Abstract: A heat dissipating turret for a fiberoptic illuminator includes first turret component composed of a heat conducting material and a second turret component composed of a heat insulating material. The first turret component is releasably interengaged with the front panel of the illuminator and the second turret component is releasably attached to the first turret component. The turret components include respective interior light transmitting channels that communicate when the components are interengaged. The second turret component includes a receptacle for receiving the end fitting of a fiberoptic cable. Light from the illuminator is transmitted through the communicating channels to the fiberoptic cable and the turret components dissipate heat that is generated at the focal point of the illuminator.

Abstract: A fluid processing unit having first and second interleaved flow paths in a cross flow configuration is disclosed. The first flow paths are substantially longer than the second flow paths such that the pressure drop in the second flow paths can be maintained at a relatively low level and temperature variations across the second flow paths are reduced. One or more of the flow paths can be microchannels. When used as a vaporizer and/or superheater, the longer first flow paths include an upstream liquid flow portion and a downstream vapor flow portion of enlarged cross sectional area. A substantial pressure drop is maintained through the upstream liquid flow portion for which one or more tortuous flow channels can be utilized. The unit is a thin panel, having a width substantially less its length or height, and is manufactured together with other thin units in a bonded stack of thin metal sheets. The individual units are then separated from the stack after bonding.

Abstract: A fiberoptic cable tester includes a body having an inlet fitting, an outlet and a channel that extends between the inlet fitting and the outlet. A magnification and focusing assembly is mounted within the channel between the inlet fitting and the outlet. A fiberoptic cable end fitting is communicably interengaged with the inlet fitting and light is transmitted through the magnification and focusing assembly and the channel to the outlet. The light is projected from the outlet and against a target area to produce an image which is indicative of the condition of the fiberoptic cable.

Abstract: A bendable medical, dental and surgical illuminating appliance is disclosed. The appliance includes a light-conducting rod, at least a portion of which is light projecting. The rod is flexible and comprises a self-sustaining shape. The rod also includes a light inlet that is operably engaged with the outlet of a fiberoptic conductor. The opposite, inlet end of the conductor is optically interengaged with a fiberoptic illuminator.

Abstract: A test apparatus is used in combination with a fiberoptic scope, which scope includes an eyepiece, an elongate scope body connected to and generally optically aligned with the eyepiece and a plurality of generally optically aligned lenses disposed within the scope body and optically communicating with the eyepiece. The apparatus includes a holder that supports the scope such that the eyepiece of the scope is exposed by the holder. A focusing member is telescopically interengaged with the holder. An inspection eyepiece assembly is mounted within the focusing member and includes an magnifying lens that faces and optically communicates with the eyepiece of a scope supported by the holder. The focusing member and the holder are telescopically adjusted relative to one another to focus the inspection eyepiece assembly on a selected lens of the scope. As a result, an image of the selected lens is transmitted through the inspection eyepiece assembly and examined.

Abstract: A fiberoptically illuminated appliance is disclosed. The appliance includes a light source and an elongate fiberoptic cable, which is operably engaged to the light source and which conducts light from the light source therethrough. A translucent appliance is operated in a conventional manner to perform a primary predetermined function, which function is exclusive of lighting. The appliance includes a continuous light conducting pathway that is uninterrupted by air and a light-emitting surface formed on the periphery of the appliance and communicably connected to the light-conducting pathway. The cable and the appliance are communicably interengaged. Light is directed from the cable through the continuous light-conducting pathway to the light-emitting surface, from which surface light is projected to illuminate the primary predetermined function.

Abstract: A medical transilluminator device is disclosed. The device includes a fiberoptic cable that is interconnected at one end to a fiberoptic illuminator. The opposite end of the cable is interengaged to a transilluminating spacer component that transmits light toward tissue being examined. A light intensity adjusting mechanism may be interengaged between the fiberoptic cable and the spacer component.

Abstract: A color adjustable light conducting apparatus is disclosed for use in combination with a standard fiberoptic illuminator having a light output port. The apparatus includes an elongate, light transmitting fiberoptic cable or other type of conductor. A fitting and a color adjuster is carried by a distal end of the cable. The color adjuster may include a filter wheel that is rotated to position a selected color filter in the cable. A fitting and a second color adjuster may be attached to a first end of the cable for interengaging the fiberoptic illuminator.

Abstract: A heat attenuating spacer device interconnects an endoscope to a first end of a fiberoptic conductor. The opposite end of the conductor is operably engaged with a fiberoptic light source. The endoscope has an entry port for introducing light into the endoscope, which entry port is communicably engaged with the first end of the conductor. The spacer device includes a spacer body and an inlet formed in the spacer body. The inlet is communicably engaged with the first end of the conductor to receive light therefrom. An outlet is formed in the body and spaced apart from the inlet. The outlet is communicably engaged with the entry port of the endoscope. The body transmits light from the inlet to the outlet, which light is discharged from the outlet and introduced into the endoscope through the entry port. The spacer body and/or a filter contained by the body thermally insulates the light conductor from the endoscope.

