Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for integrating a plurality of diagnostic information from a multiple of sources. In this invention, there is a site specific database which contains site specific information for a machine. A plurality of diagnostic related information is obtained from the machine. A diagnostic router collects the site specific information for the machine and the plurality of diagnostic related information and generates a current incident record therefrom. An approved incident record database contains a plurality of approved incident records obtained from a plurality of machines. An integrator finds approved incident records from the approved incident record database that most closely match the current incident record.

Abstract: An insertable intracavity probe for use in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and therapy of a region of interest proximal to a cavity, the probe having a substantially rigid probe shell for insertion into the cavity. The probe shell is adapted to incorporate at least one device for imaging the region of interest. A guide track is incorporated in the probe shell and is adapted to guide at least one biopsy or therapy device to the region of interest during imaging. Intracavity regions include cervical, rectal, and other regions associated with internal cavities of a patient.

Abstract: A method for detecting core faults includes (a) positioning a magnetic yoke near at least one tooth of the core, the magnetic yoke being wound by a winding; (b) supplying current to the winding to inject magnetic flux into the at least one tooth of the core; (c) measuring a signal resulting from the injected magnetic flux; and (d) using the measured signal to detect core faults.

Abstract: A real time data acquisition system includes a personal computer and a detector framing node cooperating to control generation of radiation and control radiographic detection. Data is acquired by a detector framing node and communicated independently of a non-real time operating system running on a host computer. The detector framing node controls events in real time according to an event instruction sequence and communicates received radioscopic data to a host memory. Data is received from a selected flat panel detector of a plurality of different flat panel detectors. The data is received as single frames or continuous frames before communication to the host memory.

Abstract: An on-line color sensor supplies light to a spectrophotometer for color measurement of product after cooling. The product is extruded in a main extruder having a bypass section. The on-line color sensor includes an housing having an interior portion. The housing is positioned proximate to the bypass section and is used to direct the product from the bypass section into the interior portion. A receptacle that is connected to the housing is positioned in the interior portion of the housing to hold the product directed into the interior portion. The product is allowed to cool while being held on the receptacle. A light source is connected to the housing and supplies light to the interior portion of the housing. A light receiver is connected to the housing to capture the light from the light source in the interior portion that is affected by the cooled product. The captured light is supplied to the spectrophotometer to measuring the color of the cooled product in the interior portion of the housing.

Abstract: A system and method for predicting web breaks in a paper machine. Principal components analysis (PCA) and classification and regression tree (CART) modeling are used to predict web break sensitivity from sensor measurements taken from the paper machine. Also, the CART model is used to isolate the root cause of the predicted web break sensitivity.

Abstract: A system for automatically controlling the temperature of the cooking surface of a cooking surface of a solid-surface cooktop and, consequently, the temperature of the cooking utensil on the cooking surface, by detecting cooking utensil-related properties through the solid-surface cooktop. The cooking utensil-related properties include presence/absence, removal/placement, and other physical properties such as utensil type, size, warpage, and temperature and load size. Automatic control is based on monitoring the heat transfer characteristics from the energy source to the cooktop and the utensil to infer the utensil properties. This is achieved by sensing or inferring a parameter indicative of the temperature of a monitored area that includes at least a portion of the cooktop or of the cooking utensil placed on the upper surface of a cooktop, as well as a parameter indicative of power applied to a controllable heat source, and detecting signal properties using an evolutionary algorithm.

Abstract: An asymmetric-rate communication method and system for remote data collection using a processor-operated modem at a respective data collection site is provided. The modem processor used at the data collection site may be rated to have a predetermined relatively low processing power. The method includes a first selecting step that allow for selecting a first protocol for transmitting data at a predetermined rate. The selected first protocol uses a predetermined percentage of the processing power of the processor. The method includes a second selecting step that allows for selecting a second protocol for receiving data at another predetermined rate. The selected second protocol uses another predetermined percentage of the processing power of the processor.

Abstract: A mechanism for improving connectivity processing of computer axial tomography and magnetic resonance images by a fast, stack independent, iterative method first designates a pixel of an object material of interest in an image as a seed pixel. The mechanism then performs connectivity processing by starting at the seed pixel and evaluating the next forward direct neighbor pixel to determine if it is within the object material of interest. If the direct neighbor pixel is within the object, the direct neighbor pixel is marked as a new seed pixel and the connectivity mechanism evaluates the next forward direct neighbor pixel, continuing in a left-to-right and top-to-bottom fashion.

Abstract: Training sequences designed for N-VSB systems within the embodiment of an N-squared QAM receiver facilitate designing 8-VSB receivers using methodologies of 64-QAM receiver design. A receiver designed using such methodologies converts the received modulation into a signal which can be accepted by circuitry for decoding 64 level quadrature-amplitude modulation (64-QAM) signals. This process provides a better signal to noise ratio reception than the conventional I-channel only decoding circuitry of most 8-VSB receivers. This process also employs training and equalizing algorithms developed for 64-QAM receivers which are superior to equivalent algorithms for 8-VSB receivers. The invention can be generalized to N-VSB conversion into M-QAM where M=N2. Adaptive equalization algorithms for 8-VSB transmissions implemented within the context of the 64 QAM receiver are superior to present single-channel VSP processing receivers.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating an offer which has been made in relation to certain delinquent accounts is disclosed. A historical database of sorts is maintained on accounts which were previously characterized as delinquent. Payment history information is also retained on each of these historical delinquent accounts. These historical delinquent accounts are scored, and thereafter placed into a plurality of groups, with the high and low scores of these groups defining an associated score cluster or range of scores. A liquidation profile is established for each portion of the historical delinquent accounts defined by the application of the noted score clusters thereto (i.e., each collection of delinquent accounts defined by a particular score cluster has its own liquidation profile). Liquidation profiles are representative of how historical delinquent accounts defined by a particular score cluster recovered over time (i.e.

