Abstract: The disclosure features visual assistive devices that include a detection apparatus configured to receive information about an environment surrounding a user of the visual assistive device, a communication apparatus configured to transmit information to the user, and an electronic processor coupled to the detection apparatus and the communication apparatus, and configured to: receive information about an activity of the user; filter the information about the environment surrounding the user based on the activity of the user; assign a priority rank to each element of the filtered information based on the activity of the user; and transmit at least some of the elements of the filtered information, according to the assigned priority ranks, to the user using the communication apparatus.

Abstract: Image stabilization systems and methods include a detector configured to detect images, an actuator coupled to the detector, a sensor coupled to the detector and configured to detect motion of the detector, and an electronic processor in communication with the sensor and the actuator, where the electronic processor is configured to, for example: (a) receive information about motion of the detector from the sensor; (b) determine components of the motion of the detector, and associate a class with each of the determined components; (c) identify components to be compensated from among the determined components based on the associated classes; and (d) generate a control signal that causes the actuator to adjust a position of at least a portion of the detector to compensate for the identified components.

Abstract: The disclosure features visual assistive devices that include a detection apparatus configured to receive information about an environment surrounding a user of the visual assistive device, a communication apparatus configured to transmit information to the user, and an electronic processor coupled to the detection apparatus and the communication apparatus, and configured to: receive information about an activity of the user; filter the information about the environment surrounding the user based on the activity of the user; assign a priority rank to each element of the filtered information based on the activity of the user; and transmit at least some of the elements of the filtered information, according to the assigned priority ranks, to the user using the communication apparatus.

Abstract: Image stabilization systems and methods include a detector configured to detect images, an actuator coupled to the detector, a sensor coupled to the detector and configured to detect motion of the detector, and an electronic processor in communication with the sensor and the actuator, where the electronic processor is configured to, for example: (a) receive information about motion of the detector from the sensor; (b) determine components of the motion of the detector, and associate a class with each of the determined components; (c) identify components to be compensated from among the determined components based on the associated classes; and (d) generate a control signal that causes the actuator to adjust a position of at least a portion of the detector to compensate for the identified components.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention provides certain systems comprising a multi-layer decomposable film coating composition on a substrate, where the coating composition includes one or more releasable agents in at least one of its layers, and decomposes layer-by-layer to release such agent(s) over time. In some embodiments, an intra-ocular lens (IOL) system comprising an IOL coated with a multi-layer decomposable film coating composition is disclosed.

Abstract: An ocular device that can more safely and effectively perform all functions needed of a retinal prosthesis with electronic components that are placed outside the wall of an eye, are powered wirelessly provided by an external power source, and which provide a patient with a view determined by natural motion of the eye and triggered by natural incident light converging at the retina. In one aspect, the invention is an externally powered, light-activated, sub-retinal prosthesis in which natural light entering the eye conveys visual details to the sub-retinal prosthesis, while wireless radiofrequency transmission provides the power needed to stimulate the retina, which would be insufficient if it were obtained from the intensity of incoming light alone.

Abstract: An ocular device that can more safely and effectively perform all functions needed of a retinal prosthesis with electronic components that are placed outside the wall of an eye, are powered wirelessly provided by an external power source, and which provide a patient with a view determined by natural motion of the eye and triggered by natural incident light converging at the retina. In one aspect, the invention is an externally powered, light-activated, sub-retinal prosthesis in which natural light entering the eye conveys visual details to the sub-retinal prosthesis, while wireless radiofrequency transmission provides the power needed to stimulate the retina, which would be insufficient if it were obtained from the intensity of incoming light alone.

Abstract: Enhanced telephone services are provided through a multi-service telephone switching system that contains a programmable adjunct connected to a telephone switching system. Specifically, this system includes a telephone switch that serves at least one subscriber and an adjunct connected both through one or more distinct paths, such as a number of hunt group lines, and through a datalink, such as a simplified message desk datalink, to the telephone switch. The telephone switch routes a telephone call involving this subscriber to the adjunct through an available hunt group line and provides a message to the adjunct over the datalink specifying a condition under which the call was routed. In response to this message, the adjunct takes complete control of the call substantially throughout the remainder of its duration and provides a desired enhanced service that has been pre-defined by a service script stored within the adjunct.

Abstract: "Transhybrid" loss is maximized in a transmission network of the active canceler type employed to couple receive and transmit unidirectional transmission paths to a bidirectional transmission path including 2-wire loaded type cable by controllably adjusting impedance elements of the canceler circuit in a prescribed sequence including adjustment of a network build out capacitor to obtain amplitude nulls of signals detected on the transmit path while supplying individual ones of a plurality of test signals to the receive path. The test signals include first and second signals having a plurality of equally spaced frequency components in first and second frequency bands, respectively, and a third signal having a predetermined single frequency.

