Abstract: A method for setting configuration parameters for at least one software system, comprises the steps of: a) receiving an identification of a set of configuration parameters for at least one software system to be optimized; b) selecting a random value from a predetermined range for each configuration parameter of interest; c) setting each configuration parameter to a corresponding random value selected; d) running an application using the values selected; e) gathering performance information relating to the software system while the application is running; f) repeating steps b) through e) for a selected number of times; and g) performing an analysis of the performance information gathered to determine optimal configuration parameters. The method can be performed by a programmable computer system running program instructions for carrying out the above method steps or by a specialized apparatus such as an ASIC.

Abstract: Systems and methods for establishing and/or maintaining the prediction capability over time of a multivariate calibration model designed for quantitative optical spectroscopic measurement of attributes or analytes in bodily tissues, bodily fluids or other biological samples, which are particularly useful when the spectral absorbance of the attribute or analyte is small relative to the background. The present invention provides an optically similar reference sample to capture the characteristics of instrument and environmental variation and to reduce the effect of such variation on the measurement capability of the model. The optically similar reference is preferably stable over time and is designed such that its optical properties are sufficiently matched to the sample of interest that instrument and environmental variations are captured in the same manner in both the test sample of interest and the optically similar reference sample.

Abstract: A handheld dual voltage circuit tester, method and electronic circuit that quickly allows a technician to determine whether an automotive electrical system runs on a 12-14 volt circuit or 36-42 volt circuit. The tester may be used for automobiles having a single voltage electrical system, or automobiles with distinct electrical systems operating on one of a 12-14 volts circuit or a 36-42 volt circuit. The tester includes a screwdriver-type elongated handle and probe tip. The tester also includes electronic circuitry disposed within its handle, heat shrink tubing, a conductive spring assembly, a strain relief, a retractable coil cord, a ground clip and insulation that encloses the ground clip. The tester also includes electronic circuitry that emits light of a first color when a 12-14 volt circuit is sensed, and light of a second color when a 36-42 volt circuit is sensed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for non-invasive measurement of glucose in human tissue by quantitative infrared spectroscopy to clinically relevant levels of precision and accuracy. The system includes six subsystems optimized to contend with the complexities of the tissue spectrum, high signal-to-noise ratio and photometric accuracy requirements, tissue sampling errors, calibration maintenance problems, and calibration transfer problems. The six subsystems include an illumination subsystem, a tissue sampling subsystem, a calibration maintenance subsystem, an FTIR spectrometer subsystem, a data acquisition subsystem, and a computing subsystem.

Abstract: An illumination subsystem for use in optical analysis which provides spatially and angularly homogenized radiation to the sample being analyzed. The system eliminates the illumination system as an interferent in the overall optical analysis. Thus, modest translations or rotations of the illumination source or changing the illumination source does not require recalibration of the instrument or prior modeling of illumination variability due to such changes. Illumination stability is achieved by incorporating a light pipe which both angularly and spatially homogenizes the light. Further, a series of filters and/or lenses are incorporated to provide bandpass filtering which eliminates unwanted wavelengths or bands of wavelengths from contacting the tissue and allows for a higher signal-to-noise ratio when the sample is tissue, while preventing thermal damage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining an attribute of a sample from a spectrum of the sample. The invention comprises samplers and methods of sampling that provide controlled optical pathlengths through the sample, increasing the accuracy of the attribute determinations. The invention is applicable, for example, in determining analyte concentrations in biological samples, such as concentrations of analytes such as glucose in human blood.

Abstract: A method for setting configuration parameters for at least one software system, comprises the steps of: a) receiving an identification of a set of configuration parameters for at least one software system to be optimized; b) selecting a random value from a predetermined range for each configuration parameter of interest; c) setting each configuration parameter to a corresponding random value selected; d) running an application using the values selected; e) gathering performance information relating to the software system while the application is running; f) repeating steps b) through e) for a selected number of times; and g) performing an analysis of the performance information gathered to determine optimal configuration parameters. The method can be performed by a programmable computer system running program instructions for carrying out the above method steps or by a specialized apparatus such as an ASIC.

