Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for reducing microorganisms in a conductive medium using a low voltage pulsed electrical energy.

Abstract: A computer-related system for visually representing a supply chain includes a supply chain physical window (12). The supply chain physical window (12) displays a plurality of supply chain entities (24), at least one supply chain bar (28) adjacent a corresponding supply chain entity (24), and at least one connector (26) between two of the supply chain entities (24). The supply chain bar (28) provides data related to the adjacent supply chain entity(24), and the connector (26) represents product flow between the two supply chain entities (24).

Abstract: A system for displaying logistics information using one or more computers includes a presentation interface. The presentation interface generates a first panel displaying a plurality of icons and a plurality of links. The icons represent entities in a supply chain. Each link couples two of the icons and represents one or more distribution resources for moving one or more items between entities represented by the two icons. Each link indicates a distribution time associated with moving the items between the entities represented by the two icons. Each link may have a length proportional to the distribution time associated with moving the items between the entities represented by the two icons, or may include a time icon indicating the distribution time associated with moving the items between the entities represented by the two icons.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for reducing microorganisms in a conductive medium using a low voltage pulsed electrical energy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an illumination fiber optic (20) or an assembly including illumination fiber optics contained in a first polymeric layer (26) or in a channel and the first layer or channel including intumescent or other fire retardant material, and further contained within a second outer layer (28) or jacket made of a polymeric material which has the property of containing the combination sufficient to hinder the propagation of the fire and eventually extinguishing the flame. The fiber optic may be side light emitting, with the core, layer, channel and fire retardant materials being transparent or translucent, or may be end light emitting with the fiber optic being a layer core fiber optic and the outer layer being opaque.

Abstract: An optical fiber conduit (32) comprising an optical fiber core (22) surrounded by a cladding (24) with a reflective material or holder and/or reflector (34) attached adjacent to or in contact with the cladding (24) covered optical fiber core (22) along its longitudinal length and includes a plurality of illuminators (28-30) that are formed by uniform cuts (41) in the optical fiber core (22) emit reasonably even light perpendicularly along the length of the conduit (32) outwardly. The light pattern can be made to emit various beam patterns from very narrow to very wide by altering the shape of the optical fiber core (22). The cut optical fiber is embedded in a clear environmentally protective coating to protect the cuts (41) from dust and moisture and to maintain the alignment of the holder and/or reflector (34) with optical elements (106) and the optical fiber core (22).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fiber optic conduit having a light diverting outer layer (22) that reflects and/or refracts ambient light directed towards the conduit. The fiber optic conduit includes a light transmitting core (24), cladded with a fluoropolymer cladding (26) and subsequently jacketed with a polymeric finish jacket (28). The light diverting layer (22) either inserted between the cladding (26) and the jacket (28) or surrounding the jacket (28) is included in the fiber optic conduit. The light diverting layer (22) preferably has the property of allowing light to be transmitted from the fiber optic surface out of the conduit in one direction and reflecting ambient light directed towards the conduit When reflecting ambient light, the fiber optic conduit appears in the form of chrome trim.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for reducing microorganisms in a conductive medium using a low voltage pulsed electrical energy.

Abstract: A display method for selectively rotating windows on a computer display including a window for a computer display having a frame and a display portion. The method allows the user to rotate the window about a preselected rotation point such as the upper left corner of the frame. The rotation may be freely chosen or limited to selected angles of rotation such as 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees.

Abstract: A desk chairmat includes a semi-rigid and substantially planar member of solid plastic material, the chairmat having four side edges with a lip portion extending from one of the side edges, an upper side of the chairmat having a substantially smooth upper surface. At least a first handle attached to or formed integrally with the chairmat along one of the side edges of the chairmat.

Abstract: An optical fiber conduit comprising an optical fiber core surrounded by a cladding with a reflective material or holder and/or reflector attached adjacent to or in contact with the cladding covered optical fiber core along its longitudinal length and includes a plurality of illuminators that are formed by uniform cuts in the optical fiber core to emit reasonably even light perpendicularly along the length of the conduit outwardly. The light pattern can be made to emit various beam patterns from very narrow to very wide by altering the shape of the optical fiber core and/or by the cuts. The cut optical fiber is embedded in a clear environmentally protective coating to protect the cuts from dust and moisture and to maintain the alignment of the holder and/or reflector with optical elements and the optical fiber core.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a linear light form, and its method of manufacture, having a light diverting outer layer that reflects and/or refracts ambient light directed towards the light form. The linear light form includes a light transmitting core, clad with a fluoropolymer cladding and subsequently jacketed with a polymeric finish jacket. A light diverting layer either inserted between the cladding and the jacket or surrounding the jacket is included in the linear light form. The light diverting layer preferably has the property of allowing light to be transmitted from the core out of the light form in one direction and reflecting ambient light directed towards the light form.

