Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing nanoparticles comprising the steps of feeding a core precursor into a plasma torch in a plasma reactor, thereby producing a vapor of silicon or alloy thereof; and allowing the vapor to migrate to a quenching zone of the plasma reactor, thereby cooling the vapor and allowing condensation of the vapor into a nanoparticle core made of the silicon or alloy thereof, wherein the quenching gas comprises a passivating gas precursor that reacts with the surface of the core in the quenching zone produce a passivation layer covering the core, thereby producing said nanoparticles. The present invention also relates to nanoparticles comprising a core covered with a passivation layer, the core being made of silicon or an alloy thereof, as well as their use, in particular in the manufacture of anodes.

Abstract: A multifunction detector for detecting energy reflected from the surface, the detector comprising: a focal plane array in communication with the optical receiving path; and an optical receiving path; a read-only integrated circuit in communication with the optical receiving path, integrated with a focal plane array; and a processor programmed to operate the focal plane array and read-out integrated circuit in a first mode to process signals in a first frequency band, and in a second mode to process signals in a second, wider frequency band.

Abstract: An observation device includes at least one day vision channel, an information channel with a graphic electronic display for producing a display image and a combination optical system for combining the day vision channel and the information channel, so that a combined overall image forms.

Abstract: A system and method for aligning a first and a second image of an eye includes making a determination of a limbus location on a first eye image and a second eye image. The limbus location of the first and the second eye images are then aligned in two dimensions. A second eye feature location is determined on the first and the second eye image. One of the first and the second eye image is relatively rotated, and a correlation is performed on the first and the second eye image at a plurality of relative rotational positions using the second eye feature location. From the correlation an optimal first and second image alignment is identified.

Abstract: Systems and techniques, including computer program products, for managing different representations of information. The systems and techniques can include a method that includes receiving information identifying a first customization setting, receiving information identifying a second customization setting, and mapping the customized format of the data variable in the first data processing system to the customized format of the data variable in the second data processing system. The first customization setting can describe a customized representation of information in a data variable in a first data processing system. The second customization setting can describe a customized format of the data variable in the second data processing system.

Abstract: A multifunction detector for detecting energy reflected from the surface, the detector comprising: a focal plane array in communication with the optical receiving path; and an optical receiving path; a read-only integrated circuit in communication with the optical receiving path, integrated with a focal plane array; and a processor programmed to operate the focal plane array and read-out integrated circuit in a first mode to process signals in a first frequency band, and in a second mode to process signals in a second, wider frequency band.

Abstract: A multifunction detector for detecting energy reflected from the surface, the detector comprising: a focal plane array in communication with the optical receiving path; and an optical receiving path; a read-only integrated circuit in communication with the optical receiving path, integrated with a focal plane array; and a processor programmed to operate the focal plane array and read-out integrated circuit in a first mode to process signals in a first frequency band, and in a second mode to process signals in a second, wider frequency band.

Abstract: An observation device includes at least one day vision channel, an information channel with a graphic electronic display for producing a display image and a combination optical system for combining the day vision channel and the information channel, so that a combined overall image forms.

Abstract: A multifunction detector for detecting energy reflected from the surface, the detector comprising: a focal plane array in communication with the optical receiving path; and an optical receiving path; a read-only integrated circuit in communication with the optical receiving path, integrated with a focal plane array; and a processor programmed to operate the focal plane array and read-out integrated circuit in a first mode to process signals in a first frequency band, and in a second mode to process signals in a second, wider frequency band.

Abstract: The system includes elements (1, 7) forming a server for the rental of a catalog of works, elements (7) for the user's selection of at least one work, elements (7) for writing to members (10) forming a user's medium for the storage of a copy of the selected work and of authorization data for access to it, and of copies of other works which are not selected but which are offered for rental and for which the access authorization data are stored in elements (14) forming a server for managing access authorization data, reading elements (11) of the members forming a medium (10) allowing access to the copy of the rented work, using the access authorization data written to the members forming the medium (10) and to the copies of the offered works, using access authorization data obtained from the elements(14) forming a server for managing the access authorization data.

Abstract: A system and method for aligning a first and a second image of an eye includes making a determination of a limbus location on a first eye image and a second eye image. The limbus location of the first and the second eye images are then aligned in two dimensions. A second eye feature location is determined on the first and the second eye image. One of the first and the second eye image is relatively rotated, and a correlation is performed on the first and the second eye image at a plurality of relative rotational positions using the second eye feature location. From the correlation an optimal first and second image alignment is identified.

