Abstract: Disclosed herein is an assembly for attaching a rear view mirror to a vehicle. The assembly comprises an intermediate member configured to slide with respect to an arm that extends outwardly from a mirror base, a proximal end of the intermediate member being configured to interlock with the arm such that the arm and intermediate member become rigidly joined. The assembly also comprises a mirror head support configured to slide with respect to the intermediate member, the mirror head support being configured to interlock with the intermediate member such that the mirror head support and intermediate member become rigidly joined. Also disclosed is an extendable rear view mirror assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an assembly for attaching a rear view mirror to a vehicle. The assembly comprises an intermediate member configured to slide with respect to an arm that extends outwardly from a mirror base, a proximal end of the intermediate member being configured to interlock with the arm such that the arm and intermediate member become rigidly joined. The assembly also comprises a mirror head support configured to slide with respect to the intermediate member, the mirror head support being configured to interlock with the intermediate member such that the mirror head support and intermediate member become rigidly joined. Also disclosed is an extendable rear view mirror assembly.

Abstract: Principals of refraction of a light ray are used to identify the location of an interface between two materials having different refractive indices. The interface may be an interface between a plasma layer and a red blood cell layer of a centrifuged container, for example. An array of light detector elements are arranged to receive light that has been refracted through different layers in a centrifuged sample. Elements of the light detector array are arranged at known locations relative to an emitter of the light so detection of light by one or more particular detector elements is indicative of the angle of refraction of the light. Vertical position of the sample is tracked and correlated with corresponding angles of refraction to determine the vertical position of the sample when a change in the angle of diffraction is detected.

Abstract: A method for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object point on a surface of an object, the method including steps of: sending a beam of light to a diffraction grating; sending a first diffracted beam and a second diffracted beam to an objective lens to form at least two spots of light, which are passed through transparent regions of a plate to produce a first fringe pattern on the surface of the object; imaging the object point illuminated by the first fringe pattern onto a photosensitive array to obtain a first electrical data value; moving the plate to a second position; sending spots through plate to produce a second fringe pattern on the surface of the object; imaging the point onto the array point to obtain a second electrical data value; and calculating the three-dimensional coordinates of the first object point.

Abstract: A method for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object point on a surface of an object, the method including steps of: sending a beam of light to a diffraction grating; sending a first diffracted beam and a second diffracted beam to an objective lens to form at least two spots of light, which are passed through transparent regions of a plate to produce a first fringe pattern on the surface of the object; imaging the object point illuminated by the first fringe pattern onto a photosensitive array to obtain a first electrical data value; moving the plate to a second position; sending spots through plate to produce a second fringe pattern on the surface of the object; imaging the point onto the array point to obtain a second electrical data value; and calculating the three-dimensional coordinates of the first object point.

Abstract: A method for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object point on a surface of an object, including steps of providing a transparent plate having a first region and a second region, the second region having a different wedge angle than the first region; splitting a first beam of light into a first light and a second light; sending the first light through the first region or the second region; combining the first light and the second light to produce a fringe pattern on the surface of the object, the pitch of the fringe pattern depending on the wedge angle through which the first light travels; imaging the object point onto an array point on a photosensitive array to obtain an electrical data value; determining the three-dimensional coordinates of the first object point based at least in part on the electrical data value.