Quotables
"Rail travel at high speeds is not possible because passengers, unable to breathe, would die of asphyxia."
Dionysius Lardner, Professor of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy at University College, London ; 1830
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 5883372 | Smart card system with slide contact protection A card system prevents contacts of a smart card from being scratched by contact members of a card reader to prevent the smart card from malfunctioning. The smart card system includes a smart card having contacts and a perforation hole therein, a card read... | 03/16/1999 |
| 5880443 | Automated system for selecting packages from a cylindrical storage area A system for filling orders, such as prescriptions for patients, having a generally cylindrical storage area for holding packages in known locations. Each location has a unique (r,θ,Y) coordinate. The system also has a computer controlled device for pick... | 03/09/1999 |
| 5814801 | Maxicode data extraction using spatial domain features exclusive of fourier type domain transfer processing Prior methods of reading MaxiCode dataforms have been subject to reduced resolution image scaling and processing and speed constraints of Fourier transform computations. Described spatial domain data extraction methods provide bull's eye center location b... | 09/29/1998 |
| 5814797 | Transponder system for monitoring and logging depository transactions A transponder system for monitoring and logging depository transactions in which bags loaded with funds to be deposited in a bank are put, one at a time, into a bank inlet hopper from which the bags drop through a chute into a vault. Incorporated in each ... | 09/29/1998 |
| 5811787 | Two-dimensional bar code symbology using implicit version information encoding A electro-optical memory includes a substrate on which is printed (or otherwise inscribed) a complex symbol or "label" or "bar code" of a high density two-dimensional symbology. The bar code contains component symbols or "codewords" which are placed in ro... | 09/22/1998 |
| 5789726 | Method and apparatus for enhanced transaction card compression employing interstitial weights A method of encoding and decoding a transaction card with a block of image data digitally representing the features of a digital portrait of an authorized transaction card user is disclosed along with apparatus for performing the method. The encoding meth... | 08/04/1998 |
| 5780826 | Container handling apparatus and management system A self-propelled container handling apparatus handles a container in a container yard. The container handling apparatus reads an identification code borne on the container and senses a position of the container to be handled. On the basis of the container... | 07/14/1998 |
| 5767497 | Method and apparatus for decoding bar code symbols using ratio analysis of module size A method and apparatus for decoding bar code symbols using an analysis of the ratios of the module size for the bars and spaces of the bar code. The invention is applicable to any bar code having one or more nominal widths in the bars and spaces, and is p... | 06/16/1998 |
| 5767963 | Method and apparatus of detecting a yarn lap on a rotating roll The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for detecting a yarn wind on a rotating roll partially looped by the yarn and associated with a yarn processing apparatus, and which includes a light source for directing to the monitoring range of the ro... | 06/16/1998 |
| 5751671 | Information recording media and optical disk, disk having specific data so that a visible pattern of characters or graphics appear on a copy disk A character and/or graphics pattern area for recording specific data is provided on a CD-ROM. When an original disk is prepared, a specific pit pattern corresponding to the specific data is recorded at a first predetermined tracking linear velocity contro... | 05/12/1998 |
| 5719666 | Particle analyzer classifying particles of various biological types using a correlation of measurements A particle analyzer includes a flow cell including first and second cells for containing an electrolyte with various types of biological particles floating therein. The first and second cells are connected to each other by a pore to allow the particles to... | 02/17/1998 |
| 5719679 | Method and apparatus for inspecting a rotating medicine vial with cameras A method is for inspecting a vial in the course of conveying the vial by a rotary table, comprising the steps of inspecting the vial's lower half at a station of the vial's lower portion while the vial is rotated from above with its head being chucked, in... | 02/17/1998 |
| 5710745 | Assembly having flux-directing return yoke for magneto-optical drive A bias coil assembly for use in combination with a magnetomotive generator such as employed in a magneto-optical disc drive. The assembly includes a return yoke having a body portion and a tip having a predetermined thickness and extending beyond the body... | 01/20/1998 |