Abstract: A desk chairmat includes a semi-rigid and substantially planar member of solid plastic material, the chairmat having four side edges with a lip portion extending from one of the side edges, an upper side of the chairmat having a substantially smooth upper surface. At least a first handle attached to or formed integrally with the chairmat along one of the side edges of the chairmat.

Abstract: An optical fiber conduit (32) comprising an optical fiber core (22) surrounded by a cladding (24) with a reflective material or holder and/or reflector (34) attached adjacent to or in contact with the cladding (24) covered optical fiber core (22) along its longitudinal length and includes a plurality of illuminators (28-30) that are formed by uniform cuts (41) in the optical fiber core (22) emit reasonably even light perpendicularly along the length of the conduit (32) outwardly. The light pattern can be made to emit various beam patterns from very narrow to very wide by altering the shape of the optical fiber core (22) and/or by the cuts (41). The cut optical fiber is embedded in a clear environmentally protective coating to protect the cuts (41) from dust and moisture and to maintain the alignment of the holder and/or reflector (34) with optical elements (106) and the optical fiber core (22).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a heat shrink clad-core optical conduit surround by multiple layers of jackets and a method of manufacturing the same. The jackets are formed with a thickness and index of refraction that is preferred for generating an aura effect. The aura effect appears when light transmitted through the core appears to be traveling seamlessly through the entire core, cladding and jackets and may even appear to illuminate the space surrounding the outer most jacket, thus, producing an aura that makes the fiber optic conduit appear larger than it is. The preferred embodiment may include interlacing layers of materials that provide optical characteristics, such as dichroic and holographic films, that are enhanced by the aura effect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fiber optic conduit having a light diverting outer layer that reflects and/or refracts ambient light directed towards the conduit. The fiber optic conduit includes a light transmitting core, cladded with a fluoropolymer cladding and subsequently jacketed with a polymeric finish jacket. A light diverting layer either inserted between the cladding and the jacket or surrounding the jacket is included in the fiber optic conduit. The light diverting layer preferably has the property of allowing light to be transmitted from the fiber optic surface out of the conduit in one direction and reflecting ambient light directed towards the conduit. When reflecting ambient light, the fiber optic conduit appears in the form of chrome trim.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) or in other optical apparatus provides a moveable or oscillating aperture. It has a sensor for detecting the position of the aperture, and a drive for oscillating the aperture; the drive and sensor can comprise coils forming a linear variable differential transformer, and the aperture can be spring biased to a neutral position. A control circuit is connected between the coil or other sensor and the drive coils, so that the motion of the aperture follows a desired profile. This enables significant parts of the apertures motion to be constrained to be linear. The aperture can be provided in a shuttle mounted on extension arms, whose ends are connected to resilient biassing means which serve both to support the shuttle and to bias it. More preferably, extension arms extend through pole pieces of magnets, which provide a magnetic field for drive coils.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for cloning and expression of serum opacity factor of Streptococcus pyogenes genes. The portion produced by the recombinant DNA techniques described herein may be employed in qualitative and quantitative testing for high density lipoprotein, as a fibronectin binding factor and for the regulation of high density lipoprotein in a mammal. The gene may further be employed as a molecular probe for accurate identification of opacity factors from various strains of Streptococcus pyogenes.

Abstract: A lighting system using piped light is provided for the cargo space of a truck. A light source mounted on the truck body is energized by the truck electrical system through a switch in the cab. Plural lighting fixtures are mounted to the roof of the truck body for illuminating the cargo space. Each lighting fixture receives light which is piped through a separate light guide from the source to the fixture. There are two sets of lighting fixtures each of which is disposed in a linear array extending along a line from the front to the rear of the truck body. The light guides for one set of lighting fixtures are all disposed in a first enclosure and the light guides for the other set of lighting fixtures are all disposed within a second enclosure. Certain sections of the enclosures are provided with a transparent lens and certain light guides within the enclosures emit side light through the lens.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a heat shrink clad core optical conduit and to an optical conduit having either a thermoplastic, thermoset or liquid, light transmitting core surrounded by, preferably a fluoropolymer cladding which is in turn surrounded by a tight-fitting, finish polymer jacket which may be either transparent or translucent, and is preferably made of a polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, acrylic or silicone material. Numerous fillers and inserts may be used in the finish jacket polymer and the finish jacket polymer may be formed into various shapes. Bondable jacket materials may be used. The preferred method of forming the manufacturing jacket around a heat shrinkable fluoropolymer cladding is by extruding a low extrusion temperature polymer over a heat shrink clad in its expanded form into which an increased interior pressure is maintained to prevent shrinkage during the extrusion process.