Abstract: A method for non-linearity compensating interferometer position data generated from a measurement signal includes generating a first set of non-linearity parameters based on received digital position values. The method includes sensing whether a low velocity condition exists. A first one of the non-linearity parameters is updated based on an estimated magnitude of the measurement signal if the low velocity condition exists. At least one digital position value is compensated based on the updated non-linearity parameter if the low velocity condition exists.

Abstract: A surgical robotic helping hand system according to the present invention enables a surgeon to effectively operate within a patient's body cavities via surgical instruments manually manipulated outside such cavities by holding the various surgical instruments otherwise held by assistant surgeons during the minimally invasive surgical procedure. At least one of the robot-like surgical instrument holders may be specially configured to contain a laparoscopic instrument such that the laparoscope is contained within a sleeve shifter device and capable of being remote controlled for advancement or retraction of the laparoscope along an axis thereof. The robotic-like arms of the surgical instrument holders and laparoscopic instrument holder are attached to a surgical fixation device having a retractor panel that may be adapted to fit a standard Bookwalter retractor device.

Abstract: A system for sensing an absolute position in two dimensions includes a target having a two-dimensional target pattern. A sensor captures an image of a first subset of the target pattern. A controller generates a first image vector representing summations of rows of pixel values from the image, and a second image vector representing summations of columns of pixel values from the image. The controller is configured to determine an absolute two-dimensional position of the first subset with respect to an origin of the target pattern based on the first and the second image vectors and a plurality of target vectors that represent the target pattern.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed that support multiple mobile address types using object-oriented programming techniques. A mobile address object class supports the creation of mobile address objects. The mobile address object class includes the test-and-branch code that supports each mobile address type. A CPA Mobile Address class allows mobile address information to be stored in CPAMA objects in a uniform manner. The CPA Mobile Address class provides the address retrieval functionality to map the stored mobile address information to a suitable format. The CPAMA class provides a set of constructors to create and initialize its data members using an appropriate format, such as an access channel format or an ANSI International Mobile Station Identifier format, and a set of destructors to de-initialize objects before they are destroyed. The address information can be extracted from a CPAMA object using a set of member functions.

Abstract: A compact disk (DVD) manufacturing machine is used to laminate first and second DVD substrates to produce a DVD, and mainly includes a glue applicator for applying a glue ring on a laminating surface of each DVD substrate; a DVD laminator for turning the first DVD substrate to the second one at predetermined speeds, allowing the glue rings to contact with each other before the two DVD substrates are slowly laminated; and a rotating element below a fixed sucker of the DVD laminator for rotating the laminated DVD substrates and ensuring even spread of the glue between the two substrates without producing blisters. Since the gluing and the laminating are synchronously performed at two different positions on a turntable of the machine, an increased productivity may be obtained.

Abstract: A temporary biocompatible stent and method for visceral anastomosis. The stent is provided with integral means for maintaining the structural stability of the stent while providing substantial flexibility. The method comprises fitting the luminal stumps of the viscus over either end of a stent of the invention, and joining the ends of each stump together. A short time after completion of the anastomosis, the stent dissolves and is absorbed safely into the body. The stent and method can be beneficially used in laparoscopic or more invasive traditional surgical procedures. The stent and method are particularly well suited for anastomosis of the bowel.

Abstract: A system and method for acquiring position information of a movable apparatus relevant to a specific axis is disclosed. In one embodiment, an interferometer generates first and second beams and various beam-steering members are located to define beam path segments for the two beams, but no beam path segment varies in length in unity with displacements of the movable apparatus along the specific axis. In another or the same embodiment, each beam path segment in which the first beam either impinges or has been reflected from the movable apparatus is symmetrical to a corresponding beam path segment of the second beam. The movable apparatus may be a wafer stage in which the “specific axis” is the exposure axis of a projection lens, but with all optical members which cooperate with the stage being located beyond the ranges of the wafer stage in directions perpendicular to the lithographic exposure axis.

Abstract: The position of a stage is determined. Images of a plurality of targets located on the stage are captured. The captured images of the plurality of targets are compared with stored images to determine displacement coordinates for each target. The displacement coordinates for the targets are translated into position coordinates for the stage.

Abstract: A method of digitizing first and second signals in imperfect quadrature for obtaining characteristic parameters of the first signal comprises providing a first signal, the first signal comprising an inphase quasi-sinusoidal analog signal. The method comprises providing a second signal, the second signal comprising a quadrature signal. The method comprises digitizing the first signal at a sampling rate, thereby generating a first plurality of sets of digital signal waveform samples and digitizing the second signal at the sampling rate, thereby generating a second plurality of sets of digital signal waveform samples. The method comprises digitally processing successive first and second sets of digital signal waveform samples to generate continually updated digital characteristic parameters representing a characteristic behavior of the first signal.

Abstract: A device for transferring an image to a tongue includes a sheet of saliva-dissolvable material, and an image pattern formed on the sheet. The image pattern includes a coloration material, which interacts with saliva for leaving an image on the tongue.

