Abstract: A method for determining quantity and/or a type of dust control agent for controlling dust of a bulk material or flowability thereof comprises dispensing a bulk material into an agitator and agitating the bulk material in the agitator to create airborne dust from the bulk material. A test method for determining a quantity and/or a type of dust control agent effective for reducing a quantity of airborne dust that separates from a bulk material during handling comprises: 1) dispensing a dust-containing bulk material into an agitator; 2) agitating the bulk material in the agitator to a degree sufficient to produce airborne dust from the bulk material; and 3) measuring a quantity of airborne dust produced from the bulk material; repeating steps 1), 2) and 3) after applying a particular dust control agent to said bulk material; and comparing the quantity of airborne dust that separates from the bulk material with and without the dust control agent.

Abstract: A chip device with a number of individually powered parts, such as photoreceptors. A mesh is provided to provide power to the individual photoreceptors. The mesh may be provided for ground and power and/or both. The mesh may be on different layers, so that one portion of the mesh is exactly over the other portion of the mesh. The mesh takes up a portion of real estate on the chip in between the individual photoreceptors, in locations where image sensing parts cannot be located. In an embodiment, the mesh can be intentionally broken at various locations to optimize the path length.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptive analog infrared subtraction during ambient light sensing is provided. The system employs a current mirror circuit to perform an analog subtraction of currents (IIR and IIR+AB) obtained from photodiodes. An ADC is employed to digitize the output signal from the current mirror and, the digitized signal is amplitude modulated at a chop frequency utilized by the current mirror. Further, a digital filer is employed to generate an adjustment signal by filtering the modulated signal and the gain of the current mirror is calibrated by employing the adjustment signal. Moreover, as the adjustment signal converges to a value indicative of the mismatch error of the current mirror, the output signal of the current mirror provides an accurate value of ambient light incident on the photodiode.

Abstract: In a light projection system, potentially hierarchical levels of light intensity control ensure proper laser-light output intensity, color channel intensity, white point, left/right image intensity balancing, or combinations thereof. The light projection system can include a light intensity sensor in an image path, in a light-source subsystem light-dump path, in a light-modulation subsystem light-dump path, in a position to measure light leaked from optical components, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method and system for modeling the pulmonary trunk in 4D image data, such as 4D CT and MRI data, is disclosed. Bounding boxes are detected in frames of the 4D image data. Anatomic landmarks are detected in the frames of the 4D image data based on the bounding boxes. Ribs or centerlines of the pulmonary artery are detected in the frames of the 4D image data based on the anatomic landmarks, and a physiological pulmonary trunk model is fit the frames of the 4D image data based on the detected ribs and anatomic landmarks. The boundary of the pulmonary trunk is detected in order to refine the boundary of the pulmonary trunk model in the frames of the 4D image data, resulting in a dynamic model of the pulmonary trunk. The pulmonary trunk can be quantitatively evaluated using the dynamic model.

Abstract: Several methods of calibrating a wavelength-modulation spectroscopy apparatus configured to measure a concentration of an analyte in a sample gas are disclosed. Each of the methods allows for calibration and recalibration using a relatively safe gas regardless of whether the sample gas for which the concentration of the analyte can be determined is a hazardous gas. In one embodiment of the invention, calibration that is sample-gas specific is accomplished by determining a first slope coefficient and calibration function for the sample gas, after which a scaling factor can be determined based on the first slope coefficient and a second slope coefficient for the same or a different sample gas and used in a subsequent calibration (or recalibration) to scale the calibration function. In other embodiments of the invention, calibration that is not sample-gas specific is accomplished to allow for the determination of the analyte concentration in variable gas compositions and constant gas compositions.

Abstract: A projector apparatus includes a light source configured to emit light beams of a plurality of color components, emissions of the light beams being controlled individually, a projection unit configured to form images respectively corresponding to the color components using the light beams from the light source for each frame and to sequentially project the images, a driving unit configured to drive the light source so that the light beams are emitted as light pulses having respectively predetermined pulse widths for a period in which the projection unit projects each of the images, a detector configured to detect deterioration levels of the light source respectively for the color components, and a controller configured to control the pulse widths of the light beams emitted from the light source based on the deterioration levels.

Abstract: Medical image observation assisting system 1 including CT-image-data retrieving portion 10, CT-image-data storing portion 11, information extracting portion 12, anatomical information DB13, point of view/line of view setting portion 14, luminal organ image generating portion 15, anatomical nomenclature information generating portion 16, branch specifying portion 17, image synthesizing and displaying portion 18 and user I/F control portion 19. The point of view/line of view setting portion 14 sets a point of view and line of view for observing an external profile of a luminal organ, on the basis of structure information of the luminal organ extracted by the information extracting portion 12, while a point of interest is kept substantially on a centerline of the organ.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device comprises a pixel array; a reference signal generation unit operable to generate a reference signal that changes monotonically for a predetermined period in a horizontal period; a comparator operable to compare the level of a pixel signal with the level of a reference signal; a counter operable to count input clock pulses; a memory operable to store the number of counts counted by the counter as a digital value; and a timing control unit operable to generate a clock that is to be input into the counter, and change frequency of the clock that is to be input into the counter based on external input data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for characterizing spatial distortions in location data determined by an imaging system, for example as employed in imaged guided therapy. A three dimensional phantom is custom formed for a desired imaging space of a given imaging system. The phantom includes a large plurality of control points fixed rigidly in space to a high degree of known accuracy. The phantom is fixed to a stereotactic frame defining a known calibrated reference or zero and imaged. An algorithm customized for the phantom determines the spatial locations of the control points. A comparison is made between the known and the determined spatial locations for at least a subset of the control points. The comparison results in indicia for any determined spatial distortions observed. The raw image data can be manipulated to compensate for any spatial distortion. The control points can have fixed locations known to an accuracy of 100? or better.

