Abstract: A micro-electromechanical device for controlling compressed fluid flow is provided. A chamber includes a fluid flow inlet port, a high pressure region exceeding 30 bar, and a fluid flow outlet port. A moveable micro-electromechanical valve is positioned to contact the fluid flow outlet port when the moveable micro-electromechanical valve is in a first position. An electrical connection to the moveable micro-electromechanical valve provides an electrical pulse train to the moveable micro-electromechanical valve to actuate the valve at a rate of 10 KHz or more to move the valve in order to control fluid communication between the high pressure region and a low pressure region downstream from the fluid flow outlet port.

Abstract: An electromechanical system and a printer for maintaining a peel location of media impressed on a receiving substrate. A mounted optical probe has at least one light source and one or more photodetectors for detecting reflected portions of the light emitted or transmitted from the light source. The photodetector indicates to the system controller a distance of the media for controlling a peel location via an electrical signal. A comparator compares the electrical signal with a predetermined electrical signal reference to determine if the media is desirably positioned. The predetermined electrical reference signal corresponds to the desired peel location. The comparator compares the signal levels and outputs a correction signal used in a negative feedback loop for adjusting a velocity of a motor that drives a take-up roller for the media.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a peel location and for peeling a layer of media from a surface in a thermal printer. An optical probe, that includes a light source and a photodetector, transmits light from the optical probe toward a first web. The web reflects a portion of the transmitted light onto the photodetector, which then outputs an electrical signal which is compared with a preselected signal level and the difference between them provides an indication as to how much adjustment the peel location requires. Adjusting the peel location may comprise changing environmental characteristics of the first web or the second web (surface) or adjusting a tension of the first or second web. The difference between the measured electrical signal levels is related to a physical distance of the first web from the desired peel location.

Abstract: A digital projection apparatus has a first light modulation subsystem with a first light source producing linear illumination of a first spectral color and a second light source producing linear illumination of a second spectral color. A first light modulator chip (110a) has at least two independently addressable linear arrays of light modulating devices. A first spatial filter (108) blocks reflected light and transmits diffracted light along a first optical path. A second light modulation subsystem has at least a third light source producing linear illumination of a third spectral color. A second light modulator chip has at least one independently addressable linear array of light modulating devices. A second spatial filter blocks reflected light and transmits diffracted light along a second optical path. A color combining element directs modulated light onto a common optical path. Projection optics direct modulated light toward a scanning element (122) for projection toward a display surface (124).

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising a) silver and/or one or more silver compound and b) one or more biocidal active ingredients of the isothiazoline.

Abstract: A display apparatus (10) has at least one color channel providing a modulated light for each of a plurality of image frames (92). One or more laser sources that provide an illumination beam having a first polarization transmission axis. An imaging modulator (854, 85g, 85b) in the path of the illumination beam is actuable to direct the modulated light toward a projection lens. A laser blanking apparatus in the path of the modulated light is disposed to block transient light between image frames and has at least one analyzer (66) having a second polarization transmission axis that is orthogonal to the first polarization transmission axis and at least one light polarization modulator that is synchronously timed to rotate polarization of transient light during an interval between frames.

Abstract: A method for caries detection uses an image capture device (30, 32) to obtain fluorescence image data from the tooth (20) by illuminating the tooth to excite fluorescent emission. A first enhanced image of the tooth is then obtained by illuminating the tooth at a first incident angle, obtaining a back-scattered reflectance image data from the tooth tissue, and combining the back-scattered reflectance image data with the fluorescence image data. A second enhanced image of the tooth is then obtained by illuminating the tooth at a second incident angle, obtaining a back-scattered reflectance image data from the tooth tissue, and combining the back-scattered reflectance image data with the fluorescence image data. The first and second enhanced images are then analyzed to select and display the best-contrast image. This method provides high contrast images for carious regions (58) on all tooth surfaces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering a mixture of compressed fluid and marking material and depositing the marking material in a pattern onto a substrate, includes a high pressure source of a mixture of compressed fluid and marking material. A micro-machined manifold includes a plurality of micro-nozzles, a fluid chamber, and an entrance port with portions of a first surface of the micro-machined manifold defining the entrance port with the entrance port being connected in fluid communication with the fluid chamber. Each of the micro-nozzles having an inlet and an outlet with the inlet being connected in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and the outlet being located on the second surface of the micro-machined manifold. Each micro-nozzle is shaped to produce a directed beam of the mixture of compressed fluid and marking material beyond the outlet of the micro-nozzle.

Abstract: A method for displaying first and second stereoscopic images to first and second viewers provides the first viewer with a first decoding device having a first viewer differentiating element for receiving the first stereoscopic image and further having a first left- and right-eye differentiating elements for separating left- and right-eye images. The second viewer is provided with a second decoding device having a second viewer differentiating element for receiving the second stereoscopic image and further having a second left- and right-eye differentiating element. The first stereoscopic image is displayed to the first viewer by forming a first left-eye image and forming a first right-eye image, each over substantially half of the refresh period. The second stereoscopic image is displayed to the second viewer by forming a second left-eye image and forming a second right-eye image, each over substantially half of the refresh period.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods that provide enhanced eye safety for image projection systems. In particular, the instant invention provides enhanced eye safety for long throw laser projection systems.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus forms, onto a linear array light modulator, a line of illumination that extends in a linear direction. The illumination apparatus has a first laser array with laser emitters for forming a first linear beam array and a second laser array with laser emitters for forming a second linear beam array. An array combiner aligns at least the first and second linear beam arrays in the linear direction and directs the first and second linear beam arrays along a propagation path to form a mixed illumination. At least first and second cylindrical lens elements having power in the linear direction relay the mixed illumination from the propagation path toward the linear array light modulator. At least third and fourth cylindrical lens elements having power in the cross-array direction that is orthogonal to the linear direction focus the mixed illumination onto the linear array light modulator.

