Abstract: An aircraft landing gear door assembly (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) includes a door (1), which is moveable to an open position, in which an aperture (6) is exposed, the landing gear (10) being able to be deployed through said aperture (6), and moveable to a closed position, in which the door (1) is closed across the aperture (6). The door (1) is arranged for rotational movement of a first type, in which the door rotates about an axis that is substantially parallel to the length of the aircraft, between the closed position and the open position. The door (1) is also arranged for movement of a second type, different from the first type, in which the door (1) rotates, about an axis that is substantially transverse to the length of the aircraft, to a position in which it acts as a fairing to reduce the noise caused by the landing gear or a part thereof.

Abstract: A modular current sensing system for a servo control system that includes a magnetic core with an open center portion and a connection plate that includes at least three wire connectors, wherein the wire connectors are capable of connecting at least two wires electrically in series. The system also includes a plurality of wires, including a first wire with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first wire is electrically connected to a first power source, and the second end of the first wire is connected to the connection plate at the first wire connector and wherein the first wire passes through the open portion defined by the magnetic core at least once. A first motor current flowing through the first wire induces a core current to flow in the magnetic core, causing the magnetic core to emit a magnetic field. A Hall effect sensor detects the magnetic field, produces an output current, and delivers the output current to a control device within a servo control system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for generating digital electrical signals which are representative of the angular position and rotational velocity of a rotatable shaft or similar movable mechanical component in a servomechanism. In particular, the present invention utilizes oversampling techniques to create an accurate, flexible and responsive method for determining shaft position on a high speed motor. The present invention also includes methods for overcoming deadtime losses and velocity lag.

Abstract: An abdominal tissue support for supporting excess abdominal adipose tissue away from the femoral crease to facilitate the maintenance of a sterile field for femoral puncture procedures. The abdominal tissue support may generally include a waist belt, at least one support apron affixed to the waist belt and a strap arrangement. The abdominal tissue support may also include a movable support apron slidable along the length of the waist belt. The strap arrangement may be securable at a patient's shoulders or to a fixture located near the patient's head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reconstructing 3D image. The method may include the steps of: detecting a plurality of line of responses (LORs) emitted from an object; transforming the plurality of LORs into first sinogram data; back-projecting the first sinogram data with a plurality of projection angles to produce image data for the object; and projecting the produced image data with the plurality of projection angles to transform the image data into second sinogram data. The back-projecting may include filling pixels of image plane for each of the plurality of projection angles with the first sinogram data and rotating a coordinate axis of the image plane with corresponding projection angle to produce the image data. The projecting may include rotating the image data with corresponding projection angle in an opposite direction before projecting the image data with the plurality of projection angles. The projecting and the back-projecting may use symmetry properties in coordinate space.

Abstract: A system having an electrostatic discharge protection structure and a method for manufacturing the structure are provided. The structure comprises a conducting layer, a material layer and a bridging layer wherein the conducting layer is divided into a first conducting portion and a second conducting portion to form a gap therebetween. The material layer is disposed onto the conducting layer, forming a first via hole to expose a part of the first conducting portion and a second via hole to expose a part of the second conducting portion. Finally, the bridging layer disposed onto the material layer electrically connects the first conducting portion to the second conducting portion within the first and second via holes, whereby the electrostatic produced during the manufacturing process would be prevented from damaging the driver circuits.

Abstract: An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for delivering therapeutic electrical energy to a patient's heart comprising at least one variable capacitance capacitor having a large positive voltage coefficient such that a given amount of energy can be stored at a lower voltage than a traditional fixed capacitor having an equivalent capacitance. Due to the variable capacitance capacitor's ability to store energy at a lower voltage, initial defibrillation current levels are reduced effectively minimizing the risk of tissue damage caused by high initial current levels. In addition, the use of a variable capacitance capacitor reduces the amount of current decay throughout the discharge cycle as opposed to current AED designs utilizing fixed capacitance capacitors which experience an exponential decline in defibrillation current during the discharge cycle.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of the invention provide for assigning coordinates to samples in an array. The method is based on a hierarchical pattern matching to a local lattice structure that is used as a template. Starting from the best local match, the pattern is expanded hierarchically to encompass the entire array.

