Abstract: An ultrasound color flow imaging system is programmed to optimize display images of power and velocity by automatically adjusting thresholds by using histograms and samplings of color flow data.

Abstract: A tire adapted to rotate around an axis and having an outer surface defining a circumferentially extending center line that defines a center plane perpendicular to the axis. The center plane divides the tire into first and second portions. The tire includes a first series of design cycles extending circumferentially around the tire in the first portion and a second series of design cycles extending circumferentially around a tire in the second portion. The total number of design cycles in the first and second portions are equal, and the sequences of the design cycles used in the first and second portions are different in order to spread the noise generated by the tire over a broad band of frequencies.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire (10) has a tread portion (11) which comprises a plurality of independent block elements. The block elements (17A,17B and 17C) can vary in size having different circumferential lengths and axial widths. The block elements are arranged in rows (18A,18B, and 18C) extending across the tread and each row comprises block elements having substantially the same circumferential length. The rows preferably contain different numbers of block elements such that a multiple of the circumferential length of the block elements in any row times the number of elements in that row is essentially a constant.

Abstract: Tires of vehicles can be accurately tested by providing a voltage controlled oscillator for generating output signals substantially free of jitter. Digital up/down counters responsive to data signals and the output signals generate a counter signal which increases or decreases depending on the relative frequency between the data signals and output signals. A conditioning circuit, including a digital to analog converter and an integrator, is connected between the counters and the signal generator so that the signal generator produces an output signal which tracks the data signal in frequency and so that an output signal is produced for every data signal over a wide range of frequencies.

Abstract: System for testing pneumatic tires. A tire that revolves under a load is deformed at the area in which it meets the roadway. Such a deformation results in the tire having an effective rolling radius that is shorter than the radius it has while static and/or unloaded. According to the invention, tires are tested by determining their effective rolling radii. When tires having similar effective rolling radii are used on an automotive vehicle, the undesirable torque steer effect is thereby reduced.

Abstract: The magnitude of a variable property of a tire such as the dynamic imbalance may be predicted by measuring lateral runout at positions close to the end of the thread pattern on both sides of the tire and determining the first harmonic runout values. The first harmonic runout values relative to the centerplane of the tire at different circumferential positions around the tire are arithmetically added. The largest sum at any point on the circumference of the tire gives an indication of the maximum dynamic imbalance of the tire. Tires can be screened by the system comparing this sum with predetermined amounts corresponding to the maximum acceptable dynamic imbalance or other standards and providing visual signals identifying those tires with the largest sum exceeding this predetermined amount or the other standards.

Abstract: An improvement in a tire manufacturing system including means for testing the extent of sidewall deformation of a tire. The tire is rotated and measured for lateral runout of both sidewalls. The resulting data is converted to digital form and analyzed by groups in order to increase the accuracy by which unacceptable sidewall bulges and valleys are detected.

Abstract: The magnitude of a variable property of a tire such as the dynamic imbalance may be predicted by measuring lateral runout at positions close to the end of the tread pattern on both sides of the tire and determining the first harmonic runout values. The first harmonic runout values relative to the centerplane of the tire at different circumferential positions around the tire are arithmetically added. The largest sum at any point on the circumference of the tire gives an indication of the maximum dynamic imbalance of the tire. Tires can be screened by the system comparing this sum with predetermined amounts corresponding to the maximum acceptable dynamic imbalance or other standards and providing visual signals identifying those tires with the largest sum exceeding this predetermined amount or the other standards.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a wide field reflective optical system comprising an afocal fore telescope and an imaging system. The afocal telescope comprises first and second confocal paraboloidal reflectors, an aperture stop located in front of the first reflector at a distance equal to its focal length, and a field stop located at the common focal point of the reflectors. The imaging system is an improvement of the Schmidt principle and comprises an aspheric corrector reflector that reflects radiation from the second paraboloidal reflector onto a plane reflector. The plane reflector is located in front of a spherical reflector that focuses radiation at its focal plane through an aperture in the plane reflector.

Abstract: Improved components, such as a cuvette, are disclosed in the specification.