Abstract: A fishing reel includes a spool disk, a handle disk mounted coaxially and in juxtaposition with the spool disk, a winding handle or crank affixed to the handle disk, and a brake mechanism, including an actuator incorporated in the handle, for applying a drag braking torque between the spool disk and the handle disk. The braking torque is controllable by a user by squeezing the handle while holding the handle for cranking. Accordingly, the user does not have to let go of the winding handle in order to apply or vary the drag.

Abstract: Superimposed X-ray and video images can be obtained by acquiring the respective images from the optically equivalent points in space. One or more mirrors may be used to acquire the images and direct them towards the camera. The images can then be combined by warping one onto the other.

Abstract: Superimposed X-ray and video images can be obtained by acquiring the respective images from the optically equivalent points in space. One or more mirrors may be used to acquire the images. Alignment of one camera with respect to the X-ray source may be achieved using images of reference points in space. The procedure of alignment also provides correlated X-ray and optical images.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for three dimensional (3D) computerized tomography (CT) imaging wherein a reconstructed image is developed by calculating along line segments L formed in cone beam data. The endpoints of which are determined by a data combination mask. At source positions near the top and bottom of the ROI, the mask is divided into separate portions using a horizontal line, each having a set of line segments L formed therein. The reconstruction data is calculated by performing one-dimensional (1D) convolving operations of the data along the line segments L, the 1D convolving operation developing an additive contribution to a new projection image. Finally, the new projection image is backprojected into a 3D space, thereby reconstructing a 3D image of the ROI in the object.

Abstract: A system for interactively organizing and browsing video automatically processes video, creating a video table of contents (VTOC), while providing easy-to-use interfaces for verification, correction, and augmentation of the automatically extracted video structure. Shot detection, shot grouping and VTOC generation are automatically determined without making restrictive assumptions about the structure or content of the video. A nonstationary time series model of difference metrics is used for shot boundary detention. Color and edge similarities are used for shot grouping. Observation about the structure of a wide class of videos are used for the generating the table of contents. The use of automatic processing in conjuction with input from the user provides a meaningful video organization.

Abstract: A reflective rotund lens is positioned for projecting a panoramic picture of its horizontal surroundings at a given elevation onto a CCD array, for converting the picture into “pixel form” or an image signal. The image signal is digitized via an A/D converter circuit. A digital signal processor system is programmed for extracting a strip of pixel locations representative of an image ring mapped to pixel locations via superimposition upon the image, whereby all pixel locations outside of the image ring are eliminated by passing the pixels thereof through said A/D converter circuit at a rate higher than the conversion rate of said A/D converter circuit.

Abstract: A computer-controlled method for automatically positioning a guide for a biopsy needle for its proper insertion into the body of a patient from a selected point on a surface of the body, so as to enter in a straight line passing through a designated target region within the body, in conjunction with an imaging system utilizing radiation from first and second source positions for deriving first and second radiographic images.

Abstract: A scenario presentation tool or system provides for the definition, maintenance, and presentation of scenarios. The scenarios comprise a series of steps representing the dynamic behavior of a system. The tool utilizes a system description and includes arrangements for reading and presenting the system description and an arrangement for selecting elements from the system description and for facilitating the definition, maintenance, and presentation of scenarios. The method comprises the steps of defining a sequence of steps by selecting elements from the system description in accordance with a predetermined syntax and saving the steps with sufficient information to reproduce the scenarios.

Abstract: A phonograph comprises an acoustically compliant cylindrical chamber for being set into vibration by impinging sound waves, the chamber having a substantially smooth outer surface and being mounted for axial rotation and for being advanced at a predetermined rate upon said axial rotation; and an acoustically non-compliant stylus, the stylus bearing against the outer surface in a spiral path thereupon when the cylinder is caused to rotate and to advance at the predetermined rate. During recording, the vibrating cylinder wall impales itself upon the non-vibrating stylus so that a recording groove with undulations is formed on the cylinder. During playback, the cylinder vibrates in response to the recording groove undulations being pressing against the stationary stylus.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for the identification and interpretation of text captions in an encoded video stream of digital video signals comprises sampling by selecting frames for video analysis, decoding by converting each of frames selected into a digitized color image, performing edge detection for generating a grey scale image, binarizing by converting the grey scale image into a bi-level image by means of a thresholding operation, compressing groups of consecutive pixel values in the binary image, mapping the consecutive pixel values into a binary value, and separating groups of connected pixels and determining whether they are likely to be part of a text region in the image or not.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining a proper insertion depth of a biopsy needle so that a sampling end of the needle just reaches to a designated target area within the body comprises at least one straight calibrated pointing device aligned to point through the selected point in a straight line passing through the designated target region. The pointing device exhibits first and second markers along its length such that respective images are formed on a first image plane by utilizing radiation from a radiation source, along with images corresponding to the selected point and the target area. The images are formed along a straight line in this order: (A) the first marker, (B) the second marker, (C) the selected point, and (D) the target region. The apparatus includes an arrangement for measuring distances on the image plane between images (A), (B), (C), and (D) and a calculator for calculating the cross ratio of the distances, whereby the proper insertion depth of the biopsy needle is determined.

