Abstract: An apparatus and method of tracking individual plants growing and/or taken from a growing location, such as a field, growing bed, plot or greenhouse. Machine-readable data related to selected individual plants is maintained in close association with corresponding plants while growing or if the plant is taken from the growing location. Information about each plant, e.g. traits, characteristics, genetic make-up, can be added to a database that correlates the information to the machine-readable data. Thus, individual plants can be tracked and information about the plant is available by maintaining the machine-readable data with the plant. The machine-readable data can be read by a machine operatively communicated with a computer on which is stored the database. Identity and information about the plant is therefore available, without keeping specific track of a plant.

Abstract: Methods, systems and program products are disclosed for determining whether a measurement system under test (MSUT) matches a fleet including at least one other measurement system. The invention implements realistic parameters for analyzing a matching problem including single tool precision, tool-to-tool non-linearities and tool-to-tool offsets. A bottom-line tool matching precision metric that combines these parameters into a single value is then implemented. The invention also includes methods for determining a root cause of a matching problem, and for determining a fleet measurement precision metric.

Abstract: A measurement instrument includes a measurement value acquiring portion for acquiring a measurement value in a predetermined period, and a measurement timing acquiring portion for acquiring measurement timing information. The measurement timing information is a measurement start timing, and the measurement timing information is added to the measurement value acquired in a predetermined period, corresponding to elapsed timing information which is calculated from the measurement period, based on the measurement start timing. In addition, a plurality of the measurement values added by the measurement timing information are digitally outputted collectively. In addition, an identification number of an applicable measurement instrument which number is owned by the measurement instrument is further added to the measurement value.

Abstract: This invention discloses several improved methods of correcting for atmospheric effects on a remote image of the Earth's surface taken from above, wherein the image comprises a number of simultaneously acquired images of the same scene, each including a large number of pixels, each at a different wavelength band, and including infrared through ultraviolet wavelengths. One method is for retrieving the aerosol/haze amount (i.e., visible range) from an assumed ratio of in-band reflectances, rather than from an assumed reflectance value. Another method is for identifying cloud-containing pixels. This is used to improve the calculation of the spatially averaged radiance L*e and reflectance ?e images in standard equations. Another method greatly reduces the number of mathematical operations required to generate the reflectance values.

Abstract: A computer hardware configuration for performing the pseudo-spectral time-domain (PSTD) method on data. The hardware configuration includes a forward fast Fourier transform (FFT) unit that calculates a forward fast Fourier transform (FFT) from the data, and a complex multiplication unit that receives the FFT-processed data and calculates a spatial derivative in the frequency domain from the FFT-processed data. The hardware configuration further includes an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) unit that converts the spatial derivative in the frequency domain from the complex multiplication unit into the time domain, and a computation engine that solves a PSTD equation based upon the spatial derivative in the time domain received from the IFFT unit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining the NOx content in a combustion flue gas. Several parameters of the combustion process are measured in the combustion furnace. These parameters are then input to a neural network, which then, based upon the input data, generates output data representative of the concentration of NOx in the flue gas. This result is determined without the use of physical NOx sensors.

Abstract: A detection apparatus that detects an exercise history of a user in a swimming pool includes: a plurality of receiving units operable to receive user identifying information for identifying the user from a portable device retained by the user; a recording unit operable to recording receiving unit identifying information for identifying one of the receiving units in association with the user identifying information when the one receiving unit receives the user identifying information; and a activity amount computing unit operable to compute a physical activity amount of the user based on a history of the receiving unit identifying information stored in association with the user identifying information.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for determining a frequency for the sampling of an analog signal, which is provided to a digital screen for representing an image on the same, at least two areas succeeding in line direction will be established in the image to be displayed. In each of the established areas, a sample phase will be determined, for which a contrast in the established area is maximum or a minimum. Subsequently, a local course of the sample phase will be determined in the line direction based on the determined sample phases. The sampling frequency will be determined based on a base value and a modification value, which is derived from the local course of the sample phase.

Abstract: A method, system, and software for calculating a multi factor temperature index includes determining the values of at least two weather related parameters. The multi factor temperature index is calculated using the calculated values of the two weather related parameters and an actual temperature value. The two weather related parameters are selected from a group consisting of a wind speed parameter, a solar intensity parameter, a dew point parameter, an atmospheric pressure parameter and a precipitation parameter.

Abstract: Various sensor unit configurations are disclosed within the context of a fluid quality monitoring system. The distribution of sensor units can be accomplished using existing product distribution channels to sell, distribute and install sensor units so that a fluid distribution monitoring system can be established at relatively low cost, on a wider basis, and by locating sensor units at the most desirable location from problem detection standpoint, the location of the end user.

Abstract: An interpolator testing system and method comprises an interpolator that includes a phase shift module. The phase shift module receives a reference clock signal and generates M clock signals having phase shifts in increments of 360/M degrees relative to the reference clock signal. A phase select module receives the reference clock signal and a recovered clock signal during a normal mode and generates a select signal based on a comparison of the reference clock signal and the recovered clock signal during the normal mode. A selector receives the M clock signals and outputs one of the M clock signals as the recovered clock signal based on the select signal. A recovered clock counter counts an attribute of the recovered clock signal during a test mode. The phase select module sequentially selects the M clock signals N times during the test mode.

