Abstract: A ranging apparatus includes a body, a substrate on which a sensor unit is mounted and fitted to a surface of the body, a sensor holder attached to the surface of the body and configured to hold the substrate, a lens unit attached to another surface of the body, and a positioning mechanism to position and connect the body, the surface and the sensor holder. The positioning mechanism includes first and second engaging parts which are provided between the body and the substrate and configured to engage the body and the substrate, and third and fourth engaging parts which are provided between the substrate and the sensor holder and configured to engage the substrate and the sensor holder. The first and second engaging parts are different in shape, and the third and fourth engaging parts are different in shape.

Abstract: Embodiments of imaging devices of the present disclosure automatically utilize sequential image captures in an image processing pipeline. In one embodiment, control processing circuitry captures a plurality of sub-frames, each of the sub-frames comprising a representation of a scene captured at a different focus position of a lens. A depth map of the scene may be generated comprising a depth of the portion of the scene based at least upon the focus position at which the one of the sub-frames was captured. An output frame of the scene may also be generated by utilizing pixel values of the sub-frame which are determined to be at optimal focus positions.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided. In the apparatus, a demultiplexer is configured to receive an input signal, and each of a plurality of sample buffers are coupled to the demultiplexer. A first multiplexer is coupled to each of the sample buffers. A filter is coupled to the first multiplexer. A bypass delay circuit is coupled to the first multiplexer, and a second multiplexer is coupled to the filter and the bypass delay circuit.

Abstract: A system for collecting seismic data includes plural seismic sensors. The seismic sensors are buried underground. In one application, a first set of seismic sensors are buried at a first depth and a second set of seismic sensors are buried at a second depth. In another application, the sensors alternate along a line, one sensor from the first set and a next sensor from a second set. In still another application, the sensors are randomly distributed below the ground.

Abstract: A method for calculating intermodulation noise generated with one or more land seismic sources. The method includes receiving seismic data (g) generated by actuating the one or more land seismic source with a single sweep; selecting a number of detectors (a-f) that detect a subset (ga-gf) of the seismic data (g); estimating earth responses (ha1-hf1) based on (i) the subset seismic data (ga-gf) and (ii) a ground force (gf) of the one or more land seismic source; calculating plural intermodulation noises (noiseA1-noiseF1) for the number of detectors based on the earth responses (ha1-hf1); and removing the plural intermodulation noises (noiseA1-noiseF1) from corresponding detector signals (ga-gf) to mitigate the intermodulation noise effect.

Abstract: Disclosed are rigid protracted geophysical equipment that comprise control surfaces and associated methods of use in marine geophysical surveys. An apparatus for use in a marine geophysical survey comprising: rigid protracted geophysical equipment having a ratio of length to a largest dimension of width or height of about 1000:1 or more, wherein the rigid protracted geophysical equipment comprises control surfaces for controlling movement of the rigid protracted geophysical equipment when towed through a body of water.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a signal at a first set of receivers of a plurality of receivers of a device. The plurality of receivers includes the first set of receivers and a second set of receivers. The first set of receivers corresponds to selected receivers and the second set of receivers corresponds to non-selected receivers. The method includes predicting, based on the signal, an expected blockage of a signal path between a source of the signal and a first selected receiver of the first set of receivers, and selecting a particular receiver of the second set of receivers as a newly selected receiver in response to predicting the expected blockage.

Abstract: A system and method for safe communication in a complex scattering environment is achieved by means of providing a passive nonlinear object in the wave propagation environment which nonlinearly interacts with the waves to create an exclusive communication channel between the nonlinear object and any point where the waves can be collected. Excitations generated by the nonlinearity in the time-reversal mirror are gathered, time-reversed, and retransmitted into the environment. The retransmitted signals arrive and are reconstructed exclusively at the location of the nonlinear object or linear object depending on the linearity or nonlinearity of the retransmitted sonas. The principles of the system and method are useful in numerous applications where signal communication or power delivery is desired to an object whose location is not known or dynamically changed in an exclusive, highly localized, precise, and secure fashion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the estimating a plurality of anisotropic elastic constants (Cij) using borehole dispersions and refracted compressional headwave velocity at a single logging depth in a vertical, deviated, or horizontal wellbore in a transversely-isotropic with a vertical axis of symmetry (“TIV”) formation. The estimated elastic constants can then be used to calculate near-wellbore stress distributions in the wellbore, which aids in an optimal completion design, such as for shale-gas production in the presence of shale heterogeneity.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic sensor for detecting skin, the sensor comprising processor, an EM source, a baffle, a first EM detector and a second EM detector, the sensor arranged such that the EM source is located on a first side of the baffle and the first and second EM detectors are arranged on a second opposite side of the baffle at first and second distances from the EM source respectively, the first distance being less than the second distance, the processor configured to cause the source to emit EM radiation and to receive first and second signals from the first and second EM detectors respectively, the signals being indicative of the intensity of EM radiation detected by the sensor, the processor being further configured to process the first and second signals and thereby generate a skin signal which is indicative of whether the sensor has detected skin.

Abstract: The invention relates to a seismic node (100), comprising at least one seismic sensor with associated electronics, a primary oscillator (106) for timing sensor signals, a reference oscillator (104), a memory, a power source, a switch (102) for turning the reference oscillator on and off, and a processor (112) for digitizing sensor signals and storing them in the memory, calibrating a frequency of the primary oscillator (106) based on the frequency of the reference oscillator (104), and turning the reference oscillator on and off.

