All The Claims

1. A receiver module adapted to be positioned in an ear canal, the receiver module comprising
a receiver having a receiver housing, the receiver being adapted to receive a time dependent electrical signal, the receiver further being adapted to generate outgoing acoustic waves via an output port in the receiver housing in response to the received time dependent electrical signal,
expansible means surrounding at least part of the receiver housing, the expansible means having a first opening aligned with the output port of the receiver housing so as to allow for the generated and outgoing acoustic waves to propagate away from the receiver module and into the ear canal, and
encapsulation means partly encircling the expansible means, the encapsulation means being adapted to provide, in an expanded state of the expansible means, a second opening aligned with the output port of the receiver housing so as to allow for the generated outgoing acoustic waves to propagate away from the receiver module and into the ear canal.
2. A receiver module according to claim 1, further comprising a tube section having first and second end parts, the expansible means protruding from the first end part of the tube section, the encapsulation means forming, in combination with at least the tube section, a waterproof encapsulation of the receiver in a relaxed state of the expansible means.
3. A receiver module according to claim 2, wherein the encapsulation means is attached to the first end part of the tube section, and forms a waterproof passage with the tube section.
4. A receiver module according to claim 2, wherein the encapsulation means is attached to the second end part of the tube section, and forms a waterproof passage with the tube section.
5. A receiver module according to claim 1, wherein the encapsulation means is attached to the expansible means, and forms a waterproof passage with the expansible means.
6. A receiver module according to claim 1, wherein the encapsulation means comprises an elastic material.
7. A receiver module according to claim 6, wherein the elastic material is selected from the group consisting of: silicone, latex, artificial rubber, and TPE.
8. A receiver module according to claim 1, wherein the second opening comprises a perforation.
9. A receiver module according to claim 8, wherein the perforation comprises a substantially circular hole.
10. A receiver module according to claim 1, wherein the second opening has, in an expanded state of the expansible means, an opening area being more than or equal to 10% of an opening area of the output port of the receiver housing.
11. A receiver module according to claim 10, wherein the opening area is equal to or larger than the opening area of the output port of the receiver housing.
12. A receiver module according to claim 1, the encapsulation means further comprising attachment means.
13. A receiver module according to claim 12, wherein the attachment means comprises a flexible torus.
14. A receiver module according to claim 13, wherein the flexible torus is an O-ring forming part of the encapsulation means.
15. A receiver module according to claim 1, further comprising a vent canal adapted to equalise pressure between, at one side, a part of the ear canal between the receiver module and an ear drum, and at another side, atmospheric pressure.
16. A receiver module according to claim 15, wherein the vent canal forms part of the encapsulation means.
17. A receiver module according to claim 15, wherein the vent canal is formed by a flexible tube.
18. A receiver module according to claim 1, further comprising pump means for providing a medium to the expansible means so as to expand the expansible means.
19. A receiver module according to claim 18, wherein the pump means is adapted to be mechanically activated.
20. A receiver module according to claim 19, wherein the pump means comprises a threaded spindle.
21. A receiver module according to claim 19, wherein the pump means comprises a string adapted to operate the pump means.
22. A receiver module according to claim 18, wherein the pump means comprises a miniature pump.
23. A receiver module according to claim 22, wherein the miniature pump means is adapted to be electrically activated.
24. A receiver module according to claim 23, wherein the electrically activated miniature pump is controllable in accordance with internal signal processing parameters of electrical signal processing means of a hearing prosthesis to control expansion of the expansible means.
25. A receiver module according to claim 24, wherein the internal signal processing parameters of electrical signal processing means represent gain values of the hearing prosthesis.
26. A receiver module according to claim 24, wherein the internal signal processing parameters represent one or several gain values in a predetermined frequency band or range.
27. A hearing aid comprising a receiver module according to claim 1.
28. A hearing aid according to claim 27, wherein the hearing aid is selected from the group consisting of BTE, ITE, ITC and CIC.
29. A hearing aid comprising a receiver module according to claim 24, the hearing aid further comprising a microphone adapted to convert the detected acoustical signal to a miniature pump control signal.
30. A hearing aid according to claim 29, wherein the miniature pump control signal is adapted to control pressure of the medium provided by the miniature pump to the expansible means.