Abstract: A method for generating a ferromagnetic shim calibration file includes the steps of performing a computation of an analytical Finite Element solution of an internal magnetic field for each location where a shim is assumed to be present in an imaging volume of a magnet, performing a computation of an equivalent magnetic dipole moment of a shim with a saturated magnetization using the analytical Finite Element solution of the internal magnetic field, making a correction of the computation of the equivalent magnetic dipole moment of the shim to compensate for an aspect ratio for the shape of the shim, making another correction of the corrected computation of the equivalent magnetic dipole moment of the shim to compensate for a magnetic mirror effect in a pole-face of the magnet, and storing all computations and corrections for each shim in a shim calibration file.

Abstract: A method of detecting faults on a power transmission line system includes simultaneously measuring phase current samples at each phase of each transmission terminal; calculating real and imaginary phaselets comprising partial sums of the phase current samples; for each phaselet, calculating a respective partial sum of squares of each phase current sample; calculating the sums of the real and imaginary phaselets over a variable size sliding sample window; calculating real and imaginary phasor components from the phaselets and a sum of the partial sums of the squares over the sample window; using the sums of the real and imaginary phaselets, the real and imaginary phasor components, and the sum of the partial sums of the squares to calculate a sum of squares of errors between the phase current samples and a fitted sine wave representative of the real and imaginary phasor components; using the sum of squares of errors to calculate a variance matrix defining an elliptical uncertainty region; determining whether a

Abstract: The present invention discloses an ultrasonic phased array transducer with an ultralow backfill and a method for making. The ultrasonic phased array includes a low density backfill material having an ultralow acoustic impedance. The backfill material is either an aerogel, a carbon aerogel, an xerogel, or a carbon xerogel. A piezoelectric ceramic material and two matching layers are bonded to the backfill material. In one embodiment, a plurality of interconnect vias are formed in the backfill material with conducting material deposited in the vias. A portion of the bonded matching layers, the piezoelectric ceramic material, and the backfill material have isolation cuts therethrough to form an array of electrically and acoustically isolated individual elements. In a second embodiment, the backfill material is bonded to an electronic layer at a face opposite to the piezoelectric ceramic material and the matching layers.

Abstract: An apparatus that determines properties of a cooktop is provided. The cooktop includes a cooktop surface and a vessel that is selectively placed on the cooktop surface. The apparatus comprises a radiation sensor positioned below the cooktop surface. The radiation sensor senses at least a portion of, at least one of reflected radiation and ambient radiation that are provided above the cooktop surface and that pass through the cooktop surface. The radiation sensor also generates a detected radiation signal based on the sensed radiation. A processor is connected to the radiation sensor, and the processor determines properties of the cooktop from analyzing the detected radiation signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method used to calibrate a gamma camera include an energy source and intensity selector and an energy weighting device. The energy source provides an energy output, such as an electrical current. The intensity selector is connected to the energy source and adjusts the energy output to a predetermined energy level that corresponds to an intensity of a predetermined radioactive source. The energy weighting device is also connected to the energy source and gamma camera, and the spatial compensator creates calibration signals from the energy output of the energy source. The calibration signals are supplied to the gamma camera and used during calibration of the gamma camera in lieu of energy signals produced by the gamma camera in response to a radioactive source.

Abstract: An axial flux machine includes a rotatable shaft; at least one rotor disk coupled to the rotatable shaft; at least one permanent magnet supported by the at least one rotor disk; at least one stator extension positioned in parallel with the at least one rotor disk; at least two molded iron pole elements attached to the at least one stator extension and facing the at least one permanent magnet; and at least two electrical coils, each wrapped around a respective one of the at least two molded iron pole elements.

Abstract: A diagnostic system is provided for identifying faults in a machine (e.g., CT scanner, MRI system, x-ray apparatus) by analyzing a data file generated thereby. The diagnostic system includes a trained database containing a plurality of trained data, each trained data associated with one of plurality of known fault types. Each trained data is represented by a trained set of feature values and corresponding weight values. Once a data file is generated by the machine, a current set of feature values are extracted from the data file by performing various analyses (e.g., time domain analysis, frequency domain analysis, wavelet analysis). The current set of feature values extracted is analyzed by a fault detector which produces a candidate set of faults based on the trained set of feature values and corresponding weight values for each of the fault types. The candidate set of faults produced by the fault detector is presented to a user along with a recommend repair procedure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for transferring data between source and target databases in a computer system that can adapt to changes in the schema of the source database and/or target database. This adaptability is achieved by determining the intersection of the source and target database schemas prior to a transfer of data between the databases. Since the intersection is determined prior to a transfer, changes in the schema of the source and/or target database are automatically accommodated. In one embodiment, the method includes the ability to specify the desired frequency with which data is to be transferred between source and target databases. The method, which is implemented as a computer program, is also capable of operating in a computer system in which other tasks are competing for processor time.

Abstract: A ground fault circuit breaker for use on a circuit having at least one line conductor and a neutral conductor includes a first transformer having a first toroidal core and a second transformer having a second toroidal core. The first and second cores are arranged concentrically with one another on a printed circuit board, which is disposed with a compact circuit breaker housing. The line and neutral conductors pass through both transformer cores.