Abstract: A system and methods are provided for removal of undesired portions of a fruit or vegetable, such as removal of calyxes from strawberries before they are flash frozen. An automated process for high-throughput fruit or vegetable calyx removal includes a loading system, an identification system, and a removal system. The loading system is configured to transport the fruit or vegetable through the automated process. The loading system may also orient the fruits or vegetables along an axis of the fruit and or align the fruit or vegetables in a desired pattern, orientation, and/or arrangement. The identification system is configured to locate the calyx and determines calyx position data and an optimal cutting path for individual fruit. The removal system uses data received from the identification system to separate the calyx from the fruit or vegetable.

Abstract: Intelligence guided system and method for fruits and vegetables processing includes a conveyor for carrying produces, various image acquiring and processing hardware and software, water and air jets for cutting and controlling the position and orientation of the produces, and a networking hardware and software, operating in synchronism in an efficient manner to attain speed and accuracy of the produce cutting and high yield and low waste produces processing. The 2nd generation strawberry decalyxing system (AVID2) uniquely utilizes a convolutional neural network (AVIDnet) supporting a discrimination network decision, specifically, on whether a strawberry is to be cut or rejected, and computing a multi-point cutline curvature to be cut along by rapid robotic cutting tool.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a method and apparatus for generating information. A specific embodiment of the method comprises: acquiring associated information of a road to be evaluated for driving difficulty; generating traffic environment information of the road based on the associated information; and inputting the traffic environment information of the road into a driving difficulty evaluation model to obtain a driving difficulty level of the road for an autonomous driving vehicle. The driving difficulty of the road for the autonomous driving vehicle is evaluated, to obtain the driving difficulty level of the road for the autonomous driving vehicle. Thus, based on a driving difficulty level of each road for the autonomous driving vehicle, the autonomous driving vehicle may select a road having a low driving difficulty level to drive.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for removal of undesired portions of a fruit or vegetable, such as removal of calyxes from strawberries before they are flash frozen. An automated process for high-throughput fruit or vegetable calyx removal includes a loading system, an identification system, and a removal system. The loading system is configured to transport the fruit or vegetable through the automated process. The loading system may also orient the fruits or vegetables along an axis of the fruit and or align the fruit or vegetables in a desired pattern, orientation, and/or arrangement. The identification system is configured to locate the calyx and determines calyx position data and an optimal cutting path for individual fruit. The removal system uses data received from the identification system to separate the calyx from the fruit or vegetable.

Abstract: A metal detector (1) has a drive coil (L61) and at least one detection coil (L62, L63) that detect fluctuations in a magnetic field generated by the drive coil, caused by metallic particles present in an inspected object. A multi-frequency transmitter unit (10) has a converter (4) with a plurality of drive switches (S41, S42; S43, S44) driven by a drive controller (2). The drive switches alternately conduct a drive current through the drive coil to generate an electromagnetic field with two or more different frequency components. A waveform of the drive current is determined, as is at least one pulse-modulated (PXM) signal corresponding to the determined waveform. The determined PXM-signal is determined online or is stored in a memory module (231; 232). The determined PXM-signal is generated and applied to control the drive switches. The drive current can be applied to the drive coil through an admittance unit (5).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a method and apparatus for generating information. A specific embodiment of the method comprises: acquiring associated information of a road to be evaluated for driving difficulty; generating traffic environment information of the road based on the associated information; and inputting the traffic environment information of the road into a driving difficulty evaluation model to obtain a driving difficulty level of the road for an autonomous driving vehicle. The driving difficulty of the road for the autonomous driving vehicle is evaluated, to obtain the driving difficulty level of the road for the autonomous driving vehicle. Thus, based on a driving difficulty level of each road for the autonomous driving vehicle, the autonomous driving vehicle may select a road having a low driving difficulty level to drive.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for removal of undesired portions of a fruit or vegetable, such as removal of calyxes from strawberries before they are flash frozen. An automated process for high-throughput fruit or vegetable calyx removal includes a loading system, an identification system, and a removal system. The loading system is configured to transport the fruit or vegetable through the automated process. The loading system may also orient the fruits or vegetables along an axis of the fruit and or align the fruit or vegetables in a desired pattern, orientation, and/or arrangement. The identification system is configured to locate the calyx and determines calyx position data and an optimal cutting path for individual fruit. The removal system uses data received from the identification system to separate the calyx from the fruit or vegetable.

Abstract: A driving device is configured to drive a power semiconductor switch module based on a main control signal. The driving device includes a voltage-modulating unit and a driving module. When the voltage-modulating unit receives a protection signal, the voltage-modulating unit generates a turn-off pulse signal based on the protection signal. Moreover, the driving module is configured to turn off the power semiconductor switch module based on the turn-off pulse signal. Also disclosed herein is a driving method.

Abstract: A three-level rectifier includes at least one phase bridge arm that includes an upper-half and a lower-half bridge arm circuit modules. The upper-half bridge arm circuit module includes a first diode unit and a second diode unit that are in series connection, and a first power semiconductor switch unit. The lower-half bridge arm circuit module includes a third diode unit and a fourth diode unit that are in series connection, and a second power semiconductor switch unit. These first and second power semiconductor switch units are connected to the neutral point of the capacitor unit; the second diode unit and the third diode unit are connected to the alternating-current terminal; the first diode unit and the fourth diode unit are respectively connected to the positive terminal and negative terminal of the direct-current bus. The two circuit modules are disposed side by side and facing each other.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for removal of undesired portions of a fruit or vegetable, such as removal of calyxes from strawberries before they are flash frozen. An automated process for high-throughput fruit or vegetable calyx removal includes a loading system, an identification system, and a removal system. The loading system is configured to transport the fruit or vegetable through the automated process. The loading system may also orient the fruits or vegetables along an axis of the fruit and or align the fruit or vegetables in a desired pattern, orientation, and/or arrangement. The identification system is configured to locate the calyx and determines calyx position data and an optimal cutting path for individual fruit. The removal system uses data received from the identification system to separate the calyx from the fruit or vegetable.