Abstract: A method for automatically setting a collimator of an x-ray imaging system during image acquisition includes receiving rapid scout images at an imaging station. The location of the body regions in one of said images is then automatically detected. The detected location of the body regions is used to generate settings for the collimator. The settings are used for automatically adjusting the collimator to substantially cover the non-body regions and substantially expose the body regions.

Abstract: A method for detection and localization of a surgical device in a radiographic image of the surgical device, includes the steps of: generating a radiographic image, including an image of a surgical device and an anatomical background image; moving the device rotatably through a plurality of positions corresponding to steps of an alignment method; generating a plurality of radiographic images corresponding to the plurality of positions, respectively; subtracting each image of the plurality of images from preceding images so as to generate a plurality of difference images; deriving the mathematical intersection of all of the plurality of difference images; and thereby obtaining a resulting image containing only an image of the device on the radiographic image without the anatomical background image.

Abstract: A C-arm calibration method for 3D reconstruction in an imaging system comprising an imaging source and an imaging plane utilizes a planar transformation for relating voxels in a voxel space and pixels in the imaging plane, and comprises the steps of: defining a source coordinate system in reference to the imaging source; defining a normal plane in the voxel space, not including the origin of the source coordinate system and being substantially normal to an optical axis from the source to the imaging plane; defining a relationship between the source coordinate system and another coordinate system, herein referred to as a world coordinate system, by transformation parameters; identifying pixel location coordinates for a respective pixel corresponding to each voxel in the normal plane by utilizing a planar to planar transformation; storing a value of a filtered image at the respective pixel location; and accumulating contributions corresponding to a plurality of image projections so as to thereby reconstruct eac

Abstract: Apparatus for providing markers on an image, for use in conjunction with C-arm calibration apparatus for 3D reconstruction in an imaging system, comprises a plurality of radiation transparent planes intersecting at a line; and radiation opaque markers disposed on said transparent planes and arranged in respective patterns such that detection of coplanar markers on an image is possible without ambiguity even though said patterns be superimposed on a radiographic images.

Abstract: A method for point reconstruction and metric measurement on radiographic images comprises the following steps: positioning a fluoroscope for producing a fluoroscopic image, in a position where an operator, such as a physician, can observe points inside a patient's body on which points at least one of reconstruction and metric measurement are to be carried out; positioning a positioning device on the patient's body at an arbitrarily selected point F visible in a radiographic image, designating target points T.sup.i, being points to be reconstructed, by the operator on the radiographic image; finding planes .pi..sup.i passing through the X-ray source and a line FT.sup.i as describe in the step I and II in the invention disclosure; rotating the fluoroscope to a new position and taking a new radiographic image from this new viewpoint, designating target points T.sup.i, being points to be reconstructed, by the operator the physician on the new radiographic image; computing first the orientation of vectors Ft.sup.

Abstract: A computer-based system and method for ascertaining anomalies in an electric motor, includes computing and processing a set of Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT's) of the supply current waveforms for a motor known to be in a normal condition to create a feature set of input vectors. The input vector assignments for all possible cluster groupings 1 through n are derived using Ward's method. The method includes computing the Approximate Weight of Evidence (AWE) for each cluster grouping then selecting that count associated with a maximum AWE and designating this count as s. For each cluster in each grouping 1 through s, the method finds the member vector farthest from the cluster's centroid and defines this as the cluster's radius.

Abstract: In an image processing system, smart images are provided with a structure consisting of a raw image with a knowledge structure. Each smart image is processed as an object, and reacts via its knowledge structure to environmental changes and/or queries for carrying out certain actions, and for preprocessing image data in anticipation of a user's future requirements relative to a given protocol.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device is disclosed which includes an input terminal for receiving, and an output terminal for producing a data word, each having a predetermined number of bits. An internal memory array stores a plurality of error correcting encoded codewords each encoding more than one data word. An error correcting encoder is coupled between the input terminal and the memory array for generating an error correcting encoded codeword, encoding the received data word, and storing the codeword in the internal memory array. An error correcting decoder is coupled between the internal memory array and the output terminal to retrieve an error correction encoded codeword from the internal memory array, correct any detected errors, and produce one of the more than one data words encoded in the retrieved codeword at the output terminal.

Abstract: A system for automatically tracking the location of a vehicle includes a visual image detector mounted on the vehicle for producing as the vehicle moves along a route digitized strips of image data representing successive panoramic views of scenery about the vehicle at respective locations along the route. A sparse tracking subsystem processes and stores only selected ones of the image data strips representing substantially spaced apart successive locations along the route, for use as a sparse database. A dense tracking subsystem processes and stores as a dense database every successive one of the image data strips representing location along the route, whereby the dense tracking subsystem provides more accurate location of the vehicle when it retraces some portion of the route than the sparse tracking subsystem.