Abstract: To avoid packet out-of-sequence problems, while providing good load balancing, each input port of a switch monitors the outstanding number of packets for each flow group. If there is an outstanding packet in the switch fabric, the following packets of the same flow group should follow the same path. If there is no outstanding packet of the same flow group in the switch fabric, the (first, and therefore subsequent) packets of the flow can choose a less congested path to improve load balancing performance without causing an out-of-sequence problem. To avoid HOL blocking without requiring too many queues, an input module may include two stages of buffers. The first buffer stage may be a virtual output queue (VOQ) and second buffer stage may be a virtual path queue (VPQ). At the first stage, the packets may be stored at the VOQs, and the HOL packet of each VOQ may be sent to the VPQ. By allowing each VOQ to send at most one packet to VPQ, HOL blocking can be mitigated dramatically.

Abstract: A bone reposition device includes first and second bone supports for supporting first and second portions of a fracture or osteotomize bone about a fracture or osteotomize site, a plurality of sequentially connected connection members and a plurality of joints each with at least a pair of adjacent parts for connecting the connection members therebetween and to the first and second bone supports. The plurality of joints includes at least six joints, each of which possesses one degree of freedom and allows controllable relative rotation or translation of said pair of adjacent parts about one of three axes respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of enhancing the negative ion properties of a material and enhance its moisture management properties if necessary. The method of the present invention teaches the determination of the moisture properties of a material, development of a negative ion agent, and the application of that agent to the material, such steps leading to a material possessing negative ion properties and good moisture management.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound imaging system (10) for assessing scoliosis, the system (10) comprising: an ultrasound scanner (11) to capture ultrasound images; a spatial sensor (13) to record the position and orientation of the captured ultrasound images; and a software module (21) to mark features of vertebra in the captured ultrasound images, and the marked features (41) are connected with lines (42) in order to calculate angles and distances between the marked features (41) for the calculation of the Cobb angle and spinal rotation angle based on the calculated angles and distances; wherein the marked features (41) are a reflection of the surfaces of the vertebra.

Abstract: A detection system (5) for assisting a driver when driving a vehicle, the system (5) comprising: a plurality of image capturing devices (98) mounted to the vehicle to capture images of the external environment of the vehicle; an image processing module (95) to identify potential hazards in real-time from the captured images and to superimpose information of the external environment relating to the identified potential hazards; and at least one display device (92) to display images processed by the image processing module in real-time; wherein the superimposed information is provided in an area of the display device (92) to ensure visual clarity of the images of the external environment.

Abstract: A system (100) for determining the performance of a wearable electrode, the system (100) comprising: a container (37) of liquid to simulate a static or dynamic environment for the electrode; a measurement module (2) to analyse and record predetermined properties of the electrode in response to passing an electrical current through the liquid during operation in the simulated environment to determine the performance of the electrode.

Abstract: A strain sensor (10) for measuring strain greater than 10%, the sensor (10) comprising: an upper polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate (20) having measurement electrodes (90) extending therethrough; a lower PDMS substrate (30) bonded to a lower surface of the upper PDMS substrate (20), and an upper surface of the lower PDMS substrate (30) having a patterned portion (50); and a conductive fluid (70) contained within the patterned portion (50) in contact with the measurement electrodes (90).

Abstract: Practical packet reassembly in large, multi-plane, multi-stage switches is possible by using a scheduling technique called dynamic packet interleaving. With dynamic packet interleaving scheduling, if more than one packet is contending for the same output link in a switch module, an arbiter in the switch module gives priority to a partial packet (i.e., to a packet that has had at least one cell sent to the queue). The number of reassembly queues required to ensure reassembly is dramatically reduced (e.g., to the number of paths multiplied by the number of scheduling priorities). Deadlock may be avoided by guaranteeing (e.g., reserving) at least one cell space for all partial packets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine, a system, and textiles resulting from an industrially produced yarn, created through the incorporation of a linear false twisting device and two lappets positioned to affect a yarn during drafting. The invention results in a yarn having a low twist multiplier. The textiles products created from the produced yarn exhibit a soft feel without requiring the use of chemical treatments.

