Abstract: A hand movement device comprises a glove for positioning about a hand of a user, a first anchor element adapted to be positioned about a base surface of glove, a second anchor element adapted to be positioned at a tip of a finger portion of the glove, an active spring member positioned between the first and second anchor elements, said active spring member being fixedly secured to said first anchor element and moveable through said second anchor element to thereby allow said spring member to bend about a joint of the finger when said finger is flexed, an activating element positioned adjacent the active spring member to heat or cool said active spring member thereby causing the spring member to bend or straighten, and an intermediary support device for housing said spring element and for connecting the first anchor element to said second anchor element.

Abstract: A hand movement device comprises a glove for positioning about a hand of a user, a first anchor element adapted to be positioned about a base surface of glove, a second anchor element adapted to be positioned at a tip of a finger portion of the glove, an active spring member positioned between the first and second anchor elements, said active spring member being fixedly secured to said first anchor element and moveable through said second anchor element to thereby allow said spring member to bend about a joint of the finger when said finger is flexed, an activating element positioned adjacent the active spring member to heat or cool said active spring member thereby causing the spring member to bend or straighten, and an intermediary support device for housing said spring element and for connecting the first anchor element to said second anchor element.

Abstract: The sensitivity and durability of fluorescent assays may be increased through structures and methods using plasmon fluorescence augmentation and sealing of the structure against degradation by reagents used in the assay. The resulting structures make practical extremely sensitive fluorescent assays for DNA and other biological analytes.

Abstract: The sensitivity and durability of fluorescent assays may be increased through structures and methods using plasmon fluorescence augmentation and sealing of the structure against degradation by reagents used in the assay. The resulting structures make practical extremely sensitive fluorescent assays for DNA and other biological analytes.

Abstract: The sensitivity and durability of fluorescent assays may be increased through structures and methods using plasmon fluorescence augmentation and sealing of the structure against degradation by reagents used in the assay. The resulting structures make practical extremely sensitive fluorescent assays for DNA and other biological analytes.

Abstract: The invention is a means of providing focusing and the use of focal methods to improve the imaging and meteorological performance of an interferometric, non-image forming system for use in metrology and nanoscale imaging.

Abstract: Optical and electronic mechanisms for establishing bi-directional line-of-sight optical links between neighboring nodes to maintain continuous, error-free operation of a network are disclosed. The system provides operational status indication signals for operators and for data communication devices that are attached to nodes. The system provides decision-making logic systems to reconfigure the network path instantly and automatically to a hot standby path if an optical link between neighboring nodes becomes impaired. The system operates without a central controller and at the physical level of the Open System Interconnection reference model without modification to the Medium Access Control or Logical Link Control. Operation is transparent to all common network standards.

Abstract: An optical fiber unit consists of one or more optical fibers configured to provide an optical function, a preformed internal protective body having a preformed space into which the fiber(s) extend with a relatively close fit, the internal protective body being of a material of hardness and coefficient of thermal expansion substantially matched to that of the fiber(s) and the fiber(s) being bonded thereto, an outer protective body surrounding the internal protective body, at least a portion of the outer protective body having a preformed recess shaped to receive and support the rigid internal protective body, a mass of relatively soft uniting material disposed in a manner to secure the internal protective body to the preformed portion of the outer protective body, an injection-molded portion of the outer protective body, of substance less brittle than the internal protective body, effectively surrounding and protecting the internal protective body and the fiber(s) therewithin from the environment in which the

Abstract: An improved system and technique for detecting and stabilizing long term thermal and mechanical drifts in a swept Fabry-Perot interferometer. Under the control of a timing circuit the distance between two interferometer optical surfaces is changed by periodically sweeping a first surface while the second surface is rocked in a positive and negative direction about two orthogonal axes. The light transmitted by the inerferometer is detected to provide a train of uniform pulses of random spacing having a maximum count when the surfaces are substantially parallel. A counter circuit senses the number of pulses during rocking in both the positive and negative direction about each axis and provides each count to a summing circuit for providing a difference output.