| 5706259 | Magneto-optical recording medium for magnetically induced super resolution In a magneto-optical recording medium for super resolution reproduction, a recording layer having a Curie temperature of 300° C. or higher is used. An inhibition force for inhibiting movement of a domain wall in the recording layer is enhanced, while the... | 01/06/1998 |
| 5703688 | Method and apparatus for inspecting and grading garments A garment inspecting and grading apparatus and methods of inspecting a garment are provided that preferably have a mounting member arranged to mount a garment thereon. A light emitter is positionally aligned closely adjacent the mounting member to emit li... | 12/30/1997 |
| 5686988 | Gas concentration measurement instrument based on the effects of a wave-mixing interference on stimulated emissions A method and apparatus for measuring partial pressures of gaseous components within a mixture. The apparatus comprises generally at least one tunable laser source, a beam splitter, mirrors, optical filter, an optical spectrometer, and a data recorder. Mea... | 11/11/1997 |
| 5680211 | Apparatus for optically detecting displacement of an object using a synthesizing means utilizing a substrate with two diffraction gratings thereon A displacement detection apparatus includes a light source (1), a first diffraction grating (G1) which is arranged on the same substrate as a second diffraction grating (G2) so as to diffract and split light emitted from the light source and to irradiate ... | 10/21/1997 |
| 5680220 | Device and method for optically measuring the characteristics of a substance utilizing three wavelengths of light A first embodiment of the invention includes a light source (1) lighting two parallel optical branches (b1, b2) controlled respectively by two optical shutters (4, 6), one comprising a transparent cell (3) containing a substance to be studied, and the oth... | 10/21/1997 |
| 5675416 | Apparatus and method for detecting and sorting plastic articles having a preferred axis of birefringence A sorting system (10) propels a stream of randomly arranged PET and PVC articles (12, 14) through an inspection zone (20) including a first light polarizer/analyzer combination (24, 26), an article-detecting gap (G), and a second light polarizer/analyzer ... | 10/07/1997 |
| 5666199 | Apparatus and process for detecting the presence of gel defects in oriented sheets or films based on polarization detection A gel defect detection system for the optical inspection of defects in oriented transparent and translucent sheet. The system utilizes two polarizing filters with adjustable orientations so that the transmission axis is from about 70 degrees to about 110 ... | 09/09/1997 |
| 5666196 | Optical detection apparatus for detecting information relating to relative displacement of an object on whch a diffraction grating is formed An apparatus for optically detecting information relating to the relative displacement of an object on which a diffraction grating, arranged in two axial directions with a predetermined pitch. The apparatus includes a light-emitting device configured to e... | 09/09/1997 |
| 5659390 | Method and apparatus for detecting particles on a surface of a semiconductor wafer having repetitive patterns An apparatus for detecting particles on the front surface of a patterned semiconductor wafer having repetitive patterns includes a laser for illuminating an area on the front surface at grazing angle of incidence with a beam of polarized light. A lens col... | 08/19/1997 |
| 5657128 | Surgical microscope for conducting computer-supported stereotactic microsurgery and a method for operating the same A defined determination of the field of view observed through a surgical microscope is made. To achieve this determination, the relative current position of the plane of the field of view to the position of an object detail of interest is detected in a si... | 08/12/1997 |
| 5650842 | Device and method for obtaining a plain image of multiple fingerprints A device for providing a plain image signal indicative of a plain image of surface characteristics of more than one finger on a hand includes an plain platen prism having a flat, rectangular shaped finger receiving surface having a platen aspect ratio gre... | 07/22/1997 |
| 5648943 | Disk recording/reproduction device of reduced thickness with driving mechanism for moving heads parallel to the disk face A disk recording/reproduction device according to the present invention includes: a recording medium including a disk and a protective case for the disk; loading mechanism for guiding the recording medium from a first position outside the disk recording/r... | 07/15/1997 |
| 5646729 | Single-channel gas concentration measurement method and apparatus using a short-resonator Fabry-Perot interferometer A single-channel gas concentration measurement method and apparatus. According to the method, a radiant source is employed to generate a measuring signal, the measuring signal is subsequently directed to a measurement object containing a gas mixture to be... | 07/08/1997 |