Abstract: The illumination optical system includes an integrator configured to divide light from a light source into plural light fluxes, and a collection optical system configured to collect the plural light fluxes from the integrator toward an illumination surface. A rear principal point of the collection optical system is located closer to the light source than a front principal point of the collection optical system. The configuration provides a compact illumination optical system which brightly illuminates the illumination surface with the light and enables high contrast image projection.

Abstract: The optoelectronic module includes a photoreceptor circuit for picking up light from a light source by reflection on an external surface. The photoreceptor circuit and the light source circuit are mounted on a substrate, and contact pads of the circuits are electrically connected to pads of the substrate. The substrate pads are connected to conductive paths of the substrate. The flexible substrate includes a first portion on which the photoreceptor circuit and light source circuit are mounted and electrically connected, a second portion including electrical connection terminals and a connecting portion between the first portion and the second portion. This connecting portion connects some conductive paths of the first portion to the connection terminals of the second portion. The connecting portion allows the height and/or spacing of the second portion to be adjusted relative to the first portion when the module is mounted, particularly in a computer mouse.

Abstract: A signal waveform measuring apparatus 1A is configured from: a signal optical system 11, a reference optical system 16, a time difference setting unit 12 setting a time difference between signal light L1 and reference light L2, a wavelength conversion element 20 including an aggregate of crystals of a dye molecule and generating converted light L5, which has been wavelength-converted to a shorter wavelength than incident light made incident on the crystal aggregate, at an intensity proportional to an r-th power (r>1) of the intensity of the incident light, a photodetector 30 detecting the converted light L5, generated at the element 20 at the intensity that is in accordance with the intensity of the signal light L1, the intensity of the reference light L2, and the time difference between the two, and a signal waveform analyzer 40 performing analysis of the detection result of the converted light L5 and thereby acquiring a time waveform of the signal light L1.

Abstract: The presence of a workpiece on an end effector of a vacuum robotic handler is detecting using any of a number of non-contact techniques in which some or all of the detection hardware is positioned outside a vacuum chamber that encloses the vacuum robotic handler. Various deployments include laser beam breaking, analysis of radar reflection signals, or analysis of radio frequency identification tag signatures. By providing non-physical couplings between hardware inside and outside of a vacuum environment, integrity of the vacuum is improved. These non-contact techniques are further adapted as described herein to multi-wafer and multi-end effector environments so that independent detection of multiple wafers (e.g., for each end effector) can be performed.

Abstract: In an optical encoder for measuring relative displacement, a scale 10 has a reference mark 14 composed of a reflection slit formed on at least one point of an incremental track 12, a detection portion (20) has a light irradiation portion (24), main light receiving portions 30a, 30b, 30ab and 30bb that are disposed at the surrounding centering around the corresponding light irradiation portion and output incremental signals four phases of which are different from each other, and a pair of reference signal light receiving portions 32z and 32zb that are disposed in the direction perpendicular to the length measurement direction using the light irradiation portion as the center of point symmetry, and a signal processing portion 40 has a three-phase signal generation portion 48, a quadrature sine wave signals generation portion 50, a direction judgment circuit 56, an internal period counter 58, and a reference signal processing portion 60, thereby bringing about a micro-sized optical encoder capable of detecting t

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical sensor (1) for detecting objects in a monitored area, said sensor comprising at least one transmitter (4) for emitting light rays (3), at least one receiver (6) for receiving transmitted light rays (5), and an evaluation unit (7) for generating an object detection signal in dependence on signals received and present at the receiver (6) output. Furthermore provided is an optical element consisting of an injection-molded plastic part (9). Respectively one first and one second segment of the optical element functions as a Fresnel lens (9a, 9b) for forming a beam with the transmitted light rays (3) and/or the received light rays (5).

Abstract: In an optical receiver and amplifier and an optical coupler, a technique for stabilize operations at turning on/off of a power supply by a simple configuration is desired. An optical receiver and amplifier includes: a photodiode generates a photocurrent in response to a light input; an output section outputs output voltage being a low level or a high level in response to a magnitude of the photocurrent by using a power supply voltage supplied from a power supply; and an output control circuit controls an input voltage of the output section such that the output voltage is set to the low level when the power supply is turned on or off during a period where the power supply voltage is lower than a predetermined value. The output voltage can be set to the low level so that an additional circuit for preventing malfunction is not needed.

Abstract: In order to provide a display apparatus with high image quality which can detect a change in light on an entire display frame without any influence on user's appreciation, a rear-projection type display apparatus which projects irradiating light from a light source unit onto a fresnel screen through a light valve includes a light measurement unit which is placed at a position where reflected light from the fresnel screen is condensed, and a control unit which controls the light valve on the basis of the measurement result obtained by the light measurement unit.

Abstract: In a radiation image detection apparatus having a radiation image detector that includes the following stacked in the order listed below: a bias electrode, a photoconductive layer, a substrate side charge transport layer, and an active matrix substrate, the radiation image detector does not include an area adjacent to the interface between the substrate side charge transport layer and photoconductive layer having an oxygen or chlorine element density not less than two times the average density of oxygen or chlorine element in the substrate side charge transport layer.

Abstract: A color wheel module for use in a projection apparatus is disclosed. The projection apparatus comprises an optical engine, which comprises a chassis and an electrical socket. The electrical socket is disposed on the chassis. The color wheel module comprises a color wheel, a housing module and a connecting device. The connecting device comprises a fastening device and an electrical connector. The color wheel and the electrical connector are disposed on the housing module, wherein the electric connector is adapted to electrically connect to, and detach from, the electrical socket when the housing module is fastened onto the chassis through the fastening device.