Abstract: A bidirectional transmission path is typically coupled to unidirectional receive and transmit paths to effect amplification in repeaters or the like. A determination of whether the bidirectional path includes either loaded or nonloaded type 2-wire cable is made by inserting a test signal having a predetermined frequency and a predetermined amplitude into the receive path and measuring the peak amplitude of a transmit signal developed on the transmit path. If the transmit signal peak amplitude is greater than a predetermined threshold value, the 2-wire cable is considered loaded type, and if the transmit signal peak amplitude is less than the threshold value, the 2-wire cable is considered nonloaded type.

Abstract: "Transhybrid" loss is maximized in a transmission network of the active canceler type employed to couple receive and transmit unidirectional transmission paths to a bidirectional transmission path including 2-wire nonloaded type cable by controllably adjusting impedance elements of the canceler circuit in a prescribed sequence to obtain amplitude nulls of signals detected on the transmit path while supplying individual ones of a plurality of single frequency test signals to the receive path. The adjustment sequence comprises a first procedure including a plurality of iterative adjustments of predetermined impedance elements in predetermined groups until no changes in the impedance settings occur and multiple iterative adjustment of predetermined groups until no changes in the impedance settings occur.

Abstract: Transhybrid loss is maximized in a transmission network (FIG. 1, 101) of the type for coupling a bidirectional transmission facility (102, 2-wire) to receive (103) and transmit (104) unidirectional transmission facilities (4-wire) by automatically adjusting impedance elements (RKN, RZN, etc.) of an impedance network (202, FIG. 3, FIG. 4) to obtain an optimum match to the impedance of the bidirectional facility (102). To this end, individual ones of a plurality of tones (107) are supplied to a receive port (111) of the transmission network (101) and the impedance elements (RKN, RZN, etc.) are controllably adjusted in a prescribed sequence (FIGS. 8-16) to obtain amplitude nulls at a transmit port (112) of the transmission network (101). In one embodiment, predetermined ones of the impedance adjustments (RKN, RZN, etc., 820-823, 828-831) are iterated with predetermined ones of the tone signals being supplied to the receive port (111) further to optimize the impedance match.

Abstract: Transhybrid loss is maximized in a transmission network (FIG. 1, 101) of the type for coupling a bidirectional transmission facility (102, 2-wire) to receive (103) and transmit (104) unidirectional transmission facilities (4-wire) by automatically adjusting impedance elements (RKL and RZL) of an impedance network (202, FIG. 3) to obtain an optimum match to the impedance of the bidirectional facility (102). To this end, a plurality of tones (107) are individually supplied to a receive port (111) of the transmission network (101) and the impedance elements (RKL and RZL) are controllably adjusted in a prescribed sequence (FIGS. 7-10) to obtain amplitude nulls at a transmit port (112) of the transmission network (101). Then, an additional signal having a plurality of predetermined frequency components which repeat periodically is supplied to the receive port (111) and a predetermined one of the impedance elements (RKL) is again adjusted to obtain an average value amplitude null at the transmit port (112).

Abstract: Operate/release timing circuits are employed to generate time delayed pulse signals, for example, dial pulses, wink signals and other supervisory signals employed in telecommunications signaling systems. Pulse position and pulse width errors and other problems found in prior operate/release timers are resolved by employing a single digital counter and associated control logic elements. The timing circuit is controllably configured into several timer circuit arrangements including an integrating timer, AM timer, integrating timer including coast option, and AM timer including coast option. With the coast option enabled, initial noise immunity in the pulse signal is realized by resetting the counter to an initial state in response to any discontinuity in the input pulse signal until the input pulse signal is continuously present for a predetermined interval.

Abstract: Pulse signals, for example, dial pulses, wink signals or the like, have been corrected to have minimum break and make intervals by employing at least two analog resistor/capacitor type timers, usually connected in tandem. These prior timer arrangements are not readily implemented by employing large-scale integration because of their use of analog circuit components. Indeed, it is desirable to correct pulse signals to have at least minimum break and make intervals (FIG. 2) by employing digital techniques. To this end, a control signal (ENO) for determining the minimum break and make intervals is generated by utilizing a single digital counter (35) and associated logic for controllably supplying first (Y15) and second (Y30) timing signals (from 34) to the counter (36). The frequencies of the first and the second timing signals are selected in relationship to the desired minimum break and make intervals, respectively.