Abstract: A method of performing refractive laser eye surgery on a human eye is provided wherein the ablation pattern is centered along the visual axis, rather than along the line of sight. First, a wavefront, either ocular, corneal or a combination thereof, is generated by a wavefront sensor centered along the line of sight. This measured wavefront is centered on and encompasses a patient's pupil. Then, an analysis pupil is determined which encompasses the measured pupil. The analysis pupil is centered along the visual axis at the point of intersection with the cornea. Consequently, the measured wavefront is reconstructed over the analysis pupil only using data taken over the area covered by the measured pupil. This reconstruction is done through a least squares fit of a series of slopes from the measured wavefront and/or through the transformation of aberration coefficients.

Abstract: A method for preventing distortion in a flange of a metal part during heat treatment is provided. A method of preventing distortion includes engaging a bottom surface of the flange with a first boltless ring, engaging a top surface of the flange with a second boltless ring, locking the first and second boltless rings into a fixed position relative to each other and relative to the flange, heat treating the part, unlocking the first and second boltless rings from each other, and removing the first and second boltless rings from engagement with the flange.

Abstract: A method for preventing distortion in a flange of a metal part during heat treatment is provided. A method of preventing distortion includes engaging a bottom surface of the flange with a first boltless ring, engaging a top surface of the flange with a second boltless ring, locking the first and second boltless rings into a fixed position relative to each other and relative to the flange, heat treating the part, unlocking the first and second boltless rings from each other, and removing the first and second boltless rings from engagement with the flange.

Abstract: A fixture for preventing distortion in a flange of a part during heat treatment. The fixture includes a first support for engaging a bottom surface of the flange, and a second support for engaging a top surface of the flange. A boltless locking ring locks the first and second supports into a fixed position relative to each other and to the flange during the heat treatment. In a method of preventing distortion, the steps include engaging a bottom surface of the flange with a first boltless ring, engaging a top surface of the flange with a second boltless ring, locking the first and second boltless rings into a fixed position relative to each other and to the flange, heat treating the part, unlocking the first and second rings from each other, and removing the first and second rings from engagement with the flange.

Abstract: A system and method for the real-time management of a device, and more particularly to the allocation of electronic wallets that are associated with one or more devices and various controls that enable at least two entities to manage how the device is utilized for various activities and to pay for goods and services. Each device is associated with at least two electronic wallets, a user wallet and an administrator wallet. The administrator can establish rules that designate how and when the device can be used and which wallet will be used to pay for goods and services desired by the user, but in the event the user wallet is depleted or low on funds, the administrator wallet can serve as a backup funding source for specified types of goods and/or services.

Abstract: A system and method for the real-time management of a device, and more particularly to the allocation of electronic wallets that are associated with one or more devices and various controls that enable at least two entities to manage how the device is utilized for various activities and to pay for goods and services. Each device is associated with at least two electronic wallets, a user wallet and an administrator wallet. The administrator can establish rules that designate how and when the device can be used and which wallet will be used to pay for goods and services desired by the user, but in the event the user wallet is depleted or low on funds, the administrator wallet can serve as a backup funding source for specified types of goods and/or services.

Abstract: A system and method for the real-time management of a device, and more particularly to the establishment and enforcement of policies or rules associated with the feature or functions that may be performed with the device. Modern communication devices are capable of many things, including making and receiving calls, exchanging data, playing games and music, sending and receiving email, accessing web sites, and paying for goods and services. Depending on who is using the communication device, such as a child or an employee, there may be a need or desire to regulate how that communication device can be used and to determine who will pay for what goods or services. In addition to providing all of the features associated with a device, service providers need to be able to establish and enforce rules (policies) regulating how and when that device can be used and who will pay for a good or service requested by the user of the device.

Abstract: A system for remotely receiving and reporting cash transactions. The system may include a remotely positioned safe, the safe having an automated device configured to authenticate and count cash receipts in the safe, a communication device, and a processor configured to control the authentication, counting, and communicating processes; and a data collection facility in communication with the remotely positioned safe, the data collection facility being configured to poll the remotely positioned safe to determine cash deposits in the safe. The system may further include a reconciliation facility in communication with the data collection facility; and a banking facility in communication with the reconciliation facility, wherein the reconciliation facility is configured to credit a bank account at the banking facility for deposits made in the remotely positioned safe before the contents of the safe are physically delivered to the banking facility.

Abstract: A system for mapping a three-dimensional structure includes a projecting optical system adapted to project light onto an object, a correction system adapted to compensate the light for at least one aberration in the object, an imaging system adapted to collect light scattered by the object and a wavefront sensor adapted to receive the light collected by the imaging system and to sense a wavefront of the received light. For highly aberrated structures, a number of wavefront measurements are made which are valid over different portions of the structure, and the valid wavefront data is stitched together to yield a characterization of the total structure.

