Abstract: A method (100) of dispensing an ophthalmic lens for a wearer is disclosed. The method (100) includes measuring (104) the relative location of, and/or relationship between, selected anatomical features of a wearer's head or face to obtain one or more measurement values and processing (106) the one or more measurement values to design and/or select an ophthalmic lens having a shape that depends on the measured values. The ophthalmic lens element is then dispensed to the wearer. A dispensing system (200) is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems of handling pipe. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods of handling pipe comprising placing a pipe on a conveyor when the conveyor is below a floor of a drilling rig (the pipe originating selectively from a first side of the conveyor or a second side of the conveyor, the second side opposite the first side), and raising the conveyor to be in operational relationship to the floor of the drilling rig.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens element (100) for correcting myopia in a wearer's eye is disclosed. The lens element (100) includes a central zone (102) and a peripheral zone (104). The central zone (102) provides a first optical correction for substantially correcting myopia associated with the foveal region of the wearer's eye. The peripheral zone (104) surrounds the central zone (102) and provides a second optical correction for substantially correcting myopia or hyperopia associated with a peripheral region of the retina of the wearer's eye. A system and method for dispensing or designing an ophthalmic lens element for correcting myopia in a wearer's eye is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for scheduling airplanes. Eastbound and westbound flights are scheduled to arrive to and depart from an airport within a small period of time (e.g., 5 minutes). By now scheduling both eastbound and westbound flights to arrive to and depart from an airport within a small block of time, the flow of air traffic is smoothed. Further, the scheduling structure of the present invention allows the passenger's connect time profile to be the same for all the passengers thereby extending the minimum connect time to a greater number of passengers. Further, the scheduling structure of the present invention allows staggered gating (gates are paired in such as a manner as to function as a single gate) thereby expanding gate separation as well as allowing a reduction or an elimination of the gap in times in the services being performed above and below the wings of an aircraft.

Abstract: A wheel end assembly for a vehicle includes an axle tube and a housing secured to the end of the axle tube. A hub includes a drive flange located beyond the housing and a spindle projecting from the drive flange into the housing. The hub spindle has a substantially solid body with drive splines about an external surface of the spindle. Rolling elements are located between the hub spindle and the housing for enabling the hub to rotate about an axis. An axle shaft is positioned within the axle tube and includes splines that are coupled to the external drive splines of the hub.

Abstract: Apparatus, system, method and computer-readable media for organizing a listing of key pairs to increase the likelihood that key pairs more likely to satisfy database queries will be examined in the course of the query execution before key pairs that are less likely to satisfy a database query.

Abstract: A method for testing a person's vision is disclosed. The method includes providing, for display to the person, one or more sequences of test images, each test image including one or more test symbols. For each test image, a target symbol is identified to the person. The person then views each test image in the sequence and activates a control in response to recognising a test symbol that replicates the shape of the target symbol. At the completion of the sequence, a parameter value associated with the activations is processed and correlated with a vision metric. A system for testing a person's vision is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of designing and/or selecting a progressive addition lens design for a wearer is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes displaying a graphical representation of an initial progressive addition lens design including design parameters having design values. A user interface is provided including, for each of one or more of the design parameters, a control that is adjustable over a range of levels, each level in the range being associated with a corresponding value of the respective design parameter. A control is adjusted to select a level and the selection is processed so as to substantially simultaneously update the displayed graphical representation in accordance with the selected level to provide a modified progressive lens design. A system for designing and/or selecting a progressive addition lens design for a wearer is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sensor assembly. A sensor assembly 34 that has a sensing element 26 is mountable in a housing 5. The housing has an inner surface 12, an outer surface 14, a bore 16 disposed there through and further has a sensed object 24 positioned across a gap from the sensing element 26. The sensor assembly 34 comprises a sensor body 35 having a first portion 36 and a second portion 38, the first portion 36 and the second portion 38 being positioned within the bore 16. The second portion 38 positions the sensing element 26 at an end of the second portion 38. The sensor assembly 34 further comprises an anti-corrosion member 56 positioned within the bore 16. Additionally, the sensor assembly 34 comprises a retaining member 58 removably fastened to the first portion 36 wherein the retaining member 58 such that the anti-corrosion member 56 isolates the sensing element 26 from the outer surface 14 to prevent contaminants from contacting the sensing element 26.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle has road wheels that are coupled to suspension uprights of the vehicle through wheel ends that have the capacity to monitor lateral loads that act on the road wheels at tire patches where the road wheels contact a road surface. Each wheel end offsets displacements that would be produced within the wheel end by vertical loads with displacements that would be produced by moments induced by the vertical loads, so that the remaining displacements within the wheel end reflect essentially lateral loads exerted at the tire patch. The wheel end contains a sensor and a target that the sensor monitors to detect the presence and magnitude of the displacements and hence the magnitude and direction of the lateral force at the tire patch. The sensor may also monitor angular velocity, angular position, and temperature.

Abstract: A method and system for designing a progressive lens is disclosed. The method includes modifying a reference progressive lens design having a peripheral design which is suitable for a wearer and design features with known values. The modification of the reference progressive lens design provides a new progressive lens design in which at least one of the design features have been customized according to the wearer's preference. The new progressive lens design has substantially the same peripheral design as the reference progressive lens design.

