Bizarre Patents
User-operated amusement apparatus for kicking the user's buttocks
An apparatus including a user-operated and controlled apparatus for self-infliction of repetitive blows to the user's buttocks by a plurality of elongated arms bearing flexible extensions that rotate under the user's control.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7829855 | Methods and apparatus for determining fibre orientation Fiber distribution characteristics such as the bulk average orientation of fibers in composite fibrous materials can be evaluated based on the variation in the speed with which polarized electromagnetic signals propagate through the material as a function of angle. ... | 11/09/2010 |
| 7488940 | Reflection type terahertz spectrometer and spectrometric method A reflection-type terahertz spectrometer includes an input optical path through which terahertz waves are propagated, an irradiating mechanism that irradiates a sample with terahertz waves propagated through the input optical path, an output optical path through whi... | 02/10/2009 |
| 7370525 | Inflight ice detection system A dual channel inflight ice detection system to detect ice accretion on an aircraft surface by illuminating an ice collecting surface mounted on an aircraft with linear polarized light. The backscattered light is acquired in two light conductors one with polarizatio... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7365329 | Method for determining location of infrared-cut filter on substrate A method for determining a location of IR-cut filter film on a substrate, the filter film and the substrate cooperatively functioning as an IR-cut filter, includes the steps of: providing an infrared laser device, an IR-cut filter and an infrared laser sensor; emitt... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7263213 | Methods and systems for estimation of personal characteristics from biometric measurements Methods and apparatus are provided for estimating a personal characteristic of an individual. A biometric data measurement is collected from the individual. The personal characteristic is determined by applying an algorithmic relationship between biometric data meas... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7235045 | Fluorescence imaging endoscope An endoscope having an optical guide that is optically coupled to a first broadband light source and a second laser light source that emits light at a wavelength in a range of 350 nm to 420 nm. The endoscope has an image sensor at a distal end and collects a reflect... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7233346 | Differential imaging method and system A differential imaging system is particularly efficacious for detecting objects in high dispersion or light-scattering mediums, such as seawater. Such a device especially useful in mine detection. A single burst of illumination is used as the light sensitive portion... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7205518 | Method and arrangement for focusing in an optical measurement A method and arrangement for focus detection in an optical measuring apparatus. The invention is applicable to focus detection for measuring biological or chemical samples or for compiling an image. The position of a focus for an objective lens in a microscope can b... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7193214 | Sensor having differential polarization and a network comprised of several such sensors Parametric processing capability is added to a typical sensor so that a target object can be more clearly distinguished from the background clutter in a given scenery. A polarizer with several segments of different polarization orientations is used to improve the ty... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7193209 | Method for distinguishing objects in a video image by using infrared reflective material A motor vehicle has a video system that analyzes images of the interior of the vehicle to detect certain characteristics for controlling functions of the vehicle, such as detecting the presence of a person on the seat to control deployment of air bags in the event o... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7164145 | Measuring fiber orientation by detecting dispersion of polarized light An image-based technique that measures the orientation of fibers in a moving web of nonwoven material. At least four light spots on one side of the web are illuminated essentially simultaneously with at least four plane-polarized incident substantially perpendicular... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7158240 | Measurement device and method Apparatus for determining the thickness of a configuration having flat, parallel surfaces that are transparent, or nearly so, to pre-specified types of energy. Embodiments comprise a mechanism for illuminating a front surface with an energy source and mechanisms for... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7145709 | Apparatus and methods for modulating refractive index An iono-refractive structure that includes one or more ion insertion layers having a real portion and an imaginary portion of the dielectric constant is provided. While both the real portion and the imaginary portion of the dielectric constant change, the change in ... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7125711 | Method and apparatus for splitting of specimens into multiple channels of a microfluidic device A microliter liquid sample, particularly a biological sample, is analyzed in a device employing centrifugal and capillary forces. The sample is moved by capillary forces into one or more metering wells which define the amount of the sample to be analyzed in subseque... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7119339 | Transmission mode terahertz computed tomography A method of obtaining a series of images of a three-dimensional object by transmitting pulsed terahertz (THz) radiation through the entire object from a plurality of angles, optically detecting changes in the transmitted THz radiation using pulsed laser radiation, a... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7107087 | Method and apparatus for measuring a concentration of a component in a subject A method of measuring a concentration of a component in a subject includes setting an intensity relationship equation between a positive-order beam and a negative-order beam with respect to a reference matter at a particular wavelength, applying a light having a fir... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7106972 | Methods of improving line of sight wireless optical communication through adverse environmental conditions A method of improving a signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio for a light signal transmitted by wireless optical communication through adverse environmental conditions, the light signal including a snake component and a ballistic component for carrying coded information, and ... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7095027 | Multispectral multipolarization antenna-coupled infrared focal plane array Adjacent pixels of an infrared focal plane array (IR FPA) can be configured to have different spectral or polarization responses by adjustment of the lengths or orientations of the antenna arms which couple radiation into the sensors. The manufacturing costs of such... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7045764 | Passive detection system for detecting a body near a door A detection system for detecting a body near a doorway includes two detectors having one or more activation lines that overlap each other. With certain mounting arrangements, the detectors cover areas within and on both sides of the doorway. The detectors are meant ... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7034937 | Flow meter The invention is a liquid volume-flow meter suitable for measuring extremely turbulent flow. The meter comprises a measuring chamber formed as a pipe having a wall of transparent material fitted inline with an existing pipe of similar diameter, whereby the detector ... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7016518 | Vehicle license plate imaging and reading system for day and night This invention provides an infrared illuminator and camera system for imaging of auto vehicle license plates. The system works in ambient light conditions, ranging from bright sunlight, to dim light, to dark, to zero ambient light. It yields high-contrast imaging of... | 03/21/2006 |