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 comprising:
providing a plurality of amplifying fiber segments including a first amplifying segment and a second amplifying segment, wherein the first amplifying segment includes a first core that amplifies light of a signal-light wavelength and that is surrounded by a first inner cladding, wherein the first inner cladding is surrounded by a first outer cladding, wherein the first inner cladding includes a first defined absorbing structure that is doped with a species that absorbs light of the signal-light wavelength, wherein the second segment includes a second core that amplifies light of a signal-light wavelength and that is surrounded by a second inner cladding, wherein the second inner cladding is surrounded by a second outer cladding;
coupling pump light into the first core from the first inner cladding along a length of the first core;
coupling pump light into the second core from the second inner cladding along a length of the second core;
coupling signal light of a signal-light wavelength into the first core;
amplifying the signal light in the first amplifying segment to generate first-amplified signal light;
coupling the first-amplified signal light from the first core into the second core;
further amplifying the first-amplified signal light in the second amplifying segment to generate second-amplified signal light, wherein at least some light having the signal-light wavelength travels in the second amplifying segment as backwards-traveling second-segment signal-wavelength light;
coupling at least some of the backwards-traveling second-segment signal-wavelength light into the first inner cladding from the second core; and
absorbing, in the first defined absorbing structure, at least some of the backwards-traveling second-segment signal-wavelength light that was coupled into the first inner cladding from the second core.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second inner cladding includes a second absorbing structure that is doped with a species that absorbs light of the signal-light wavelength, wherein the plurality of amplifying fiber segments further includes a third amplifying segment that is joined to the second segment, wherein the third amplifying segment includes a third core that is surrounded by a third inner cladding, wherein the third inner cladding is surrounded by a third outer cladding, the method further comprising:
coupling pump light into the third core from the third inner cladding along the length of the third core;
coupling the second-amplified signal light from the second core into the third core;
further amplifying the second-amplified signal light in the third amplifying segment to generate third-amplified signal light, wherein at least some light of the signal-light wavelength travels in the third amplifying segment as backwards-traveling third-segment signal-wavelength light;
coupling at least some of the backwards-traveling third-segment signal-wavelength light into the second inner cladding from the third core; and
absorbing, in the second absorbing structure, at least some of the backwards-traveling third-segment signal-wavelength light that was coupled into the second inner cladding from the third core.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first amplifying segment and the second amplifying segment are joined to one another at a first junction, wherein an outer diameter of the first inner cladding of the first amplifying segment at the first junction is smaller than an outer diameter of the second inner cladding of the second amplifying segment at the first junction, and wherein the coupling of pump light into the second core further includes coupling pump light into an end of the second inner cladding at the first junction from outside the outer diameter of the first inner cladding of the first segment.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first amplifying segment and the second amplifying segment are joined to one another, the method further comprising tapering a core diameter from a larger first-segment core diameter to a smaller second-segment core diameter along a first transition length between the first amplifying segment and the second amplifying segment.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a fourth segment, wherein the fourth segment includes a fourth core that is surrounded by a fourth inner cladding, wherein the fourth inner cladding is surrounded by a fourth outer cladding, wherein the first amplifying segment and the fourth segment are joined to one another, wherein the fourth segment and the second amplifying segment are joined to one another, the method further comprising:
tapering a signal-waveguide diameter from a larger first-segment core diameter to a smaller fourth-segment core diameter along a first transition length between the first amplifying segment and the fourth segment; and
tapering the signal-waveguide diameter from the smaller fourth-segment core diameter to a larger second-segment core diameter along a second transition length, and wherein the first transition length is longer than the second transition length.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first-amplified signal light has a desired first signal wavelength, the method further comprising bandpass-wavelength filtering the first-amplified signal light in order to remove light having wavelengths other than the desired first signal wavelength.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising gating light transmission between the first amplifying segment and second amplifying segment such that more light of the signal-light wavelength is transmitted during a signal-pulse time as compared to other times.
