Abstract: Various embodiments may include collecting, by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a measuring image of an assessed heliostat in a heliostat field. The measuring image of the assessed heliostat includes an assessed facet forming a reflective surface of the assessed heliostat. At least a portion of a reference heliostat is visible in a reflection on the assessed facet. Also, a surface normal variance between a calculated surface normal of the assessed heliostat and a presumed surface normal of the assessed heliostat may be collected. The calculated surface normal is determined from a point on the assessed facet that corresponds to one or more features of the reference heliostat identifiable in the reflection. The presumed surface normal of the assessed heliostat may be updated based on the determined surface normal variance.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of improving processing of overhead image data by a processor using a distance-based quality score in a geospatial-temporal semantic graph. An allowable range for each attribute in the subgraph search template is defined. For each match in a comparison, attribute values of each match element are compared against the preferred range and the allowable range to compute a corresponding distance of each match attribute from the subgraph search template. A corresponding overall match quality score is determined for each match from the subgraph search template, wherein determining the corresponding overall match qualities is performed using a corresponding required quality score and a corresponding optional quality score. All corresponding overall match quality scores are sorted into an ordered list and then displayed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of improving processing of overhead image data by a processor using a distance-based quality score in a geospatial-temporal semantic graph. An allowable range for each attribute in the subgraph search template is defined. For each match in a comparison, attribute values of each match element are compared against the preferred range and the allowable range to compute a corresponding distance of each match attribute from the subgraph search template. A corresponding overall match quality score is determined for each match from the subgraph search template, wherein determining the corresponding overall match qualities is performed using a corresponding required quality score and a corresponding optional quality score. All corresponding overall match quality scores are sorted into an ordered list and then displayed.

Abstract: Various technologies pertaining to modeling patterns of activity observed in remote sensing images using geospatial-temporal graphs are described herein. Graphs are constructed by representing objects in remote sensing images as nodes, and connecting nodes with undirected edges representing either distance or adjacency relationships between objects and directed edges representing changes in time. Activity patterns may be discerned from the graphs by coding nodes representing persistent objects like buildings differently from nodes representing ephemeral objects like vehicles, and examining the geospatial-temporal relationships of ephemeral nodes within the graph.

Abstract: Various technologies pertaining to identifying objects of interest in remote sensing images by searching over geospatial-temporal graph representations are described herein. Graphs are constructed by representing objects in remote sensing images as nodes, and connecting nodes with undirected edges representing either distance or adjacency relationships between objects and directed edges representing changes in time. Geospatial-temporal graph searches are made computationally efficient by taking advantage of characteristics of geospatial-temporal data in remote sensing images through the application of various graph search techniques.

Abstract: Various technologies for facilitating analysis of large remote sensing and geolocation datasets to identify features of interest are described herein. A search query can be submitted to a computing system that executes searches over a geospatial temporal semantic (GTS) graph to identify features of interest. The GTS graph comprises nodes corresponding to objects described in the remote sensing and geolocation datasets, and edges that indicate geospatial or temporal relationships between pairs of nodes in the nodes. Trajectory information is encoded in the GTS graph by the inclusion of movable nodes to facilitate searches for features of interest in the datasets relative to moving objects such as vehicles.

Abstract: A method for vaporizing organic materials onto a substrate surface to form a film including providing a quantity of organic material into a vaporization apparatus and actively maintaining the organic material in a first heating region in the vaporization apparatus to be below the vaporization temperature. The method also includes heating a second heating region of the vaporization apparatus above the vaporization temperature of the organic material and metering, at a controlled rate, organic material from the first heating region into the second heating region so that a thin cross section of the organic material is heated at a desired rate-dependent vaporization temperature, whereby organic material vaporizes and forms a film on the substrate surface.

Abstract: A method for registering patterns on a web to provide independent scale control in both the lateral and longitudinal directions is provided. The method includes routing the web over a first roller; routing the web over a second roller and stabilizing the web; applying a pattern to the web using process hardware; measuring registration of the pattern and providing an error signal; controlling lateral position error using the error signal; controlling longitudinal position error using the error signal; controlling lateral scale error using the error signal; and controlling longitudinal scale error using the error signal. The method provides independent scale control in both the lateral and longitudinal directions. Independent scale control avoids non-linear distortions otherwise imposed by attempting to accomplish both corrections by stretching the web in both directions.

Abstract: A web conveyance system is provided for conveying a web that has first and second edge portions and a central portion disposed between the first and second edge portions. The web conveyance system has means for engaging the first and second edge portions of the web and maintaining the central portion of the web free of contact with the means. Preferably, the means comprises a roller with left and right end portions and an undercut middle portion. The end portions of the roller engage side edge portions of the web for conveyance while the middle portion of the web and roller remain free of contact with the roller.