Abstract: A process for automated high-throughput fruit or vegetable calyx removal includes a material handling system, a vision system, and a cutting system. The material handling system is capable of transporting the fruit or vegetable through the automated process. The material handling system may also orient the fruits or vegetables along an axis of the fruit and or align the fruit or vegetables in a desired pattern, orientation, and/or configuration. The vision system identifies the calyx and determines calyx position data and optimal cutting angle for individual fruit. The cutting system uses data received from the vision system to automatically remove the calyx from the fruit or vegetables.

Abstract: A driving device is configured to drive a power semiconductor switch module based on a main control signal. The driving device includes a voltage-modulating unit and a driving module. When the voltage-modulating unit receives a protection signal, the voltage-modulating unit generates a turn-off pulse signal based on the protection signal. Moreover, the driving module is configured to turn off the power semiconductor switch module based on the turn-off pulse signal. Also disclosed herein is a driving method.

Abstract: A three-level rectifier includes at least one phase bridge arm that includes an upper-half and a lower-half bridge arm circuit modules. The upper-half bridge arm circuit module includes a first diode unit and a second diode unit that are in series connection, and a first power semiconductor switch unit. The lower-half bridge arm circuit module includes a third diode unit and a fourth diode unit that are in series connection, and a second power semiconductor switch unit. These first and second power semiconductor switch units are connected to the neutral point of the capacitor unit; the second diode unit and the third diode unit are connected to the alternating-current terminal; the first diode unit and the fourth diode unit are respectively connected to the positive terminal and negative terminal of the direct-current bus. The two circuit modules are disposed side by side and facing each other.

Abstract: A process for automated high-throughput fruit or vegetable calyx removal includes a material handling system, a vision system, and a cutting system. The material handling system is capable of transporting the fruit or vegetable through the automated process. The material handling system may also orient the fruits or vegetables along an axis of the fruit and or align the fruit or vegetables in a desired pattern, orientation, and/or configuration. The vision system identifies the calyx and determines calyx position data and optimal cutting angle for individual fruit. The cutting system uses data received from the vision system to automatically remove the calyx from the fruit or vegetables.

Abstract: A combined X-ray and laser 3D imaging system for food safety inspection, which uses a 3D laser subsystem to get accurate depth information, which is further combined with an x-ray image to achieve accurate physical contamination detection in poultry and other meat products. A unique calibration model is used to calibrate the x-ray and laser 3D imaging systems at the same time. And a nested multi-thread software structure is implemented to prevent data conflict and ensure fully use of system resources during the physical contamination detection of the poultry and other meat products.

Abstract: A housing comprises a substrate and a decorative film. The decorative film comprises a transparent film, a metallic coating, a transparent varnish layer, a color layer, a protective layer and an adhesive layer. The metallic coating is formed on an inner surface of the transparent film. The varnish layer is formed on the metallic coating. The color layer is formed on the varnish layer. The protective layer is formed on the color layer. The adhesive layer is formed on the protective layer. The substrate is integrally molded with the decorative film bonding the adhesive layer.

Abstract: A combined X-ray and laser 3D imaging system for food safety inspection, which uses a 3D laser subsystem to get accurate depth information, which is further combined with an x-ray image to achieve accurate physical contamination detection in poultry and other meat products. A unique calibration model is used to calibrate the x-ray and laser 3D imaging systems at the same time. And a nested multi-thread software structure is implemented to prevent data conflict and ensure fully use of system resources during the physical contamination detection of the poultry and other meat products.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided which addresses the drawbacks of the prior art and which incorporates two separate imaging devices, one near-infrared and one mid-infrared imaging device which simultaneously capture images of the passing objects. The background information is removed and images of the objects remain. A spherical optical transform and a defect preservation transform preserve any defect levels on objects and compensate for the non-lambertian gradient reflectants on spherical objects at their curvatures and dimensions.

Abstract: The invention addresses the above referenced need in the art. In particular, the invention provides an improved method for automatic chick sexing. Under regular lighting, the color intensity of down and feather of baby chicks are essentially the same and it is difficult to separate the feathers in the image. By using UV light, the optical system significantly enhanced the feathers by suppressing the downs in images. It produced clear feather signals for subsequent identification and allocation of feathers in the image. The feather image segments could be obtained through thresholding with any value from 200 to 230 on the 255 maximum intensity scale. Important features of the invention include a video camera, special lighting, an image processing system and a computer for analysis. The digital video camera captures a clear image of chick wings using selected light wavelengths including long UV wavelengths) and particularly wavelengths from 250 nanometers to 450 nanometers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided which incorporates two separate imaging devices, one near-infrared and one mid-infrared imaging device which simultaneously capture images of the passing objects. The background information is removed and images of the objects remain. A spherical optical transform and a defect preservation transform preserve any defect levels on objects and compensate for the non-lambertian gradient reflectance on spherical objects at their curvatures and dimensions. The processed images provided by the mid-infrared camera are subtracted from the images provided by the near-infrared camera to produce an image of just defects which are analyzed to produce the separation or sorting control signals based on defect rejection decisions and user parameters to signal appropriate mechanical actions (driver commands) to separate objects with defects from those that do not contain defects, or to sort or categorize objects based on the amount, type, size, or character of the defects.