| 5644388 | Imaging flow cytometer nearly simultaneously capturing a plurality of images A sample liquid containing particles are caused to flow through a transparent flow cell. An image capturing device is used to capture different images for a single particle existing in an image capturing area of the flow cell. The image capturing device f... | 07/01/1997 |
| 5640017 | Remote radiation detection device with inorganic scintillating detecting crystal and fiber optic Device for the remote detection of radiation. This device has an optical fibre (4), a detecting crystal (10), whereof one end is optically coupled to the optical fibre and which is able to emit, by interacting with the radiation (2), a light which then propaga... | 06/17/1997 |
| 5640246 | Apparatus for measuring reflected light utilizing spherically arranged optical fibers A portable scatterometer and/or an angular radiated light measurement instrument that uses a measurement head which includes a double tapered fiber optic bundle with a concave front face to simultaneously collect partial or full hemispherically scattered ... | 06/17/1997 |
| 5640247 | Method for measuring internal information in a scattering medium and apparatus for the same Light having a predetermined wavelength and various incident angle components to be incident on a surface of a scattering medium to generate an equivalent point light source or a group of equivalent point light sources near or on the surface of the scatte... | 06/17/1997 |
| 5637873 | Directional reflectometer for measuring optical bidirectional reflectance The present invention is a directional reflectometer that measures the optical bidirectional reflectance distribution function [BRDF] of a surface in situ on a finished article, e.g. a vehicle, to provide information on its surface emissivity. The light w... | 06/10/1997 |
| 5638166 | Apparatus and method for rapid detection of explosives residue from the deflagration signature thereof Apparatus and method for rapid detection of explosives residue from the deflagration signature thereof. A property inherent to most explosives is their stickiness, resulting in a strong tendency of explosive particulate to contaminate the environment of a... | 06/10/1997 |
| 5636025 | System for optically measuring the surface contour of a part using more fringe techniques An optical measuring system comprises an illumination arrangement including a light source, grating, and lens, and an image acquisition arrangement, including a lens, grating, and camera. A mechanical translation device moves the grating in a plane parall... | 06/03/1997 |
| 5631733 | Large area defect monitor tool for manufacture of clean surfaces A method and resulting system for directing generally collimated illumination from a source at an oblique angle to a surface under inspection (SUS) to produce scattered nonspecular energy substantially normal to the SUS and for observing the scattered non... | 05/20/1997 |
| 5625458 | Method and system for imaging objects in turbid media using diffusive fermat photons A method for imaging objects in turbid media. According to one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the steps of (a) illuminating the object through the turbid medium with a pulse of light, the light emergent from the turbid medium consisting... | 04/29/1997 |
| 5625459 | Diffuse reflectance probe A diffuse reflectance probe is disclosed which employs in an exemplary embodiment, fiberoptic light transmitting elements and a light pipe for collecting light. The fiberoptic light transmitting elements surround the light pipe and a window having a bevel... | 04/29/1997 |
| 5621515 | Identification system using regions of predetermined properties interspersed among regions of other properties In an article identification system comprising a plurality of identification regions affixed on an article, a light emitting device for impinging an illuminating light beam onto at least some of the identification regions, a light receiving device for det... | 04/15/1997 |
| 5621516 | Optical device for forming an image of an uneven surface An optical device for forming an image of an uneven surface, including a plane-parallel plate with a pair of parallel plane surfaces which is made of a transparent material having a refractive index larger than that of water and transparent to illuminatin... | 04/15/1997 |
| 5617201 | Method for refractometer measuring using mathematical modelling A method for refractometer measuring, in which a beam of rays emitted from a light source is transmitted to the interface between the optical window of a refractometer and the liquid to be measured, whereby part of the beam of rays is reflected back from ... | 04/01/1997 |
| 5615005 | Gemstone evaluation system A device and method for grading gemstones. The device utilizes an band pass filter and detector array to obtain the spectral response of a complete image. The gemstone is illuminated in a way that provides for analysis of both reflected and transmitted li... | 03/25/1997 |
