Abstract: A visual navigation system includes a compass configured to orient a user in a heading direction, an image sensor configured to capture a series of successive navigation images in the heading direction, one or more of the navigation images having at least two reference markers, data storage memory configured to store the series of successive navigation images, a navigation processor configured to identify at least one principal marker and at least one ancillary marker from the at least two reference markers, the principal marker positioned within a principal angle and the ancillary marker positioned within an ancillary angle, which is greater than the principal angle, and to determine heading direction information based on a position of the at least one principal marker and/or the at least one ancillary marker in the successive navigation images, and a user interface configured to provide the heading direction information to the user.

Abstract: A fiber optical sensor and methods for sensing a physical quantity such as rotation using the same. The sensor has an optical fiber supporting propagation of light that is configured as an interferometer. One or more segments of the optical fiber, where the segments may be non-contiguous, are poled in such a manner that a phase shift in light propagating through the fiber is created in response to application of a voltage to an electrode thereby inducing an electric field across a poled segment of the fiber. A phase modulator comprising multiple poled segments is additionally described. Applying phase-shifting effects differentially across poled segments of optical fibers of an array of optical fibers may also allow for steering an optical beam.

Abstract: A visual navigation system includes a compass configured to orient a user in a heading direction, an image sensor configured to capture a series of successive navigation images in the heading direction, one or more of the navigation images having at least two reference markers, data storage memory configured to store the series of successive navigation images, a navigation processor configured to identify at least one principal marker and at least one ancillary marker from the at least two reference markers, the principal marker positioned within a principal angle and the ancillary marker positioned within an ancillary angle, which is greater than the principal angle, and to determine heading direction information based on a position of the at least one principal marker and/or the at least one ancillary marker in the successive navigation images, and a user interface configured to provide the heading direction information to the user.

Abstract: A fiber optical sensor and methods for sensing a physical quantity such as rotation using the same. The sensor has an optical fiber supporting propagation of light that is configured as an interferometer. One or more segments of the optical fiber, where the segments may be non-contiguous, are poled in such a manner that a phase shift in light propagating through the fiber is created in response to application of a voltage to an electrode thereby inducing an electric field across a poled segment of the fiber. A phase modulator comprising multiple poled segments is additionally described. Applying phase-shifting effects differentially across poled segments of optical fibers of an array of optical fibers may also allow for steering an optical beam.

Abstract: The present invention provides isotopically labeled oxazinocarbazole derivatives having a ring connecting position 8 (C-8) and position 9 (N-9), and more specifically, provides compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are described herein. These compounds are useful in the diagnostic analysis of diseases wherein modulation of 5-HT activity is desired.

Abstract: A computer system receives a number of different dependent variable data sets, all varying with respect to a single independent variable such as time, and displays a plot of each data set on a different one of a set of graphs, all of the graphs having conforming and preferably identical, aligned scales of the independent variable. The identical scales for the common independent variable are preferably in precise vertical alignment, which allows the viewer to more easily see relationships in the changes of the dependent variable data sets as the independent variable changes.

Abstract: A process for separating an anomeric mixture of alpha and beta 2-deoxy-2,2-difluoro-D-ribofuranosyl-1-alkylsulfonates by contacting the anomeric mixture with a solvent; heating; adding a countersolvent; and lowering the temperature.

Abstract: An adaptive image acquisition system employing a hand-held optical scanner or camera is disclosed. The system includes an adaptive camera exposure control system to adjust the camera exposure time to the media's reflectivity characteristics. The system assembles a "filmstrip" of images from compressed video data, wherein redundant image data appearing in successive image frames has been removed. The system employs a correlation process between successive frames to identify the redundant frame information and determined the camera velocity. By adapting the correlation process to the velocity of the camera, the effects of variations in the velocity may be substantially eliminated.

Abstract: An adaptive image acquisition system employing a hand-held optical scanner or camera is disclosed. The system includes an adaptive camera exposure control system to adjust the camera exposure time to the media's reflectivity characteristics. The system assembles a "film-strip" of images from compressed video data, wherein redundant image data appearing in successive image frames has been removed. The system employs a correlation process between successive frames to identify the redundant frame information and determine the camera velocity. By adapting the correlation process to the velocity of the camera, the effects of variations in the velocity may be substantially eliminated.