Abstract: A compact disk (DVD) manufacturing machine is used to laminate first and second DVD substrates to produce a DVD, and mainly includes a glue applicator for applying a glue ring on a laminating surface of each DVD substrate; a DVD laminator for turning the first DVD substrate to the second one at predetermined speeds, allowing the glue rings to contact with each other before the two DVD substrates are slowly laminated; and a rotating element below a fixed sucker of the DVD laminator for rotating the laminated DVD substrates and ensuring even spread of the glue between the two substrates without producing blisters. Since the gluing and the laminating are synchronously performed at two different positions on a turntable of the machine, an increased productivity may be obtained.

Abstract: A “try me” feature is disclosed for remotely controlled devices such as remotely controlled toys for point of sale demonstration or sampling. The disclosure describes a secondary link between the remote control device and the remotely controlled device. When the secondary link is selected or present, activation of a control on the remote control device will cause the remotely control device to react the same or similar to the way it reacts under wireless remote control, but via the secondary link. The secondary link may be configured as a disconnectable wired coupling. The remotely controlled device and the remote control device may be contained in a point of sale package or configured in a point of sale display.

Abstract: A device for transferring an image to a tongue includes a sheet of saliva-dissolvable material, and an image pattern formed on the sheet. The image pattern includes a coloration material, which interacts with saliva for leaving an image on the tongue.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed that support multiple mobile address types using object-oriented programming techniques. A mobile address object class supports the creation of mobile address objects. The mobile address object class includes the test-and-branch code that supports each mobile address type. A CPA Mobile Address class allows mobile address information to be stored in CPAMA objects in a uniform manner. The CPA Mobile Address class provides the address retrieval functionality to map the stored mobile address information to a suitable format. The CPAMA class provides a set of constructors to create and initialize its data members using an appropriate format, such as an access channel format or an ANSI International Mobile Station Identifier format, and a set of destructors to de-initialize objects before they are destroyed. The address information can be extracted from a CPAMA object using a set of member functions.

Abstract: A string drawing electrical device for a racquet has a casing, a string holder, an actuating device and a control unit. The string holder is rotatably attached to a panel of the casing. The actuating device is mounted in the casing and provides two functions, feeding and reversing, to the string holder. The control unit is mounted in the casing for controlling the actuating device to act. Accordingly, the string drawing electrical device can tighten and loosen the string, and the tensile force of the string of the racquet can be accurately controlled.

Abstract: A speaker cabinet has front and back walls and side walls defining a sound chamber, and a location for supporting at least one speaker in one of the walls. Thin metallic stress elements extend between and are connected to selected pairs of walls, and are loaded undertensile stress so as to tune them to desired resonant frequencies. The tuned stress elements vibrate in response to excitation by sound waves emitted from the speaker, thus producing additional sound which enhances the sound from the speaker. Tensioning means provide for selectively adjusting the tensile stress and resonant frequencies of the stress elements and, consequently, the character of the sound produced by vibration of the stress elements.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a portable, player programmable, interactive toy for a shooting game played by radiating and appropriately detecting infrared light (or other radiated energy). Player sets of the toy include at least one IR emitter, at least one IR detector, and in the preferred embodiments, at least one audio or visual device. A keypad or other input device is provided for the entry of coded information to select from preprogrammed features and functions, including game modes, both prior to the start of a game and/or during a game. The interactivity includes at least two players interacting other than by detection of a hit, i.e., detection by one player of light shot by another player. The invention provides for information transfer between players to transfer or remotely activate features and functions or to remotely control another player's equipment.

Abstract: In a shooting game toy, a target includes a display device that provides different image patterns to facilitate a communication of different states, or changes of state, of a shooting game or the toy. In a preferred embodiment, the display device is an electroluminescent display having a plurality of display elements that are activated in a predefined sequence corresponding to each state or change of state of the shooting game. For example, a routine hit of the target may be visually displayed as an image pattern representative of a conventional “outward burst” pattern, while a reset to a known state may be visually displayed as an inwardly contracting pattern, a destruction of the target as yet another visual pattern, and so on. By providing different display patterns at each target, the state of the game, or a change of state of the Game, is visually communicated to each participant having a view of the target, thereby enhancing the enjoyment of the shooting game.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a portable, programmable, interactive toy for a shooting game played by radiating and appropriately detecting infrared light (or other radiated energy). A player set includes an IR light projector (gun), an IR light detector (target) and a detachable, programmable data (or program) module which controls operation of the toy in accordance with data programmed therein. The data module may be detached, and the toy will operate in a default mode which is downwardly compatible with other toys that do not include the programmable data module. The toy also includes a base unit which programs the data modules to provide each player with a unique firing code. The data modules may also include circuitry which recognizes the different codes. The data modules may accumulate game and player information such as the number of shots fired by the associated gun, the number of hits registered by the associated target, and the source (player identification) of each hit registered.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides toy objects such as action figures, robots, vehicles, creatures, etc., with apparatus for playing a shooting game controlled by one or more human players. Each toy object includes either a energy emitter, a energy sensor, or both. The toy objects are manipulatable by the players to face the emitters and the sensors in directions to hit other objects with radiated energy or avoid being hit with radiated energy from other objects. In the preferred embodiment, the emitter radiates infrared light and the sensor detects infrared light, and are operated from a backpack movably attached to an action figure. Control of radiating and detecting infrared light is similar to the control in a currently popular "laser" shooting games available from Toymax Inc. under the trademark "Laser Challenge".