Abstract: A bicone antenna, having: a tapered top cone; a tapered bottom cone; a laterally extending ground plate beneath the tapered bottom cone; at least one shorting pin connecting the tapered top cone and the tapered bottom cone; a central pin connected to the tapered top cone; a coaxial feed connected to central pin and the laterally extending ground plate; and a dielectric disposed between the tapered top cone and the tapered bottom cone.

Abstract: A method of rapid prototyping of a microwave device, by: providing a plurality of thin sheets of low loss dielectric film, each sheet having a different metallization pattern formed thereon; providing a base onto which each of the plurality of thin sheets of low loss dielectric film can be received, wherein the base comprises a metallization pattern formed thereon such that the placement of each of the plurality of thin sheets thereon forms a different circuit; and sequentially placing each of the plurality of thin sheets of low loss dielectric film onto the base, thereby sequentially forming different circuits across the thin sheet and the base.

Abstract: A system of rapid prototyping, having: a plurality of thin sheets of low loss dielectric film, each sheet having a different metallization pattern formed thereon; and a base onto which each of the plurality of thin sheets of low loss dielectric film can be received, wherein the base comprises a metallization pattern formed thereon, and wherein placement of each of the plurality of thin sheets of low loss dielectric film onto the base results in a different circuit being formed across the thin sheet and the base.

Abstract: The invention enhances the viewing experience of visitors to marine environments, a specimen is selected by pointing devices near viewing stations 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, having video displays. The specimen is optically scanned, and the video image compared to a database 16 stored within a computer network 2, to which each viewing station is connected. A number of different graphic identification techniques are used to compare the scanned image to the data within the database, including bulk size-shape filtering, color filtering, and pattern analysis. Once the specimen has been identified, the database provides name, habitat, size, habits, diet, history, and other such demographic information to an output device at the viewing station 14 including printers 32. The textual outputs are translated into different languages automatically by computer program methods, in the form of both text and sounds.

Abstract: The invention enhances the viewing experience of visitors to marine environments. a specimen is selected by pointing devices near viewing stations 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, having video displays. The specimen is optically scanned, and the video image compared to a database 16 stored within a computer network 2, to which each viewing station is connected. A number of different graphic identification techniques are used to compare the scanned image to the data within the database, including bulk size-shape filtering, color filtering, and pattern analysis. Once the specimen has been identified, the database provides name, habitat, size, habits, diet, history, and other such demographic information to an output device at the viewing station 14 including printers 32. The textual outputs are translated into different languages automatically by computer program methods, in the form of both text and sounds.

Abstract: A system and method for the storage, retrieval, and display of information enhances the viewing experience of visitors to marine aquariums. The system includes one or more viewing stations in which the visitor can select a specimen in the aquarium by indicating its position by a cursor on a video display, or by a three-dimensional mouse-laser pointer combination. The system then optically scans the indicated location, and compares the video image to a database of information stored within a computer network to which each viewing station is connected. A number of different graphic identification techniques are used to compare the scanned image to the data within the database, including bulk size-shape filtering, color filtering, and pattern analysis.