Abstract: A rear tactical sight for a handgun having a barrel with a barrel axis. The sight including a base extending in a longitudinal direction parallel to the barrel axis. The base having a front and an oppositely facing back with sides extending in the longitudinal direction between the front, the back and a bottom. The sight further including an upwardly opened notch joined to the base and spaced above the base bottom which at least partially defines boundaries of a sight line for the sight and a pair of side walls spaced on either side of the sight line each having outer surfaces that are opposite to one another and which extend upwardly from the base sides. The outer surfaces being substantially symmetrical to one another and each including a first arcuate surface extending upwardly and inwardly from a corresponding one of the base sides respectively and a second arcuate surface extending inwardly and upwardly from the first surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for positioning a multi-featured biological array relative to a signal acquisition device. Detection of the array's positional deviation may be achieved by a calibration beam reflected from the array surface and detected by a position sensitive detector (PSD). The PSD-measured positional deviation can be transformed and used in a control loop to correct for positional variations of the array. The calibration beam and PSD may also be used to detect the array or feature boundaries, thereby allowing lateral centering or positioning of the array relative to the signal acquisition device.

Abstract: Compositions and processes for preparing extrudable powder blends containing at least one vinyl chloride resin and a cellulosic material are provided. More specifically, compositions and processes for preparing extrudable free-flowing powder blends containing PVC and wood flour (WF) are also provided for preparing foamed or nonfoamed extrudates. The processes provided herein incorporate components which may contain up to a total of 25 weight percent water. Processes for preparing foamed extrudates are also provided wherein a cooling fluid is used to increase the expansion ratio of the foam. Finally provided are composites having an extrudable thermoplastic substrate and at least one capstock layer disposed thereon containing a PVC/WF composition.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for performing GC separations using a separation protocol including at least one negative temperature ramp, where the negative temperature ramp is controlled either by the introduction of a gaseous coolant at a controlled and adjustable rate or by the introduction of the coolant along with the application of microwave radiation to a column capable of absorbing microwave radiation, where the rate of coolant introduction or the rate of coolant introduction and radiation introduction is sufficient to achieve a desired rate of cooling.

Abstract: Systems and methods for positioning a camera target relative to a signal acquisition frame. Detection of the target's position deviation may be achieved by a calibration beam being reflected from the target surface and being detected by at least two position sensitive detectors (PSDs) to thereby allow removal of ambiguity in the target's Z-focus error from its tilt error. The PSD-measured quantities can be transformed into target control space quantities that can be used in a control loop to reduce the target position error. The calibration beam and one or more of the PSDs can also be used to detect the target's edges, thereby allowing lateral centering of the target relative to the reference frame.

Abstract: A system and method for prescribing and/or dispensing ophthalmic lenses for a wearer. The method includes determining at least the wearer's individual visual behavioural patterns in terms of head movement and/or eye movement, processing those patterns with respect to a predetermined relationship between known head movements and/or eye movement characteristics and available ophthalmic lenses, such that the processing categorises wearers into a head movement or eye movement category that can then be used to produce a recommendation for an ophthalmic lens for the wearer. The system includes a transmitter unit (10), receivers on the user (12, 14) providing data to the interface (16). During a test a standard set of frames (18) are used, as are near (20) and intermediate (22) distance reading planes.

Abstract: In a rules based management system for deriving multiple catalogs from one or more ancestor catalogs, a method for allowing a customer to dynamically set up and save a configurable subset of the customer's catalog. The method does not require intervention by administrators of the one or more ancestor catalogs, saving the customer time and effort. The subset is identified as an offering released by the customer, and can be saved as an item in the customer's catalog, or saved as a sub-catalog. Products available in the customer's catalog and the subset include goods, services and capabilities. Products sold from the subset are accounted for in the same manner as products sold from the customer's regular catalog. The subset of the customer's catalog is set up and saved in real-time or near real-time, making the subset immediately available for access and ordering.

Abstract: Compositions and processes for preparing extrudable powder blends containing at least one vinyl chloride resin and a cellulosic material are provided. More specifically, compositions and processes for preparing extrudable free-flowing powder blends containing PVC and wood flour (WF) are also provided for preparing foamed or nonfoamed extrudates. The processes provided herein incorporate components which may contain up to a total of 25 weight percent water. Processes for preparing foamed extrudates are also provided wherein a cooling fluid is used to increase the expansion ratio of the foam. Finally provided are composites having an extrudable thermoplastic substrate and at least one capstock layer disposed thereon containing a PVC/WF composition.

Abstract: A progressive ophthalmic lens including a far vision zone, a near vision zone and an intermediate vision zone is provided having a relatively high, relatively wide near vision zone and a relatively wide intermediate zone. A surface correction(s) for reducing optical aberrations in peripheral regions of the lens may be provided within a pair of generally horizontally disposed opposed segments approximately ±22.5° above and below a generally horizontally axis passing through a fitting cross. Two or more progress ophthalmic lenses differing in prescribed addition power may be placed in series to provide a range of distance prescriptions for one or more of emmetropes, hyperopes and myopes. A method of designing the progressive ophthalmic lens is also disclosed.