Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for achieving efficient optical design are described. In one representative aspect, a method for optical design includes introducing a light source into the optical system. The light source emits illumination that is characterized as a point source, a collimated illumination, or a superposition of one or more point sources or one or more collimated illuminations. The light source is represented by a vector field comprising a plurality of vectors. The method also includes defining each optical surface of the optical system based on the vector field of the light source, tracing a plurality of rays that propagate from the light source, traverse through the optical system and reach a predetermined target or targets, and determining whether an illumination or an image characteristic at the predetermined target or targets meets preset design requirements.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for achieving efficient optical design are described. In one representative aspect, a method for optical design includes introducing a light source into the optical system. The light source emits illumination that is characterized as a point source, a collimated illumination, or a superposition of one or more point sources or one or more collimated illuminations. The light source is represented by a vector field comprising a plurality of vectors. The method also includes defining each optical surface of the optical system based on the vector field of the light source, tracing a plurality of rays that propagate from the light source, traverse through the optical system and reach a predetermined target or targets, and determining whether an illumination or an image characteristic at the predetermined target or targets meets preset design requirements.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically determining a plurality of pieces of different information about a textual document from the text of the textual document are provided in which one or more particular characteristics of the text of the textual document are identified to generate a file containing the text of the textual document with the particular characteristics marked up within the text.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically determining a plurality of pieces of different information about a textual document from the text of the textual document are provided in which one or more particular characteristics of the text of the textual document are identified to generate a file containing the text of the textual document with the particular characteristics marked up within the text.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically processing a textual document by identifying occurrences of a piece of text having a predetermined format in the textual document; determining a depth-of-treatment value for each piece of formatted text in the textual document, the depth-of-treatment value indicating a depth of treatment in the textual document afforded to the particular piece of formatted text; associating an abstract with each piece of formatted text in the textual document; and generating a data record containing each identified piece of formatted text from the textual document, the depth-of-treatment value and the abstract associated with each piece of formatted text in the textual document.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically determining a plurality of pieces of different information about a textual document from the text of the textual document are provided in which one or more particular characteristics of the text of the textual document are identified to generate a file containing the text of the textual document with the particular characteristics marked up within the text.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically processing a textual document by identifying occurrences of a piece of text having a predetermined format in the textual document; determining a depth-of-treatment value for each piece of formatted text in the textual document, the depth-of-treatment value indicating a depth of treatment in the textual document afforded to the particular piece of formatted text; associating an abstract with each piece of formatted text in the textual document; and generating a data record containing each identified piece of formatted text from the textual document, the depth-of-treatment value and the abstract associated with each piece of formatted text in the textual document.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically processing a textual document by identifying occurrences of a piece of text having a predetermined format in the textual document; determining a depth-of-treatment value for each piece of formatted text in the textual document, the depth-of-treatment value indicating a depth of treatment in the textual document afforded to the particular piece of formatted text; associating an abstract with each piece of formatted text in the textual document; and generating a data record containing each identified piece of formatted text from the textual document, the depth-of-treatment value and the abstract associated with each piece of formatted text in the textual document.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically processing a textual document by identifying occurrences of a piece of text having a predetermined format in the textual document; determining a depth-of-treatment value for each piece of formatted text in the textual document, the depth-of-treatment value indicating a depth of treatment in the textual document afforded to the particular piece of formatted text; associating an abstract with each piece of formatted text in the textual document; and generating a data record containing each identified piece of formatted text from the textual document, the depth-of-treatment value and the abstract associated with each piece of formatted text in the textual document.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically processing a textual document by identifying occurrences of a piece of text having a predetermined format in the textual document; determining a depth-of-treatment value for each piece of formatted text in the textual document, the depth-of-treatment value indicating a depth of treatment in the textual document afforded to the particular piece of formatted text; associating an abstract with each piece of formatted text in the textual document; and generating a data record containing each identified piece of formatted text from the textual document, the depth-of-treatment value and the abstract associated with each piece of formatted text in the textual document.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically processing a textual document by identifying occurrences of a piece of text having a predetermined format in the textual document; determining a depth-of-treatment value for each piece of formatted text in the textual document, the depth-of-treatment value indicating a depth of treatment in the textual document afforded to the particular piece of formatted text; associating an abstract with each piece of formatted text in the textual document; and generating a data record containing each identified piece of formatted text from the textual document, the depth-of-treatment value and the abstract associated with each piece of formatted text in the textual document.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically determining a plurality of pieces of different information about a textual document from the text of the textual document are provided in which one or more particular characteristics of the text of the textual document are identified to generate a file containing the text of the textual document with the particular characteristics marked up within the text.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically determining a plurality of pieces of different information about a textual document from the text of the textual document are provided in which one or more particular characteristics of the text of the textual document are identified to generate a file containing the text of the textual document with the particular characteristics marked up within the text.

Abstract: A universal charging apparatus has a housing, a neck bendably connected to the housing, and an electrical cord which is preferably retractable. The electrical cord is spooled around a retracting spool located inside the housing, allowing the electrical cord to extend by pulling, or retract by activating a switch. The electrical cord has a tip adapted to receive one of a plurality of adapters, each adapter being suitable for connecting the tip to a different one or more electrical devices. The neck has an electrical conductor for connecting with an electricity source and supplying electricity through the electrical cord to the device. An integrated circuit chip adapts the electrical characteristics to be suitable for the different devices to be charged or powered. A ratchet connected to the neck allows the neck to stop in multiple positions, but to allow a user to bend the neck to a different position with slight force. The housing may also have a faceplate and status indicator, such as a light emitting diode.

Abstract: A camera system is provided with a camera body, a supporting arm, and a supporting base. The camera captures images on a CCD optical image sensor, transmits the images by wire through the supporting arm into the supporting base, and transmits them wirelessly from the supporting base to a monitor system on frequencies of at least 2.4 GigaHertz. The monitor system displays images from one or more sources on an LCD color visual display, and projects corresponding audio from a speaker. Additionally, the monitor system may have a microphone and wireless transmission system which transmits signals to a wireless reception system in the camera system. The camera system can then project audio signals over a speaker, allowing two-way audio communication from the camera system to the monitor system.