Author: claimsbot

1. A loudspeaker comprising a phase uncorrelated diffuse sound source and a duct or wave guide coupled to the sound source to direct acoustic energy from the source, the duct or wave guide having a section of substantially uniform cross-section extending from and beyond the vicinity of the sound source and having a termination positioned remotely from the sound source, wherein the sound source comprises a bending wave mode acoustic radiator panel.
2. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, comprising a transducer fixed to the panel to excite resonant bending waves therein, wherein the panel has axes and the resonant bending wave modes associated with each of the axes of the panel is arranged to be interleaved in frequency, and the transducer location is chosen preferentially to couple to the resonant bending wave modes.
3. A loudspeaker according to claim 2, wherein the duct is shaped as a narrow slot in cross-section.
4. A loudspeaker according to claim 3, wherein the duct is terminated by a horn section.
5. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, wherein the panel is located in the duct to couple acoustic radiation from both sides of the panel.
6. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, comprising an acoustic reflector coupled to the duct and to the sound source to direct acoustic radiation into the duct.
7. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, wherein the duct has a plurality of terminations.
8. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of the panels coupled to the duct.
9. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, wherein the duct is folded.
10. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, comprising an attenuator controlling sound output from a duct termination.
11. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, comprising means subdividing the duct into a plurality of wave guides extending along the duct.
12. A loudspeaker according to claim 11, wherein the duct is subdivided in two directions.
13. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, comprising an acoustic reflector disposed to direct the acoustic output from a duct termination.
14. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, comprising enclosure means enclosing one face of the panel.
15. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, wherein the plane of the panel is parallel to the axis of the duct.
16. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, wherein the duct is shaped as a narrow slot in cross-section.
17. A loudspeaker according to claim 16, wherein the duct is terminated by a horn section.
18. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, wherein the duct is terminated by a horn section.
19. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, comprising an acoustic reflector coupled to the duct and to the sound source to direct acoustic radiation into the duct.
20. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, wherein the duct has a plurality of terminations.
21. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, wherein the duct is folded.
22. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, comprising an attenuator controlling sound output from a duct termination.
23. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, comprising means subdividing the duct into a plurality of wave guides extending along the duct.
24. A loudspeaker according to claim 23, wherein the duct is subdivided in two directions.
25. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, comprising an acoustic reflector disposed to direct the acoustic output from a duct termination.
26. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, comprising enclosure means enclosing one face of the panel.
27. A loudspeaker according to claim 1, wherein the plane of the panel is parallel to the axis of the duct.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method of controlling an irrigation system, comprising:
receiving at a central control system configured to control with respect to each of a plurality of properties, each owned by a different property owner, one or more irrigation control units associated with that property, a first landscape information associated with a first irrigation site associated with a first property owner and a second landscape information associated with a second irrigation site associated with a second property owner;
receiving a first environmental information associated with the first irrigation site and a second environmental information associated with the second irrigation site;
deriving a first individual station irrigation schedule for the first irrigation site based on the first landscape information and the first environmental information and a second individual station irrigation schedule for the second irrigation site based on the second landscape information and the second environmental information; and
sending the first individual station irrigation schedule to a first irrigation control unit associated with the first irrigation site and the second individual station irrigation schedule to a second irrigation control unit associated with the second irrigation site;
wherein the first property owner and the second property owner are included in a plurality of users of the central control system; the central control system is configured to communicate with a plurality of hosts, each associated with one or more users, and to provide access via such hosts to a user interface associated with the central control system; and the central control system is configured to provide to each user who uses one of the plurality of hosts to access the user interface information and controls only for those properties with which that user is associated.
2. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first individual station irrigation schedule is sent to the first irrigation control unit via a network.
3. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first individual station irrigation schedule is sent to the first irrigation control unit via the Internet.
4. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first individual station irrigation schedule is sent to the first irrigation control unit via a telephone line.
5. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first landscape information and the first environmental information are provided to a central control system.
6. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein providing the first landscape information includes configuring a landscape parameter via a web interface.
7. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, further comprising updating the first environmental information.
8. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first landscape information includes soil type.
9. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first landscape information includes slope information.
10. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first landscape information includes plant type.
11. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first landscape information includes age of plant.
12. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first environmental information includes evapotranspiration (ET) information.
13. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first environmental information includes weather information.
14. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first individual station irrigation schedule includes a restriction on the amount of water used.
15. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first individual station irrigation schedule includes a valve command.
16. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, further comprising updating the first environmental information.
17. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein deriving the first individual station irrigation schedule and the second individual station irrigation schedule includes balancing usage with other sites.
18. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein deriving the first individual station irrigation schedule and the second individual station irrigation schedule includes providing biasing information.
19. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein deriving the first individual station irrigation schedule and the second individual station irrigation schedule includes accounting for needs of the most demanding plant.
20. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein deriving the first individual station irrigation schedule and the second individual station irrigation schedule includes selecting an algorithm used for deriving an irrigation schedule from a plurality of algorithms.
21. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first irrigation control unit is connected to Internet via a local point of presence (POP).
22. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first individual station irrigation schedule is sent to the first irrigation control unit via Internet.
23. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein sending the first individual station irrigation schedule to the first irrigation control unit is initiated by the first irrigation control unit.
24. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein sending the first individual station irrigation schedule to the first irrigation control unit is initiated by the first irrigation control unit and the first irrigation control unit uses a pull model to request the first individual station irrigation schedule.
25. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first irrigation control unit communicates with a watering station via a shared phone line.
26. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, in the event that sending the first individual station irrigation schedule fails, further comprising providing an alert.
27. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, in the event that sending the first individual station irrigation schedule fails, further comprising performing irrigation using a stored irrigation schedule on the first irrigation control unit.
28. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing analysis of water usage to a water agency.
29. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, further comprising uploading meter data from the first irrigation control unit to a central control.
30. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, further comprising viewing the first landscape information andor the first individual station irrigation schedule via a web interface.
31. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, further comprising modifying the first landscape information andor the first individual station irrigation schedule via a web interface.
32. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, further comprising viewing landscape information andor irrigation schedules for a plurality of geographically dispersed sites via a web interface.
33. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, further comprising modifying landscape information andor irrigation schedules for a plurality of geographically dispersed sites via a web interface.
34. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first landscape information includes irrigation method.
35. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first landscape information includes precipitation rate.
36. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first landscape information includes distribution uniformity.
37. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first landscape information includes root depth of plant.
38. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first landscape information includes dripline diameter of plant.
39. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first landscape information includes number of emitters per plant.
40. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first landscape information includes flow rate of emitter.
41. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first landscape information includes sun exposure information.
42. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first landscape information includes plant coefficient by month.
43. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first individual station irrigation schedule is optimized for one or more stations.
44. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first individual station irrigation schedule includes multiple stations operating simultaneously.
45. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first individual station irrigation schedule is derived using station flow rates and maximum allowable system flow.
46. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first individual station irrigation schedule is automatically adjusted for rainfall.
47. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein deriving the first individual station irrigation schedule and the second individual station irrigation schedule includes minimizing runoff.
48. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first individual station irrigation schedule includes hourly restrictions.
49. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first individual station irrigation schedule includes non-watering days.
50. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein deriving the first individual station irrigation schedule includes accounting for the priority of stations.
51. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first landscape information includes seasonality of plants.
52. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first individual station irrigation schedule is derived using station flow rates provided by a flow sensor.
53. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first individual station irrigation schedule is optimized to fit within a user-defined water window.
54. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first individual station irrigation schedule includes individual station schedules derived using a plurality of algorithms.
55. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein deriving the first individual station irrigation schedule includes selecting an algorithm based on an irrigation method.
56. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein deriving the first individual station irrigation schedule includes selecting an algorithm based on geographic location.
57. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first individual station irrigation schedule is derived using station flow rates provided by a water meter.
58. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, further comprises uploading meter data from a water meter to the first irrigation control unit.
59. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, further including displaying an effect of modifying the first individual station irrigation schedule, including displaying a change to a water bill.
60. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of individual station irrigation schedules accessible via a web interface, the first user has a first access privilege to the plurality of individual irrigation schedules via the web interface, and the second user has a second access privilege to the plurality of individual irrigation schedules via the web interface.
61. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first individual station irrigation schedule that is sent to the first irrigation control unit specifies, without reference to a default or reference schedule, a watering schedule to be implemented at the first irrigation site.
62. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first individual station irrigation schedule specifies one or more of a start flow time and a stop flow time of a first individual station valve associated with the first irrigation control unit.
63. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein:
a third user has access to at least one of (1) the first landscape information, (2) the first environmental information, or (3) the first individual station irrigation schedule and access to at least one of (1) the second landscape information, (2) the second environmental information, or (3) the second individual station irrigation schedule.
64. A method of controlling an irrigation system as recited in claim 63, wherein the third user has access to trend data associated with the first and second irrigation sites.
65. An irrigation system comprising:
a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
receive at a central control system configured to control with respect to each of a plurality of properties, each owned by a different property owner, one or more irrigation control units associated with that property, a first landscape information associated with a first irrigation site associated with a first property owner and a second landscape information associated with a second irrigation site associated with a second user property owner;
receive a first environmental information associated with the first irrigation site and a second environmental information associated with the second irrigation site;
derive a first individual station irrigation schedule for the first irrigation site based on the first landscape information and the first environmental information and a second individual station irrigation schedule for the second irrigation site based on the second landscape information and the second environmental information; and
send the first individual station irrigation schedule to a first irrigation control unit associated with the first irrigation site and the second individual station irrigation schedule to a second irrigation control unit associated with the second irrigation site;
wherein the first property owner and the second property owner are included in a plurality of users of the central control system; the central control system is configured to communicate with a plurality of hosts, each associated with one or more users, and to provide access via such hosts to a user interface associated with the central control system; and the central control system is configured to provide to each user who uses one of the plurality of hosts to access the user interface information and controls only for those properties with which that user is associated.
66. A computer program product for controlling an irrigation system, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:
receiving at a central control system configured to control with respect to each of a plurality of properties, each owned by a different property owner, one or more irrigation control units associated with that property, a first landscape information associated with a first irrigation site associated with a first property owner and a second landscape information associated with a second irrigation site associated with a second property owner;
receiving a first environmental information associated with the first irrigation site and a second environmental information associated with the second irrigation site;
deriving a first individual station irrigation schedule for the first irrigation site based on the first landscape information and the first environmental information and a second individual station irrigation schedule for the second irrigation site based on the second landscape information and the second environmental information; and
sending the first individual station irrigation schedule to a first irrigation control unit associated with the first irrigation site and the second individual station irrigation schedule to a second irrigation control unit associated with the second irrigation site;
wherein the first property owner and the second property owner are included in a plurality of users of the central control system; the central control system is configured to communicate with a plurality of hosts, each associated with one or more users, and to provide access via such hosts to a user interface associated with the central control system; and the central control system is configured to provide to each user who uses one of the plurality of hosts to access the user interface information and controls only for those properties with which that user is associated.

1. A process for the preparation of laundry detergent or cleaning product shaped bodies, comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing of a first noncompressed part (a) which comprises an active substance;
(b) preparing of a second noncompressed part (b) which comprises an active substance;
(c) connecting of the two shaped body parts (a) and (b) by joining or intermeshing them to form the shaped body in which the connection between parts (a) and (b) is aided by adhesion promoters, wherein as adhesion promoters, melts of one or more substances having a melting range from 40\xb0 to \xb0 C are applied to one or more surfaces of the part (a), after which part (b) is connected to the one or more surfaces of (a)

said noncompressed parts being formed under pressures of no more than 0.1 kNcm2, wherein (a) and (b) are not gelatinous at the same time, and wherein the noncompressed part (a) and the noncompressed part (b) each comprise a same active substance in different amounts and wherein the shaped body comprises one or more enzymes.
2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adhesion promoters comprise one or more substances selected from the group consisting of paraffin waxes, polyethylene glycols, polypropylene glycols, natural waxes, and fatty alcohols.
3. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adhesion promoters comprise one or more concentrated salt solutions.
4. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adhesion promoters comprise one or more solutions or suspensions of water-soluble or water-dispersible polymers.
5. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first noncompressed part (a) is formed in process step (a) by sintering.
6. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first noncompressed part (a) is formed in process step (a) by casting.
7. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first noncompressed part (a) is formed in process step (a) by solidification of solutions or by gelatinization.
8. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first noncompressed part (a) is formed in process step (a) by hardening.
9. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the noncompressed part (b) is formed in process step (b) by sintering.
10. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the noncompressed part (b) is formed in process step (b) by casting.
11. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the noncompressed part (b) is formed in process step (b) by solidification of solutions or by gelatinization.
12. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the noncompressed part (b) is formed in process step (b) by hardening.
13. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the noncompressed part (b) is particulate.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A non-linear optical system, comprising:
a source; and
a light delivery system for receiving light from the source and providing a structured free-space beam having an embedded Gaussian beam wherein the embedded Gaussian beam has a width, wherein the light delivery system illuminates a region of a sample and generates a non-linear response in a spatial region, where the spatial region is smaller than a spatial region obtained with a Gaussian beam having a width comparable to the width of the embedded Gaussian beam.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an illumination assembly for using the structured free-space beam.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the illumination assembly includes a lens for focusing the structured beam onto the sample.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the illumination assembly includes a scanning assembly for scanning the structured beam over the sample.
5. The system of claim 2, wherein the illumination assembly includes a scanning assembly for scanning the sample over the structured beam
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the source is a laser.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the light delivery system comprises a single mode fiber, a mode converter, and a high-order mode fiber.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the mode converter excites an LP02 mode of the fiber.
9. The system of claim 7, wherein the mode converter excites at least one low order higher-order mode.
10. The system of claim 7, wherein the mode converter is a long period grating.
11. The system of claim 7, wherein the higher-order mode fiber has a length for generating compressed pulses at an output end face.
12. A non-linear optical system, comprising:
a source; and
a light delivery system for receiving light from the source and providing a structured free-space beam, wherein the light delivery system illuminates a region of a sample and generates a non-linear emission of radiation.
13. The optical system of claim 12, further comprising an imaging assembly for detecting the non-linear emission of radiation, and using a signal derived from the detected emission to generate a microscopic image of the sample.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein the non-linear emission comprises second harmonic generation in the region of the sample.
15. The system of claim 12, wherein the non-linear emission comprises third harmonic generation in the region of the sample.
16. The system of claim 12, wherein the non-linear emission comprises multi-photon fluorescence.
17. The system of claim 12, wherein the non-linear emission comprises Raman scattering.
18. The system of claim 12, further comprising an illumination assembly for using the structured free-space beam.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the illumination assembly includes a lens for focusing the structured beam onto the sample.
20. The system of claim 18, wherein the illumination assembly includes a scanning assembly for scanning the structured beam over the sample.
21. The system of claim 18, wherein the illumination assembly includes a scanning assembly for scanning the sample over the structured beam.
22. The system of claim 12, further including an output pinhole assembly for adding confocal resolution to the generated microscopic image.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein the output pinhole assembly comprises a single-mode fiber.
24. A method for generating a microscopic image from a sample, comprising:
(a) receiving light from a source;
(b) exciting a low order higher-order mode of the light;
(c) providing a structured free-space beam;
(d) illuminating a region of a sample with the structured free-space beam; and
(e) generating a non-linear emission of radiation.
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step (f) of using a non-linear signal derived from the non-linear emission to generate a microscopic image of the sample.
26. The method of claim 24, wherein step (b) further comprises the step of exciting an LP02 mode of the fiber.
27. The method of claim 24, wherein step (b) further comprises the step of exciting at least one low order higher-order mode.
28. The method of claim 24, wherein step (b) includes using a long-period grating.
29. The method of claim 24, wherein step (d) includes focusing the structured free-space beam onto the sample region.
30. The method of claim 24, wherein step (d) includes scanning the structured free-space beam over the sample.
31. The method of claim 24 wherein step (d) includes scanning the sample over the structured free-space beam.
32. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step (f) of using an output pinhole in order to add confocal resolution to the microscopic image.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein the output pinhole comprises a single-mode fiber.