Abstract: A system and method are provided for activating inactive software options pre-installed on a device upon initialization of the device and thereby preventing installation during device operation. The invention includes receiving a request from a user at a centralized facility for access to an inactive option resident on the device. After validation of the request, an option-specific activation key or code is generated at the centralized facility using data from at least one of a user identifier, a system identifier, a host identifier, a use period identifier, and the selected option. The activation key is then transmitted from the centralized facility to the device whereupon only during initialization or reboot of the device is access to the inactive option automatically granted. The limiting of access to the inactive option until device initialization ensures that option enablement is prevented during device operation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a condition monitoring system for determining internal motor fault information. Voltage and current data are acquired from an induction machine in operation. Reactive and real power delivered to the induction machine is then determined from the voltage and current data. An inspection of the frequency spectrum of the real power as well as the reactive power is then used to ascertain load and motor condition. Specifically, an analysis of the frequency spectrum of the reactive power may be inspected for information relating to an internal motor fault whereas the frequency spectrum of the real power may be inspected for information relating to motor-driven or load faults.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of shimming a magnet assembly of an MR imaging system such that a desired B0 field strength may be created with minimal inhomogeneities therethrough. With this method, sufficient shimming of the magnet assembly may be achieved without requiring mechanical variations to the magnet assembly after the magnet assembly has been assembled. The invention analyzes variations from the desired B0 field and inhomogeneities at a number of target points along the magnet assembly or B0 field. A comparison is then made at each point to determine a shimming or weighting factor such that the desired overall B0 field strength and targeted field homogeneity is achieved. Active and/or passive shim elements may then be incorporated into the magnet assembly at each target point to achieve the desired overall field strength and minimum overall field homogeneity.

Abstract: A welding apparatus having specially designed louvers that are used to cover vent openings in the enclosure and contain the components of the welding apparatus. The louvers have a common side profile and have a configuration with a rear portion that is preferably horizontal and a front portion that angles downwardly, forming a front edge. An intermediate edge is formed by the front portion and the rear portion meeting at an angle. The intermediate edge is displaced away from a straight line drawn between the front edge and the rear edge. The configuration and spacing between adjacent louvers is designed such that a standard test probe cannot be inserted through the space between any two adjacent louvers.

Abstract: A shielding gas filter that can be readily incorporated into a gas shielding system for an arc welding apparatus. The gas shielding filter is readily installed to the system upstream of a gas solenoid valve and removes any potentially harmful particles from the supply of the shielding gas to prevent those particles from entering the gas solenoid valve. The shielding gas filter includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a specially formed passageway that communicates between the inlet and the outlet. A filter screen is retained within the housing to filter out the particles larger than a predetermined size. Preferably, the filter screen is constructed of stainless steel and filters out particles larger than about 100 microns.

Abstract: A motor overload coil control is disclosed for use in a motor starter/relay contactor. The control includes an 8-bit, 8-pin microcontroller that together with an I/O reduction circuit, is capable of functioning 13 I/O's with only 5 I/O pins on the microcontroller. Three remote signals are prioritized and reduced on one input line to the microcontroller. The control includes three-phase current measurement from three Hall effect current sensors positioned one on each leg. The system includes current integration to provide a single current input to the microcontroller. A full load amperage (FLA) adjustment allows use on a wide range of motors. The microcontroller uses the FLA adjustment and the current signal to find an appropriate I2t value for real-time monitoring of the operating temperature of the motor. A status indicator is provided having an LED output to show the status of the system and indicate the motor temperature, when appropriate.

Abstract: A mid-plane baffle or plate having a fan mounted thereto to dissipate heat within a welding machine is provided. By centrally positioning a baffle and mounting a circulating fan thereto, cooling efficiency is improved thereby enabling more direct cooling of the internal components of the welding machine. The baffle also reduces the critical volume of the welding machine and allows the fan to operate more efficiently and pull an increased amount of cooler ambient air through the machine which creates a greater cooling effect during the cooling cycle of the machine. The baffle placement also improves welding start performance by operating as a barrier between the high frequency/high voltage components and the PC board (control electronics) of the welding machine. The baffle also improves flexibility of component placement within the welding machine.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed using incremental table motion and partial data acquisition for increased volume coverage to reconstruct MR images across a large FOV without significant slab-boundary artifacts. At each table position, full z-encoding data are acquired for a subset of the kx-ky data. The table is stepped through a number of positions over the desired FOV and MR data are acquired over the plurality of table increments. Since full z-data are acquired for each slab, the data can be Fourier transformed in z, sorted, and then aligned to match anatomic z locations. The fully sampled and aligned data is then Fourier transformed in x and y to reconstruct the final image that is free of slab-boundary artifacts.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed using continuous table motion while acquiring data to reconstruct MR images across a large FOV without significant slab-boundary artifacts that reduces acquisition time. At each table position, full z-encoding data are acquired for a subset of the transverse k-space data. The table is moved through a number of positions over the desired FOV and MR data are acquired over the plurality of table positions. Since full z-data are acquired for each slab, the data can be Fourier transformed in z, interpolated, sorted, and aligned to match anatomic z locations. The fully sampled and aligned data is then Fourier transformed in remaining dimension(s) to reconstruct the final image that is free of slab-boundary artifacts.

