Abstract: A system to facilitate reducing false train stops includes an infrared bearing scanner that is coupled to a processing unit. The processing unit is programmed to receive inputs from the infrared bearing scanner, generate a bearing profile for each bearing passing the Hot Box Detection System, assign a classification to each bearing profile, determine a quantity of bearing profiles assigned to each classification, and generate a maintenance alert if the quantity of bearings assigned to at least one classification exceeds a predetermined threshold. A method of reducing false trains stops is also described herein.

Abstract: A pant-like, prefastened, disposable absorbent article having side seams which include a front ear passively bonded to a back ear, wherein the front ear is releasable from the back ear desirably without tearing or damaging the back ear. The tearable front ear has a basis weight less than a basis weight of the back ear.

Abstract: A serial interface circuit electrically connected to a controller to control an electric motor. The interface circuit includes a controller circuit and a motor circuit. The controller circuit includes a transmitter and a receiver circuit, and the motor circuit includes a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit. The interface interrogates the motor to acquire status and diagnostic information by receiving commands from the controller, adjusts a voltage level to a desired level, outputs the voltage signal to command and control the motor, and receives a voltage response from the motor.

Abstract: A method for increasing carrier concentration in a semiconductor includes providing a group III nitride semiconductor device, determining a wavelength that increases carrier concentration in the semiconductor device, and directing at least one infrared light source, at the determined wavelength, into a semiconductor device excitation band.

Abstract: An extractor rotatably couples to a connector and includes an extractor body, a first member, a second member, a biasing mechanism, and a cam arm. The first member and the second member both extend perpendicularly away from the extractor body to engage the connector. The cam arm attaches to the extractor body and extends perpendicularly away from the extractor body. A biasing mechanism is attached to the extractor which biases the cam arm. As the cam arm is rotated, the first and second members contact the connector and separate the connector assembly from the electrical device.

Abstract: A model-based trending process for a gas turbine engine that generates, in real-time, engine trend parameters from engine sensor data and ambient flight condition data to assess engine condition is described. The engine includes a plurality of sensors that are responsive to engine operations. The trending process is implemented using a commercially available processor coupled to the engine to monitor the engine operations, and having the desired processing speed and capacity. Engine health parameters are estimated and adjusted in a model for component diagnostics and fault detection and isolation. The trend parameters generated are retained.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing locomotives is provided. The apparatus includes an on-board tracking system including a locomotive interface, a computer, a GPS receiver, and a communicator, the computer programmed to determine a position of the locomotive and to transmit the position via the communicator, the computer further programmed to obtain locomotive discretes and to transmit the locomotive discretes via the communicator.

Abstract: The present invention is, in one aspect, an imaging system having a detector that has multiple detector cells extending along a z-axis, the detector being configured to collect multiple slices of data; and a scalable data acquisition system configured to convert signals from the detector to digital form, the scalable data acquisition system having a plurality of converter boards each with a plurality of channels, the channels and detector cells having an interweaved coupling to reduce susceptibility to band artifact.

Abstract: A serial digital bit signal having signal bits occurring in a bit interval and at a signal bit speed, and each signal bit representing, alternatively, a first logic state and a second logic state, is transferred across a rotating interface by encoding each first logic state bit with a digital radio frequency (RF) carrier signal and coupling the encoded signal across the interface with an RF slipring.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for correcting for z-slope variations in detector cell outputs represented by data obtained by a scan in a CT system. According to one aspect of the invention, a final error factor, based upon a combination of a correction factor and an initial error factor, is applied to the data. The correction factor having a computational complexity independent of the order of correction desired. The present invention transfers all of the computational complexity of z-slope correction to a calibration process, thereby improving the computational speed and efficiency of producing an accurate image based on the scan data. In another aspect, the present invention improves image quality by providing a correction factor comprising a plurality of channel correction factors, where each of the plurality of channels is the center channel for a corresponding moving segment used to respectively determine each of the channel correction factors.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for dose reduction in a computed tomography (CT) system are described. In one embodiment, the CT system includes a pre-patient collimator and a configurable multislice detector array. The pre-patient collimator includes a plurality of eccentric cams and a filtration device for altering the x-ray beam radiated from a x-ray source. The eccentric cams are positioned to collimate the x-ray beam and may be independently positioned to provide z-axis correction of the x-ray beam. The filtration device includes a plurality of filters for altering the x-ray beam. In operation, an operator selects the type of test and the quantity and thickness of the slices. After altering the detector and collimator configuration, slice data for each slice is gathered.

