Abstract: A remote sensor and associated data processor, performs concurrent analysis of backscattered signals from a multi-beam acoustic Doppler emitter/receiver positioned against the inside wall of a conveying pipe or channel. Range-gating of the return signals allows independent analysis of discrete volumes of backscattered signal data corresponding to the distribution, concentration and travel velocity of small individual volumes or bins of water and suspended solids. Velocity is derived from the measured Doppler frequency shift for each bin. Relative solids concentration is estimated as a function of the measured intensity of the backscattered signals.

Abstract: A computerized model simulates the human spinal cord and makes it possible to draw inferences about the probability of future injury or the likelihood that specific injuries occurred in the past. The spinal cord is modeled by a plurality of two-dimensional graphs formed of a large number of finite elements. The two-dimensional graphs are stacked in positions corresponding to the measured positions of the spinal cord at various vertebral levels of a patient. The stacked graphs yield a three-dimensional model, which may be compared with similar data taken from other patients. The model may include the simulation of stress, applied to all or part of the spinal cord, resulting in a perturbed three-dimensional model which may again be compared with similar data taken from patients having known injuries. The invention can therefore be used, among other things, to verify claims of spinal injury as a result of vehicular or sporting accidents.

Abstract: Weighing apparatus, which includes one or more loadbars 11 and a weight indicator 10. Communication between the loadbars 11 and the indicator 10 is via a wireless communication. The indicator 10 includes a receiver 12 and data from the loadbar 11 is transmitted to the receiver 12 via transmitter 24. A sealed power source module 16 is connected to the loadbars 11 or one power source module 16 is connected to each loadbar 11. The transmitter 24 can be incorporated in the power source 16.

Abstract: High-speed programmable logic controller (PLC) signal processing is accomplished using a programmable signal processing arrangement that is capable of altering characteristics of signal processing in response to one or more signal processing coefficients. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a PLC-based arrangement includes a PLC controller and a signal processing arrangement that oversamples and processes a signal at a frequency that is greater than a maximum input-process-output scan rate of the PLC controller. In one implementation, the signal processing arrangement is programmable with complex high-speed signal processing parameters that can be downloaded, for example, via the Internet in response to an end-user request. With these approaches, signal sampling and processing is achieved with a PLC-based system at a rate that can be much higher than previously-available signal processing rates with PLC controllers.

Abstract: One embodiment of a method comprises retrieving test data corresponding to test results from a plurality of fuses, each one of the plurality of fuses residing on a different one of a plurality of semiconductor devices and each one of the plurality of fuses having a common location on the semiconductor devices, determining from the test data which of the plurality of fuses are defective fuses, and specifying on an output report the common location of the determined defective fuses when a number of the defective fuses are at least equal to a predefined portion of the plurality of fuses.

Abstract: A computer implemented process is provided for assessing and characterizing the degree of success or failure of an operational event of a machine system such as a fluid compressor machine or turbine machine or the like on a continuous numerical scale. The computer implemented process develops and tracks machine unit signatures, machine site signatures and machine fleet signatures to evaluate various operational events and provide fault detection. At least some sensor data acquired from the machine system during an operational event is transformed to correct or at least reduce variabilities in the data caused by ambient conditions and fuel quality. The transformed data is then analyzed using statistical methods to determine how closely the operational event conforms to an expected normal behavior and the information is used to develop a single comprehensive quality assessment of the event.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides for particle size detection. A particle detector signal is utilized to provide particle size information. The particle detection signal is obtained by utilizing particle detector information.

Abstract: Three-dimensional measurement capable of reducing an error in coupling robot and sensor coordinate systems and adverse effects of backlash in a robot. A position/orientation of the robot for obtaining a measurement value on the sensor coordinate system is set beforehand with a workpiece positioned at a reference position. Then, the robot is moved to a preparatory measurement position, a preparatory measurement for the workpiece positioned at an arbitrary position is performed (SV1), and based on a measurement result, a main measurement position is calculated (SV2). Next, an auxiliary position is determined (SV3), which serves as a start position from which a movement to the main measurement position can be made without making a reversal of respective axes. The robot is moved to the auxiliary position (SV4), and to the main measurement position (SV5), and a measurement for the workpiece is made and a measurement result is stored (SV6).

Abstract: In order to detect high-speed transients in the alternating current of a power distribution system, the rate at which the power on the distribution system is sampled is increased so that even high-speed transients are detected. The sampling rate can be increased in at least two ways. First, where a single analog-to-digital converter samples multiple lines through a multiplexer, the multiplexer is controlled to allow the converter to sample only one line at a much-increased rate. Alternatively, the sampling speed of the analog-to-digital converter (or A/D array) can be controlled and increased as needed.

Abstract: A device used for measuring the angle of torque beyond a specific reference point. The device is comprised of a tool that applies torque to a fastener, an adapter that is attached to the fastener to transfer the torque from the tool, and an apparatus that connects a first end to the tool and a second end to the adapter. The apparatus comprises an angle selector that is adjustable to the desired torque angle, an angle rate sensor that measures the speed and direction of the torque applied, a processor which calculates the current angle from the rate sensor measurements, a zero point indicator that serves as the basis point for the processor to calculate the selected angle, and an angle indicator that indicates the current angle of rotation.