Abstract: A method for optimizing the deployment of RFID apparatus, and a RFID deployment optimizer of use thereof are provided. The method includes the steps: A. analyzing the interrogation zone where the RFID apparatus are deployed, B. identifying the readability o RFID tag associated with different sets of placement on a target object inside the interrogation zone, and C. selecting the best deployment alternative based on the analysis result of the interrogation zone attained in the step A and all the readabilities of RFID tag associated with different sets of placement identified in the step B.

Abstract: An optical fiber 200 with a high thermal resistance fiber Bragg grating (FBG) 130. Compared to existing FBG's, the invention provides greatly enhanced thermal stability, being stable up to 1200° C. The grating reflectivity and resonant wavelength are maintained for extended duration at high temperatures. The FBG is thus suitable in high temperature sensors. The high thermal resistance of the FBG is obtained in a method of pre-annealing the optical fiber 105 at high temperature prior to inscribing the FBG. The high thermal resistance is optionally enhanced in a post-FBG creation step of heat treating the optical fiber 105 and FBG.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting the oscillation amplitude of a bonding tool includes a sensing unit disposed adjacent to and at a distance from the bonding tool. The sensing unit includes a pair of electrodes, a piezoelectric sensing layer located between the pair of electrodes, and a membrane associated with the piezoelectric sensing layer. The piezoelectric sensing layer becomes sensitive to ultrasonic vibrations and generates electrical voltage signals after being activated by a poling process. An optional pre-amplifier is used to amplify the signals generated from the sensing unit, and an oscilloscope is used to further process the signals.

Abstract: A filter comprises at least one filtration unit with a filtration passage having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the filtration unit includes at least one groove formed in an inlet side surface of the filtration unit, said at least one groove extending to the inlet and dimensioned to hold back substances which may clog the filtration passage, by means of upper edges of said at least one groove. According to the present invention, by forming at least one groove in an inlet side surface of the filtration unit, the filtration passages of the filter can be effectively prevented from being clogged.

Abstract: A method for performing ultrasound imaging and elasticity measurement, the method includes scanning an object to obtain a B-mode ultrasound image, selecting an A-mode signal from the B-mode ultrasound image, transmitting a high frame rate ultrasound signal, by a selected group of ultrasound transducers, at the selected A-mode signal location, forming a transient M-mode image based on the high frame rate ultrasound signal, enhancing propagation trace of shear wave based on the transient M-mode image, calculating elasticity of the object based on the propagation trace and displaying result, and displaying, simultaneously, the B-mode ultrasound image and the transient M-mode measurement result.

Abstract: The present invention relates a system for compensating for a voltage dip and undervoltage containing a primary side and secondary side transformer, a voltage dip/swell detector, and a level detector/switch selector device, wherein the secondary side of the transformer possesses a minimally sufficient number of taps to allow the system to be modified to meet supply voltage dips. The system, in particular, allows for long term compensation of voltage dips and quick adjustment of load voltage, usually within one cycle. Methods of using the present invention are also presented.

Abstract: A tree data structure for storing strings of searchable data divided into substrings has at least one first type node that has a substring associated with it and at least one second type node that does not having a substring associated with it. A second type node is directly linked to a first type node by a fail transition. A first type node is directly linked to a second type node by a match transition. An IP address lookup system has memory for storing a tree data structure and a controller for storing and loading an incoming IP address. The system has a finite state machine having three stages including a first stage for loading the IP address and performing a length calculation, a second stage for searching the data structure to find a match, and a third stage for determine the next-hop address index.

Abstract: A temperature-compensated fibet optic strain gauge (10) for measuring strain of a host structure (5), the strain gauge (10) comprising: a mount (20) having a void (19) separating a first section (17) from a second section (18); a first fiber Bragg grating (FBG) (30); a second fiber Bragg grating (FBG) (40); and removable bridging portions (24) adjacent to the void (19) to connect the first section (17) to the second section (18), the bridging portions (24) being removed after the mount (20) is operatively attached to the host structure (5); wherein a right-side failure proof feature is provided by detecting whether a reflection wavelength reverts to an original Bragg wavelength of the first FBG (40) to indicate whether the first FBG (40) has broken.

Abstract: A hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber polarizer may include a core, an inner cladding surrounding the core, the inner cladding including a plurality of capillaries, and an outer cladding at least partially surrounding the inner cladding. A section of the capillaries distal to the core is asymmetric relative to a section of the capillaries proximal to the core.