Abstract: A geometric measurement system is adapted to precisely measure one or more surfaces of objects such as corneas, molds, contact lenses in molds, contact lenses, or other objects in a fixture. The geometric measurement system can employ one or more of three possible methods of measurement: Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensing with wavefront stitching; phase diversity sensing; and white light interferometry.

Abstract: A geometric measurement system is adapted to precisely measure one or more surfaces of objects such as corneas, molds, contact lenses in molds, contact lenses, or other objects in a fixture. The geometric measurement system can employ one or more of three possible methods of measurement: Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensing with wavefront stitching; phase diversity sensing; and white light interferometry.

Abstract: A geometric measurement system is adapted to precisely measure one or more surfaces of objects such as corneas, molds, contact lenses in molds, contact lenses, or other objects in a fixture. The geometric measurement system can employ one or more of three possible methods of measurement: Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensing with wavefront stitching; phase diversity sensing; and white light interferometry.

Abstract: A fixture for preventing distortion in a flange of a part during heat treatment. The fixture includes a first support for engaging a bottom surface of the flange, and a second support for engaging a top surface of the flange. A boltless locking ring locks the first and second supports into a fixed position relative to each other and to the flange during the heat treatment. In a method of preventing distortion, the steps include engaging a bottom surface of the flange with a first boltless ring, engaging a top surface of the flange with a second boltless ring, locking the first and second boltless rings into a fixed position relative to each other and to the flange, heat treating the part, unlocking the first and second rings from each other, and removing the first and second rings from engagement with the flange.

Abstract: A system and method of measuring the curvature of a surface of a object operate by illuminating the object surface with a light pattern having a known size to produce a virtual reflected image from the object surface; measuring a size of the virtual reflected image produced by the object surface from the light pattern; and calculating a curvature of the object surface from the known size of the light pattern and the size of the virtual reflected image.

Abstract: A system and method for allocating contact resources provides a platform for communicating contact resource availability from contract resource sources to contact resource users and for procurement of the available contact resources by contact resource users. Procurement of contact resources is supported by quality control that trains, certifies and monitors contact agents to provide assurance to contact resource users of a defined standard of contact quality. Routing of contacts is coordinated through physical medium to support a schedule of procured resources. Speech-to-text resources aid contact communications and quality.

Abstract: An external AC power adaptor having an additional compartment for cooling. The adaptor has a housing that defines a first compartment having power circuitry for converting an AC input to a DC output and a second compartment that has an opening formed in the adaptor housing. A heat transfer plate is disposed between the first and second compartments.

Abstract: A vaporizing pressure regulator is provided, comprising: a valve body having a flow path therethrough and a pressure responsive valve carried in the flow path to regulate the flow of a fluid; and a heat source operatively associated with the valve body to heat fluid in the flow path by thermal conduction through a portion of the valve housing. In another aspect of the invention, heating is enhanced by providing power to the heat source proportional to the difference between a measured temperature indicative of the temperature of the fluid and a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A method for uniquely identifying calls having the same originating number and dialed number, and network components adapted to carry out that method. A Parking Manager receives a Park Request that includes the originating number, the dialed number, and a Network Call ID (Identification). The Parking Manager accesses a pool of Dialed Number Identification System (DNIS) override digits associated with the dialed number and returns these digits with the response to the Park Request. The originating number and DNIS override digits uniquely identify the call, and are combined with the destination number, and the combination is flagged as pending in the Parking Manager. The DNIS override digits are received by an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system that uses a many-to-one mapping to identify the dialed number and complete the call, and returns a call arrival signal to the Parking Manager including a PPID generated by the Voice Response system to Parking Manager.

Abstract: A vaporizing pressure regulator is provided, comprising: a valve body having a flow path therethrough and a pressure responsive valve carried in the flow path to regulate the flow of a fluid; and a heat source operatively associated with the valve body to heat fluid in the flow path by thermal conduction through a portion of the valve housing. In another aspect of the invention, heating is enhanced by providing power to the heat source proportional to the difference between a measured temperature indicative of the temperature of the fluid and a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A system and method for allocating contact resources provides a platform for communicating contact resource availability from contract resource sources to contact resource users and for procurement of the available contact resources by contact resource users. Procurement of contact resources is supported by quality control that trains, certifies and monitors contact agents to provide assurance to contact resource users of a defined standard of contact quality. Routing of contacts is coordinated through physical medium to support a schedule of procured resources. Speech-to-text resources aid contact communications and quality.