Did You Know...
...that in 1800 ether was first used by partyers as a fun diversion? Sniffing the gas led to hilarious and raucous laughter as people watched each other become more and more intoxicated and silly. Several doctors independently realized the value ether would have to anesthetize surgery patients. Of those who claimed rights to the "discovery," none had a happy ending. One had a seizure and died defending his rights. Another spent his life in an asylum because he had been denied acclaim. A third became addicted to chloroform and, in a New York City jail, he soaked a cloth in the drug, severed an artery and bled to death.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7943896 | Mechanical galvanometer tilt correction control A mechanical galvanometer tilt control system includes two beam detection sensors that detect vertical displacement caused by the horizontal rotation of a galvanometer and the vertical rotation of a photoconductive drum. The galvanometer may be in communication with... | 05/17/2011 |
| 7427747 | Optical image pickup apparatus for imaging living body tissue A control portion of an optical image pickup apparatus includes a scan driver, a lock-in amplifier, and an A/D converter. The scan driver outputs a predetermined drive signal to a Y-scanning mirror and an X-scanning mirror and scans the Y-scanning mirror and the X-s... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7297934 | Optical system In preferred forms of the invention an array of MEMS mirrors or small mirrors inside an optical system operates closed-loop. These mirrors direct external source light, or internally generated light, onto an object—and detect light reflected from it onto a detecto... | 11/20/2007 |
| 7295293 | Apparatus and method for testing a reflector coating A method of testing a coating on a reflector having a first focal point includes placing a mirror at the first focal point of the reflector and angled to orient with an area on the coating. Electromagnetic (EM) radiation is directed to the mirror which then directs ... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7161733 | Remote sensing apparatus and a frequency analysis method of the remote sensing apparatus A remote sensing apparatus includes an optical system device, a frequency converter, and a frequency analyzer. The device transmits laser light generated from a laser light source toward an optical pattern rotary plate to receive its reflection light by an optical r... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7138622 | Method and apparatus for monitoring light beams An apparatus and method for monitoring light beams comprising a reflector for passing at least partially through the beam to reflect a sample of the beam and at least one sensor arranged to receive the reflected beam sample for determining a characteristic of the be... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7129473 | Optical image pickup apparatus for imaging living body tissue A control portion of an optical image pickup apparatus includes a scan driver, a lock-in amplifier, and an A/D converter. The scan driver outputs a predetermined drive signal to a Y-scanning mirror and an X-scanning mirror and scans the Y-scanning mirror and the X-s... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7107695 | Device and process for profile measurement A hand-operated feeler includes a rod on a crossed movement table mounted on a support fitted with an immobilization device at a fixed reference as compared to the part to be measured and a processing unit configured to store and process the results. Such a device r... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7062973 | Pressure gauge A pressure gauge includes a housing and a mechanical sensor placed in the housing for sensing change of the pressure. A characteristic of the sensor varies in correspondence to the change of the pressure. The gauge also includes an optical fiber, at least part of wh... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7049976 | User-installable power consumption monitoring system A system and method for remotely monitoring power usage from a watt-hour meter or power meter. The system may include a sensor, sensor terminal, and data collection unit. The sensor may be disposed external from the power meter and be consumer installable in an unob... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7042368 | Automated meter reader device having optical sensor with automatic gain control The present invention achieves technical advantages as an AMR device and method of use having an optical transceiver adapted to read analog meter faces. The transceiver advantageously includes an optical receiver having an amplifier receiving signals from photodiode... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7019667 | System and method for accurate reading of rotating disk A novel system and method for achieving accurate readings of the rotational speed, number of revolutions and direction of rotation of a utility system. More specifically, a system and method for retrofitting existing utility meters with a lightweight tape, having co... | 03/28/2006 |
