Abstract: A method for determining corrected gas flow values from measured physical gas flow values is provided. A laser-based sensor system is deployed in a duct through which the gas moves. The sensor system includes two or more pairs of photoemitters/photodetectors that emit and detect light beams. Spectral changes in the light beams associated with the laser sensor system caused by the properties of the gas passing through the duct are referenced to known gas physical properties, including density. That information as well as the velocity of the gas and the temperature in the duct are analyzed and manipulated in a programmed processing unit. The processing unit is programmed to calculate a corrected gas flow value from the information obtained directly and indirectly from the detected light beams. The system and the method for obtaining the corrected flow value are suitable for use in the determination of corrected airflow through a duct, including a duct of an aircraft engine.

Abstract: A mimic filter which can be implemented in analog or digital circuitry, and which removes dc offset or other noise from an input signal using a pseudo-differentiation technique. The input signal is adjusted by a feedback value, and the adjusted signal is amplified by a proportional gain factor to generate an output signal. The feedback value is determined by integrating the output signal and multiplying the integration by an integration gain factor. The mimic filter avoids the generation of false signal spikes.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and computer programs are described for compensating for the effect of temperature on the sensitivity of electrostatic ultrasound (US) transducers, particularly as used in an automotive occupancy sensing (AOS) systems for sensing the nature or type of occupant and the location of the occupant with respect to the vehicle interior. The invention permits the AOS to classify the occupancy state of the vehicle from a US echo signal substantially free of the effects of temperature on signal amplitude. A capacitive divider or voltage monitor is employed to measure the capacitance of the transducer. The voltage monitor output is used by the scaling algorithm of a compensator to determine the scaling factor to be applied to the US transducer signal to compensate for the effect of temperature oil the transducer sensitivity.

Abstract: Media is transported to an imaging region using a vacuum feeder. A vacuum head is positioned onto the media and a vacuum is applied to the vacuum head to hold the media against the vacuum head. The vacuum head is then relocated to the imaging region carrying with it the media. In one embodiment, the vacuum head holds the media slightly above the surface of the imaging region. After the media is imaged, the vacuum head moves the media to an output region. In the output region the vacuum is removed from the vacuum head allowing the media to detach from the vacuum head and remain in the output region. In another embodiment, the vacuum is removed from the vacuum head allowing the media to detach from the vacuum head and remain in the imaging region. A second vacuum head is positioned in the imaging region onto the media and a vacuum is applied to the second vacuum head to hold the media against the second vacuum head. The second vacuum head is then relocated to the output region carrying with it the media.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of accentuating a deviation in a set of information and locating a cause thereof that includes the steps of receiving a set of information; selecting a subset of information; setting initial states; setting transition states; initializing a vector; selecting the first information segment; modifying the vector if the information segment contains an initial and transition state, otherwise stopping; selecting the next available information segment and returning to the previous step, otherwise recording a number of occurrences of each unique vector; determining the number of the least occurring vector; dividing each occurrence number by the least occurring number; determining an occupation time for each vector; calculating an inverse characteristic time for each unique vector; calculating at least one subset value for the subset of information using a temperature-based function, an entropy-based function, an energy-based function, or any combination thereof; setting a value vi fo

Abstract: An integrated repair system for micro electronic devices, which comprises a plurality of inspectors optically or electrically inspecting panels on which predetermined patterns have been formed and stores the inspected results in electronic files with a predetermined format. A repairer coupled to a plurality of these inspectors collects the stored files and merges the files and executes a repair process as a batch at one time with reference to the merged files. A file server is coupled to the inspectors through a network, and stores the files of the inspectors and provides the file when the repairer retrieves the files. An automatic transfer device controlled by a host automatically transfers the panels between the inspectors and between the inspector and the repairer, and an automatic transfer device controller coupled to the host receives commands from the host and controls transfers of the automatic transfer device.

Abstract: Based on the maximum value of distances between vertexes of polygons in a plurality of polygon meshes, the size of voxel is determined. Next, respective potential values for a plurality of polygon meshes are obtained on the basis of signed respective distances of voxels and a sum of the potential values is obtained as an added potential value. A polygon mesh made of an equivalent: face of the added potential value is defined as a surface mesh. Comparison between the surface mesh and the a plurality of original polygon meshes is performed, to determine respective vertexes (corresponding-vertexes) of a plurality of original meshes corresponding to each vertex of the surface mesh. The polygons of the surface mesh is divided/synthesized to obtain intermediate surface data. Referring to the original polygon meshes, respective vertexes of the intermediate surface data are moved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the absolute position of displacement and angle transmitters. Two individual sensors are mechanically coupled to one another in such a way that they generate sawtooth output signals with a number of periods that differ by one within a predetermined measuring range. In a first step, a difference signal is formed from the output signals of both sensors and, if negative, is corrected by a constant value. A period number signal is obtained from the corrected difference signal by deriving an integer. This period number signal and the output signal of one sensor are added to form a highly accurate, absolute output signal. Since the absolute output signal still contains errors, an auxiliary signal is formed from the absolute output signal and the modified, corrected difference signal. A window discriminator determines whether the auxiliary signal lies within a predetermined limiting range. If not, the absolute output signal is corrected by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: Automatic optical signal type identification method including the steps of: (a) converting an optical signal into an electrical signal; (b) storing a reference pattern dictionary with a plurality of reference patterns each uniquely identifying a different optical signal type; and (c) spotting a reference pattern embedded in the electrical signal for identifying the optical signal type of the optical signal.

