The invention includes a system and method for reducing convection current effects in the optical path of a holographic interferometer system. The system preferably includes an enclosure for the optical path of the holographic interferometer system. In one embodiment, the system also includes a thermal element coupled to or located inside the enclosure. In another embodiment, the system also includes a gas located inside the enclosure, wherein the gas has a lower index of refraction than air. In another embodiment, the system also includes a fan coupled to or located inside the enclosure and adapted to circulate a gas inside the enclosure.

The present invention includes a system and a method of determining the regularity of a surface of an object under examination. The method includes receiving a three-dimensional phase image of the surface including a plurality of pixels, wherein the phase image can result from a multiple wavelength interferometric analysis of the surface. The method can further include the steps of determining a relative height of the pixels in response to the phase image of the surface, creating a statistical map of the surface in response to the relative height of the pixels, and determining the regularity of the surface of the object under examination in response to the statistical map of the surface. The system includes an interferometric apparatus connected to a controller, wherein the controller is adapted to perform one or more functions similar to the method of the present invention.

In one embodiment, the invention includes a method of predicting affinity between a first entity and a second entity including associating a first plurality of characteristic tags with the first entity. The first plurality of characteristic tags are preferably associated with a first reference entity, generating a comparison matrix, and calculating a similarity score between the first entity and the second entity using the comparison matrix, wherein the second entity is associated with a second plurality of characteristic tags. In another embodiment, the invention includes a method of relating characteristic tags, including selecting a first characteristic tag from a first plurality of characteristic tags, selecting a second characteristic tag from a second plurality of characteristic tags, and relating the first characteristic tag and the second characteristic tag.

The flow cytometer user interface of the preferred embodiment comprises the steps of (1) running the sample and saving all collected data, (2) viewing the raw (or “unmodified”) data, (3) modifying the raw data (e.g., scaling and/or culling the raw data), (4) reviewing and saving the modified settings, and (5) exporting the saved data. Once the sample has been run and all collected data have been saved, the user can repeat the steps of modifying the raw data, saving the modified settings, and exporting the saved data as many times as necessary and/or desirable without the need to run an additional sample.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the method of capturing a presentation from a presentation program and creating a multimedia file includes the steps of capturing an audio file having a time structure; capturing user commands for the presentation program; creating chapters and assigning chapter markers within the time structure of the audio file based on the timing of the user commands; receiving an image set associated with the presentation; associating a particular image of the image set with a particular chapter of the audio file based on the timing of the user commands, and creating a multimedia file based on the audio file, the assigned chapter markers, and the associated images.

The umbrella of the preferred embodiments includes a shaft, a canopy, and a spoke system, coupled to the shaft and to the canopy, which supports the canopy and provides a mechanism to open and close the canopy. The spoke system of the preferred embodiments includes a canopy spoke, coupled to the shaft and to the canopy, having a geometry that defines a canopy coupling element; a support spoke, coupled to the shaft and to the canopy spoke, having a geometry that defines a support coupling element; and a first release mechanism that includes the canopy coupling element and the support coupling element. The umbrella 10 is preferably designed to prevent the passage of precipitation or sun and, more specifically, designed to be an umbrella that can be easily assembled, disassembled, repaired, and recycled. The umbrella 10, however, may be alternatively used in any suitable environment and for any suitable reason.

According to one embodiment, a controller for a surveillance system includes ports for coupling a camera, synchronization logic blocks coupled to the ports, an information aggregation logic block coupled to the camera ports, and an output port coupled to the information aggregation logic block. According to another embodiment, a method of scaling a surveillance system includes synchronizing a plurality of cameras, capturing images from the synchronized cameras, aggregating at least two processed synchronized images, and processing the aggregated synchronized images.

The detection system of the first preferred embodiment includes a detector, having a wide dynamic range, that receives photonic inputs from the interrogation zone and produces an analog signal; and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), having a high bit resolution, that is coupled to the detector and converts an analog signal to a digital signal. The digital signal includes an initial data set of the full dynamic range of the input signals from the flow cytometer sample. The method of extracting and analyzing data from a flow cytometer system of the first preferred embodiment preferably includes the steps of: collecting a full dynamic range of input signals from a flow cytometer sample; recognizing and annotating aggregate particle events; and storing an initial data set and an annotated data set of the full dynamic range of the input signals from the flow cytometer sample.

A fire sprinkler of the preferred embodiments includes a frame, a trigger, and a deflector. The frame defines a duct to exhaust the flow of a fire suppressing or extinguishing substance, and includes a fastener to fasten the frame to a supply line. The trigger blocks the flow of the fire suppressing or extinguishing substance through the duct during a first mode, and permits the flow of the fire suppressing or extinguishing substance during a second mode. The deflector redirects the flow of the fire suppressing or extinguishing substance into a coverage area. The deflector also at least partially shields the trigger from the dispersal of a fire suppressing or extinguishing substance from an adjacent fire sprinkler and prevents a failure of the trigger.

The neural interface system of the preferred embodiments includes an electrode array having a plurality of electrode sites and a carrier that supports the electrode array. The electrode array is coupled to the carrier such that the electrode sites are arranged both circumferentially around the carrier and axially along the carrier. A group of the electrode sites may be simultaneously activated to create an activation pattern. The system of the preferred embodiment is preferably designed for deep brain stimulation, and, more specifically, for deep brain stimulation with fine electrode site positioning, selectivity, tunability, and precise activation patterning. The system of the preferred embodiments, however, may be alternatively used in any suitable environment (such as the spinal cord, peripheral nerve, muscle, or any other suitable anatomical location) and for any suitable reason.