| 7009750 | Apparatus and methods for modulating refractive index An iono-refractive structure that includes one or more ion insertion layers having a real portion and an imaginary portion of the dielectric constant is provided. While both the real portion and the imaginary portion of the dielectric constant change, the change in ... | 03/07/2006 |
| 6958480 | Sample desorption/ionization from mesoporous silica Mesoporous silica is shown to be a sample holder for laser desorption/ionization of mass spectrometry. Supported mesoporous silica was prepared by coating an ethanolic silicate solution having a removable surfactant onto a substrate to produce a self-assembled, orde... | 10/25/2005 |
| 6748259 | Optical imaging of induced signals in vivo under ambient light conditions A method for detecting and localizing a target tissue within the body in the presence of ambient light in which an optical contrast agent is administered and allowed to become functionally localized within a contrast-labeled target tissue to be diagnosed. A light so... | 06/08/2004 |
| 6583415 | Method and system for dynamically polarizing electro-optic signals A sensor arrangement and system facilitate the measurement of polarized light intensities for use in object identification and classification. In an example embodiment, an imaging sensor for polarizing light from a light source includes an array of light ... | 06/24/2003 |
| 6563582 | Achromatic retarder array for polarization imaging In addition to having color, light waves have the attribute of polarization. An apparatus and method to convert circular polarized light into linearly polarized light over a wide range of wavelengths is provided by utilizing a first surface-relief grating... | 05/13/2003 |
| 6465787 | Covert surveillance system for tracking light sensitive tagged moving vehicles A surveillance system uses pulsed laser near infrared light to illuminate a retroreflecting tag attached to a target for providing a return image that pulsates and that can be monitored by a camera for covert tracking of a target. The surveillance system ... | 10/15/2002 |
| 6455853 | Determination of thickness and impurity profiles in thin membranes utilizing spectorscopic data obtained from ellipsometric investigation of both front and back surfaces Disclosed is spectroscopic ellipsometer system mediated methodology for quantifying thickness and impurity profile defining parameters in mathematical models of impurity profile containing thin membranes having two substantially parallel surfaces which ar... | 09/24/2002 |
| 6271522 | Process for the quantitative analysis of gas volumes, specifically exhaust and waste gases from combustion systems or incineration plants, as well as systems for performing these processes For quantitative analysis of gas volumes, specifically combustion exhaust gases, by means of emission or absorption spectrometry in the ultraviolet, visible and infrared spectral range, geometrically defined and reproducibly adjustable observation planes ... | 08/07/2001 |
| 6242739 | Method and apparatus for non-destructive determination of film thickness and dopant concentration using fourier transform infrared spectrometry A method and apparatus for the determination of parameters of interests of a semiconductor sample is provided. For example, the thickness of an epitaxial or implanted layer, the thickness of a transition layer and the concentration of free carriers in a s... | 06/05/2001 |
| 6150661 | Gas spectroscopy An absorption spectroscopy device for determining the concentration of a gas (such as oxygen) in a sample cell includes a neutral density absorber or a quarter wave plate. Laser radiation from a laser diode passes through the neutral density absorber or t... | 11/21/2000 |
| 6091983 | Imaging of objects in turbid media based upon the preservation of polarized luminescence emitted from contrast agents A method and system for imaging an object in a turbid medium. According to one embodiment, the method involves (a) making the object luminescent by adding to the object a contrast agent of the type that emits at least partially polarized light when approp... | 07/18/2000 |
| 6080950 | Method for determining the maturity and quality of seeds and an apparatus for sorting seeds The invention is related to a method and an apparatus for sorting seeds for the assessment of the maturity and quality of seeds by measuring the amount of chlorophyll fluorescence. Fluorescence of the chlorophyll molecule is induced by irradiating the see... | 06/27/2000 |
| 6075235 | High-resolution polarization-sensitive imaging sensors An apparatus and method to determine the surface orientation of objects in a field of view is provided by utilizing an array of polarizers and a means for microscanning an image of the objects over the polarizer array. In the preferred embodiment, a seque... | 06/13/2000 |
| 6064065 | Methods of minimizing scattering and improving tissue sampling in non-invasive testing and imaging An improved method and apparatus for use in optical testing of concentration in samples has been developed. The apparatus restricts the solid angle of illumination and the solid angle of detection to eliminate a high proportion of the scattered radiation ... | 05/16/2000 |
| 6055451 | Apparatus and method for determining tissue characteristics An apparatus and method embodying the invention include utilizing a device intended to be inserted into a patient's body to determine a characteristic of a target tissue. In one apparatus and method, a device illuminates the target tissue with amplitude m... | 04/25/2000 |
| 6037590 | Polarization-tunable antenna-coupled infrared detector An antenna-coupled infrared detector with polarization tuning over approximately 90 degrees by application of a bias voltage in the range of a few hundred millivolts. This mechanism of polarization tuning eliminates the need for bulk-optical polarization ... | 03/14/2000 |
| 5929443 | Imaging of objects based upon the polarization or depolarization of light A method and apparatus for imaging objects based upon the polarization or depolarization of light. According to one embodiment, there is provided a method for imaging the surface of a turbid medium, the method comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating the... | 07/27/1999 |
| 5894127 | Polarized specular reflectance infrared apparatus and method A novel fixed block polarized, specular reflective accessory apparatus and method are disclosed, including providing an infrared light generator, a polarizer to polarize infrared light generated by the infrared light generator, a fixed block having an ape... | 04/13/1999 |
| 5890095 | System for receiving and enhancing electromagnetic radiation input signals A spatial phase sensor having a lens or opening, or the like, through which electromagnetic radiation signals are directed. Mechanism is provided for receiving the electromagnetic radiation signals and for providing an enhanced electrical signal therefrom... | 03/30/1999 |
