Abstract: A method and device for determining critical buffeting loads on a structure of an aircraft is disclosed. The device (1) comprises means (2, UC) implementing a semi-empirical method for determining the critical loads generated by some buffeting on the structure of the airplane.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring the deterioration of a rechargeable battery. A battery monitoring system may be used to store charging information, discharge information and storage information for a rechargeable battery to a data store. The charging information may include a number of charge cycles incurred by the rechargeable battery. The discharge information may include a number discharge cycles incurred by the rechargeable battery. The storage information may include information relating to periods when the rechargeable battery is not being actively charged or discharged. The battery monitoring system may be further used to determine an amount of deterioration of a battery performance characteristic based on the stored charging information, discharge information and storage information.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for analyzing defects in an object such as a semiconductor wafer. In one embodiment, it provides a method of characterizing defects in semiconductor wafers during fabrication in a semiconductor fabrication facility. This method comprises the following actions. The semiconductor wafers are inspected to locate defects. Locations corresponding to the located defects are then stored in a defect file. A dual charged-particle beam system is automatically navigated to the vicinity defect location using information from the defect file. The defect is automatically identified and a charged particle beam image of the defect is then obtained. The charged particle beam image is then analyzed to characterize the defect. A recipe is then determined for further analysis of the defect. The recipe is then automatically executed to cut a portion of the defect using a charged particle beam.

Abstract: A method for online condition-based monitoring (CBM) of a tank farm including a plurality of storage tanks includes providing a tank model including a diagnostic and/or predictive tank model based on calculated tank metrics that is derived from historical data including tank operation data. The calculated tank metrics include tank operational metrics based on the tank operational data for the storage tanks and tank condition metrics based on tank inspection or maintenance data for the storage tanks. The tank model provides relationships between the tank condition metrics and the tank operational metrics. Results are generated using the tank model including at least one failure indicia for at least a first of the storage tanks using the calculated tank metrics and current measured data for the first tank as inputs to the tank model. The failure indicia is processed for scheduling at least one maintenance task for the first tank.

Abstract: A method and apparatus measures electrical power usage and quality, while mitigating the effects of noise on measured signals or parameters. Specifically, a digital electrical power and energy meter employs a method in which a processor averages a parameter, such as voltage or current, over a plurality of cycles of a time-varying signal, such as an AC electrical signal. The method employed by the meter samples a parameter over the plurality of cycles and computes the average of the samples corresponding to the same phase angle of the signal to produce an average signal.

Abstract: A process system adapted for processing of or with a material therein. The process system includes: a sampling region for the material; an infrared photometric monitor constructed and arranged to transmit infrared radiation through the sampling region and to responsively generate an output signal correlative of the material in the sampling region, based on its interaction with the infrared radiation; and process control means arranged to receive the output of the infrared photometric monitor and to responsively control one or more process conditions in and/or affecting the process system.

Abstract: Storage of information, such as baseline information and structure ID, in a memory that is mounted on the structure, rather than inside the diagnosis hardware. This allows for faster and more convenient information retrieval. In particular, this approach allows for a more modular system in which different diagnosis hardware or other analyzers can be simply plugged into a structure's sensor network, whereupon they can quickly download any desired structure-specific information (e.g., baseline information, structure ID, and other useful information) from the on-structure memory.

Abstract: A lightning detection and damage estimation system for a structure is disclosed herein. The system includes a lightning receptor coupled to a lightning conductor configured to receive multiple lightning strikes and induce lightning current in a pick-up coil coupled to the lightning conductor. An integrated circuit coupled to the lightning conductor via the pick-up coil includes a non-volatile memory for successively storing one or more samples of the lightning induced current for the multiple lightning strikes. A damage estimation unit is configured to estimate a condition of the structure based on analyzing a history of stored samples of the lightning induced current of the multiple lightning strikes from the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for measuring an object's center of gravity. The system includes a bed for supporting the object in an immovable position. The bed is tiltably attached to a frame that is supported near at least a first and a second edge by at least one force measuring device per edge. The bed is tiltable about one of the edges. A processor is connected to each force measuring devices and is configured to process force measurement data collected therefrom. The processor is configured to calculate the object's center of gravity along a z-axis based on a ratio of a cosine of the bed's angle of tilt multiplied by the center of gravity of the object along a y-axis in a flat configuration minus the center of gravity of the object along the y-axis in a tilted configuration to the sine of the angle of tilt.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for detecting fastener loosening. Sensors query a structure at a baseline value of an environment variable, such as temperature, and this baseline signal is stored for later use. Subsequently, users can query the structure remotely and at any time, and the signals from these queries are compared to the stored baseline signal. In some embodiments, an index is calculated, and the system determines that one or more fasteners have come loose if the calculated index exceeds a predetermined threshold value. It is desirable to select a time window within which the query signal is most sensitive to fastener loosening but least sensitive to variations in the environment variable. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention include methods and apparatuses for determining an optimal time window for use in calculating the above described index.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for facility integrity testing. According to embodiments, a method for populating a watch list with circuits of a communications network to be monitored for repeat failures is provided. According to the method, a trouble ticket associated with one of the circuits and a trouble code and analysis code (TC/AC) combination associated with the trouble ticket is retrieved. Whether the trouble ticket meets a watch list criterion is determined. In response to determining that the trouble ticket meets the watch list criterion, the trouble ticket and the TC/AC combination are added to the watch list.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for monitoring performance of a Maintenance Entity (ME) in a computer network. In one embodiment, a method of monitoring performance of an ME includes receiving a control frame via the ME. The method further includes using a hardware performance monitor to provide to a programmable processor a metric indicative of a performance parameter associated with the ME based at least in part on information in the control frame. The method further includes using the programmable processor to determine the performance parameter associated with the ME based at least in part on the metric provided using the hardware performance monitor.

