Abstract: A wall patch includes a body with a lower surface and an upper surface. An adhesive is located on the lower surface to secure the wall patch to a wall surface. The upper surface is ready-to-paint and can also be pre-textured, if desired. A center reinforcement can be a rigid plastic or metal wall patch, or a flexible plastic or fibered paper wall patch, without a textured upper surface. A method for repairing a hole in a wall includes placing a wall patch over the hole and directly painting the upper surface of the wall patch. The method can further include placing a center reinforcement over the hole before applying the wall patch.

Abstract: A wall patch includes a substantially planar body, an adhesive located on a first surface of the body, a ready-to-paint second surface of the body, and an aperture in the body. The aperture is preferably sized to minimize a wall hole, such as is commonly made for installation of an electrical outlet or other household wall element. A method for repairing a wall hole includes identifying a wall hole to be repaired by covering less than a total hole area defined by the wall hole, said wall hole having a wall element mounted therein; applying over the wall hole a wall patch having a substantially planar body, an adhesive located on a lower surface of the body, a ready-to-paint upper surface of the body, and an aperture in the body having an aperture area less than the wall hole area; wherein the aperture of the wall patch partially covers the wall hole without obstructing access to the wall element; and painting directly over the wall patch.

Abstract: An enhanced transfer system that increases the accuracy and sensitivity of a measurement system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the transfer system includes transfer tubing that transports samples from a spray chamber to an ionizer in a mass spectrometer system. The transfer system also includes a transfer gas line that is connected to the transfer tubing. The transfer gas line supplies a gas that assists with the transferring of the samples from the spray chamber to the ionizer. In one embodiment, the transfer gas line is angled relative to a portion of the transfer tubing. In another embodiment, the transfer gas line is perpendicular relative to a portion of the transfer tubing. The injected gas increases the quantity and quality of the samples transferred to the mass spectrometry system, thereby increasing the overall accuracy and sensitivity of the measurement system.

Abstract: An enhanced transfer system that increases the accuracy and sensitivity of a measurement system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the transfer system includes transfer tubing that transports samples from a spray chamber to an ionizer in a mass spectrometer system. The transfer system also includes a transfer gas line that is connected to the transfer tubing. The transfer gas line supplies a gas that assists with the transferring of the samples from the spray chamber to the ionizer. In one embodiment, the transfer gas line is angled relative to a portion of the transfer tubing. In another embodiment, the transfer gas line is perpendicular relative to a portion of the transfer tubing. The injected gas increases the quantity and quality of the samples transferred to the mass spectrometry system, thereby increasing the overall accuracy and sensitivity of the measurement system.

Abstract: SAR with partial capacitor sampling to reduce parasitic capacitance. An analog-to-digital convertor is disclosed with reduced parasitic capacitance on the input during a sampling operation. A charge-redistribution, binary-weighted switched-capacitor array is included having a plurality of array capacitors that each have a commonly connected plate interfaced to a first common node and a switched plate, the switched plate operable to be switched between first and second reference voltages during a redistribution phase and select ones of the capacitors additionally operable to be switched to the input during a sampling phase. Each of the array capacitors has a parasitic capacitance associated therewith. A compensation capacitor having a common plate is connected to the first common node and a switched plate, the compensation capacitor operable to be switched to the input during the sampling phase and to the first reference voltage during the redistribution phase.

Abstract: Optical probes having a diameter less than substantially 500 ?m for use in scanning light from a long, highly flexible fiber to a sample. In one embodiment the probe includes a viscous damping fluid suitable to prevent non-uniform rotational distortion (NURD).

Abstract: An integrated circuit having statistical processing capability. The integrated circuit has an input for receiving input data in a first data domain. A data converter is provided for converting received input data from the first domain to a second domain different from the first domain. A statistical processor is provided for obtaining statistical information from the output of the data converter and processing the obtained statistical information in accordance with a predetermined processing algorithm. An output on the integrated circuit allow access of the processed statistical information by the statistical processor external to the integrated circuit.

Abstract: Optical probes having a diameter less than substantially 500 ?m for use in scanning light from a long, highly flexible fiber to a sample. In one embodiment the probe includes a viscous damping fluid suitable to prevent non-uniform rotational distortion (NURD).

Abstract: An integrated circuit having statistical processing capability. The integrated circuit has an input for receiving input data in a first data domain. A data converter is provided for converting received input data from the first domain to a second domain different from the first domain. A statistical processor is provided for obtaining statistical information from the output of the data converter and processing the obtained statistical information in accordance with a predetermined processing algorithm. An output on the integrated circuit allow access of the processed statistical information by the statistical processor external to the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A time domain data converter with output frequency domain conversion. A data conversion circuit is operable to receive a signal in the time domain and provide an output in the frequency domain. It includes a data converter for converting data from an analog format to a digital format in the time domain. It also includes a processor for processing the data in the digital format output from the data converter through a time domain/frequency domain transform to provide data in the digital format in the frequency domain.