8. An apparatus comprising:
an optical-fiber amplifier having a plurality of optically coupled gain-fiber segments including:
a first gain-fiber segment, wherein the first gain-fiber segment has a first core that is configured to amplify light of a signal-light wavelength, and that is surrounded by a first inner cladding, wherein the first inner cladding is surrounded by a first outer cladding, and wherein the first inner cladding includes a first defined absorbing structure that is doped with a species that absorbs light of the signal-light wavelength, and
a second gain-fiber segment that is optically coupled to the first segment, wherein the second segment has a second core that is surrounded by a second inner cladding, wherein the second inner cladding is surrounded by a second outer cladding,

wherein pump light is coupled into the first core from the first inner cladding along a length of the first core, wherein pump light is coupled into the second core from the second inner cladding along a length of the second core, wherein signal light of a signal-light wavelength is coupled into the first core, wherein the signal light is amplified in the first gain-fiber segment to generate first-amplified signal light, wherein the first-amplified signal light is coupled from the first core into the second core, wherein the first-amplified signal light is further amplified in the second segment to generate second-amplified signal light, wherein at least some light having the signal-light wavelength travels in the second gain-fiber segment as backwards-traveling second-segment signal-wavelength light, and wherein at least some of the backwards-traveling second-segment signal-wavelength light is coupled into the first inner cladding from the second core and absorbed in the first defined absorbing structure.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second inner cladding includes a second absorbing structure that is contiguous along a length of the second gain-fiber segment and doped with a species that absorbs light of the signal-light wavelength, the apparatus further comprising:
a third gain-fiber segment that is joined to the second gain-fiber segment, wherein the third gain-fiber segment has a third core that is surrounded by a third inner cladding, wherein the third inner cladding is surrounded by a third outer cladding, wherein pump light is coupled into the third core from the third inner cladding along a length of the third core, wherein second-amplified signal light is coupled from the second core into the third core, wherein the second-amplified signal light is further amplified to generate third-amplified signal light, wherein at least some light of the signal-light wavelength travels in the third gain-fiber segment as backwards-traveling third-segment signal-wavelength light, and wherein at least some of the backwards-traveling third-segment signal-wavelength light is coupled into the second inner cladding from the third core and absorbed in the second absorbing structure.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first gain-fiber segment and the second gain-fiber segment are joined to one another at a first junction, wherein an outer diameter of the first inner cladding of the first gain-fiber segment at the first junction is smaller than an outer diameter of the second inner cladding of the second gain-fiber segment at the first junction, and wherein pump light is coupled into an end of the second inner cladding at the first junction from outside the outer diameter of the first inner cladding of the first gain-fiber segment.
11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first gain-fiber segment and the second gain-fiber segment are joined to one another, wherein a diameter of the first core is tapered from a larger first-segment core diameter to a smaller second-segment core diameter along a first transition length between the first gain-fiber segment and the second gain-fiber segment.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a fourth segment, wherein the fourth segment includes a fourth core that is surrounded by a fourth inner cladding, wherein the fourth inner cladding is surrounded by a fourth outer cladding, wherein the first amplifying segment and the fourth segment are joined to one another, wherein the fourth segment and the second amplifying segment are joined to one another, wherein a signal-waveguide diameter is tapered from a larger first-segment core diameter to a smaller fourth-segment core diameter along a first transition length between the first amplifying segment and the fourth segment, and wherein the signal-waveguide diameter is tapered from a smaller fourth-segment core diameter to a larger second-segment core diameter along a second transition length, and wherein the first transition length is longer than the second transition length.
13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first-amplified signal light has a desired first signal wavelength, the apparatus further comprising a bandpass-wavelength filter configured to filter the first-amplified signal light in order to remove light having wavelengths other than the desired first signal wavelength.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a light gate that increases transmission of light of the signal-light wavelength between the first gain-fiber segment and second gain-fiber segment during a signal-pulse time as compared to other times.
15. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of amplifying fiber segments including a first amplifying segment and a second amplifying segment, wherein the first amplifying segment includes a first core and that is surrounded by a first inner cladding, wherein the first inner cladding is surrounded by a first outer cladding, wherein the second amplifying segment includes a second core that is surrounded by a second inner cladding, wherein the second inner cladding is surrounded by a second outer cladding;
means for coupling pump light into the first core from the first inner cladding along a length of the first core;
means for coupling pump light into the second core from the second inner cladding along a length of the second core;
means for coupling signal light of a signal-light wavelength into the first core;
means for amplifying the signal light in the first amplifying segment to generate first-amplified signal light;
means for coupling the first-amplified signal light from the first core into the second core;
means for further amplifying the first-amplified signal light in the second segment to generate second-amplified signal light, wherein at least some light having the signal-light wavelength travels in the second amplifying segment as backwards-traveling second-segment signal-wavelength light;
means for coupling at least some of the backwards-traveling second-segment signal-wavelength light into the first inner cladding from the second core; and
means for absorbing at least some of the backwards-traveling second-segment signal-wavelength light that was coupled into the first inner cladding from the second core.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of amplifying fiber segments further includes a third amplifying segment that is joined to the second segment, wherein the third amplifying segment includes a third core that is surrounded by a third inner cladding, wherein the third inner cladding is surrounded by a third outer cladding, the apparatus further comprising:
means for coupling pump light into the third core from the third inner cladding along the length of the third core;
means for coupling the second-amplified signal light from the second core into the third core;
means for further amplifying the second-amplified signal light in the third amplifying segment to generate third-amplified signal light, wherein at least some light of the signal-light wavelength travels in the third amplifying segment as backwards-traveling third-segment signal-wavelength light;
means for coupling at least some of the backwards-traveling third-segment signal-wavelength light into the second inner cladding from the third core; and
means for absorbing at least some of the backwards-traveling third-segment signal-wavelength light that was coupled into the second inner cladding from the third core.
