Abstract: A variety of types of molecules are detected and/or analyzed using an integrated micro-circuit arrangement. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a micro-circuit arrangement detects excitable target markers in response to an excitation source. The excitation source emits a first electromagnetic radiation to excite one or more target markers into emitting a second electromagnetic radiation. The excitation source and detector combination can be optimized to detect a specific characteristic of a biological specimen. In this manner, an excitation source can be combined with several optical-detectors or detection channels, where each optical-detector is measuring or sensing the same or different characteristic of the biological specimen.

Abstract: The present invention concerns configuration of a new category of integrated circuitry for adaptive or reconfigurable computing. The preferred adaptive computing engine (ACE) IC includes a plurality of heterogeneous computational elements coupled to an interconnection network. The plurality of heterogeneous computational elements include corresponding computational elements having fixed and differing architectures, such as fixed architectures for different functions such as memory, addition, multiplication, complex multiplication, subtraction, configuration, reconfiguration, control, input, output, and field programmability.

Abstract: High-resolution three-dimensional imaging of a specimen is facilitated. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a series of very thin slices from a specimen are serially and robustly arranged on an imaging device such as a microscope slide. The slices are imaged and the images are used to reconstruct a three-dimensional image having high resolution at depths into the specimen. The serial arrangement of the slices facilitates the proper ordering of images for reconstruction. Further, the robust nature of the slice arrangement facilitates treatment of the slices and, in some applications, multiple treatments with corresponding imaging sequences for each treatment. Various embodiments are directed to methods and arrangements for three-dimensional characterization of biological specimen and to data that is accessible and/or executable by a computer for linking different images together in order to characterize such biological specimen in three dimensions.

Abstract: The present invention concerns configuration of a new category of integrated circuitry for adaptive computing. The various embodiments provide an executable information module for an adaptive computing engine (ACE) integrated circuit and may include configuration information, operand data, and may also include routing and power control information. The ACE IC comprises a plurality of heterogeneous computational elements coupled to an interconnection network. The plurality of heterogeneous computational elements include corresponding computational elements having fixed and differing architectures, such as fixed architectures for different functions such as memory, addition, multiplication, complex multiplication, subtraction, configuration, reconfiguration, control, input, output, and field programmability. In response to configuration information, the interconnection network is operative to configure the plurality of heterogeneous computational elements for a plurality of different functional modes.

Abstract: A reconfigurable computer system based on programmable logic is provided. A system design language may be used to write applications. The applications may be automatically partitioned into software components and programmable logic resource components. A virtual computer operating system may be provided to schedule and allocate system resources. The virtual computer operating system may include a virtual logic manager that may increase the capabilities of programmable logic resources in the system.

Abstract: The present invention concerns configuration of a new category of integrated circuitry for adaptive or reconfigurable computing. The various embodiments provide an executable information module for an adaptive computing engine (ACE) integrated circuit to provide an operating mode. The preferred executable information modules include configuration information interleaved with operand data, and may also include routing and power control information. The preferred ACE IC includes a plurality of heterogeneous computational elements coupled to an interconnection network. The plurality of heterogeneous computational elements include corresponding computational elements having fixed and differing architectures, such as fixed architectures for different functions such as memory, addition, multiplication, complex multiplication, subtraction, configuration, reconfiguration, control, input, output, and field programmability.

Abstract: A medical method and dressing for application, and maintenance of medication on healthy, damaged or infected living tissue. Medication is applied to body tissue and then coated with a bioadhesive providing medication maintenance on tissue and protection from body and other liquids or abrasion thereby preventing removal of the medication during a healing or treatment process.

Abstract: A reconfigurable computer system based on programmable logic is provided. A system design language may be used to write applications. The applications may be automatically partitioned into software components and programmable logic resource components. A virtual computer operating system may be provided to schedule and allocate system resources. The virtual computer operating system may include a virtual logic manager that may increase the capabilities of programmable logic resources in the system.

Abstract: A camera mechanism comprises a shutter blade movable to uncover and cover an exposure aperture; a primary spring connected to the shutter blade to normally move the shutter blade to cover the exposure aperture, but susceptible of becoming disconnected from the shutter blade, and a substitute spring connected to the shutter blade to alternatively move the shutter blade to cover the exposure aperture when the primary spring becomes disconnected from the shutter blade.