Abstract: A system for optimizing the effects of light sources on viewing and image processing, and for imaging an illuminated object takes advantage of the fact that specularly reflected light has particular polarization properties compared with diffusely scattered light. The system includes a polarized light source to illuminate an object with a polarized beam and an unpolarized light source for delivering unpolarized light to illuminate the object with an unpolarized beam. A detector is positioned to receive light from the beams reflected from the object. A polarizer is oriented for substantially filtering out specular reflection from the object and for permitting at least a portion of diffuse reflection from the object to pass therethrough. The polarized and unpolarized light sources and the polarizer are controllable for selectively illuminating the object with and detecting light having a selected polarization characteristic as a function of a portion of a procedure being performed.

Abstract: A system for tracking eye movement includes a detector that is adapted to receive radiation reflected from a retina defining a spatial extent of a pupil of an eye. The detector acts to generate data indicative of a positioning of the received radiation on the detector. A processor is in communication with the detector and has software resident thereon for determining from an analysis of the data a pupil position. A controller is in communication with the processor and with a device for adjusting a direction of radiation emitted by an illumination source responsive to the determined pupil position in order to substantially center the emitted radiation on the pupil. The illumination source is preferably coaxial with the detector, and emits a beam having a diameter less than the pupil diameter.

Abstract: A three mirror anastigmatic optic (and corresponding method of making) comprising a primary mirror, a secondary mirror, a tertiary mirror, and a vertex common to the primary and tertiary mirrors.

Abstract: An antenna-coupled microbolometer multilayer structure, and associated method of forming an antenna-coupled microbolometer multilayer structure are disclosed, where the structure includes a dielectric layer of dielectric material having at least one locally doped region doped with a dopant to provide a thermal conductive path from a first side to a second side of the dielectric layer. The structure includes an antenna on the first side of the dielectric layer coupled to the locally doped region; a read-out integrated circuit (ROIC) on the second side of the dielectric layer coupled to the locally doped region; a conductive substrate between the dielectric layer and the ROIC; and an electrical connection between the locally doped region and the ROIC, wherein the ROIC is connected to detect, via the electrical connection, a change in electrical resistivity of the locally doped region due to thermal energy absorbed from the antenna.

Abstract: An optical system and method comprising acquiring radiation in a plurality of spectral bands, each acquired by a discrete collector, receiving the acquired radiation in one or more of the spectral bands with one or more afocal zoom optics, each receiving radiation from a different collector, and aligning each point of fields of view of the collectors to a fraction of a pixel.

Abstract: A variable field of view optical system and method comprising providing a forward curved optical element, providing a rearward optical element comprising an axially gradient index material, providing a curved focal surface, and conveying an image on the curved focal surface to a flat detector surface.

Abstract: An antenna-coupled microbolometer multilayer structure, and associated method of forming an antenna-coupled microbolometer multilayer structure are disclosed, where the structure includes a dielectric layer of dielectric material having at least one locally doped region doped with a dopant to provide a thermal conductive path from a first side to a second side of the dielectric layer. The structure includes an antenna on the first side of the dielectric layer coupled to the locally doped region; a read-out integrated circuit (ROIC) on the second side of the dielectric layer coupled to the locally doped region; a conductive substrate between the dielectric layer and the ROIC; and an electrical connection between the locally doped region and the ROIC, wherein the ROIC is connected to detect, via the electrical connection, a change in electrical resistivity of the locally doped region due to thermal energy absorbed from the antenna.

Abstract: A method of partially reconfiguring an IC having programmable modules that includes the steps of reading a frame of configuration information from the configuration memory array; modifying at least part of the configuration information, thereby creating a modified frame of configuration information; and overwriting the existing frame of configuration information in the configuration memory array with the modified frame, thereby partially reconfiguring the IC.

Abstract: A Midwave FLIR imaging optical apparatus has both a narrow and wide field of view. The imaging optical apparatus has a See Spot mode of operation, where a laser designator spot image is superimposed on the FLIR image in the narrow field of view. A laser rangefinder receiver path is also provided. A shared aperture collects incident radiation, which after manipulation by a plurality of optically significant surfaces, projects radiation to a detector. The imaging optical system is lightweight and compact and efficiently transmits FLIR energy and a narrow band of laser energy so that a signal due to a source outside the pass bands of interest (including solar energy) will not adversely effect operation of the imaging optical apparatus.