17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first amplifying segment and the second amplifying segment are joined to one another at a first junction, wherein an outer diameter of the first inner cladding of the first amplifying segment at the first junction is smaller than an outer diameter of the second inner cladding of the second amplifying segment at the first junction, and wherein the means for coupling pump light into the second core further includes means for coupling pump light into an end of the second inner cladding at the first junction from outside the outer diameter of the first inner cladding of the first segment.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first amplifying segment and the second amplifying segment are joined to one another, wherein a diameter of the first core is tapered from a larger first-segment core diameter to a smaller second-segment core diameter along a first transition length between the first amplifying segment and the second amplifying segment.
19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first-amplified signal light has a desired first signal wavelength, the apparatus further comprising means for wavelength filtering the first-amplified signal light in order to remove light having wavelengths other than the desired first signal wavelength.
20. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for gating light transmission between the first means for amplifying and the second means for amplifying such that more light of the signal-light wavelength is transmitted during a signal-pulse time as compared to other times.

1. A method of evaluating a wheel, the method comprising:
illuminating a path along which the wheel is anticipated to move, wherein a length of the path is at least one circumference of the wheel and the wheel will rotate at least one full revolution as it moves along the path when operating properly;
obtaining image data for the wheel as it moves along the path, the image data including data on the wheel as it is located in a plurality of positions along the path, the plurality of positions including two positions on the path that are separated by at least one circumference of the wheel and a plurality of positions between the two positions; and
measuring at least one attribute of the wheel based on the image data.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether at least one defect is present in the wheel based on the image data.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining an operational status of the wheel when at least one defect is present.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the illuminating step includes projecting a plurality of lines of light onto the path.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of lines of light is substantially vertical.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a presence of the wheel, wherein the illuminating and obtaining step are initiated based on the detected presence.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a speed of the wheel, wherein at least one of the illuminating and obtaining steps are adjusted based on the speed.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining image data step includes emphasizing a vertical dimension of the image data.
9. A system for evaluating a wheel, the system comprising:
means for illuminating a path along which the wheel is anticipated to move, wherein a length of the path is at least one circumference of the wheel and the wheel will rotate at least one full revolution as it moves along the path when operating properly;
means for obtaining image data for the wheel as it moves along the path, the image data including data on the wheel as it is located in a plurality of positions along the path, the plurality of positions including two positions on the path that are separated by at least one circumference of the wheel and a plurality of positions between the two positions; and
means for measuring at least one attribute of the wheel based on the image data.
10. The system of claim 9, further comprising means for determining whether at least one defect is present in the wheel based on the image data.
11. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for determining an operational status of the wheel when at least one defect is present.
12. The system of claim 9, further comprising means for detecting a presence of the wheel, wherein the illuminating and obtaining step are initiated based on the detected presence.
13. The system of claim 9, further comprising means for determining a speed of the wheel, wherein at least one of the illuminating and obtaining steps are adjusted based on the speed.
14. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for obtaining includes means for emphasizing a vertical dimension of the image data.
15. A method of evaluating a rail wheel, the method comprising:
illuminating a rail segment, wherein a length of the rail segment is at least one circumference of the wheel and the wheel will rotate at least one full revolution as it moves along the rail segment when operating properly;
obtaining image data for the rail wheel as it moves along the rail segment, the image data including data on the wheel as it is located in a plurality of positions along the rail segment, the plurality of positions including two positions on the rail segment that are separated by at least one circumference of the wheel and a plurality of positions between the two positions; and
measuring at least one attribute of the rail wheel based on the image data.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining whether at least one defect is present in the rail wheel based on the image data.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining an operational status of the rail wheel when at least one defect is present.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one defect includes an out-of-roundness defect and a flat spot.