| 6894271 | Method for operating a positioning apparatus, and scanning microscope A method for operating a positioning apparatus that moves a positioning element comprises the steps of: generating a first and at least one further reference signal, the first reference signal corresponding to a first reference position and the further reference sig... | 05/17/2005 |
| 6844952 | Actuator-controlled mirror with Z-stop mechanism Actuator-controlled mirrors with a Z-stop mechanism to reduce an undesired translational motion of the mirrors. ... | 01/18/2005 |
| 6788807 | Three dimensional information measurement method and apparatus Method and apparatus for measuring three dimensional information of a target placed in an interior space of a rotator type mirror by using the rotator type mirror in combination with an imaging apparatus disposed with its light receiving axis aligned with a center a... | 09/07/2004 |
| 6784807 | System and method for accurate reading of rotating disk A novel system and method for achieving accurate readings of the rotational speed, number of revolutions and direction of rotation of a utility system. More specifically, a system and method for retrofitting existing utility meters with a lightweight tape, having co... | 08/31/2004 |
| 6776045 | Bragg grating pressure sensor for industrial sensing applications A fiber grating pressure sensor for use in an industrial process includes an optical sensing element 20,600 which includes an optical fiber 10 having a Bragg grating 12 impressed therein which is encased within and fused to at least a portion of... | 08/17/2004 |
| 6768100 | Continuous position calibration for servo controlled rotary system A continuous optical calibration system for a galvanometer scanner. The system maintains one or more fiducial position references in each axis, independent of the normal position detector circuit. An optical reference position monitor circuit triggers a calibration ... | 07/27/2004 |
| 6606115 | Method and apparatus for monitoring the thermal characteristics of an image A method and apparatus for automatically identifying and tracking the hottest spot in an infrared scene captured and displayed by an infrared camera system. In an Autospot Mode of the present invention, a cursor is automatically positioned on the display ... | 08/12/2003 |
| 6321010 | Optical microstructure and method of manufacture An article and method including an optical fiber coupled to a microstructure which is easily manufactured. The microstructure is comprised of a plurality of layers including a receptacle layer and a movable layer. The optical fiber has a high reflectivity... | 11/20/2001 |
| 6271523 | Optical sensor system and method for monitoring consumables An optical sensor for monitoring a utility meter having a sweep hand indicator that moves over a meter surface of the utility meter. The optical sensor has a single infrared light emitter and two photo diodes detectors. The infrared light emitter is posit... | 08/07/2001 |
| 6246503 | Optical barrier apparatus A laser beam generated from a laser beam generating means 201 is reflected on a semiconductor mirror galvanometer 102. A region 105 to be inspected is scanned with the reflected laser beam 106. The laser beam 106 passing through the region 105 to be inspe... | 06/12/2001 |
| 6226126 | Light beam mixer A laser beam mixer combines two or more input laser beams in a coaxial manner to provide an output beam. At least one of the input beams is altered in cross-sectional profile, for example, to an annular cross-sectional shape. Another input beam is placed ... | 05/01/2001 |
| 6037583 | Control system for a scanner drive A control system for a scanner is disclosed, especially for a laser scanning microscope, with an oscillating motor for driving an oscillating mirror serving for the linearly oscillating deflection of a beam bundle, with a control unit for supplying the os... | 03/14/2000 |
| 5917181 | Profile measuring apparatus A profile measuring apparatus provided with an improved probe for measuring profiles throughout a wide area of the surface of an object with a high level of response and high accuracy. The probe 10 comprises an arm 3 having a stylus 1 fixedly mounted to t... | 06/29/1999 |
| 5880464 | Optical meter reader using a shadow A meter reader for reading a meter by reading a shadow made by a meter pointer on the face of the meter. The meter reader includes a light source for shining a light toward the meter, a pulse control circuit for pulsing the light source, two light sensors... | 03/09/1999 |
