Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and processes for transforming and displaying accounting and financial information. One embodiment relates to the selection, or creation, and use of graphical symbols to represent the flow of cash in an organization, with the size of the graphical symbols presented approximately to scale. Another embodiment relates to the use of alternative units for displaying accounting and financial information, while another embodiment uses sound to present accounting and financial information, and yet another embodiment uses tactile display to present accounting and financial information.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and processes for transforming and displaying accounting and financial information. One embodiment relates to the selection, or creation, and use of graphical symbols to represent the flow of cash in an organization, with the size of the graphical symbols presented approximately to scale. Another embodiment relates to the use of alternative units for displaying accounting and financial information, while another embodiment uses sound to present accounting and financial information, and yet another embodiment uses tactile display to present accounting and financial information.

Abstract: A phase-difference sensor measures the spatially resolved difference in phase between orthogonally polarized reference and test wavefronts. The sensor is constructed as a pixelated phase-mask aligned to and imaged on a pixelated detector array. Each adjacent pixel of the phase-mask measures a predetermined relative phase shift between the orthogonally polarized reference and test beams. Thus, multiple phase-shifted interferograms can be synthesized at the same time by combining pixels with identical phase-shifts. The multiple phase-shifted interferograms can be combined to calculate standard parameters such as modulation index or average phase step. Any configuration of interferometer that produces orthogonally polarized reference and object beams may be combined with the phase-difference sensor of the invention to provide, single-shot, simultaneous phase-shifting measurements.

Abstract: A polarizing point-diffraction plate is used to produce common-path test and reference wavefronts with mutually orthogonal polarizations from an input wavefront. The common-path test and reference wavefronts are collimated, phase shifted and interfered, and the resulting interferograms are imaged on a detector. The interference patterns are then processed using conventional algorithms to characterize the input light wavefront.

Abstract: An optical crossed grating is used to calibrate a conventional autocollimator operated with a single-frequency light source. Since a collimated monochromatic beam is diffracted at a number of well known angles after being reflected from the grating, an array of spots is formed on the detector surface that makes it possible to calibrate the autocollimator in a single operation. Because the angle of the diffracted light is determined only by the spacing in the grid, the calibration accuracy is insensitive to temperature variations and to the position of the grid on the sample stage. The calibration scaling values are calculated simply by measuring the spot spacings on the detector surface in relation to the diffraction angles corresponding to the grid spacing.

Abstract: An autocollimator/point-range sensor system produces a linearly polarized light beam that is split into a point-range sensor beam and an autocollimator beam. The linearly polarized point-range sensor beam is utilized to carry out z-position measurements according to prior-art techniques. The autocollimator beam is passed through a quarter-wave plate to introduce a 90-degree phase shift and convert it to circularly polarized light. An analyzer placed in front of the autocollimator detector is positioned such that its transmission axis is offset with respect to the plane of polarization of the linearly polarized point-range sensor beam, thereby blocking any scattered light from the sensor beam while passing a component of the circularly-polarized autocollimator light to reach the detector.

Abstract: An interchangeable clamp plate is designed to receive and hold a magnetic-head suspension in a predetermined position in a test clamp of a pitch and roll measuring instrument. The clamp plate comprises a support plate for securing the swage mount of the suspension to a predetermined reference plane and a reference surface integrally formed coplanarly with the support plate in a position within the normal operating range of the optics of the instrument. Each kind of suspension being tested is mounted on a clamp plate conforming to its specific geometry that is adapted for installation in the test instrument prior to measurement. As a result of this configuration, once the instrument is calibrated with respect to the reference surface coplanar with the swage mounting surface, measurement accuracy is inherently maintained during testing.