Abstract: Systems and methods for establishing and/or maintaining the accuracy of a multivariate calibration model designed for quantitative optical spectroscopic measurement of attributes or analytes in bodily tissues, bodily fluids or other biological samples, which are particularly useful when the spectral absorbance of the attribute or analyte is small relative to the background. The present invention provides an optically similar reference sample to reduce the effect of instrument or environment variation on the measurement capability of the model. The optically similar reference can be a gel composition having scattering particles suspended therein. The reference gel can be directly applied to a spectroscopic instrument sampler, or can be in a container specifically designed for optimal coupling to a spectroscopic instrument.

Abstract: A sample holder comprising a material that is functionally transparent to wavelengths of light that are important to visual analysis of the sample, and to wavelengths of light that are important to spectroscopic analysis of the sample. Embodiments of the invention are amenable to total internal reflection of light useful in spectroscopic analysis. Specific materials and configurations are described. Methods and apparatuses using such sample holders for measurement of sample properties, including cancer screening of cervical samples, are described.

Abstract: An optical sampling subsystem and method that reduces the effect of errors in an optical sampling subsystem when heterogeneously distributed samples are measured in the path of a spectrometer. The optical sampling subsystem is used to collect the non-uniformly distributed radiation exiting the heterogeneous sample and produce a uniform irradiance at its output. The output is then directed into the wavenumber (inverse of wavelength in centimeters) dispersive or modulating device of the spectrometer. The resulting spectra exhibit less spectral complexity arising from components of the sampling subsystem design and the heterogeneous sample, in particular, the effect of wavenumber shift is minimized. Improved quantitative predictions, qualitative analysis and calibration transfer are direct consequences of the reduced spectral complexity.

Abstract: An optical sampling subsystem and method that reduces the effect of errors in an optical sampling subsystem when heterogeneously distributed samples are measured in the path of a spectrometer. The optical sampling subsystem is used to collect the non-uniformly distributed radiation exiting the heterogeneous sample and produce a uniform irradiance at its output. The output is then directed into the wavenumber (inverse of wavelength in centimeters) dispersive or modulating device of the spectrometer. The resulting spectra exhibit less spectral complexity arising from components of the sampling subsystem design and the heterogeneous sample, in particular, the effect of wavenumber shift is minimized. Improved quantitative predictions, qualitative analysis and calibration transfer are direct consequences of the reduced spectral complexity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for non-invasive measurement of glucose in human tissue by quantitative infrared spectroscopy to clinically relevant levels of precision and accuracy. The system includes six subsystems optimized to contend with the complexities of the tissue spectrum, high signal-to-noise ratio and photometric accuracy requirements, tissue sampling errors, calibration maintenance problems, and calibration transfer problems. The six subsystems include an illumination subsystem, a tissue sampling subsystem, a calibration maintenance subsystem, an FTIR spectrometer subsystem, a data acquisition subsystem, and a computing subsystem.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel management system for selectively distributing applications and databases from a server computer to a plurality of intermittently connected handheld devices. The applications and databases to be downloaded and deleted are first selected from an application list maintained by handheld devices. After established a connection with the server computer, the application list of selected applications is copied to the server computer which maintains an access control list indicating which applications are permitted to be downloaded to which handheld devices. The server computer examines the application list and the access control list to determine which applications are both selected and are authorized for use by the handheld device. After determining that requested applications are authorized for requesting devices, these applications are downloaded. If the connected handheld device does not have that the application list, the application list is created for it and downloaded.

