Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring an electrical heating apparatus and to a corresponding apparatus. The electrical heating apparatus has at least one heating element. A measured value, which is dependent on the resistance and/or the inductance of the electrical heating element, is measured, the measurement being carried out by means of the measured value being sampled. Owing to the use of sampled values, the measurement process can be shortened.

Abstract: A contour detector detects the contour of a specific tissue based on ultrasonic image data having been acquired in a predetermined time phase. A contour tracking part obtains the position of each of points composing the contour of a specific tissue in ultrasonic image data having been acquired in each time phase, by pattern matching for each time phase. A computing part obtains motion information indicating the motion state of a specific tissue in each time phase, based on the position of each of points composing the contour in each time phase. A display controller controls a display to display an ultrasonic image based on ultrasonic image data having been acquired in each time phase, for each time phase. Furthermore, the display controller controls the display to display the motion information in each time phase, on each occasion of each time phase.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electric potential sensor for the measurement of potentials non-invasively. The sensor comprises at least one detection electrode arranged for capacitive coupling with a sample under test and for generating a measurement signal, and a sensor amplifier adapted to receive the measurement signal as input and to supply an amplified detection signal as output. Input impedance enhancing means are included for providing a high input impedance to the sensor amplifier for increasing the sensitivity of the electrode to reduced electric potentials, and a discrete pre-amplifier stage is arranged to co-operate with the sensor amplifier to reduce the input capacitance of the amplifier.

Abstract: A method for determining the spatial distribution of the magnitude of the radio frequency transmission field B1 in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, wherein the method comprises performing an MRI experiment in which a B1-sensitive complex image (SI) of a sample is obtained, wherein the phase distribution within the B1-sensitive complex image (SI) depends on the spatial distribution of the magnitude of the field B1. For establishing the dependency of the phase distribution within the B1-sensitive complex image (SI) on the spatial distribution of the field B1, one or more adiabatic RF pulses are applied. The method provides a simple procedure for mapping the B1 field of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus with an improved accuracy and a wider measurement range.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, computer systems and computer program products for labeling components. One method includes the step of labeling (130) with a current label all voxels that are internal to a predetermined sub-volume oriented with respect to an unlabeled voxel, and directly connected to the unmarked voxel. The labeling step is repeated for all voxels that are not internal to the predetermined sub-volume, but which are labeled with a current label. The method includes the step of incrementing the current label and may include the step of increasing a window size to a predetermined maximum. The preceding steps are repeated for remaining unlabeled object voxels.

Abstract: A test structure for gathering switching history effect statistics includes a waveform generator circuit that selectively generates a first test waveform representative of a 1SW transistor switching event, and a second test waveform representative of a 2SW transistor switching event; and a history element circuit coupled to the waveform generator circuit, the history element circuit including a device under test (DUT) therein, and a variable delay chain therein, wherein a selected one of the first and second test waveforms are input to the DUT and the variable delay chain; wherein the history element circuit determines fractional a change in signal propagation delay through the DUT between the 1SW and 2SW transistor switching events, with the fractional change in signal propagation delay calibrated with timing measurements of a variable frequency ring oscillator; and wherein the test structure utilizes only external low-speed input and output signals with respect to a chip.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment relates to a measuring device for measuring a current flowing in a first cable. The measuring device includes a measuring shunt in the form of a plate connected in series with the first cable and associated with a measuring electronic card connected to a data transmission cable. The measuring shunt further includes a measuring portion of resistive alloy coupled to connection portions on either side of the measuring portion. The connection portions are integrally formed with the measuring portion, and the first cable is secured to at least one of the connection portions of the measuring shunt.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing electric characteristics of a test object including first connection terminals on a bottom surface and second connection terminals on a top surface, the apparatus comprises a test board comprising first pads on a predetermined surface; a socket configured to electrically connect the test object to the test board; and a handler configured to transport the test object to the socket. The socket comprises a first connection unit configured to be electrically connected to the first connection terminals of the test object and a second connection unit configured to be electrically connected to the second connection terminals of the test object.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for determining the effective count rate of photons in a combined MR/emission tomography recording.

Abstract: Disclosed is an eddy current flaw detection probe that is capable of pressing itself against an inspection target whose curvature varies. A flaw sensor is configured by fastening a plurality of coils to a flexible substrate that faces the surface of the inspection target. A first elastic body is positioned opposite the inspection target for the flaw sensor, is obtained by stacking two or more elastic plates, and has an elastic coefficient that varies in a longitudinal direction. A second elastic body is a porous body positioned between the flexible substrate and the first elastic body. A pressure section is employed to press the first elastic body toward the inspection target.