Abstract: Recognizing a stream of speech received as speech vectors over a lossy communications link includes constructing for a speech recognizer a series of speech vectors from packets received over a lossy packetized transmission link, wherein some of the packets associated with each speech vector are lost or corrupted during transmission. Each constructed speech vector is multi-dimensional and includes associated features. After waiting for a predetermined time, speech vectors are generated and potentially corrupted features within the speech vector are indicated to the speech recognizer when present. Speech recognition is attempted at the speech recognizer on the speech vectors when corrupted features are present. This recognition may be based only on certain or valid features within each speech vector. Retransmission of a missing or corrupted packet is requested when corrupted values are indicated by the indicating step and when the attempted recognition step fails.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging a tooth having a light source with a first spectral range and a second spectral range. A polarizing beamsplitter (18) light having a first polarization state toward the tooth and directs light from the tooth having a second polarization state along a return path toward a sensor (68), wherein the first and second polarization states are orthogonal. A first lens (22) in the return path directs image-bearing light from the tooth, through the polarizing beamsplitter (18), toward the sensor (68), and obtains image data from the redirected portion of the light having the second polarization state. A long-pass filter (15) in the return path attenuates light in the second spectral range. Control logic enables the sensor to obtain either the reflectance image or the fluorescence image.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging a tooth having a light source with a first spectral range and a second spectral range. A polarizing beamsplitter (18) light having a first polarization state toward the tooth and directs light from the tooth having a second polarization state along a return path toward a sensor (68), wherein the first and second polarization states are orthogonal. A first lens (22) in the return path directs image-bearing light from the tooth, through the polarizing beamsplitter (18), toward the sensor (68), and obtains image data from the redirected portion of the light having the second polarization state. A long-pass filter (15) in the return path attenuates light in the second spectral range. Control logic enables the sensor to obtain either the reflectance image or the fluorescence image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus derive a dynamic grammar composed of a subset of a plurality of data elements that are each associated with one of a plurality of reference identifiers. The present invention generates a set of selection identifiers on the basis of a user-provided first input identifier and determines which of these selection identifiers are present in a set of pre-stored reference identifiers. The present invention creates a dynamic grammar that includes those data elements that are associated with those reference identifiers that are matched to any of the selection identifiers. Based on a user-provided second identifier and on the data elements of the dynamic grammar, the present invention selects one of the reference identifiers in the dynamic grammar.

Abstract: A method for forming a stereoscopic image forms separate left-eye and right-eye images in a repeated cycle that forms the left-eye image by providing data for lines of the left-eye image, ordered in sequence from a first to a second edge of an image frame, then forms successive lines of modulated light according to the ordered sequence by progressively scanning lines of modulated light across a display surface by rotating a scanning element forward from a first to a second position. The right-eye image is formed by providing data for lines of the right-eye image, ordered in sequence from the second to the first edge of the image frame and forming successive lines of modulated light, progressively scanning the lines of modulated light across the display surface by rotating the scanning element in reverse from the second to the first position. The left-eye image is distinguished from the right-eye image.

Abstract: A method for caries detection uses an image capture device (30, 32) to obtain fluorescence image data from the tooth (20) by illuminating the tooth to excite fluorescent emission. A first enhanced image of the tooth is then obtained by illuminating the tooth at a first incident angle, obtaining a back-scattered reflectance image data from the tooth tissue, and combining the back-scattered reflectance image data with the fluorescence image data. A second enhanced image of the tooth is then obtained by illuminating the tooth at a second incident angle, obtaining a back-scattered reflectance image data from the tooth tissue, and combining the back-scattered reflectance image data with the fluorescence image data. The first and second enhanced images are then analyzed to select and display the best-contrast image. This method provides high contrast images for carious regions (58) on all tooth surfaces.

Abstract: A method for forming a stereoscopic image having a left-eye image and a right-eye image repeats the steps of directing a line of the left-eye image as incident light toward a scanning element while directing a line of the right-eye image as incident light toward the scanning element, and moving the scanning element into position for directing incident light toward a portion of a display surface.

Abstract: A method for caries detection uses an image capture device (30, 32) to obtain fluorescence image data from the tooth (20) by illuminating the tooth to excite fluorescent emission. A first enhanced image of the tooth is then obtained by illuminating the tooth at a first incident angle, obtaining a back-scattered reflectance image data from the tooth tissue, and combining the back-scattered reflectance image data with the fluorescence image data. A second enhanced image of the tooth is then obtained by illuminating the tooth at a second incident angle, obtaining a back-scattered reflectance image data from the tooth tissue, and combining the back-scattered reflectance image data with the fluorescence image data. The first and second enhanced images are then analyzed to select and display the best-contrast image. This method provides high contrast images for carious regions (58) on all tooth surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to biocidal compositions comprising at least one biocidal active substance and at least one solvent from the group of polyglycol monobutyl ethers, and to their use as preservatives and disinfectants. More specifically, the invention provides compositions comprising a) at least one biocidal active substance b) at least one solvent according to the formula I R—(O—CH2—CH2)x—O—H??(I) in which R is a linear or branched butyl group and x is a number from 3 to 10.