Abstract: The present invention is directed to a light-emitting diode (LED) illumination apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing, an LED substrate, at least two electrical-insulation clamping members and associated screws, and a heat-conduction pad. At least one LED chip is fixed on the surface of the LED substrate. Each electrical-insulation clamping member has a threaded hole for screwing the screw in order to fasten the electrical-insulation clamping member to the housing; and each electrical-insulation clamping member has a recess for clamping the LED substrate. The heat-conduction pad is disposed between the housing and the LED substrate, and is used to conduct heat generated by the LED chip.

Abstract: A combined wave having a plurality of frequencies and phases is transmitted to each of a plurality of scan lines in at least three rates by alternately inverting a phase by 180°. An obtained echo signal is received for each rate. The echo signals are added by using arbitrary weighting coefficients so that 0 is obtained by using the polarity as the sign. Ultrasonic image data is generated by using a difference tone component contained in the added echo signal.

Abstract: An endoscopic form detection device includes a sensor tentative position detecting section configured to detect a tentative position of each sensor unit on the assumption that a portion between the respective sensor units is a linear tentative link whose dimension is equal to an inter-sensor dimension. The endoscopic form detection device includes a sensor position correcting section configured to correct a position of each sensor unit from the tentative position to a final position based on an absolute value of a difference between an arc length of each tentative arc and the inter-sensor dimension, and a final curve form detecting section configured to perform curve interpolation between the final positions of the respective sensor units by using a final arc to detect a final curve form of an inserting section.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus and a 3-D image data scan method that can continuously display 3-D image data in both a pre-scan mode and a triggered entire volume mode by collecting the volume data of a plurality of volume scan regions of an object from the start of the scan. In the pre-scan mode, a plurality of 3-D sub-regions are set by dividing an object scan region along a direction vertical to the reference scan plane. In a triggered volume mode for collecting volume data, a 3-D scan of a 3-D sub-region including the reference scan plane is performed in preference to other 3-D sub-regions in order to continuously display 2-D image data acquired on the reference scan plane in the pre-scan mode and MPR image data acquired in the entire triggered volume mode from an initial scan time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for exploiting a master-detail relationship between a first structured data and at least one second structured data to enhance searching operations of a database containing the first data structure and the at least one second data structure, comprising accessing a first structured data and at least one second structured data of the database; and in response to orthogonal data filter characteristics, augmenting the first structured data with information related to the at least one second structured data to enhance searching of the database.

Abstract: A medical apparatus includes a bending portion that is bent via a pulled wire, a drive section that pulls the wire, a detection section and a drive force amount detection section that detect an amount of drive of the drive section and an amount of drive force, a storage section that stores information on a correlation of the amount of drive force and the amount of drive of the drive section beforehand, a bending amount detection section that detects the amount of bending of the bending portion based on the amount of drive and the amount of drive force, and the information of the storage section, a judgment section that judges the presence or absence of looseness of the wire from a detection result of the drive force amount detection section and a correction section that corrects the amount of drive by the drive section based on a judgment result of the judgment section.

Abstract: A hydraulic ground propulsion system for an aircraft. The system comprises a wheel, axel, an aircraft power interface device, an electric motor, a hydraulic system, a drive assembly and a controller. The wheel is rotatably coupled to the wheel axel. The aircraft power interface device interfaces an aircraft power source. The electric motor is coupled to the aircraft power interface device and receives power from the aircraft power source through the aircraft power interface device. The hydraulic system is driven by the electric motor. The drive assembly mechanically couples the wheel axel to the hydraulic system. The drive assembly is mechanically driven by the hydraulic system. The drive assembly transfers energy from the hydraulic system to the wheel axel. The controller controls the electric motor and the hydraulic system based upon a pilot torque command.

Abstract: Plasma modifications of catalyst supports before and after impregnation of metal precursors improve the activity, selectivity and stability of catalysts, e.g. Ni catalysts for benzene hydrogenation and Pd catalysts for selective hydrogenation of acetylene. Plasma modification of the support before impregnation is slightly more effective than the plasma modification after impregnation. However, plasma modifications after impregnation increase the stability and selectivity of catalysts more effectively. The economic benefit of much improved stability of Ni catalysts for hydrogenation of benzene and the enhanced activity and selectivity of Pd catalysts for acetylene hydrogenation, e.g., is significant. Similar benefits for various catalysts and other industrial processes via RF plasma techniques are expected.

Abstract: A full subtractor cell is disclosed including an XNOR gate having first and second inputs coupled to first and second bits; an XOR gate having first and second inputs coupled to an XNOR gate output and a carry input bit; a first AND gate having first and second inputs coupled to an XNOR gate output and the carry input bit; an inverter gate having an input coupled to the second bit to generate a complemented second bit; a second AND gate having first and second inputs coupled to the first bit and an inverter output to receive the complemented second bit; and an OR gate having first and second inputs coupled to a first AND gate output and a second AND gate output. An XOR gate output and an OR gate output generate the sum output bit and the carry output bit.

Abstract: An acute ischemia monitor is disclosed. The monitor, which includes an analog to digital convertor and a processor that performs beat detection, monitors the time course of a heart signal parameter, namely ST segment deviation, computed from an electrocardiogram. The device stores ST deviation statistics for multiple leads. For each lead, upper and lower ST deviation boundaries are computed. For each lead, current ST deviation values are compared with the statistical values to determine a metric indicative of the degree of abnormality of a current ST deviation value. The metric is equal to the difference between the current ST deviation value and the upper or lower boundary, normalized according to the dispersion of the ST deviation. Metrics from different leads are summed and compared to a threshold to determine whether the combined metric is indicative of a cardiac event.

