Abstract: Biomedical images of both anatomical structure and real-time changes in neuronal, metabolic, positional, and vascular function in humans and animals is described. Ultra-wideband (UWB) pulse or square wave generators and electrical samplers, implemented using integrated circuits are used to make arrays of miniaturized microwave modules that are placed around the portion of interest in the body or head, allowing images to be made through either time-domain transmission of these pulsed waves through the body, or time domain reflectivity of the waves from internal structures, or their combination. Signal processing separate and extract the time-varying functional information from the static structural image data. The time-varying functional information from certain brain regions can be interpreted in order to control prosthetics, Brain-Machine-Interfaces and the like.

Abstract: Biomedical images of both anatomical structure and real-time changes in neuronal, metabolic, positional, and vascular function in humans and animals is described. Ultra-wideband (UWB) pulse or square wave generators and electrical samplers, implemented using integrated circuits are used to make arrays of miniaturized microwave modules that are placed around the portion of interest in the body or head, allowing images to be made through either time-domain transmission of these pulsed waves through the body, or time domain reflectivity of the waves from internal structures, or their combination. Signal processing separate and extract the time-varying functional information from the static structural image data. The time-varying functional information from certain brain regions can be interpreted in order to control prosthetics, Brain-Machine-Interfaces and the like.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing non-contacting measurements of the voltage of a conductor includes a conducting membrane coupled to a transducer. The membrane is driven with an A.C. reference voltage, creating alternating attractive and repulsive electrostatic forces caused by the difference in potential between the membrane and the conductor. The transducer generates a signal having the same frequencies as the forces on the membrane, and the amplitudes of the A.C. components are proportional to the unknown voltage on the conductor. By dividing the amplitude of the A.C. components, an accurate determination of the unknown voltage is calculated A plurality of membranes and transducers may be arrayed to provide an image of multiple voltage readings. In addition, it is also possible to measure A.C. and D.C. voltage on the center conductor of an insulated wire without the need to pierce the insulation.

Abstract: A method to dynamically connect an originating computer to a receiving computer on a dial-up network, such as the Internet. The originating computer calls the receiving computer over the Public Service Telephone Network (PSTN); the receiving computer detects the call but does not answer it so that no PSTN charges are incurred; then both the receiving computer and originating computer call up the dial-up network and one of the computers obtains the network address of the other computer to establish a communication link between them.

Abstract: To satisfactorily transmit two-way speech on digital computer networks, such as the Internet, it is necessary to reduce unpredictable delays due to variations in loading, routing and other factors. The present invention transmits extra packets of specially computed data along with the data representing speech. These extra packets are used at the receiving server to reconstruct any missing or late data packets. In one embodiment, any single packet of missing data in a stream of packets may be reconstructed. In additional embodiments, multiple packets of missing data may be reconstructed. This method is particularly suited to eliminating or reducing delays in networks in which data is sent down multiple diverse paths. Unlike prior art, it is not necessary to send full sets of redundant data down these diverse paths. The present invention significantly reduces latency with only a fraction of the added network bandwidth required with prior art methods that use full sets of redundant data.

Abstract: A simple yet versatile non-contact optical inspection instrument and method are described for measuring the height and width of defects and contaminants on a magnetic disk surface. The instrument includes a sensor which produces an illumination beam that is modulated and then focused normally on the disk surface as a spot. The illumination spot is Doppler shifted due to the movement of the disk and the diffusely reflected light is interfered with a reference beam produced by the sensor's illumination optics. The sensor uses two collection optics channels which simultaneously detect both the specular reflected light and the diffuse scattered light produced by the disk surface. The phase shift of the specular reflected light and that of the diffusely scattered light are measured. The output signals from the sensors are processed to estimate the size and type of the defects. Another aspect of the present invention includes a demodulator which increases the frequency of an FM signal.

Abstract: In a brain wave detecting system, in one embodiment, a flexible hat is placed on the head of the patient. The hat contains a plurality of electrodes conforming to the hat. A circuit board having a low-noise integrated circuit amplifier may be mounted thereon. Each electrode uses a plurality of metal conductive fingers which protrude through the hair to the scalp and provide multi-contact sites on the scalp for each electrode. The tips of each electrode contact the user's scalp to provide a redundancy of contacts for each electrode.

Abstract: In a medical electroencephalographic EEG system, a hat is placed on the head of the patient. The hat contains a plurality of electrodes conforming to the hat. A circuit board having a low-noise integrated circuit amplifiers may be mounted thereon. In one embodiment each of the electrodes has a number of flexible and elastic fingers, for example 2-16 gum rubber fingers, having a conductive tip at the end of each finger, or flexible fingers made entirely of conductive material. In another embodiment the multi-contact electrode uses fingers which are rigid and connected to a spring-loaded plate. The tips contact the patient's scalp, without conductive gel or liquid, to provide a redundancy of contacts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the average throughput of rotating magnetic or optical data storage systems. Multiple-sector data along a given track 120 is transferred between the rotating media and the disk controller circuitry essentially within a single rotation as each desired sector passes under the read/write head, even if out of order. The method is implemented in the hardware and/or firmware of a disk controller.