Abstract: A gas meter for determining a gas mixture consumption is revealed which determines sensor signal values proportional to a flow rate, this gas meter being calibrated as an energy measuring unit. The calibration is based on a basic gas mixture. During the measurement of the gas consumption, a measured energy consumption value is multiplied by a correction factor which takes account, at least approximately, of the calorific value of a supplied gas mixture, this calorific value being determined by an external unit. By this means, it is possible, using a simple and cost-efficient gas meter, to determine the effective supplied energy and to bill costs according to the supply.

Abstract: A tachometer system is provided for a motor vehicle having an engine selected from a plurality of engines having unique maximum rated engine RPMs. The system has an RPM data signal and scale correction data. A microcontroller receives the RPM data signal and said scale correction data and generates a scaled tachometer signal therefrom in accordance with a computer program stored in a memory. A gauge drive circuit receives the scaled tachometer signal from the microcontroller. A tachometer gauge has a pointer driven by the gauge driver circuit. The computer program calculates the scaled tachometer signal according to a first scaling constant while the RPM data signal represents less than a predetermined RPM, and calculates the scaled tachometer signal according to a second scaling constant while the RPM data signal represents greater than the predetermined RPM. The second scaling constant is selected from a set of predetermined scaling constants according to the scale correction data.

Abstract: A method of controlling production of a gaseous product produced by one or more production plants such as an air separation plant, having a control system to vary production of the gaseous product. The gaseous product is consumed by a customer in accordance with a varying demand pattern. A storage capacity for the gaseous product which may be the pipeline itself or a gaseous receiver tank is provided. Control is exercised by a fuzzy logic program that utilizes the average rate of change of customer demand and storage capacity pressure to produce control data to vary the production rate of the plant.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying a defect or contamination on a surface of a material. The method and system involves providing a material, such as a semiconductor wafer, using a non-vibrating contact potential difference sensor to scan the wafer, generate contact potential difference data and processing that data to identify a pattern characteristic of the defect or contamination.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for providing a universal SCSI bus interface in which bus performance is not degraded, and the analyzer is not negatively influenced by post processing while maintaining the ability to filter and store data using any of a number of generic logic analyzers. The SCSI bus interface does not rely on a specific clock speed and maintains the ability to view both raw data and protocol errors. The universal SCSI bus interface embodiments described herein produce stable clock signals for use by an analyzer in a form that is phase and frequency stabilized with the SCSI bus clock. This allows data sampling to mimic the performance characteristics of a device attached to the SCSI bus thereby minimizing sampling error.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling work site dust conditions are provided. The method may include providing a mobile dust control machine configured to treat a dust condition within a work location. The dust control machine may be disposed distant from the work location. The method may further include monitoring a dust condition of the work location, generating a dust control signal in response to monitoring the dust condition, dispatching the mobile dust control machine to the work location in response to the dust control signal, and operating the mobile dust control machine at the work location.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for calculating the amount of voltage coupled to a device. In some embodiments, the method may comprise identifying a conductor that is coupled to a device, extracting information regarding the relationship between the conductor coupled to the device and adjacent conductors, extracting information regarding signals that are present in the adjacent conductors, partitioning the signal information into phases, calculating a voltage induced in the conductor coupled to the device during each phase of the partitioned signal, calculating an average voltage induced in the conductor coupled to the device and, flagging the device if the average voltage induced is above a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for detecting a signal of interest. According to some embodiments, a power of a frequency component of a signal is determined. The power is accumulated for the long and short term, and a delta integrated power spectrum (e.g., a difference between the accumulated power for the long-term and the accumulated power for the short-term) is found. A high delta integrated power spectrum and a normalized delta integrated power spectrum may also be found. It may then be determined whether the high delta integrated power spectrum represents a signal of interest by comparing the power of the high delta integrated power spectrum to the power of the normalized delta integrated power spectrum.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus incorporating hardware based logic and a predetermined default list of software affecting responses to be taken in connection with temperatures sensed by thermal sensors checking the temperature of portions of computer logic. At the time application software is loaded, the software can modify the default response list. The list of responses to be taken and the over temperature conditions at which they are to be activated are stored in hardware directly accessible by hardware based thermal sensor monitoring logic for direct control of the hardware. The control can alter conditions such as clock frequency, stopping use of application software, interrupting OS functionality, removing power from components and so forth.

Abstract: A system and method indicate azimuth of a diver to a remote console. A compass sensor module on a headgear worn by the diver has a two-axis gimbal mechanism provided with a protective housing around ring and two orthogonal axis structures. A magnetic field sensor unit mounted on one axis structure provides magnetic field data signals representative of the azimuth faced by the diver. A processor section of the compass module connected to the sensor unit provides azimuth data signals from the magnetic field data signals. A data transmission module has a conductor extending from the compass module to an amplifier and cable for amplifying azimuth data signals and remotely transmitting them. An acoustic transducer in the data module can also transmit azimuth data signals as acoustic signals through water. The console connected to the cable and water receives and displays the remotely transmitted azimuth data signals.