Abstract: A high frequency transformer for a welding-type device is provided. The transformer includes a pair of ferrite cores and a bobbin configured to receive and support the pair of ferrite cores. A primary winding assembly, as well as, a secondary winding assembly is provided. The secondary winding assembly is in parallel with a center topped tertiary winding assembly. The tertiary winding assembly includes a number of coil sections such that each coil section is wrapped around an outer leg of a ferrite core.

Abstract: The invention provides an electro-adhesion device (10) including a base (12) and first (14) and second (16) banks of thin electrically conductive electrodes (18) located apart from each other on a side of the base (12). The electro-adhesion device (10) also includes an insulating cover (20) over the first (14) and second (16) banks so that the outer side of the insulating cover (20) defines an electro-adhesion surface so that, in use, when the electrodes (18) are energized and an object to be attracted is placed adjacent the insulating cover (20), the object is attracted to the insulating cover (20) by a suitably high adhesion force. An outer surface (24) of each of the electrodes (18) has a linear border on one side and a sinusoidal border on an opposite side so that the width of each electrode (18) varies sinusoidally lengthwise along the electrode (18).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for coordinating the idle mode of a plasma cutter with the idle mode of a power supply so as to prevent lock-out of the plasma cutter when the power supply is in an idle operating state. By putting the plasma cutter in a non-lock-out or “sleep” mode, fuel consumption as well as noise generated by the power supply are reduced. Additionally, by placing the plasma cutter in sleep mode, the user need not turn the power switch of the plasma cutter on and off in order to save power. User input to the plasma cutter kicks the power supply out of idle. The power supply will remain at a non-idle, full operating run mode during the cutting process. However, once the cut is complete and the current draw of the plasma cutter is at a level lower than the power supply idle mode, the plasma cutter will return to sleep mode.

Abstract: A real-time imaging and visualization method and system that allows multiple field-of-view imaging on multiple receiver channels is disclosed. The method and system implement a semi-bit reversed modified phase-encoding scheme to acquire identical data over all receiver channels, and to reconstruct independently on each channel an image thereby providing multiple FOV images. The method and system provide for real-time catheter tracking where separate receiver channels collect anatomical roadmap data, guidewire data, and catheter data. The present invention uses a loopless antenna to acquire projection images thereby allowing the entire antenna and structures within its diameter of sensitivity to appear as a bright signal and a long narrow connected region. The present invention allows for very narrow FOV imaging for guidewire and catheter channels as well as full FOV imaging for roadmap image reconstruction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a detector for a CT system. The detector includes a scintillator with built-in gain for receiving and converting high frequency electromagnetic energy to light. Each scintillator is formed of a scintillating material and an optically stimulated material. The components may be intermixed with one another to form a single composite structure or formed into layers to form a single layered structure. The scintillator may be incorporated into the detector array of any CT system including medical diagnostic systems and package/baggage inspection systems.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus of controlling the welding output of a welding power source by incorporating an open condition detect circuit. An output feedback circuit provides feedback to a controller such that the controller may regulate the output of the welding source of power. As such, the controller prevents a welding output until an open condition followed by a short condition at the welding area is detected.

Abstract: An oil separator usable with a welder and air compressor combination unit. The oil separator includes a cylindrical housing having an inlet that receives the stream of compressed air containing oil from the air compressor. Within the oil separator, there is a deflector baffle that redirects the flow of the oil to a swirling, downwardly directed path along the inner surface of the cylindrical housing where the air is separated out therefrom and passes upwardly to exit through a fluid outlet formed in the cover of the separator. The swirling oil flows downwardly through an annular slot formed between a circular plate and the inner surface of the cylindrical housing into a lower chamber where the oil is channeled by radially directed baffles into radial channels to redirect that oil toward an oil outlet at the center of the circular bottom where that oil exits to be re-circulated in the combination unit or for disposal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus of controlling the output of a welding power source with a fused electrode detection circuit. The present invention incorporates a fused electrode detection circuit to regulate the output of the welding system power source. By providing feedback as to when the electrode begins to stick in the weld, the output of the power source may be regulated to allow easy diffusing of the electrode. That is, by reducing the output of the power source upon detection of a fused electrode condition, a user or technician can remove or unstick the electrode from the weld without having to shut down the power source or without forcefully removing it while power is on and creating large, damaging arcs. By limiting the output of the power source until the electrode is “unstuck”, the present invention reduces the likelihood of damaged electrodes, electrode holders, and welds.