Abstract: A method for registering patterns on a web comprises attaching a backing material to a web and stabilizing the web; routing the web over one or more sets of rollers; applying a pattern to the web; and removing the backing material. Patterning can be applied at a set of rollers or between rollers along the path of the web. The backing material has indicia thereon for use in registration of the patterns applied to the web. Using the method, a steel backing material can be applied with an adhesive to a polyethylene terephthalate web material.

Abstract: A method for registering patterns on a web to provide independent scale control in both the lateral and longitudinal directions is provided. The method comprises routing the web over a first roller; routing the web over a second roller and stabilizing the web; applying a pattern to the web using process hardware; measuring registration of the pattern and providing an error signal; controlling lateral position error using the error signal; controlling longitudinal position error using the error signal; controlling lateral scale error using the error signal; and controlling longitudinal scale error using the error signal. The method provides independent scale control in both the lateral and longitudinal directions. Independent scale control avoids non-linear distortions otherwise imposed by attempting to accomplish both corrections by stretching the web in both directions.

Abstract: A method for registering machine tool and profilometer coordinates, wherein the machine tool defines a C-axis having a zero position, C=0, comprises loading a sacrificial workpiece into the machine tool; cutting several first features in a surface of the sacrificial workpiece and producing a linear machine tool motion across the workpiece; determining the centroid of each first cut feature; fitting a line to the centroids of the first cut features; and measuring angle ?0 of the line relative to the C-axis zero position. The angle ?0 is the departure in profilometer coordinates from the C=0 line. The method includes moving the machine tool to a fixed radius; cutting several second features in a surface of the sacrificial workpiece and producing a circular machine tool motion across the workpiece; determining the centroid of each second cut feature; fitting a circle to the centroids of the second cut features; and determining a center of the circle.

Abstract: A method for expressing disparate profilometer (20) measurements in a common coordinate system, comprises the steps of providing a work-piece holder (10) with at least two reference features (14) having surfaces and centers; fixing a work-piece (16) in the work-piece holder (10); scanning (S1) the surfaces of the reference features (14); and determining the centers of the reference features (14) in at least an x1, y1 coordinate system. The next steps are scanning (S2) a surface of the first work-piece (16) and obtaining a measurement result; and transforming (S3) the measurement result into an xg, yg global coordinate system. The next step is repeating the above steps for successive work-piece surfaces, or successive work-pieces or the same work-piece at different times. The final steps are combining (S4) the measurement results in xg, yg global coordinate system and computing desired output.

Abstract: A method for vaporizing organic materials onto a substrate surface to form a film including providing a quantity of organic material into a vaporization apparatus and actively maintaining the organic material in a first heating region in the vaporization apparatus to be below the vaporization temperature. The method also includes heating a second heating region of the vaporization apparatus above the vaporization temperature of the organic material and metering, at a controlled rate, organic material from the first heating region into the second heating region so that a thin cross section of the organic material is heated at a desired rate-dependent vaporization temperature, whereby organic material vaporizes and forms a film on the substrate surface.

Abstract: A camera adjusts the aspect ratio of a viewfinder image. The camera has a body and a capture unit mounted in the body. The capture unit has an imager and storage media operatively connected to the imager. The capture unit selectively captures an electronic image of a scene. A viewfinder of the camera displays a light image of the scene. A cropper is disposed in the body. The cropper is switchable among a plurality of settings. Each setting defines a different rectangular cross-sectioned window in the viewfinder. A cropping control is operatively connected to the capture unit and cropper. The cropping control has a cropping input element that is accessible external to the body. The cropping input element is movable between first and second opposed cropping control positions to change the settings. The cropping control positions define a cropping control axis perpendicular to an optical axis of the capture unit.

Abstract: Precision polishing equipment polishes a general surface, such as an aspheric optical surface. A polishing element is rotatably mounted in a frame of the equipment. Polishing element has a compliant polishing member fixedly mounted to a substantially rigid support member. Compliant polishing member has plurality of spaced polishing portions for engaging the surface to be polished and trapping polishing fluid between the interface of the surface to be polished and nearest polishing portion in contact with the surface. Important advantages derived from the polishing equipment of the invention are that it can efficiently polish a general surface, such as an aspheric optical surface, and it enables the polishing fluid to evenly flow across the surface to be polished.

Abstract: A precision polishing element polishes a general surface, such as an aspheric optical surface. A compliant polishing member is mounted to a substantially rigid support member. The compliant polishing member has plurality of spaced compliant polishing portions for engaging the surface to be polished and trapping polishing fluid between the interface of the surface to be polished and nearest polishing portion in contact with the surface. An important advantage derived from the polishing element of the invention is that it enables the polishing fluid to evenly distribute across the surface to be polished.