Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with gated optical coherence tomography (OCT) are described. One example method includes generating an image control signal to control an OCT apparatus to acquire an image of an embryonic heart at a specified point in time during a cardiac cycle of the embryonic heart. The method may also include controlling the OCT apparatus to acquire the image based on the image control signal. In different examples, the image may be acquired in vivo or from an excised heart that is paced. The OCT apparatus and the embryonic heart may be housed in an environmental chamber having a set of controllable environmental factors. Therefore, the method may include detecting and controlling the set of controllable environmental factors.

Abstract: A starter module configured to limit an engine speed of an engine for a walk behind trowel at time of startup. The walk behind trowel includes a rotor driven by the engine, a throttle to command an operating state of the walk behind trowel, and a clutch operable to selectively couple an output of the engine to the rotor. The starter module includes a sensor operable to provide a signal representative of an operating state of the trowel upon engine start-up. The starter module further includes a controller configured to receive the signal representative of the operating state of the walk behind trowel, and to prevent the clutch from engaging the engine output to drive the rotor if the detected operating state is outside of a designated range for idling operation of the engine.

Abstract: A control system for a robotic device maneuverable in at least a liquid medium, the system having at least one visual sensor retrieving an image of the device's environment, an image analyzing module receiving the image, determining a presence of an object of a given type therein and analyzing at least one property of the object, a motion calculator determining a desired motion of the device based on the property, and a controller operating a propulsion system of the device to obtain the desired motion. Also, a legged robotic device having a control system including at least one sensor providing data about an environment of the device, the control system using sensor data to determine a desired motion of the device, determining a corresponding required leg motion of each of the legs to produce the desired motion and actuating the legs in accordance with the corresponding required leg motion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a specific set of gene expression markers from peripheral blood leukocytes that are indicative of a host response to exposure, response, and recovery infectious pathogen infections. The present invention further provides methods for identifying the specific set of gene expression markers, methods of monitoring disease progression and treatment of infectious pathogen infections, methods of prognosing the onset of an infectious pathogen infection, and methods of diagnosing an infectious pathogen infection and identifying the pathogen involved.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package substrate includes a first and an additional electrically conductive layer separated from each other by an electrically insulating layer, a contact pad formed in the first electrically conductive layer for making a direct connection between the integrated circuit package substrate and a printed circuit board, and a cutout formed in the additional electrically conductive layer wherein the cutout encloses an area that completely surrounds the contact pad for avoiding parasitic capacitance between the additional electrically conductive layer and the printed circuit board.

Abstract: In various embodiments, temporal filtering may be used to reduce noise over time in a series of video frames. A temporal filter may use previous filtered frames to reduce the noise in a current frame. For example, a temporal filter may filter noise in still parts of an image more strongly than in moving parts of the image. In some embodiments, a temporal filter requiring less processing power may include a method for detecting motion between a set of pixels and applying the temporal filter based on the detected motion. For example, if substantial motion is not detected, the temporal filter for the block of pixels may be stronger (i.e., reduce more noise) than the temporal filter applied to a block of pixels for which substantial motion has been detected.

Abstract: A therapeutic treatment device for treating colds sores and the like. The device includes a housing configured to be hand held, and having an annular pad at one end thereof configured to engage and area of the body of the user. A heat source is maintained adjacent the pad. A controller, in the form of a programmable chip or the like, allows for the heat source to be energized for a particular period of time, shutting off automatically. After a predetermined quiescent period of time has expired, the device signals the user that the heat source can be energized again, with the controller then maintaing the activation of the heat source for a second preselected period of time. The cycle continues until the treatment is complete. A treatment actuator communicates with the controller to enable the controller to process through the treatment sequence.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recreational and sporting device (10) comprising a foot support (12) that is mounted on a first wheel (26) such that the foot support is located below the axis of rotation of a first wheel (26). The foot cradle (12) is hingedly attached to a leg support (18) which is adapted to be attached to a user's leg. The device (10) may further include a second wheel (56) used for stabilisation and to assist in steering. The device (10) provides a recreational and sporting apparatus that is more manoeuvrable and can be used on uneven terrain where conventional skates, such as in-line skates, cannot be used.

Abstract: In some embodiments, images for the video conference may be white balanced. White balancing may include dividing at least a subset of an image's pixels into multiple ranges according to their luminance and chrominance values. For example, at least a portion of the pixels in an image may be sorted into different groups (i.e., by incrementing counters respective to each group) according to the luminance and chrominance values of the pixels. If enough pixels are found to be in a particular group, a portion or all of the image may be adjusted by a ratio corresponding to that particular group. For example, blue and red analog gains (corresponding to the selected pixels) may be modified by a corresponding ratio to bring red and blue accumulations closer to green accumulations.

Abstract: A multi-mode interference (MMI) device, comprising a hollow core multi-mode waveguide optically coupled to at least one hollow core input waveguide, is described in which the internal surfaces of the hollow core waveguides carry a reflective coating. The coating may be a low refractive index material at the wavelength of operation, such as a metal, or a multiple layer dielectric stack. Resonators and optical amplifiers using such (MMI) devices are also described.

Abstract: An optical filter (100) comprises a multimode waveguide (126) and first (122) and second (124) coupling waveguides which communicate with lateral sides of the multimode waveguide. The filter operates by reproducing an optical field distribution input to the multimode waveguide via one of the coupling waveguides at the position in the multimode waveguide where the other coupling waveguide communicates with the multimode waveguide. This occurs for radiation of a wavelength to be filtered but not for radiation of other wavelengths.