Abstract: A computer user aiding system enables more effective use of a personal computer by analyzing use history of a personal computer depending upon manner of use of the personal computer in each individual user, reading tendency of use, positively transmitting functions of non-use portion of the personal computer to the user instead of Pull type but Push type. Also, the computer user aiding system permits possibility prediction suggesting possibility of occurrence of error in a use method in the case where error had been caused in the past in a similar method.

Abstract: A method for selecting one or more sets of experimental tires of one construction based on the residual forces on each axle and the position that each individual tire is mounted to a vehicle. The method selects sets of tires where predefined limits relating to the residual forces on the front and rear axles are met. The advantage of this method is the ability to select matched sets of tires from a larger group of experimentally built tires so that the performance of the matched set(s) will behave as randomly chosen sets from uniform production runs.

Abstract: Mass flow of a material in a conduit is estimated by mode selective filtering a plurality of motion signals representing motion of the conduit to generate a plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals such that the mode selective filtered motion signals preferentially represent motion associated with a vibrational mode of the conduit. A plurality of phase estimates is generated from the plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals. A mass flow estimate is generated from the plurality of phase estimates. The plurality of phase estimates may be estimated using a phase reference derived from one of the plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals. In some embodiments, a frequency of a mode selective filtered motion signal of the plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals is estimated. Quadrature first and second reference signals are generated based on the estimated frequency.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that provides. a sonar operator with the most likely range to a target of interest. The system generates and displays a contour based on ship's parameters, target parameters, environmental data, and operator parameters. The sonar operator can vary many of the parameters in “what if” scenarios so as to generate groups of contours for preselected probabilities of detection. Contours can be used to show the actions that should be taken to ensure a favorable outcome.

Abstract: A fraud detection system within a fuel dispenser includes the ability to measure the amount of fuel dispensed through the fuel dispenser. The measurement is compared to a value independently created representing what the amount of fuel dispensed should approximate. If the values are not comparable, an alarm may be generated to indicate that the fuel dispenser has been modified to perpetrate fraud upon the customers. In particular, a reference used in the comparison is created using on an output from a storage tank sensor. The storage tank sensor, during the dispensing of fuel provides an independent number related to the amount of fuel actually dispensed that can be compared to the reported amount of fuel dispensed.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention is an apparatus and method for calculating confidence intervals. The method comprises activating a calculator. The user selects input data for the calculator. The calculator reformats the input data into output data. The calculator then generates a specific calibration summary using the output data. The calculator plots a linear calibration curve derived from the specific calibration summary. The calculator then plots a calibration residual value plot derived from the specific calibration summary. The calculator calculates a back-calculated unknown sample value. Lastly, the calculator calculates a confidence interval for said at least one back-calculated unknown sample value.

Abstract: A rotating machinery monitor provides a warning that is indicative of a developing problem with the rotating machinery. The rotating machinery monitor has at least one current sensor for detecting shaft grounding current in the rotating machinery, at least one voltage sensor for detecting shaft voltage in the rotating machinery, a change detector for determining rate of change in the shaft grounding current and a rate of change in the shaft voltage, and an evaluation system for producing a warning as a function of the change in the shaft grounding current, the rate of change in the shaft voltage, the shaft grounding current and the shaft voltage.

Abstract: A yield monitoring system for a grain harvesting combine includes a volume monitor, a moisture monitor, a test weight monitor, a ground speed monitor, and a computer which receives signals from each monitor and continuously derives harvested grain yield rates from those signals, displays the yield rates on a visual display and records the yield rate information for later recall and transfer to other computers. A GPS receiver linked to the system enables it to map yields geographically in the harvested field. The volume monitor receives all grain exiting the clean grain elevator of the combine and passes it through a paddlewheel, the angular displacement of which is monitored over time. The moisture monitor and test weight monitor are mounted to the exterior of the clean grain elevator and receive samples of grain from the lift side of the clean grain elevator.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus, which has a detachable ink film cassette with an ink film, transfers an ink applied to the ink film to a recording paper by means of a thermal head and forms an image on the recording paper. The ink film cassette holds a supply reel wound around the shaft with the ink film and a take-up reel for taking up the ink film of the supply reel around the shaft. The thermal transfer recording apparatus has a detecting unit for detecting the supply reel mounted in the cassette, and a control unit for detecting the ink film based on a signal from the detecting unit. The detecting unit has a lever, which advances through an opening formed in the cassette from the direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis of the supply reel and comes in contact with the supply reel, and a photosensor for detecting the supply reel through of the lever. This thermal transfer recording apparatus can detect missing of the ink film in advance of the start of a printing operation.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring oil quality based on the permittivity of the oil comprising a capacitive or radiative sensor for exposure to the oil, and an oscillator circuit including the sensor, wherein the oscillator circuit comprises a LC or crystal oscillator which provides an output signal, the amplitude of which is dependent upon the lossiness of the Tan &dgr; of the oil, and a measuring device that responds to the amplitude of the output signal as a measure of oil quality.

Abstract: A method of determining the displacements of a logging tool during a measurement interval of the logging tool in a borehole includes obtaining a set of accelerometer signals corresponding to accelerations of the logging tool along each of three orthogonal axes of the logging tool during the measurement interval. The method further includes calculating a lower bound for the displacements of the logging tool during the measurement interval when the initial velocity and the gravitational acceleration are unknown. The lower bound on the displacements of the logging tool is used to flag the validity of the measurements made by the logging tool.