Abstract: Systems and methods for establishing and/or maintaining the prediction capability over time of a multivariate calibration model designed for quantitative optical spectroscopic measurement of attributes or analytes in bodily tissues, bodily fluids or other biological samples, which are particularly useful when the spectral absorbance of the attribute or analyte is small relative to the background. The present invention provides an optically similar reference sample to capture the characteristics of instrument and environmental variation and to reduce the effect of such variation on the measurement capability of the model. The optically similar reference is preferably stable over time and is designed such that its optical properties are sufficiently matched to the sample of interest that instrument and environmental variations are captured in the same manner in both the test sample of interest and the optically similar reference sample.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for non-invasive measurement of glucose in human tissue by quantitative infrared spectroscopy to clinically relevant levels of precision and accuracy. The system includes six subsystems optimized to contend with the complexities of the tissue spectrum, high signal-to-noise ratio and photometric accuracy requirements, tissue sampling errors, calibration maintenance problems, and calibration transfer problems. The six subsystems include an illumination subsystem, a tissue sampling subsystem, a calibration maintenance subsystem, an FTIR spectrometer subsystem, a data acquisition subsystem, and a computing subsystem.

Abstract: An illumination subsystem for use in optical analysis which provides spatially and angularly homogenized radiation to the sample being analyzed. The system eliminates the illumination system as an interferent in the overall optical analysis. Thus, modest translations or rotations of the illumination source or changing the illumination source does not require recalibration of the instrument or prior modeling of illumination variability due to such changes. Illumination stability is achieved by incorporating a light pipe which both angularly and spatially homogenizes the light. Further, a series of filters and/or lenses are incorporated to provide bandpass filtering which eliminates unwanted wavelengths or bands of wavelengths from contacting the tissue and allows for a higher signal-to-noise ratio when the sample is tissue, while preventing thermal damage.

Abstract: An active filter circuit for filtering unwanted AC voltages and currents from a DC power system, and including a power circuit and a control circuit. The power circuit consists of two semiconductor power transistors, respective anti-parallel diodes, an inductor and at least one capacitor. The control circuit generates pulse width modulated (PWM) control signals for operating the transistors such that when one transistor is conducting, the other transistor is non-conducting, and vice versa. The filter implements an auxiliary DC voltage bus by charging the capacitor which acts as a reservoir of energy. The DC level of this auxiliary bus is controlled by controlling the DC component of the duty cycle. The AC component of the duty cycle is used to modulate the current drawn from or supplied to the DC power system so as to cancel unwanted AC voltages and currents.

Abstract: Disclosed is an application and system for controlling security in a data processing system. The security application is adapted to communicate with a client, with a first target application, with a second target application, with security provisions associated with the target applications, and with a manager. The security provisions of the first and second target applications are adjustable. The security application is also adapted to receive information from the manager and can adjust the security provisions associated with the first and second target applications based on the information received from the manager, thereby controlling the client's access to the first and second target applications. The security system includes a security server adapted to communicate with a client, a first and second target application, and a manager.

Abstract: Disclosed is a personal computer system which includes a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to a direct access storage device (DASD) and a random access memory (RAM). A flash memory module is coupled to the CPU and an input/output (IO) bus and includes a basic input output system (BIOS) stored therein. The BIOS is effective for responding to the energization of the computer system by initiating a power on self test (POST). The BIOS is further operative on completion of the POST for transferring a portion of BIOS from the module to the RAM and for transferring control of the of the computer system to the BIOS portion. The portion of BIOS is operative to load a protected mode operating system (OS) into RAM and transfer control to the OS. The system further includes a logic circuit coupled to the flash memory module and the IO bus for allowing the BIOS in flash memory to be accessed while the protected mode OS is running.

Abstract: An improved disk drive system using a non-ferrofluid conductive lubricant is disclosed. In the disk drive system, there is a plurality of critically spaced magnetic disks rotated by a disk motor. A spindle shaft, which is retained by the spindle sleeve, couples to the disk motor and to the plurality of magnetic disks for rotation. The spindle shaft and spindle sleeve uses a bearing, which is lubricated by a non-ferrofluid conductive lubricant. The lubricant is used to prevent electrostatic charge build up during operation of the disk drive system. The lubricant may be either a non-polar oil or a ball bearing grease and further having either a metal caged fullerenes compound, STADIS-450, ASA-3, or Polyfloe 130. One particular type of lubricant is an emeraldine salt of polyanilin produced according to the steps of first reacting a solution of HCL and ammonium persulfate into a solution of HCL and analine to form a polymer.