Abstract: A method and system for creating a digital, virtual slide having optimum image quality characteristics. Multiple regions of a physical slide are identified as well as at least two focus z-positions z1, and z2. Each region of the physical slide is scanned (imaged) at the first z position, so as to produce a first set of digital images of each defined region. Each region of the physical slide is also scanned (imaged) at the second z position, so as to produce a second set of digital images of each defined region. Each image of each set is evaluated against a focus quality metric and, for each region, either the first or second image, corresponding to that region, is selected that exhibits a focus quality metric corresponding to a desired focus quality. These images are then merged into a digital virtual slide. Additional focus z-positions may be included, and the multiple z-positions may be scanned seriatim, sequentially, and/or in overlapping fashion.

Abstract: A method of adding a copy protection function to a program to be installed on a computer system comprising a copy protection unit is provided, said method comprising the steps of determining a decision section of the program, wherein information influencing the further course of the program is defined during execution of the program, as a function of the current running state of the program, and converting the decision section by means of code which is executable exclusively in the copy protection unit and which is executed in the copy protection unit during execution of the program.

Abstract: A slicing device includes a base for supporting a foodstuff to be sliced and a repositionable knife or blade having a pair of bosses disposed at one end of the blade that extends outwardly away from the blade. The pair of bosses of the blade is coupled to a blade holding rack that acts as a pivot or fulcrum for the blade. The pivot or lever action of the blade permits a user to easily cut through large or hard foodstuff. In one embodiment, the blade is adjustable in the rack to permit a user to lower the blade to make successively deeper slices into and eventually through the foodstuff.

Abstract: A noise reduction device for use in a backlight module includes a plurality of noise reduction devices, each comprising a main body and an extension portion. The extension portion is adapted to cushion the interface between a lamp holder and a back bezel of the backlight module, so as to reduce pop noises generated by contact during temperature changes.

Abstract: A system and method for policing one or more flows of a data stream of packets associated with differing transmission protocols. The current capacity level for each flow is determined, as is the packet protocol associated with each packet. A packet parameter in the packet that is indicative of the bandwidth consumption of the packet is identified. The packet parameter is converted to a predetermined format if the packet is not associated with a predetermined packet protocol. A common bandwidth capacity test is performed to determine whether the packet is conforming or non-conforming, and is a function of the packet parameter and the current bandwidth capacity level.

Abstract: A network-based navigation system includes a user interface and a computer server system that can access a map database, an actual imagery database and an advertisement database in order to provide visual route guidance information having virtual drive-thru advertisements integrated with actual imagery from along a physical route. The user interface permits a user to submit a request for navigation information, receive visual route guidance information in response to the request and initiate a drive-thru presentation of at least a portion of a route. The computer server determines at least one route from the map database based on the request from the user and provides route guidance information to the user interface in response.

Abstract: A circuit and method for controlling a slew rate of an output buffer. A pre-driver is provided that drives an input of an output pad driver of the output buffer. An output slew rate of the pre-driver is electronically selected among at least two electronically selectable slew rates. An output amplitude of the pre-driver is controlled such that the output amplitude is not greater than an amplitude that is generally minimally sufficient to cause the output pad driver to produce an output signal having a desired dynamic range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for rapidly analyzing frame(s) of digitized video data which may include objects of interest randomly distributed throughout the video data and wherein said objects are susceptible to detection, classification, and ultimately identification by filtering said video data for certain differentiable characteristics of said objects. The present invention may be practiced on pre-existing sequences of image data or may be integrated into an imaging device for real-time, dynamic, object identification, classification, logging/counting, cataloging, retention (with links to stored bitmaps of said object), retrieval, and the like. The present invention readily lends itself to the problem of automatic and semi-automatic cataloging of vast numbers of objects such as traffic control signs and utility poles disposed in myriad settings.

Abstract: A trailer includes a convertible handle having a handle portion, the handle portion pivotally attached to a tongue portion, the handle portion having a first gripping portion end and a second clevis end and an intermediate pivot, the handle portion being pivotably shiftable about the pivot between a first disposition presenting the gripping portion end proximate an end of the tongue portion and a second disposition presenting the clevis end proximate the end of the tongue portion. A method of operating a trailer is further included.

Abstract: The invention includes an optics array for beam shaping, which uses a micro lens combination, whose polygonal micro lenses are arranged in a level, whereby the geometric arrangement of the individual lenses and their diameters follow a distribution pattern. It is characterized by the fact that the number of corners as well as the length of the lens rims of each of the individual lenses of the micro lens combination is defined by a point distribution (P) of Voronoi points (2), which define a Voronoi Region (VR(p)) which can be described by the following equations for a Voronoi lens (1).