Abstract: A camera mechanism comprises a shutter blade movable to uncover and cover an exposure aperture; a primary spring connected to the shutter blade to normally move the shutter blade to cover the exposure aperture, but susceptible of becoming disconnected from the shutter blade; and a substitute spring connected to the shutter blade to alternatively move the shutter blade to cover the exposure aperture when the primary spring becomes disconnected from the shutter blade.

Abstract: A reconfigurable computer system based on programmable logic is provided. A system design language may be used to write applications. The applications may be automatically partitioned into software components and programmable logic resource components. A virtual computer operating system may be provided to schedule and allocate system resources. The virtual computer operating system may include a virtual logic manager that may increase the capabilities of programmable logic resources in the system.

Abstract: A shutter release-thumbwheel brake for a camera has a thumbwheel, a shutter release, and a sprag. The shutter release is pivotable reative to the thumbwheel between a ready position and a first released position and also between the ready position and a second released position. The released positions are opposed. The sprag is joined to the shutter release and brakes the thumbwheel when the shutter release is in either of the released positions.

Abstract: In a photography method, a partial vacuum is provided within a pressure housing of a camera having an unexposed film unit. The camera is sealed against both air entry and venting, while in the partial vacuum. The camera is kept sealed until the film unit is fully exposed and while sealed, a relative pressure differential between the interior of the camera and an environment external to the camera is continuous indicated. The camera has a housing having an internal cavity water-tightly sealed from the external environment. The internal cavity has an unsubmerged internal pressure, at room temperature, less than air pressure at sea level. The camera has a camera frame assembly disposed in the internal cavity and a seal integrity indicator that provides the continuous indication of the relative pressure differential.

Abstract: A pressure indicator of an underwater camera housing has an indicator support surrounding an opening. An elastomer facing is united with the indicator support. The facing has a free region overlaying the opening. The free region has an inner surface and an outer surface. The free region is deflectable by a relative pressure differential between the inner and outer surfaces. Excessive inward excursion of the free region can be prevented by a backup.

Abstract: An underwater one-time-use camera has a housing having a front housing part and a rear housing part. A frame assembly is disposed within the housing. The housing and frame assembly have retention features releaseably sealing the has rear housing part water-tightly against said front housing part and holding the frame assembly in the front housing part independent of the rear housing part. The camera is unloaded by releasing the rear housing part from the front housing part. The film door of the frame assembly is then opened and the film unit is removed. The retention features retain the frame assembly in the front housing part, during and following the opening and the removing of the film unit.

Abstract: An underwater camera housing unit has a shell having an exterior surface and an interior surface. The shell has a passage extending between the two surfaces. The shell has an outer sidewall surrounding the passage. A facing is united with the shell. The facing has a bushing portion internal to and united with the outer sidewall. The bushing portion is resiliently compressible. The bushing portion and the outer sidewall together define a knob seat having an outer edge. A knob is disposed in the passage. The knob has a seal portion and a handle exterior to the seal portion. The knob is movable inward relative to the shell from a normal pressure position, through a series of intermediate positions, to a maximum pressure position. The handle is spaced from the outer edge in the normal pressure position. The handle bears on the outer edge in the maximum pressure position. The seal portion bears on the bushing portion in all of the positions.

Abstract: A shutter release-thumbwheel brake for a camera has a thumbwheel, a shutter release, and a sprag. The shutter release is pivotable relative to the thumbwheel between a ready position and a first released position and also between the ready position and a second released position. The released positions are opposed. The sprag is joined to the shutter release and brakes the thumbwheel when the shutter release is in either of the released positions.

Abstract: In a photography method, a partial vacuum is provided within a pressure housing of a camera having an unexposed film unit. The camera is sealed against both air entry and venting, while in the partial vacuum. The camera is kept sealed until the film unit is fully exposed and while sealed, a relative pressure differential between the interior of the camera and an environment external to the camera is continuous indicated. The camera has a housing having an internal cavity water-tightly sealed from the external environment. The internal cavity has an unsubmerged internal pressure, at room temperature, less than air pressure at sea level. The camera has a camera frame assembly disposed in the internal cavity and a seal integrity indicator that provides the continuous indication of the relative pressure differential.