Abstract: A fiberoptically illuminated medical appliance, and in particular, an illuminated tongue depressor includes a light conducting blade, at least a portion of which is light projecting. The blade includes a light inlet that is operably engaged with the outlet of an optical fiber. The opposite inlet end of the optical fiber is operably interengaged with a fiberoptic illuminator.

Abstract: A releasable light adjustment mechanism is used in combination with a fiberoptic illuminator and a fiberoptic conductor that is communicably attached to the illuminator. The conductor transmits light from the illuminator to a distal second end portion of the conductor from which the light is emitted. The adjustment mechanism includes a housing having an inlet that is communicably and releasably interengaged by the distal end portion of the conductor, an outlet and an interior passageway communicably connecting the inlet and the outlet. A color wheel or an intensity wheel is mounted rotatably in the housing and extends across the passageway. By rotating the wheel, the light transmitted through the passageway is adjusted.

Abstract: A light adjustable endoscope is disclosed for use in combination with a standard fiberoptic illuminator having a light output port. The endoscope includes a scope portion and an apparatus interconnected between the illuminator and the scope for transmitting light to the scope and adjusting the intensity and/or color of that light.

Abstract: An illuminated dental suction appliance is disclosed. The appliance includes a suction component having a tubular member and a light projecting tip. The light projecting tip is formed at one end of the tubular member and also at least partially defines an inlet for the tubular member. The opposite end of the tubular member is operably interengaged with a source of suction. Light is transmitted from a fiberoptic illuminator along the length of the tubular member to the light projecting tip. That tip projects light from the illuminator into the patient's mouth.

Abstract: A multi-channel transcoder with rate adapter converts the data rate of GSM and PSTN network data in a multi-channel network. A transcoder having echo-cancellation features uses the robust voice activity detection functions of the GSM transcoder functions to enhance the accuracy of echo-cancellation of near-end signals. A method for decoding a GSM signal in which the transmission of the audio data over the network is commenced prior to the completing of the decoding process. A transcoder unit having rate adaption and echo-cancellation with improved decoding is implemented in a single DSP and processes multiple traffic channels simultaneously.

Abstract: An intensity adjustable fiberoptic cable apparatus is disclosed for use in combination with a standard fiberoptic illuminator having a light output port. The apparatus includes an elongate, light transmitting fiberoptic cable. A fitting and an intensity controller, which are attached to a first end of the cable, operably interengage the output port of the fiberoptic illuminator and introduce light generated by the illuminator into the cable. A second fitting and an intensity adjuster, which are attached directly to a distal, second end of the cable, emit transmitted light from the cable.

Abstract: An intensity adjustable fiberoptic cable apparatus is disclosed for use in combination with a standard fiberoptic illuminator having a light output port. The apparatus includes an elongate, light transmitting fiberoptic cable. A fitting and an intensity controller, which are attached to a first end of the cable, operably interengage the output port of the fiberoptic illuminator and introduce light generated by the illuminator into the cable. A second fitting and an intensity adjuster, which are attached directly to a distal, second end of the cable, emit transmitted light from the cable.

Abstract: A switching module capable of sending heartbeat messages and identifying other elements within a telecommunications switching platform as operational over one bus or both buses of a redundant-pair control bus. The module also has a reprogrammable, nonvolatile memory associated with it from which it can run its operating system. The module can also transfer the operating system into another memory, allowing the module to make updates to the operating system stored in the nonvolatile memory without interrupting its execution of its run-time operating code.

Abstract: A system and method for forming circuit connections within a telecommunications switching platform that uses tables of logical identifiers for resources and information channels being handled by the platform to allow dynamic addressing of components and provide significant flexibility over prior-art systems.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing wireless telecommunications is provided. The apparatus includes an echo canceller module. An echo canceller module controller is connected to the echo canceller module. The echo canceller module controller can receive echo canceller data, and can turn the echo canceller module on when the echo canceller data indicates that echo cancellation is required, such that echo cancellation may be controllably turned on only when it is needed.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for transcoding and rate-adapting between information channels having a first rate and signal-encoding scheme and information channels having a second rate and second signal-encoding scheme. Further described is a system and method for determining when a signal-processing module has failed or been removed or inserted into an operating telecommunications switching platform. Also described is a system and method for efficient power-up, to allow for more efficient system power-up, the signal-processing modules of the present invention preferably have their operating systems stored in a nonvolatile memory that can be reprogrammed without removing it from the system. A switching module is further capable of responding to heartbeat messages and identifying itself as operational over one bus or both buses of a redundant-pair control bus. The module also has a reprogrammable, nonvolatile memory associated with it from which the module can run its operating system.