Abstract: A system assesses a column of gas in an atmosphere. The system includes an optical transmitter for transmitting (a) an online signal tuned to an online wavelength of gas, (b) an offline signal tuned to an offline wavelength of the gas, and (c) an optical signal for providing altimetry data. A modulator is included for modulating the online signal with a first stepped chirp waveform and modulating the offline signal with a second stepped chirp waveform. A processor assesses the column of gas, after receiving a returned online signal, a returned offline signal and a returned optical signal. A lock-in amplifier is included for (a) multiplying a returned signal with the first stepped chirp waveform to obtain a detected online signal, and (b) multiplying the returned signal with the second stepped chirp waveform to obtain a detected offline signal. The processor is configured to remove ground reflections from the optical signal to obtain scattered noise, and assess the column of gas based on the scattered noise.

Abstract: A system and method for online monitoring of molten salt corrosion of a component of an apparatus is disclosed. First and second electrodes are electrically isolated from each other within the component and exposed to a corrosive operating environment of the apparatus. The first and second electrodes are electrically coupled such that when an electrical potential difference exists between the first and second electrodes an electrical current flows between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrical potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode is based at least in part on molten salt corrosion at the first electrode or the second electrode. At least one of the electrical potential difference or the electrical current flowing between the first electrode and second electrode is measured and analyzed such that a corrosion characteristic of the component can be predicted.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for automatically deriving unique surrogate response data from experiment results in which inherent data loss occurs in a sufficient number of the samples to disallow quantitative effects estimation at the experimenter's desired level of confidence for statistical significance. In part, the unique surrogate response data sets of the present invention have four primary characteristics including: each is numerically analyzable; each may be more readily or directly obtained in which inherent data loss occurs; each provides a response value for an experiment trial; and each provides information on the effect of the change made to the process or system that would have been obtainable if the experiment samples had had no inherent data loss.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of characterizing elastic properties of a subsurface formation at various fluid saturation conditions is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for automatically deriving unique surrogate response data from experiment results in which inherent data loss occurs in a sufficient number of the samples to disallow quantitative effects estimation at the experimenter's desired level of confidence for statistical significance. In part, the unique surrogate response data sets of the present invention have one or more of four primary characteristics including: each is numerically analyzable; each may be readily or directly obtained when inherent data loss occurs; each provides a response value for an experiment trial; and each provides information on the effect of a change made to the process or system that would have been obtainable if the experiment samples had had no inherent data loss.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring and analyzing at least one signal are disclosed. An abstract of at least one reference signal is generated and stored in a reference database. An abstract of a query signal to be analyzed is then generated so that the abstract of the query signal can be compared to the abstracts stored in the reference database for a match. The method and system may optionally be used to record information about the query signals, the number of matches recorded, and other useful information about the query signals. Moreover, the method by which abstracts are generated can be programmable based upon selectable criteria. The system can also be programmed with error control software so as to avoid the re-occurrence of a query signal that matches more than one signal stored in the reference database.

Abstract: Method for evaluating an asymmetric residual stress for a material by the indentation test comprises applying the residual stresses with an uniaxial and an symmetrical biaxial tensions on the material and then performing an instrumented indentation test indenting an asymmetric indenter on the material; and comparing a slope of indentation load-depth curve when the long diagonal direction of the asymmetric indenter is perpendicular to the direction of the largest residual stress with that in stress-free state, and then a slope of indentation load-depth curve when the long diagonal direction of the asymmetric indenter is parallel to the direction of the largest residual stress with that in stress-free state, so as to evaluate the asymmetric residual stress for the material.

Abstract: This invention provides a new method for rapidly analyzing single bioparticles to assess their material condition and state of health. The method is enabled by use of a resonant cavity apparatus to measure an optical property related to the bioparticle size and refractive index. Measuring the refractive index is useful for determining material properties of the bioparticle. The material properties depend on the biomolecular composition of the bioparticle. The biomolecular composition is, in turn, dependent on the state of health of the bioparticle. Thus, measured optical properties can be used to differentiate normal (healthy) and abnormal (diseased) states of bioparticles derived from cells or tissues. The method is illustrated with data obtained from a resonator with a gain medium. The invention also provides new methods for making multiple measurements in a single device and detecting, analyzing, and manipulating bioparticles that are much smaller than the wavelength of light.