Abstract: SAR with partial capacitor sampling to reduce parasitic capacitance. An analog-to-digital convertor is disclosed with reduced parasitic capacitance on the input during a sampling operation. A charge-redistribution, binary-weighted switched-capacitor array is included having a plurality of array capacitors that each have a commonly connected plate interfaced to a first common node and a switched plate, the switched plate operable to be switched between first and second reference voltages during a redistribution phase and select ones of the capacitors additionally operable to be switched to the input during a sampling phase. Each of the array capacitors has a parasitic capacitance associated therewith. A compensation capacitor having a common plate is connected to the first common node and a switched plate, the compensation capacitor operable to be switched to the input during the sampling phase and to the first reference voltage during the redistribution phase.

Abstract: The technique of the present invention provides a solution to the problem of routing or redirecting a given client to a replica or proxy server which has a relatively shortest propagation delay to the client. According to the technique of the present invention, a network device referred to as an intercept server sits in front of a host server, and intercepts packets routed to the host server. When desired, packets which are intercepted by the intercept server are replicated, encapsulated and tunneled to selected client servers in the overlay network. The tunneled packets are received and processed by each of the selected client servers, whereupon each of the selected client servers generates a respective spoofed response to the source device identified in the header of the originally intercepted packet. Further, according to the technique of the present invention, each of the selected client servers transmits its respective spoofed response to the identified source device at substantially the same time.

Abstract: An integrated circuit having statistical processing capability. The integrated circuit has an input for receiving input data in a first data domain. A data converter is provided for converting received input data from the first domain to a second domain different from the first domain. A statistical processor is provided for obtaining statistical information from the output of the data converter and processing the obtained statistical information in accordance with a predetermined processing algorithm. An output on the integrated circuit allow access of the processed statistical information by the statistical processor external to the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A time domain data converter with output frequency domain conversion. A data conversion circuit is operable to receive a signal in the time domain and provide an output in the frequency domain. It includes a data converter for converting data from an analog format to a digital format in the time domain. It also includes a processor for processing the data in the digital format output from the data converter through a time domain/frequency domain transform to provide data in the digital format in the frequency domain.

Abstract: The technique of the present invention provides a solution to the problem of routing or redirecting a given client to a replica or proxy server which has a relatively shortest propagation delay to the client. According to the technique of the present invention, a network device referred to as an intercept server sits in front of a host server, and intercepts packets routed to the host server. When desired, packets which are intercepted by the intercept server are replicated, encapsulated and tunneled to selected client servers in the overlay network. The tunneled packets are received and processed by each of the selected client servers, whereupon each of the selected client servers generates a respective spoofed response to the source device identified in the header of the originally intercepted packet. Further, according to the technique of the present invention, each of the selected client servers transmits its respective spoofed response to the identified source device at substantially the same time.

Abstract: Optical probes having a diameter less than substantially 500 &mgr;m for use in scanning light from a long, highly flexible fiber to a sample. In one embodiment the probe includes a viscous damping fluid suitable to prevent non-uniform rotational distortion (NURD).

Abstract: An improved control method that constrains the operation of a manipulator in a control system is provided. Modifying a conventional control system to conform to this new method requires the selection of a preferred or desired direction of adjustment for the manipulator and the selection of a reset value for the manipulator. The conventional control system, which normally adjusts the manipulator as necessary to achieve a desired value for a system variable, is constrained by this new method so that the system variable achieves the desired value as a final or direct result of using manipulator adjustments that are in the selected desired direction of adjustment.

Abstract: A wall patch includes a body with a lower surface and an upper surface. An adhesive is located on the lower surface to secure the wall patch to a wall surface. The upper surface is ready-to-paint and can also be pre-textured, if desired. A center reinforcement can be a rigid plastic or metal wall patch, or a flexible plastic or fibered paper wall patch, without a textured upper surface. A method for repairing a hole in a wall includes placing a wall patch over the hole and directly painting the upper surface of the wall patch. The method can further include placing a center reinforcement over the hole before applying the wall patch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for in-circuit biasing of a modulated laser and bit error rate testing of an optical transmitter and/or optical receiver under the control of a test controller. The test controller is communicably coupled to an interface of a module under test, as well as to external test equipment. The test controller modifies operational parameters of the modulated laser, in order to obtain a desired output power and to obtain a predetermined extinction ratio. The operational parameters of the laser include a laser bias current, an electro-absorption modulator offset bias current and a modulation depth. The disclosed test controller also determines whether the optical transmitter and/or receiver exhibit acceptable bit error rates. The disclosed test controller uses a variable optical attenuator, in combination with an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) to control an optical signal to noise ratio for a signal terminating at either the transmitter or the receiver of the optical transceiver under test.

Abstract: A fiber optic needle probe for measuring or imaging the internal structure of a specimen includes a needle defining a bore, an optical fiber substantially positioned within the bore, and a beam director in optical communication with the optical fiber. At least a portion of the wall of the needle is capable of transmitting light. The beam director directs light from the optical fiber to an internal structure being imaged and receives light from the structure through a transparent portion of the wall. An actuating device causes motion of any, or all of, the needle, optical fiber, and beam director to scan the internal structure of the specimen. The fiber optic needle probe allows imaging inside a solid tissue or organ without intraluminal insertion. When used in conjunction with an OCT imaging system, the fiber optic needle probe enables tomographic imaging of the microstructure of internal organs and tissues which were previously impossible to image in a living subject.