Abstract: A compressor is disclosed generally comprising a cylinder head mounted to a cylinder block having a cooling chamber and a piston channel via a bolt. A piston is disposed in the piston channel and has a contact portion that contacts the channel wall, which is integrally formed with the cylinder block, as it slides within the channel. The bolt and the cooling chamber each extend from at least as high as the highest contact point between the contact portion of the piston and the channel wall to at least as low as the lowest contact point between the contact portion of the piston and the channel wall. In certain embodiments, the cooling chamber is located between the bolt and the piston channel. In some embodiments, a crankcase is integrally formed with the cylinder block.

Abstract: In various embodiments, multiple participants (at endpoints) may connect through a video conferencing system. A screen may display other participants in the conference call. For example, multiple participants may be displayed in respective portions of the screen. In some embodiments, each of the participants may use video conferencing systems that support different resolutions. In some embodiments, a transcoder may resolution transcode signals to allow the conference call participants to be displayed on each participant's respective screen at up to the highest possible resolution supported by the respective screen. For example, low resolution video conferencing systems may be displayed on a high definition screen of a high resolution system at the low resolution of the low resolution video conferencing system while another image on the same high definition screen from a different, higher resolution video conferencing system, may be displayed at the higher resolution.

Abstract: In some embodiments, images for the video conference may be white balanced and/or exposure controlled. White balancing may include dividing an image's pixels into multiple ranges according to their luminance and chrominance values. In some embodiments, blue and red analog gains may be modified to bring red and blue accumulations closer to green accumulations. In some embodiments, luminance values for an image may be adjusted by increasing or decreasing exposure. The decision whether to increase or decrease the exposure may be made by looking at statistics for luminance values of skin colored regions if there are sufficient skin colored regions on the image. Otherwise, luminance values for the entire image may be analyzed to determine whether to increase or decrease exposure.

Abstract: An optical multiplexer and demultiplexer (mux-demux) (100) comprises a multimode waveguide (126) which communicates with first (122) and second (124) coupling waveguides. Multiplexed optical radiation comprising individual wavelength channels of appropriate wavelength introduced into the input waveguide is demultiplexed by means of modal dispersion and in-ter-modal interference with the multimode waveguide. The mux-demux consists of merely of waveguides and is therefore simple to fabricate and integrate with other components in integrated optical systems, and is capable of resolving channels having a small (˜1 nm) wavelength spacing. The mux-demux may be used without modification as a demultiplexer and remains of simple construction when scaled up to operate with many channels.

Abstract: A computer system is disclosed having two structures, a small mobile core unit and an enclosure capable of enclosing and cooperating with the core unit. The core unit has all of the components of a general purpose computer except for all peripheral I/O components circuitry and related connectors, a display and a source of power. This core unit by itself is non-functional as a computer unless it is in electrical contact with the enclosure. The enclosure has several connector ports for attachment of peripherals to the system and contains peripheral circuitry and related connectors.

Abstract: An optical filter comprises a multimode waveguide, and first and second coupling waveguides which communicate with the multimode waveguide at respective ends thereof. Filtering is achieved by the effect of self-imaging in the multimode waveguide. The filter further comprises one or more series of aperture within the multimode waveguide, the or each series being located at a longitudinal position within the multimode waveguide at which 1-to-N way intensity division of an input optical field occurs, the optical field being the lowest order transverse mode of the coupling waveguides. The (one or more) series of apertures reduces the transmission of the filter at wavelength other than those corresponding to transmission peaks of filter's transmission function, thus providing improved filtering performance compared to prior art optical filters based on self-imaging.

Abstract: A compressor is disclosed generally comprising a housing, a shaft disposed therein, and a swash plate part that is mounted at a fixed angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. In some embodiments, the swash plate part is coupled to a second, inner swash plate part via a bearing. In other embodiments, the swash plate part is coupled directly to the shaft via the bearing. The bearing is adapted to accommodate both the radial and axial loads of the compressor in order to eliminate the need for a separate thrust bearing.

Abstract: A starter module configured to limit an engine speed of an engine for a walk behind trowel at time of startup. The walk behind trowel includes a rotor driven by the engine, a throttle to command an operating state of the walk behind trowel, and a clutch operable to selectively couple an output of the engine to the rotor. The starter module includes a sensor operable to provide a signal representative of an operating state of the trowel upon engine start-up. The starter module further includes a controller configured to receive the signal representative of the operating state of the walk behind trowel, and to prevent the clutch from engaging the engine output to drive the rotor if the detected operating state is outside of a designated range for idling operation of the engine.

Abstract: A brake of a concrete finishing trowel responds automatically to the cessation of drive torque delivery to the rotor to actively brake the trowel's drive train, hence inhibiting or preventing frame rotation. The brake preferably takes advantages of inherent characteristics of an inclined gear, such as a worm of a gearbox, to permit an internal component of the gearbox to shift automatically upon the cessation of drive torque therethrough from a brake released position to a brake engaged position. In the case of a worm gear-based gearbox, the worm is configured such that reaction forces that are normally generated by the delivery of drive torque therethrough shift the worm to release the brake during normal trowel operation. These forces are eliminated in the absence of drive torque transfer, permitting the worm to shift to a brake engaged position.