Abstract: A system and related method for generating a test signal with controllable amounts of signal jitter includes a pattern generator, a programmable arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) and a phase modulator. The pattern generator is configured to generate a data signal characterized by a given data pattern, bit rate and pattern length. A trigger signal representative of initial timing information associated with the data signal is provided to the AWG which subsequently generates a modulation signal with a frequency equal to the bit rate divided by the pattern length of the data signal. This modulation signal is provided to the phase modulator, along with a reference clock signal, and the phase modulator generates a modulated clock signal controlled by a phase modulation means (e.g., a controllable delay line) fed by the modulation signal.

Abstract: A base station is installed in a predetermined area where a large number of target points are studded around the station. When the operator moves a mobile station around the base station, display means is provided for both or either of the base station that guides the operator and the mobile station, and a display screen of the display means displays 2 kinds of a Forward (foreground) mode and a Back (background) mode. In the Forward (foreground) mode, the display screen of the display means displays a landscape in a forward direction (opposite direction to the mobile station by 180° when seen from the base station) of the operator (mobile station) when the operator sees the base station from the current position of the mobile station, or from the next target point if the operator reaches the next target point.

Abstract: A high-speed digital multiplexer is disclosed. The multiplexer includes a plurality of input pins for receiving a plurality of digital input signals and switching circuitry coupled to the input pins. The switching circuitry has respective outputs coupled to a common node and is operative to enable a selected one of the plurality of input pins. The multiplexer further includes a local signal converter having a circuit branch set to a common voltage. The branch is connected to the common node to sense changes in current corresponding to an input signal received by an enabled input pin. An output pin is coupled to the local signal converter, whereby the local signal converter is operative to produce voltage changes at the output corresponding to the sensed current changes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are for balancing capacitors in a capacitor bank. Three voltage levels are produced by a reference voltage source, to monitor the state of charge of the capacitors. The capacitor voltage on each capacitor is determined and is compared with the voltage levels. After the charging of the capacitors, normal operation starts when the capacitor voltage reaches the lowest voltage level and before it has reached the central voltage level. A balancing operation starts when the capacitor voltages of all the capacitors have reached the central voltage level, and ends when the capacitor voltage of all the capacitors has once again reached the lowest voltage level. When the lowest voltage level is reached once again, normal operation starts again. A fault is indicated upon reaching the highest voltage level.

Abstract: System and method for specifying a signal analysis function. User input is received specifying a first operation implementing at least a portion of a signal analysis function. Prior operations input by the user are programmatically analyzed to determine and assign an input source for the first operation that provides a first input signal, e.g., based on inputs and their signal or data types required for the first operation, one or more prior operations are determined that provide respective output signals of the respective signal or data types, where the one or more prior operations comprise the input source, and where the respective output signals comprise the first input signal. The first operation is performed on the first input signal, producing an output signal which is then displayed on a display. The programmatically analyzing, performing, and displaying are performed for each of a plurality of first operations input by the user.

Abstract: A method for use in a multifunction handheld device includes receiving a first plurality of digitally formatted files from a host device when coupled to the host device via a host interface. A selected one of the first plurality of digitally formatted files is played, the playing includes generating an audio output. The method monitors for a low voltage condition produced by a low battery voltage. When the low voltage condition is detected, a first fail safe algorithm is enabled to disable the audio output, store an audio setting corresponding to the playing of the audio output, and to shutdown the multifunction handheld device.

Abstract: A circuit testing approach involves the generation of boundary scan information using test vectors to identify characteristics of a circuit design and a boundary scan implementation therefor. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, test vectors are used in simulation to identify circuit design characteristics for establishing a boundary scan test program. The test vectors are generated using a netlist of the circuit design. The test vectors are used to simulate operation of the circuit, and responses to the simulation are detected and used to identify design-specific circuit characteristics and a boundary scan test program is generated using the design-specific circuit characteristics.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a method comprising obtaining a first frequency and a second frequency. The method also comprises creating a table of values comprising a plurality of target frequencies intermediate to the first and second frequencies, the table of values also comprising a pulse width, a pulse count, and a differential pulse width corresponding to each of the target frequencies from the plurality of target frequencies. The method further comprises outputting at least a portion of the values to a motion device.

Abstract: A method of analyzing the spectral signature of a point-like dynamic source event in order to approximate the location of the source event within a predetermined field of view is implemented by a spectral analysis system including (i) a data processing system; (ii) an imaging-sensor array communicatively linked to the data processing system and (iii) an optical system adapted for imaging a dispersion pattern of electromagnetic energy emitted from a source event onto the imaging-sensor array. A dispersion-pattern data set associating the optical system with data indicative of a set of pre-contrived electromagnetic-energy dispersion patterns attributed to the optical system is created based on at least one of (i) theoretically and (ii) experimentally determined characteristics of the optical system and maintained in computer memory.