Abstract: The invention discloses a testing system and a testing method, suitable for testing a DUT with double-sided signal pins. The testing system includes a testing platform and a pick-and-place device. The testing platform includes an electromagnetic shielding chamber and a test-bench module. The electromagnetic shielding chamber has an opening. The test-bench module is disposed in-between the electromagnetic shielding chamber. The pick-and-place device is movably disposed above the testing platform. The pick-and-place device includes an electromagnetic shielding cap and a signal transmission structure. When the pick-and-place device places the DUT on the test-bench module, the electromagnetic shielding cap cooperates with the electromagnetic shielding chamber of the testing platform to form an isolated space for isolating the DUT, and furthermore, the signal pin disposed on an upper surface of the DUT can be electrically connected to the test-bench module through the signal transmission structure.

Abstract: A magnetic field gradient generating system for a NMR system, includes at least one set of gradient coils, preferably arranged according to three axes of a spatial referential system, and a controlled power supplying unit for the gradient coils, the power supplying unit including, for each gradient coil, a converter/amplifier module, the modules being fed with pulse sequences of digital gradient data provided as word streams by an adapted gradient data generator according to a pulse program, each arrangement of a gradient coil and a converter/amplifier module forming a gradient channel. The power supplying unit also includes an automatic blanking system which scans the gradient data words sent to the [converter/amplifier] modules and, according to sensed values, selectively delivers blanking signals to be applied to the modules in order to disable the power stages of their respective amplifiers connected to the gradient coils, when no current is to be fed to the coils.

Abstract: A sensor having a power management mechanism controlled by an external trigger signal is presented. The sensor includes a magnetic field signal generating circuit and a control circuit coupled to the magnetic field signal generating circuit. The control circuit, responsive to an externally generated trigger signal, initiates a supply current pulse that activates the magnetic field signal generating circuit for a predetermined time interval.

Abstract: A system and methods for generating 3D images (24) from 2D bioluminescent images (22) and visualizing tumor locations are provided. A plurality of 2D bioluminescent images of a subject are acquired during a complete revolution of an imaging system about a subject, using any suitable bioluminescent imaging system. After imaging, the 2D images are registered (20) according to the rotation axis to align each image and to compensate for differences between adjacent images. After registration (20), corresponding features are identified between consecutive sets of 2D image (22). For each corresponding feature identified in each set of 2D images an orthographic projection model (24) is applied, such that rays are projected through each point in the feature. The intersection point of the rays are plotted in a 3D image of a tumor is generated. The 3D image can be registered with a reference image of the subject, so that the shape and location of the tumor can be precisely visualized with respect to the subject.

Abstract: A diplex filter is formed by two impedance-transforming filters with separate transmission frequency ranges and with separate cut-off frequency ranges and a connection node at which two series elements of the two filters are connected. These two series elements are each fashioned as a parallel oscillating circuit, each parallel oscillating circuit exhibiting a predetermined reactance in a midband of the respective transmission frequency range and a parallel resonance in a midband of the respective cut-off frequency range. The diplex filter can be realized in a simple and cost-effective manner without ferrite-containing special components, for instance inductively coupled coils or tapped coils thereby allowing use thereof in a magnetic resonance tomograph, for example.

Abstract: Inoperative or defective electroluminescent (EL) emitters in an EL display having a plurality of subpixels are detected. Current flow through a drive transistor in a subpixel is turned off, a selected test current is provided through the EL emitter in the subpixel using a current source, and the voltage at a second electrode of a readout transistor in the subpixel is measured to provide a status signal representative or characteristics of the selected EL emitter. The status signal for the subpixel is compared to the respective status signals of neighboring subpixels to determine whether the EL emitter in the subpixel is defective.

Abstract: An ammeter is provided with a plurality of individual wound coils interconnected in a generally U-shaped array to measure the magnitude of current in a conductor extending through a sensing region inside the U-shape. Additional pairs of position-sensing coils determine the position of the conductor relative to the sensing region and provide outputs to circuitry which permits the magnitude measurement to be displayed only if the conductor extends through the sensing region.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for ground testing of a yaw system of a nacelle (3) prior to erection of a wind turbine (1). A portable transformer box (10) is provided which will allow the nacelle preparation team to operate the yaw and hydraulic systems while the nacelle is grounded prior to erection.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field of a predetermined orientation, an element provided in the apparatus at a location that, in use, is within a region of the magnetic field having the predetermined orientation generated by the generator, and a device for determining an angle between the element and the magnetic field, the device comprising a Hall Effect sensor.

Abstract: Embodiments of an image processing system and methods for aligning features suitable for use in early skin-cancer detection systems are described herein. Corresponding skin features between a reference image and a later-captured image are precisely aligned. Curvatures are used to align body outlines of corresponding images using body-background masks. An initial-displacement flowfield map, generated from the aligned body outlines, may be applied to a filtered version of the later-captured image to generate a pre-warped image. The pre-warped image and a filtered version of the reference image are divided into a plurality of overlapping chips and a correlation is performed between corresponding chips. A transformation map may be generated based on the chip correlations.