Abstract: A heating/cooling system design enabling one to maintain a superheat level of more than 1 degree F. and up to 10 degrees F., incorporating a specially designed accumulator, optional special oil return means, a specially designed receiver, and, when utilized in a DX geothermal system application, a preferable sub-surface liquid refrigerant transport line insulation design, as well as a design enabling the utilization of at least two compressors to increase heat transfer temperature differentials together with special oil separators.

Abstract: A video endoscope for diagnostic and therapeutic usage including a rigid or flexible tube defining an axis and a compact video module arranged at a distal end of the tube along the axis, the video unit being configured to pivot off the axis for providing improved access of medical instruments through the distal end of the tube.

Abstract: In order to use a mobile smartcard reader that can address commercial smartcards conforming to the EMV standard in a simple manner, the invention provides a method for controlling a chip card reader (3) by a computer system (4) connectable to smartcard reader (3), comprising the connection of chip card reader (3) to computer system (4) via an interface (8) designed for data communication on the basis of a protocol provided on a standard basis in operating system (11) of computer system (4); the provision of a control program (7a, 7b) for controlling the functions of chip card reader (3), wherein control program (7a, 7b) is provided as a plug-in; and the controlling of chip card reader (3) by executing control program (7b) on computer system (4). The invention further provides a chip card reader (3) as well as a control program (7a, 7b) for performing the method.

Abstract: A low voltage cable for providing low voltage power to an electrically-powered assembly, such as a luminaire fixture, and for attaching the luminaire fixture to the cable and to structure using a cable gripping device in such a way that the assembly can be adjusted. is disclosed. The cable comprises a conductive strand composed of a first metallic material, and a plurality of strength strands wound around the conductive strand, where the plurality of strength strands is of a second metallic material. The first metallic material is substantially more conductive than the second metallic material, and the second metallic material has substantially greater tensile strength than the first metallic material. This allows the cable to conduct a low voltage feed across the conductive strand, and allows the strength strands cable to mostly support the tension load particularly of a hanging luminaire fixture as well as resisting lateral compressive forces from a cable gripping device.

Abstract: A wafer testing system and associated methods of use and manufacture are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the wafer testing system includes an assembly for releaseably attaching a wafer to a wafer translator and the wafer translator to an interposer by means of separately operable vacuums, or pressure differentials. The assembly includes a wafer translator support ring coupled to the wafer translator, wherein a first flexible material extends from the wafer translator support ring so as to enclose the space between the wafer translator and the interposer so that the space may be evacuated by a first vacuum through one or more first evacuation paths. The assembly can further include a wafer support ring coupled to the wafer and the chuck, wherein a second flexible material extends from wafer support ring so as to enclose the space between the wafer and the wafer translator so that the space may be evacuated by a second vacuum through one or more second evacuation pathways.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for treating a hydrocarbon-bearing clastic formation having brine. The method includes contacting the hydrocarbon-bearing clastic formation with a fluid, which at least one of at least partially solubilizes or at least partially displaces the brine in the hydrocarbon-bearing clastic formation, and subsequently contacting the hydrocarbon-bearing clastic formation with a composition. The composition includes a nonionic fluorinated polymeric surfactant and solvent. When the composition is contacting the hydrocarbon-bearing clastic formation, the nonionic fluorinated polymeric surfactant has a cloud point that is above the temperature of the hydrocarbon-bearing clastic formation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for detecting an address mark in a data stream having a preamble followed by the address mark. The end of the preamble is detected in the data stream, which is then used to open a window to search for the address mark. If the address mark is not detected during the window, the search for the address mark is restarted. The window can have a duration based on a length of the address mark. The address mark can be, for example, a servo address mark following a servo preamble or a read address mark following a read preamble. The preamble can have a 2T pattern and the preamble can be detected by determining if energy associated with a 2T frequency is greater than energy associated with a non-2T frequency. The end of the preamble can be performed by an EndOf2T detector that detects a break in an expected bit pattern.

Abstract: In a method and system to produce biodiesel using an improved catalytic transesterification process, a first reactant and a second reactant are dispersed to form a laminar slug flow pattern within a microchannel of a microreactor, the first reactant and the second reactant being immiscible. The first reactant and the second reactant are mixed, thereby triggering a reaction between them to produce the biodiesel and glycerol, the mixing being convection-enhanced by shear stress induced circulation occurring within each slug of the reactants. The reaction takes place under a pressure that is less than 5 psi and under a temperature that is less than 70 degrees Celsius. Separation of the glycerol from the biodiesel occurs simultaneously with the mixing. Several microreactors are coupled in parallel to improve throughput of the biodiesel.

Abstract: Various systems and methods may be used for performing data storage operations, including content-indexing, containerized deduplication, and policy-driven storage, within a cloud environment. The systems support a variety of clients and cloud storage sites that may connect to the system in a cloud environment that requires data transfer over wide area networks, such as the Internet, which may have appreciable latency and/or packet loss, using various network protocols, including HTTP and FTP. Methods for content indexing data stored within a cloud environment may facilitate later searching, including collaborative searching. Methods for performing containerized deduplication may reduce the strain on a system namespace, effectuate cost savings, etc. Methods may identify suitable storage locations, including suitable cloud storage sites, for data files subject to a storage policy.

Abstract: A wind turbine with a drive train placed partly or entirely in a nacelle of the wind turbine is provided. The drive train includes an epicyclical gearbox including at least one gear stage having a plurality of planet gears meshing with a sun gear and an annulus gear. The gearbox is used to transfer and speed-up the rotation of a rotor of the wind turbine, as applied to at least one generator of the wind turbine. The drive train further includes at least one locally radial self tracking bearing for enabling the rotation of the rotor in relation to a nacelle structure of the nacelle. The self tracking bearing includes bearing elements for locally transferring loads in both radial directions between one or more bearing rings.