Abstract: The invention provides improved natural insect repellent compositions comprising a repellent, a fixative, a film-forming agent, and an optional solvent. The present invention also includes methods of repelling the insects.

Abstract: The invention provides improved natural insect repellent compositions comprising a repellent, a fixative, a film-forming agent, and an optional solvent. The present invention also includes methods of repelling the insects.

Abstract: A catheter for treatment of a defect internal of a human or animal body. The catheter may comprise a tube adapted for insertion into the body; an applicator disposed within and moveable relative to the tube; and a porous medium attached to the applicator; wherein the porous medium is capable of fitting inside the tube, whereby the applicator can be controlled at a proximal end of the tube to deploy the porous medium from a distal end of the tube so as to treat the defect.

Abstract: The present solution provides autonomous robotic technologies for industrial inspection that can flexibly scale to meet many different types of industrial inspection. By utilizing the autonomous robotic technologies disclosed herein, increasingly large and complex industrial inspections may be completed in a fraction of the time previously required for inspections of smaller scales.

Abstract: A catheter for treatment of a defect internal of a human or animal body. The catheter may comprise a tube adapted for insertion into the body; an applicator disposed within and moveable relative to the tube; and a porous medium attached to the applicator; wherein the porous medium is capable of fitting inside the tube, whereby the applicator can be controlled at a proximal end of the tube to deploy the porous medium from a distal end of the tube so as to treat the defect.

Abstract: The present solution provides autonomous robotic technologies for industrial inspection that can flexibly scale to meet many different types of industrial inspection. By utilizing the autonomous robotic technologies disclosed herein, increasingly large and complex industrial inspections may be completed in a fraction of the time previously required for inspections of smaller scales.

Abstract: Photobioreactors having a vertically-oriented enclosure with a thin panel shape, systems providing mixing in an array of photobioreactors, and methods for using the same to culture productive organisms to accumulate biomass and/or make biofuels or other chemical products.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering interactive television (ITV) data by using the same TV scan line that also carries closed caption data. The ITV data is inserted into the scan line with CC data by detecting a gap associated with a first CC data unit. If the gap is large enough to contain all of the group of ITV data units then electronically insert the entire group of ITV data units into the gap. If the gap is not large enough to contain the entire group of ITV data units, insert a subset of the entire group of the ITV data units into the gap and continue to the gaps associated with successive CC data units, inserting subsets of the ITV data into subsequent gaps until the entire ITV message has been inserted into the gaps between CC data units.

Abstract: Low loss, reliable variable optical attenuators and 1×2 switches and polarization insensitive low loss, reliable variable optical attenuators and 1×2 optical switches are described. In one embodiment, a system of the present invention includes a polarization separating sub-system a polarization recombining sub-system and one or more switchable volume diffraction gratings to provide polarization insensitive low loss, reliable variable optical attenuators and 1×2 optical switches.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of using lasers are provided for spalling and drilling holes into rocks. A rock removal process is provided that utilizes a combination of laser-induced thermal stress and laser induced superheated steam explosions just below the surface of the laser/rock interaction to spall the rock into small fragments that can then be easily removed by a purging flow. Single laser beams of given irradiance spall rock and create holes having diameter and depth approximately equal to the beam spot size. A group of the single laser beams are steered in a controllable manner by an electro-optic laser beam switch to locations on the surface of the rock, creating multiple overlapping spalled holes thereby removing a layer of rock of a desired diameter. Drilling of a deep hole is achieved by spalling consecutive layers with an intermittent feed motion of the laser head perpendicular to the rock surface.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for assembling lighting fixtures where reflective inserts are installed into a reflector frame to create a reflective surface for the fixture. According to one aspect of the method, some type of worker-perceivable indication prompts a worker as to which reflective insert should be installed at which mounting location on the reflector frame. The worker does not have to guess or translate written instructions. The method can be used sequentially to provide such assistance for each of a plurality of reflective inserts for a plurality of mounting locations. The method is particularly helpful if the reflective inserts are not identical for each mounting location. According to one aspect of an apparatus according to the invention, a reflector frame is removably mounted to a machine that holds the reflector frame in an indexed position.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for mounting enclosure boxes along a pole includes a receiver bracket independently cinchable along the side of a pole and including a receiver adapted to receive structure of an enclosure box. Once aspect of the invention includes the receiver bracket comprising a structure to receive a bar or other elongated component from the side and then allow the bar to drop and be captured. Another aspect of the invention includes a system for mounting enclosure boxes whereby independently cinchable brackets can be cinched to poles and a variety of sizes of enclosure boxes independently mounted to the receiver brackets.

