Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for analyzing and processing images by identification of characteristic lines and corresponding parameters. More particularly, the method and apparatus transforms an image into mathematical models derived from the characteristic lines and parameters, based on repetitive image patterns. The parameters include central lines, signatures, cross-sections, characteristic strips, margins, end areas, fitting transformations and fitting sequences. Each of the parameters associated with the identified characteristic lines are representable by mathematical models, which accurately approximate the geometric and brightness (or color) attributes of the respective characteristic lines.

Abstract: A micromotor comprising: a piezoelectric element including a common electrode and a plurality of other electrodes formed thereon and including at least a first a and a second electrode group, each group including at least one electrode, wherein the piezoelectric element causes motion in a first direction when a voltage is applied between the first electrode group and the common electrode, and wherein the piezoelectric element causes motion in a second direction when a voltage is applied between the second electrode group and the common electrode; a voltage source that electrifies the common electrode; and at least two switches separately connected between the first and second electrode groups and a low voltage, said switches being activatable to connect one of said first and second electrode groups to the low voltage to cause selective motion in the first or second directions.

Abstract: A method for preparing a plastic surface for printing with a toner comprising: forming a layer of an aqueous mixture comprising a first material and a second material on the surface, wherein the first material has an affinity for the plastic and the second material has an affinity for the first material and the toner, and drying the layer.

Abstract: A vaginal probe, and method of use is disclosed for stimulation of the nerves of the vagina with the purpose of testing their reaction to stimuli in the hope of defining, and treating sexual dysfunction in women. One embodiment of the invention (20) includes a shaft (22) adapted to be inserted into the genetalia of a human female. The shaft (22) includes a stop (24), presented as a thickening of the shaft (22). The probe (20) includes at least one stimulation area (26, 28) defined on a portion of the shaft (22) so that only a selected portion of the genetalia is stimulated. The shaft (22) may have sensors for measuring the reaction of the nerves to stimulation, and the stimulation areas (26, 28) may stimulate the nerves of the vagina using temperature, vibration, electricity, and/or pressure.

Abstract: A multilayer pixelated detector comprising a plurality of strip array detectors each said strip array detector including a rectangular semiconductor crystal having first and second relatively large parallel planar face surfaces having edges and a thickness; a cathode electrode covering substantially all of said first face surface; and an anode electrode comprising a plurality of anode strip pixels, wherein an anode strip pixel comprises a rectangular electrode having a length and a width. A long dimension of each of said anode strip pixels is parallel to a same edge of said second face surface, the pixelated detectors have contiguous face surfaces and wherein edges of contiguous face surfaces are aligned and wherein anode strip pixels of all pixelated detectors are parallel and electrodes on contiguous surfaces of pixelated detectors are identical and overlap substantially completely.

Abstract: A method for determining the relative motion of a surface with respect to a measurement device including placing a partially transmitting object, which is part of the measuring device, adjacent to the surface; illuminating the surface with incident illumination, which does not constitute an interference pattern, such that the illumination is reflected from portions of the surface, wherein at least part of at least one of the incident and reflected illumination passes through the object; detecting the illumination reflected from the surface, and generating a detected signal; and determining the relative motion of the surface parallel to the surface, from the detected signal.

Abstract: A method of detecting the passage of an edge of a moving sheet of material at a position comprising: monitoring a state of motion at a position; and determining a time of an edge of the sheet at a position as a time at which a change in a state of motion at the position is detected.

Abstract: A method of tracking changes in position of a plurality of remote stations, each having, the method comprising: (a) assigning a plurality of transmission slots to each of the remote stations; (b) determining, by the respective stations, of their positions; (c) initially transmitting, by the respective stations of their positions; (d) determining, by the respective stations, of their positions, relative to the previously determined and transmitted positions; and (e) subsequently transmitting, by the respective stations, of the determined relative positions, wherein the slots themselves indicate the relative determined position and wherein the determined relative position is indicated by the presence or absence of a signal in one or more of said plurality of slots.

Abstract: A method of printing utilizing a plurality of printers, each capable of printing an image on a same side of a web, the method comprising: printing, by a first printer, of first images, separated by spaces, along a first side of a web; and printing, by a second printer, of second images at spaced positions within the spaces between the first images on the first side.

