniques. The microlamp typically emits broad-band infrared radiation. Radiation from the microlamp usually passes through a filter, which preferentially transmits radiation of a preselected wavelength. The radiation then passes through a sample chamber and onto a detector. The concentration of a substance of interest within the chamber may be computed by determining the degree to which the radiation is absorbed in the chamber. In a preferred embodiment, an array of microlamps is sequentially triggered in a rapid manner.

Abstract: A gas sensor using optical fiber technology to measure gas concentration in a test volume. In one embodiment, the sensor incorporates a gas enriching polymer which absorbs and concentrates carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) from the test volume surrounding the sensor. The polymer is wrapped around the core of an optical fiber which guides radiation with first selected wavelengths to the polymer. The radiation propagates into the polymer and reacts with the carbon dioxide in the polymer. Determination of CO.sub.2 concentration in the test volume is made by measuring the amount of attenuation of the radiation after reacting with the carbon dioxide in the polymer. In another embodiment, the polymer is capable of absorbing oxygen from the test volume and oxygen concentration is measured using fluorescence quenching.

Abstract: An optical fiber is used in conjunction with a sensor capable of sensing more than one analyte. A first fiber optic sensor cell is used for measuring any combination of ionic species and a second fiber optic sensor cell is used for measuring all gaseous species. In one embodiment, a doped polymer is formed utilizing a hydrophilic polymer which immobilizes a pH sensitive dye and a potassium sensitive fluorescence dye, allowing pH to be measured by detecting the color change of the pH sensitive dye, and the potassium ion concentration to be measured by the change in fluorescence intensity of the potassium sensitive dye. In an alternative embodiment, a doped polymer is formed utilizing a hydrophilic polymer which immobilizes a calcium or sodium ion sensitive fluorescence dye in order to form either a combined pH/calcium sensor or a combined pH/sodium sensor, respectively.