Abstract: A scanning interferometer that utilizes a DC gear motor instead of a PZT translator in closed-loop configuration with an LVTD position sensor. The DC motor is connected to the scanning mechanism so that a rotational motion of the motor shaft produces a translation along the optical axis of either the sample or the objective of the interferometer. During scanning, the motor is driven by the input of a ramp signal into the system. The closed-loop configuration is such that a constant, or nearly constant voltage is applied to the DC motor to produce a constant-speed scan in response to the ramp input. Any non-linearity in the speed of motion is corrected by an adjustment to the motor voltage. At the completion of the scan, the ramp input is removed and the motor is automatically returned to the starting position to satisfy the closed-loop condition.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope includes a base, an inner piezoelectric tube, and an outer PMN translator arrangement including three PMN posts, with first ends of the PMN posts connected to the base. A first end of the inner piezoelectric tube is rigidly connected to second ends of the PMN posts. Inner quadrant conductors are disposed on the inner surfaces of the inner piezoelectric tube, and outer quadrant conductors are disposed on the outer surfaces of the inner piezoelectric tube. Separate x and y scan control voltage signals are applied to corresponding opposed quadrant conductors of the inner piezoelectric tube to control scanning of the free end of the inner tube in the x and y directions. A z scan control voltage is produced by a servo control circuit in response to a probe signal and applied to the PMN posts, which have negligible hysteresis. The servo control circuit refers to a look-up table to correct non-linearities of the PMN posts.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope includes a base, an inner piezoelectric tube, and an outer piezoelectric tube, with a first end of the outer piezoelectric tube connected to the base. A first end of the inner piezoelectric tube is rigidly connected to a second end of the outer piezoelectric tube. Thin inner conductors are disposed on the inner surfaces of the inner piezoelectric tube and the outer piezoelectric tube, and quadrant conductors are disposed on the outer surfaces of the inner piezoelectric tube and the outer piezoelectric tube. Separate x, y, and z scan control voltage signals are applied to various quadrant conductors of the inner and outer piezoelectric tubes to control scanning of the free end of the inner tube in the x, y, and z directions, respectively.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope includes a base, an inner piezoelectric tube, and an outer piezoelectric tube, with a first end of the outer piezoelectric tube connected to the base. A first end of the inner piezoelectric tube is rigidly connected to a second end of the outer piezoelectric tube. Thin inner conductors are disposed on the inner surfaces of the inner piezoelectric tube and the other piezoelectric tube, and quadrant conductors are disposed on the outer surfaces of the inner piezoelectric tube and the outer piezoelectric tube. Variable voltages are applied to the quadrant conductors of the outer piezoelectric tube and the inner piezoelectric tube and varied to cause lateral and axial movement of the second end of the outer piezoelectric tube and also to cause lateral and perpendicular movement of the second end of the inner piezoelectric tube relative to its first end.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a lysophospholipoprotein (LPLP)-comprising foodstuff by incorporating dried LPLP or dried LPLP-comprising material, preferably having a moisture content of at most 10 wt %, at a level of 0.1-90 wt.% therein. The dried LPLP serves as a texture-modifying agent, a glossing agent, a freeze-thaw stabilizing agent, a heat-stabilizing agent and a syneresis-inhibiting agent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for aligning a reflective surface with an alignment axis in a representative environment of an interferometer. An image of the reflective surface is focused onto a diffuse screen to form a spot image thereon. Rays of the spot image emanating from the diffuse screen are collimated. Some of the collimated rays are focused onto a detector to form a non-inverted image spot. A portion of the collimated rays are intercepted and inverted by means of an image inverter aligned with the alignment axis. The inverted rays are focused onto the detector to form an inverted image spot. The reflecting surface is moved so as to cause the inverted image spot and the non-inverted image spot to coincide, at which point the reflecting surface is aligned with the alignment axis.

Abstract: An interferometer includes a thin, absorbing pellicle in the path of a test beam to attenuate the test beam so that its intensity is approximately equal to the intensity of a reference beam. The pellicle reflects less than about six percent of the test beam, thereby avoiding spurious reflections that produce spurious fringes.

Abstract: The translation device includes first and second plates, one movable relative to the other in response to a plurality of piezoelectric transducers. A flexure is located between the first and second plates and attached to each of them to spring-load the piezoelectric transducers. The driver circuit produces voltages which are balanced and applied to the piezoelectric transducers to produce tilt-free translation of the first plate relative to the second.

Abstract: A dedicated video disc player controller for use in interactive video disc playback systems. The controller includes memory for storing instructions representing particular commands to a video disc player in response to the present segment of the video disc being displayed and a plurality of external inputs provided through a keyboard. ports ports for communicating with a variety of non-standard control posts on various video disc players are all provided through a single 25 pin connector. The ports include three serial RS-232 level ports one TTL level serial port, one TTL level 8 bit parallel port, and several TTL input lines for reading control port responses from the video disc player. Plug insertable memory cards are used to provide instructions for playback sequence and response to keystrokes as well as for selectively downloading data indicative of the responses of past users, and modifying the operating firmware of the controller.

Abstract: A contact sport rib protector adapted to cover the ribs, including the lower rib cage, of a wearer. The protector includes a flexible member having a soft, resilient, rib-contacting, inner membrane and a tough, relatively resilient, outer protective membrane. The outer member has a plurality of discrete foam-filled, protective protrusions spaced from one another by thin areas.

Abstract: A contact sport joint protector for protecting the knee or elbow limb joint comprising a unitary, relatively thick, foam-filled, semi-rigid, resilient, molded plastic pad of generally rectangular compound-curved configuration to conform with the shape of said limb joint. The concave inner surface and the opposed side edges of the pad have opposed hinge grooves extending inwardly from each of the opposed side edges to define a hinge portion adapted to overlie the limb joint to enable bending of the normally straight pad upon bending of the limb joint and return of the pad to its normally straight configuration upon straightening of the limb joint. A backing layer of soft, foam plastic material may be adhered to the inner surface of the plastic pad.

Abstract: An oil-external microemulsion drilling fluid having a wide range of tolerance for salinity, having good gel strength and low fluid loss characteristics, and also obtained by mixing about 1% to about 30% of a sodium petroleum sulfonate having an average equivalent weight within the range of about 350 to about 525, about 5% to about 84% of a hydrocarbon (e.g. diesel fuel), about 15% to about 90% of an aqueous medium (can contain water soluble salts), about 0.01 to about 20% of a cosurfactant (e.g. alcohols such as primary amyl alcohol) and about 0.1 to about 15% of bentonite clay. Weighting agents, e.g. barite, and other desired additives can be added to the microemulsion.