Abstract: Low loss, reliable variable optical attenuators and 1×2 switches and polarization insensitive low loss, reliable variable optical attenuators and 1×2 optical switches are described. In one embodiment, a system of the present invention includes a polarization separating sub-system a polarization recombining sub-system and one or more switchable volume diffraction gratings to provide polarization insensitive low loss, reliable variable optical attenuators and 1×2 optical switches.

Abstract: Compact systems with reduced insertion loss, and increased switch isolation and switching speed. The switching and/or routing devices utilize a separating sub-system, a switching and/or routing sub-system, and a recombining sub-system.

Abstract: Methods for utilizing optical systems in order to introduce digitally tunable amounts of temporal dispersion into optical signals and methods and systems for providing angular dispersion compensated output from optical switching/routing systems. The method for introducing controlled amounts of temporal dispersion into a signal includes the steps of (a) selectively directing an electromagnetic radiation beam to a predetermined optical path, and (b) subsequently selectively directing the electromagnetic radiation beam to another predetermined optical path. The angular dispersion compensated optical system includes a switching/routing optical system and a beam deflection element optically disposed on an output side of the switching/routing optical system.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes problems associated with switch isolation, noise and crosstalk suppression, insertion loss, spurious reflections, wavelength tolerance, and compactness that are present in varying degrees in other add/drop systems. The present invention includes devices or components that include, but are not limited to high efficiency switchable gratings. In one embodiment of the invention, each of the “base” gratings have substantially identical spatial frequencies and each of the “vertex” gratings have substantially identical spacial frequencies. However, the “vertex” gratings have higher grating frequencies than the “base” gratings. In another embodiment of the invention, the “base” and “vertex” gratings have substantially the same grating frequencies.

Abstract: Methods and system for chromatic dispersion compensation in disperser-combiner optical systems. The chromatic dispersion in disperser-combiner optical systems is substantially compensated by, after separating the input optical radiation into distinct chromatic components, propagating the distinct chromatic components through the optical system so that a pre-selected relationship between optical path lengths through the optical systems of the distinct chromatic components is obtained, where the pre-selected relationship substantially compensates the chromatic dispersion. The pre-selected relationship is obtained by reflecting the distinct chromatic components from a suitably placed and shaped pixellated optical volume reflector. After propagating through the optical system, the distinct chromatic components are recombined.

Abstract: Systems and methods for low loss, high speed exchange optical switching. The optical switch of this invention includes one or more a switchable diffraction gratings. The optical switch of this invention is capable of connecting two or more input optical beams to two more output locations. Optical noise suppression means for switchable diffraction gratings can be utilized to suppress crosstalk.

Abstract: Switching and/or routing devices use separating diffraction gratings or AWG, a selectable switching and routing sub-sytem system, and recombining diffraction gratings or AWG to overcomes problems associated with insertion loss, size and compactness, switch isolation, switching speed, which may be present in current optical switching systems. The selectable switching and routing sub-system can include a switchable grating based sub-system or a switchable mirror based sub-sytem.

Abstract: Polarization converter assemblies are utilized to provide switching and routing systems with effective coupling between a first and second router assemblies, and to provide polarization insensitive switching and routing systems. An improved optical switching/routing system of this invention includes a first router assembly, a second router assembly and a polarization converter assembly, each assembly optically aligned with one another, the polarization converter assembly being optically interposed between the first router assembly and the second router assembly. Embodiments of the polarization converter include, but are not limited to, liquid crystal spatial light modulators or half-wave retarders. A polarization insensitive switching and routing system of this invention includes a polarization separating sub-system, a selectable switching/routing sub-system, and a polarization combining sub-system.