Abstract: A digital to analog converter array including a plurality of pixels arranged in an array and independently addressable to selectively modulate light; a digital counter which generates a sequence of numbers in digital form; an analog signal source which generates an analog signal that corresponds the sequence generated by the digital counter; and a plurality of array elements which control the pixels, each element including a digital memory register holding at least one input number; a comparator which generates an enabling signal responsive to a comparison between the number in the sequence and the input number; and a sample and hold circuit which samples the value of the analog signal, responsive to said enabling signal, and sets an output voltage controlling a pixel to said value, wherein the array is configured so that the comparators in all the array elements compare the number in the sequence to the input numbers held in said array elements substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: A radiation camera system, comprising: a freely positionable radiation camera; a spatial coordinate determining system that determines the coordinates of the camera; and a receiver which receives the spatial coordinate information and imaging information, generated by the camera and provides imaging information referenced to a coordinate system not fixed in the camera.

Abstract: A method of recording aligned images on two sides of a printed circuit board substrate, including: recording an image of an electrical circuit pattern on a first side of a printed circuit board substrate; forming an alignment pattern on a side of the printed circuit board substrate, wherein the alignment pattern has a known spatial relationship to said image of an electrical circuit pattern; determining a location of the alignment pattern on the printed circuit board substrate; and recording an image of an electrical circuit pattern on a second side of the printed circuit board substrate in response to the determined location of the alignment pattern.

Abstract: A system, for the nuclear imaging of the breast, comprising: at least one gamma camera, of a size appropriate for the scanning of a breast, having a radiation detecting surface, which detects gamma radiation and provides data signals responsive to radiation from the breast; a collimator, positioned over the reception surface; a gantry on which the radiation detector is mounted and which provides rotational movement of the radiation detection surface around the axis of the breast; and a computer which receives and analyzes the data signals and constructs an image of radiation sources therefrom.

Abstract: Apparatus for imaging cross-sectional views of the inner structure of the breast, the apparatus comprising: a source of light (12) illuminating the breast situated at a first position of the breast a matching interface (19) situated, at a second position, on a surface of the breast, which reduces scatter caused by said surface; and an imaging detector (24) focused on a plane within the breast, through said matching interface.

Abstract: Systems are disclosed for generating left and right panoramic mosaic images for use in facilitating panoramic stereoscopic viewing of a scene, and for displaying stereoscopic panoramic images to a viewer. The left and right panoramic image generators generate the left and right panoramic mosaic images from a series of images recorded or otherwise generated corresponding to respective angular or other positions, each image having a respective left and right image portion, and mosaics portions of those images together to form the respective left and right panoramic images. The display system displays a stereoscopic panoramic image to a viewer by displaying left and right panoramic images such that each is viewed by a respective one of the viewer's eyes.

Abstract: A method is provided for exciting vibrations in a piezoelectric motor having a plurality of electrode sets, each set comprising at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode between which AC voltages are applied to excite vibrations in the piezoelectric motor, the method comprising: coupling an AC power source to the at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode of a first electrode set; electrically connecting the at least one first electrode to the at least one second electrode of a second set of electrodes with a non-zero impedance that is substantially less than an impedance between them resulting from stray capacitive coupling; and energizing the power source to apply an AC voltage difference between the at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode of the first set of electrodes to excite the vibrations.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a position measurement device which device utilizes signals from a plurality of detectors, more than two of which view at least one edge between a dark region and a light region at any one position, comprising: measuring the signals of the plurality of detectors at a plurality of positions with respect to the edge; and calculating at least one average of some of the measured signals from individual ones of the detectors that do not view the edge at the position; and calibrating the individual detectors based on averages.

Abstract: A nuclear imaging system comprising: first and second radiation detectors, each comprising an imaging surface facing each other and each having an extent; an radiation source, situated outside a space defined by a largest parallelepiped formed on two sides by said first and second detectors, which irradiates the second detector; and an axis about which the first and second detectors and the radiation source rotate together; wherein the field of view of the radiation source, defined by lines connecting the external source and the edges of the second detector, encompass the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A method of proportions of toner particles of different colors to be used in a mixture for toning an electrostatic image, the method comprising: determining a desired color for viewing; determining an illumination under which the desired color is to be viewed; determining a target color for printing which results in the desired color being perceived under the illumination; determining a plurality of sets each consisting of only two available candidate toner particles and optionally black and/or transparent color particles; computing a mixture of toner particles of a set of candidate color to particles only from said plurality of sets that best matches target color, according to a predetermined criteria; and mixing the colored toner particles to form a toner for printing.

Abstract: A liquid toner comprising: a carrier liquid; and toner particles dispersed in the carrier liquid, said toner particles comprising: a polymer blend comprising: a first polymer comprising a minor portion of said blend and having a relatively higher chemical reactivity with paper; and a second polymer comprising a major portion of said blend and having a relatively lower or null chemical reactivity with paper.