Abstract: A method of automatically orienting symmetric and asymmetric food items, such as apples for example, is provided. Individual items of food are manipulated by a programmable manipulator within the view of one or more depth imaging cameras. Digital three dimensional characterizations of the surface of the food items are generated by the depth imaging camera or cameras and are utilized by a computer connected to the depth imaging camera or cameras to locate the stem and blossom of each food item. Asymmetric food items, such as apples with dropped shoulders as well as symmetric food items can be properly oriented and processed automatically.

Abstract: A method of automatically orienting symmetric and asymmetric food items, such as apples for example, is provided. Individual items of food are manipulated by a programmable manipulator within the view of one or more depth imaging cameras. Digital three dimensional characterizations of the surface of the food items are generated by the depth imaging camera or cameras and are utilized by a computer connected to the depth imaging camera or cameras to locate the stem and blossom of each food item. Asymmetric food items, such as apples with dropped shoulders as well as symmetric food items can be properly oriented and processed automatically.

Abstract: A method of automatically orienting symmetric and asymmetric produce items, such as apples for example, is provided. Individual items of produce are manipulated by a programmable manipulator within the view of one or more depth imaging cameras. Digital three dimensional characterizations of the surface of the produce items are generated by the depth imaging camera or cameras and are utilized by a computer connected to the depth imaging camera or cameras to locate the stem and blossom of each produce item. Asymmetric produce items, such as apples with dropped shoulders as well as symmetric produce items can be properly oriented and processed automatically.

Abstract: A system for recording, transmitting and compiling information indicative of actual vehicle operation and usage includes a device installed within a vehicle. Sensors communicate with the device to provide information relating to operation of the vehicle. A location module utilizes satellite signals to determine the current location of a vehicle. A data extraction module sends data to a central process server. The central processor compiles and summarizes the information from the device for determination of vehicle usage for use in determining an insurance premium.

Abstract: A retractable auger boring cutter head. The cutter head has fixed cutters and at least one pivoting cutter. The pivoting cutter is biased to a position that extends beyond a diameter of a casing being installed. When pulled back through the casing, a surface of the pivoting cutter contacts the casing, reducing the effective diameter of the cutter head and allowing it to be removed.

Abstract: A method of automatically orienting symmetric and asymmetric produce items, such as apples for example, is provided. Individual items of produce are manipulated by a programmable manipulator within the view of one or more depth imaging cameras. Digital three dimensional characterizations of the surface of the produce items are generated by the depth imaging camera or cameras and are utilized by a computer connected to the depth imaging camera or cameras to locate the stem and blossom of each produce item. Asymmetric produce items, such as apples with dropped shoulders as well as symmetric produce items can be properly oriented and processed automatically.

Abstract: A steerable rock bit attached by a drill string to a horizontal directional drill. The bit comprises a plurality of flanges radially extending from a central hub and a slanted face formed in the body of the bit. Cutting elements such as polycrystalline diamond compacts are disposed on the flanges on one side of the flanges such that they will provide cutting force when the bit is rotated in the direction of the cutting elements. The bit is advanced generally straight when the bit is rotated and is advanced at an angle away from the slanted face when the bit is not rotated.

Abstract: The system described in this invention can be used for monitoring and analyzing real time visual and non-visual information pertaining to the occupant, vehicle, and surroundings prior to, during and post eccentric operating conditions for a given period of time. The system stores vehicle and occupant data from sensors throughout the vehicle and also makes use of existing vehicle sensors that may already be present in the vehicle. The invention also includes a video recording module that makes use of a fish-eye camera to capture video from the inside and the outside of the vehicle. Real-time data analysis is performed to detect and to recognize vehicle occupants, and recognize impending eccentric events. Vehicle, occupant, and video data are stored in circular buffers. When an eccentric event, a collision for example, has been detected, the device continues to record data and video for a fixed period of time.

Abstract: A retractable auger boring cutter head. The cutter head has fixed cutters and at least one pivoting cutter. The pivoting cutter is biased to a position that extends beyond a diameter of a casing being installed. When pulled back through the casing, a surface of the pivoting cutter contacts the casing, reducing the effective diameter of the cutter head and allowing it to be removed.

Abstract: A system for recording, transmitting and compiling information indicative of actual vehicle operation and usage includes a device installed within a vehicle. Sensors communicate with the device to provide information relating to operation of the vehicle. A location module utilizes satellite signals to determine the current location of a vehicle. A data extraction module sends data to a central process server. The central processor compiles and summarizes the information from the device for determination of vehicle usage for use in determining an insurance premium.

Abstract: A system for recording, transmitting and compiling information indicative of actual vehicle operation and usage includes a device installed within a vehicle. Sensors communicate with the device to provide information relating to operation of the vehicle. A location module utilizes satellite signals to determine the current location of a vehicle. A data extraction module sends data to a central process server. The central processor compiles and summarizes the information from the device for determination of vehicle usage for use in determining an insurance premium.