| 5841539 | Three-dimensional measuring apparatus and three-dimensional measuring method The three-dimensional measuring apparatus of the present invention includes an optical beam scanning unit for scanning a projected-and-depressed surface of an object with an optical beam while controlling the scanning operation, and a detector unit for re... | 11/24/1998 |
| 5672865 | Timing device for controlling machinery and other servomechanical devices and method of manufacture therefor Disclosed are a timing device for controlling machine tools, handling equipment or other servomechanical elements and a method of manufacture. The timing device comprises a timing control element having a light sensitive layer including thereon a pluralit... | 09/30/1997 |
| 5663825 | Stabilized step/stare scanning device A method and apparatus for holding a line of sight in a scanning imaging system wherein there is continuous relative movement between the field of view of the system and an image plane. A descan mechanism temporarily holds a line of sight within a field o... | 09/02/1997 |
| 5451775 | Apparatus for detecting galvonmeter mirror movement of optical disc tracking servo system A mirror movement detecting device includes a pivotable mirror, a pivotable mirror support member, a pivotable mirror drive unit, a reflecting plate secured to the pivotable mirror, a photo-sensing unit including a light emitting diode and two photosensor... | 09/19/1995 |
| 5363232 | Device for controlling luminous energy A spherical integrator has beam input and output apertures. The output aperture is opened at a position to which incident beam does not directly strike. The integrator has a curved inner surface which is a uniform diffusion surface. A galvanometer scanner... | 11/08/1994 |
| 5322999 | Method and apparatus for precision control of galvanometer patterning system A method and apparatus for precise control of a galvanometer patterning system is provided in which a patterning beam (12) is deflected off of a galvanometer mirror (14) toward a work piece (10). The position of the galvanometer mirror (14) is determined ... | 06/21/1994 |
| 5247173 | Device for the acquisition of the instantaneous angular position of moving means and opto-mechanical systems incorporating such a device The present invention concerns device for the acquisition of the angular position of mobile means of the type including a luminous source emitting an incident beam in a known direction and a reflecting surface attached to the mobile means. The device also... | 09/21/1993 |
| 5229603 | Vibration detection apparatus A vibration detection apparatus having an outer cylinder having a chamber in which a liquid is sealed, a movable member rotatably held about a predetermined rotating shaft, and detecting means for detecting a relative angular displacement of the movable m... | 07/20/1993 |
| 5223710 | Optical angular position sensing system for use with a galvanometer An optical angular position sensing system determines the angular position of a primary, beam-directing mirror by sensing the position of a beam from a secondary light source reflected from a secondary mirror on the back surface of the primary mirror. The... | 06/29/1993 |
| 5159192 | Encoder and scanning system using a scale having a non-uniform pitch A rotary encoder and a scanning system using the same for detecting rotation of a galvano scanner which comprises a rotary scale coupled to a rotating driver, a scale with slits formed at a non-uniform pitch circumferentially on the rotary scale within a ... | 10/27/1992 |
| 5136159 | Angular displacement detecting device for floating body with integral magnetic path forming means An angular displacement detecting device provided with a tubular casing having a chamber in which a liquid is sealed, a floating body disposed in the liquid and supported for rotation about a predetermined rotational axis, and a detector for detecting the... | 08/04/1992 |
| 5136158 | Angular displacement detecting device for floating body with integral magnetic path forming means An angular displacement detecting device provided with a tubular casing having a chamber in which a liquid is sealed, a floating body disposed in the liquid and supported for rotation about a predetermined rotational axis, and a detector for detecting the... | 08/04/1992 |
| 5126561 | Angle displacement detector for optical image stabilization device In an angle displacement detector for an optical image stabilization device including a tubular casing which has a chamber containing a sealed-in liquid, a floating body which is disposed within the sealed-in liquid and which is carried in such a way as t... | 06/30/1992 |
| 5103090 | Optical angle measuring method and apparatus particularly for machine tools using polygons with light reflecting facets An optical angle measuring apparatus for measuring the angular displacement of a polygon with light reflecting facets, for use, e.g., in machine tools. The apparatus comprises an autocollimator for projecting collimated light beams onto a facet of a polyg... | 04/07/1992 |