Abstract: An apparatus for generation of an ultra-high frequency sound waves with frequencies between (1 GHz-10 GHz) is proposed. The apparatus comprises a spin injector, a tunnel junction, a conductive ferromagnetic material including magnon gain medium, a ferromagnetic dielectric material including magnetic phonon-gain medium, and an ultra-high frequency sound waveguide coupled to the ferromagnetic dielectric material. The spin injector is configured to inject minority non-equilibrium elections into the conductive ferromagnetic material via the tunnel junction. The non-equilibrium magnons generated in the magnon gain medium of the conductive ferromagnetic material propagate into the ferromagnetic dielectric material and having the magnon velocity exceeding the sound velocity in the phonon-gain medium of the ferromagnetic dielectric material cause generation of ultra-high frequency non-equilibrium phonons in the ferromagnetic dielectric material.

Abstract: A distance detecting device and an image processing apparatus including the same are disclosed. The distance detecting device includes a first light source to output a first output beam and a second light source to output a second output beam having a wavelength different from that of the first output beam, a scanner to progressively perform first directional scanning and second directional scanning to output the first output beam and the second output beam to an outside, a first detecting unit to convert a first received beam corresponding to the first output beam into a first electric signal, a second detecting unit to convert a second received beam corresponding to the second output beam into a second electric signal, and a controller to detect a distance from an external target based on the first electric signal and the second electric signal.

Abstract: An optical rangefinder based on time-of-flight measurement, radiates pulsed light toward an object (70), and receives reflected light from the object, the receiver operating in a photon counting mode, so as to generate a pulse for a detected photon. There is a variable probability of a photon detection on the receiver, and a controller (370, 380, 390; 365, 470, 475, 380, 390; 570, 580, 590, 390) controls the photon detection probability of the receiver, based on a light level. By controlling the detection probability according to a light level, the receiver can have an increased dynamic range, and without the expense of using optical components. This can apply even while detecting very weak signals since the receiver can still be in a photon counting mode while the detection probability is controlled. The light level can be indicated by an output of the receiver itself, or by another detector external to the receiver.

Abstract: In a device for optically scanning and measuring an environment, which device is designed as a laser scanner, with a light emitter, which, by means of a rotary mirror, emits an emission light beam, with a light receiver which receives a reception light beam which is reflected from an object in the environment of the laser scanner, and with a control and evaluation unit which, for a multitude of measuring points, determines at least the distance to the object, the rotary mirror is part of a rotor, which is configured as a hybrid structure.

Abstract: A method and system for generating and using open sky data is described. A vehicle equipped with a range-finding device travels on a road network in a geographic region. The range-finding device transmits a pulse at a given position and obtains range data associated with the position. The system uses the range data to generate data representing visibility of open sky at the given position and at other positions along the road network. For example, the system may determine transmission angles of pulses transmitted at positions that did not encounter a physical object and then use the determined transmission angles to generate data representing visibility of open sky at these positions. The system then stores the data representing the visibility of open sky. The system then associates the data representing the visibility of open sky with data representing physical features.

Abstract: A fish finder device housing having a watertight shell housing capable of containing an electronic load having a transducer within an interior space, the housing have oppositely opposed extension members, each of the extension members having a keel, the oppositely opposed extension members and keels helping maintain the fish finder device housing and contained transducer in a stable condition such as in a substantially upright vertical position and preventing the housing from rocking back-and-forth and rolling side-to-side during normal fishing conditions including choppy or wavy water, when an angler is fishing in a body of water having a current, or when the angler is pulling the fish finder device housing behind a watercraft during trolling. The fish finder device housing may have an aperture in at least one of the extension members for connecting a fishing line, such as that of a fishing pole, or a line for tethering the fish finder device housing behind a watercraft.

Abstract: An optical radar device for scanning an object that reduces the effects of stray light is provided. The optical radar device has a light source, a light scanning section, a light path change section, a light receiver, and an opposite phase signal adder. The opposite phase signal adder adds an opposite phase signal to the output signal from the light receiver. A rise timing of the opposite phase signal is delayed by a predetermined time relative to an output timing of the pulse light, and the opposite phase signal has an opposite phase with respect to a phase of the reflected light.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for a variable-depth sonar. A null in the frequency response between a first and second operating frequency band is identified. A center operating frequency for each of the first and the second operating band is adjusted based on the ambient pressure. Furthermore, the velocity state of a vehicle may be calculated using periodic velocity updates. At least one transducer transmits a first signal in a first direction, and a Doppler sensor receives an echo of the first signal. The vehicle is turned in a second direction, and the at least one transducer transmits a second signal in the second direction. Using the first and the second velocity measurement, a vehicle velocity state is calculated.

Abstract: Computing device, computer instructions and method for directional designature of seismic data d with a given source directivity. The method includes obtaining directional operators r; calculating a model u with a modified source directivity based on (1) seismic data d, and (2) an operator that is a combination of the directional operators r and a reverse transform operator L; using the model u to obtain seismic data dfree with modified source directivity; and generating a final image of the subsurface using seismic data dfree.