19. A system for evaluating a rail wheel, the system comprising:
means for illuminating a rail segment, wherein a length of the rail segment is at least one circumference of the wheel and the wheel will rotate at least one full revolution as it moves along the rail segment when operating properly;
means for obtaining image data for the rail wheel as it moves along the rail segment, the image data including data on the wheel as it is located in a plurality of positions along the rail segment, the plurality of positions including two positions on the rail segment that are separated by at least one circumference of the wheel and a plurality of positions between the two positions; and
means for measuring at least one attribute of the rail wheel based on the image data.
20. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for determining whether at least one defect is present in the rail wheel based on the image data.
21. The system of claim 20, further comprising means for determining an operational status of the rail wheel when at least one defect is present.
22. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for illuminating and the means for obtaining are installed on a measurement platform that includes:
a plurality of ties supporting the rail segment, wherein each tie is separated from an adjacent tie by at most six inches; and
a concrete support slab supporting the plurality of ties, wherein the concrete support slab is at least one foot thick.
23. The system of claim 19, wherein the rail segment includes reflective material.
24. The system of claim 19, wherein the rail segment comprises a pyramid-crown shape.

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. An e-mail management system comprising:
an e-mail browser having a time variance interface that provides for storage into a storage media of e-mail messages that have been received over time, the time variance interface of the e-mail browser also providing for retrieval, from the storage media, of the e-mail messages corresponding to a user specified date; and
the retrieved e-mail messages each including an indication of the presence of an accompanying attachment(s) in the e-mail message, an affirmative indication providing the user with an option of retrieving content of the attachment(s) from the storage media such that the content of the attachment(s) is retrieved by the e-mail browser only when specifically requested by the user.
2. The e-mail management system of claim 1 wherein the retrieved e-mail messages cause the e-mail browser to appear as it appeared on the user specified date.
3. The e-mail management system of claim 1 wherein the retrieved e-mail messages create a state of the e-mail browser that corresponds to an earlier state of the e-mail browser as the earlier state appeared on the e-mail browser at the user specified date.
4. The e-mail management system of claim 1 wherein the storage media is divided into more than one subset of storage media to provide a separate location for the attachment(s) of the e-mail messages that are stored.
5. The e-mail management system of claim 1 further comprising a retrieval manager module having a master storage and backup map that is used to direct access to the e-mail messages of the storage media such that data in the attachment(s) is retrieved only when specifically requested by the user.
6. A method for an e-mail system to display an e-mail browser with information that corresponds to a state of the e-mail system on a user specified date, the method comprising:
receiving at least one e-mail message in the e-mail system;
storing the at least one e-mail message into a storage media via an organizational scheme that provides a separate storage location for attachment(s), if any, of the at least one email message;
indexing the stored at least one e-mail message according to the date that the at least one e-mail message was originally received and according to the storage location of the at least one e-mail message;
specifying a date on which to view the state of the e-mail system with the e-mail browser; and
retrieving, with the e-mail browser, the stored at least one e-mail messages that correspond to the state of the e-mail system on the specified date, each of the retrieved e-mail messages including an option to retrieve the attachment(s), if any.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising selecting the option to retrieve the attachment(s) to thereby retrieve the attachment(s) from the separate storage location of the storage media by the e-mail browser.
8. A method for an e-mail system to display an e-mail browser with information that corresponds to a state of the e-mail system on a user specified date, the method comprising:
receiving at least one e-mail message in the e-mail system;
storing the at least one e-mail message into a first storage media and a second storage media, the first storage media excluding attachment(s) and the second storage media being solely for attachment(s), if any, of the at least one e-mail message;
indexing the stored at least one e-mail messages according to the date the at least one e-mail message was originally received;
specifying a date on which to view the state of the e-mail system with the e-mail browser; and
retrieving, from the first storage media, the stored at least one e-mail messages that correspond to the state of the e-mail system on the specified date, each of the retrieved e-mail messages displayed in the e-mail browser and including an option to retrieve the attachment(s), if any, from the second storage media.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising selecting the option to retrieve the attachment(s) of one of the retrieved e-mail messages to thereby transfer data associated with the attachment(s) from the second storage media to the e-mail browser.