Abstract: A steerable rock bit attached by a drill string to a horizontal directional drill. The bit comprises a plurality of flanges radially extending from a central hub and a slanted face formed in the body of the bit. Cutting elements such as polycrystalline diamond compacts are disposed on the flanges on one side of the flanges such that they will provide cutting force when the bit is rotated in the direction of the cutting elements. The bit is advanced generally straight when the bit is rotated and is advanced at an angle away from the slanted face when the bit is not rotated.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a user wearable viewing device for assisting the user to view a representation of three dimensional content. The user wearable viewing device is assigned a unique identifier to provide a private viewing experience for the user.

Abstract: A system includes a computing device that includes a memory configured to store instructions. The computing device also includes a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method that includes presenting a representation of three dimensional content on a single display. The three dimensional content representation is presented as a shared viewing experience for at least two viewers. The method also includes presenting a representation of two dimensional content on the single display to a first viewer of the at least two viewers. The two dimensional representation is presented as a private viewing experience for the first viewer and a second viewer of the at least two viewers is visually isolated from the presented two dimensional content representation.

Abstract: This invention is a system and process for determining and verifying the voracity of data gathered for use in recording and tracking vehicle usage. The device operates to verify and detect events that may affect data integrity by sensing a condition indicative of faulty data acquisition or of corruption of data integrity. Data evidencing potential problems are encoded and included with normal data uploaded to a central server. The central server compares the encoded entries against criteria that have been determined to indicate potential data inconsistencies.

Abstract: A vision-based vehicle occupant detection and classification system includes a camera mounted in the vehicle interior to capture low resolution images of the seating area. Image processing algorithms account for lighting, motion, and other phenomena. A spatial-feature matrix numerically describes the content of the image. This descriptor is the result of a number of digital filters being run against a set of sub-images, derived from pre-defined window regions in the original image. This spatial-feature matrix is used as an input to an expert classifier function, which classifies this image as best representing a scenario in which the seat is (i) empty, (ii) occupied by an adult, (iii) occupied by a child, (iv) occupied by a rear-facing infant seat (RFIS), (v) occupied by a front-facing infant seat (FFIS), or (vi) occupied by an undetermined object.

Abstract: The system described in this invention can be used for monitoring and analyzing real time visual and non-visual information pertaining to the occupant, vehicle, and surroundings prior to, during and post eccentric operating conditions for a given period of time. The system stores vehicle and occupant data from sensors throughout the vehicle and also makes use of existing vehicle sensors that may already be present in the vehicle. The invention also includes a video recording module that makes use of a fish-eye camera to capture video from the inside and the outside of the vehicle. Real-time data analysis is performed to detect and to recognize vehicle occupants, and recognize impending eccentric events. Vehicle, occupant, and video data are stored in circular buffers. When an eccentric event, a collision for example, has been detected, the device continues to record data and video for a fixed period of time.

Abstract: The system described in this invention can be used for monitoring and analyzing real time visual and non-visual information pertaining to the occupant, vehicle, and surroundings prior to, during and post eccentric operating conditions for a given period of time. The system stores vehicle and occupant data from sensors throughout the vehicle and also makes use of existing vehicle sensors that may already be present in the vehicle. The invention also includes a video recording module that makes use of a fish-eye camera to capture video from the inside and the outside of the vehicle. Real-time data analysis is performed to detect and to recognize vehicle occupants, and recognize impending eccentric events. Vehicle, occupant, and video data are stored in circular buffers. When an eccentric event, a collision for example, has been detected, the device continues to record data and video for a fixed period of time.

Abstract: A system for recording, transmitting and compiling information indicative of actual vehicle operation and usage includes a device installed within a vehicle. Sensors communicate with the device to provide information relating to operation of the vehicle. A location module utilizes satellite signals to determine the current location of a vehicle. A data extraction module sends data to a central process server. The central processor compiles and summarizes the information from the device for determination of vehicle usage for use in determining an insurance premium.

Abstract: The system described in this invention can be used for monitoring and analyzing real time visual and non-visual information pertaining to the occupant, vehicle, and surroundings prior to, during and post eccentric operating conditions for a given period of time. The system stores vehicle and occupant data from sensors throughout the vehicle and also makes use of existing vehicle sensors that may already be present in the vehicle. The invention also includes a video recording module that makes use of a fish-eye camera to capture video from the inside and the outside of the vehicle. Real-time data analysis is performed to detect and to recognize vehicle occupants, and recognize impending eccentric events. Vehicle, occupant, and video data are stored in circular buffers. When an eccentric event, a collision for example, has been detected, the device continues to record data and video for a fixed period of time.