Abstract: A multislice detector module producing an alterable quantity of slices and slice resolutions. In one embodiment, the detector module includes a plurality of photodiodes arranged in an array of rows and columns, a switch apparatus electrically coupled to photodiode output signals, and a decoder. The decoder is configured to enable or prevent each photodiode from being transmitted through the switch apparatus. The configuration of the decoder determines how many slices of data are transmitted and the resolution of each slice.

Abstract: The present invention, in one form, is a method for improving image reconstruction in computed tomography systems by using a reconstruction algorithm and a detector cell algorithm. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the reconstruction algorithm generates fan-parallel data directly from projection data which is processed to generate image data. In particular and in one embodiment, after view to view rebinning of the projection data, the data is pre- and post-convolution weighted, filtered and backprojected to generate image data. In another embodiment, the detector cell algorithm is utilized to determine the shape of the detector to include an arc sin dependency to eliminate axial interpolation of the projection data.

Abstract: An elastomeric connector apparatus for a computed tomography system is described. In one embodiment, the elastomeric connector apparatus electrically connects a detector module flexible cable to a data acquisition backplane. Flexible cable and backplane connector pads are electrically connected with an elastomeric connector. The elastomeric connector apparatus allows the low level analog outputs from the detector module photodiodes to be transmitted to the backplane without a large pin connector array.

Abstract: The present invention, in one form, is a system which, in one embodiment, utilizes signals from a detector array to verify system dose. More specifically, the detector array signal intensities are used to determine image noise and a collimator aperture to verify an x-ray dosage. Particularly, in one embodiment, the signals intensities from the detector array are used to determine the position of collimator cams. Using the position of the collimator cams, the aperture of the collimator is determined so that X-ray dose may verified using the collimator aperture and image noise information.

Abstract: A scalable multislice system configured to generate multiple streams of image data with different image quality characteristics prospectively and simultaneously is described. Such capability enables improving existing clinical diagnosis and also enables use of clinical application protocol driven method for image reconstruction and display as well as image analysis. More specifically, with the scalable multislice imaging system, multiple rows (>2) of x-ray scan data along the patient's long axis are simultaneously acquired. Multiple protocols are "pre-built" based on specific applications to determine image slice thickness, image reconstruction filter, display method, e.g., field of view, filming requirement and image archiving requirement, prospectively. Multiple image sets with different slice thickness, different reconstruction methods, different display model--axial, 3D or reformat which are pre-determined by the protocol used can then be displayed.

Abstract: A multislice detector array producing an alterable quantity of slices and slice resolutions. In one embodiment, the detector array includes a detector housing, a plurality of detector modules, and a collimator. Each detector module includes a plurality of photodiodes arranged in an array of rows and columns, a switch apparatus electrically coupled to the photodiode output signals, and a decoder. The collimator is configured to separate X-ray beams so that only the focal X-ray beams are impinged upon the detector modules.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus of correcting image data for z-axis non-uniformity in a computed tomography (CT) system are described. In one embodiment, the CT system includes a configurable multislice detector array and a calibration algorithm. In accordance with one embodiment of the algorithm, output signals from a plurality of detector cells are sampled to generate an x-ray beam z-axis non-uniformity profile. The x-ray beam z-axis profile is then used to determine a detector z-axis non-uniformity profile for the detector array. Utilizing the z-axis profiles, the output signals from the detector cells may be calibrated to reduce z-axis non-uniformity errors.

Abstract: The present invention, in one form, is a scatter collimator for a computed tomography system including an x-ray source. The scatter collimator is positioned between a detector array and an object to be imaged. The scatter collimator includes a housing, a plurality of attenuating blades and a plurality of attenuating wires. The blades and wires are mounted to the housing, and oriented substantially perpendicular to each other. Particularly, the blades and wires form a two-dimensional shielding grid. The blades also are oriented so that they are radially and focally aligned with the x-ray source. A detector element of the detector array is secured to the housing so that the blades and wires are between the detector element and the x-ray source. The detector element, in one form, includes a scintillation element which is coated with a light-retaining material.