Abstract: An identification environment determining method includes converting a captured image into digital information, detecting a face area of a person from the digital image to store the face area, and identifying the person using a stored image and face image information that is referred for identification, informing a user about a result of identification acquired, inputting information obtained by having the user judge whether the result of identification is correct or incorrect, determining whether a present lighting environment is suitable for identification, controlling a robot, and moving the robot.

Abstract: The invention is, in its various aspects, a method and apparatus useful for strapdown inertial navigation and surveying in a borehole. The method comprises maneuvering a probe including three vibrating mass, Coriolis effect gyroscopes in a borehole and initializing the probe's attitude in the borehole within the probe's frame of reference. Three orthogonal, incremental rotation angles and three orthogonal, incremental velocities are determined for the probe within the probe's frame of reference. The incremental rotation angles are determined from the gyroscopes. The method then translates the three incremental velocities from the probe's frame of reference into the inertial frame of reference using the three incremental rotation angles. Next, a velocity vector in a local-vertical, wander-azimuth frame of reference is determined from the translated incremental velocities. A velocity error observation is then obtained.

Abstract: A self-moving device and method for the complete and full automatic examination of floor surfaces of all kind as well as for a particularly efficient suction of dust therefrom. In each case, the robot is controlled so as to explore the adjacent area and to detect the potential obstacles using special sensors before storing them in a data field. The displacement towards a new location is then carried out using the stored data until the whole accessible surface has been covered. One of the main constituent members of the robot includes an extensible arm that rests on the robot and on which contact and range sensors are arranged. When the robot is used as an automatic vacuum cleaner, an air flow is forced into the robot arm and the cleaning effect can further be enhanced by providing one or more circular rotary brushes at the front end of the arm. This device can essentially be used for domestic or industrial cleaning purposes with a view to replace traditional vacuum cleaners.

Abstract: A navigation system is provided where an error in the road data and an omission of the road data can be compensated for, and a vehicle control system is provided for using the navigation system. A yaw rate generation starting position, a yaw rate peak position and a yaw rate generation finishing position of a traveling vehicle are detected. The three positions determined are an inlet position, a central position and an outlet position of a curved road. If the three positions are offset to positions of nodes N2, N3 and N4 on the curved road stored in a map information storing means of the navigation system, the positions of the nodes N2, N3 and N4 are corrected so that they are matched with the three positions. It is determined based on the corrected road data whether it is possible for a subject vehicle to pass through a road ahead of the subject vehicle. When it is impossible for the subject vehicle to pass through the road, a warning to a driver or an automatic speed reduction is carried out.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the movement of one or more automatic guided vehicles includes a system controller, a number of non-wire automatic guided vehicles (AGV's) and location markers positioned on a floor. The system controller serves as a dispatcher and traffic controller for the system, providing, in one embodiment, two way wireless communication to each AGV in the system. Each AGV is equipped with a navigation and guidance system for controlling the AGV's movement along a predefined guidepath. Differential X, Y-coordinates from a path point database stored in the system controller are communicated to a given AGV which can then follow the predefined guidepath. Communicating just the differential X, Y-coordinates allows for improved control over systems utilizing a large number of AGV's.

Abstract: An underwater communication device that is simple in design, is simple to operate, is powered solely by a user's wrist action, has only one moving part, is maintenance free, can offer multiple modes of operation, can be made resistant to accidental sound generation, can be made neutrally buoyant, offers a wide margin of safety and reliability, and enables underwater communication up to 100 feet between scuba divers. The underwater communication device including a striker rod, a tubular housing and a support and guide member. The support and guide member supporting the rod in the housing. Communicating underwater with the underwater communication device by the steps of grasping the device approximately along its midpoint, and rapidly rocking or shaking the device from side to side or end to end, causing the endpoints of the striker rod to strike an inner surface of the housing, creating a sound that is readily propagated through the water.

Abstract: A sealing ring for a seal assembly used in oil field equipment including an elastomeric body and a reinforced face. The reinforced face is of molded polytetrafluoroethylene and is integral with the elastomeric body to provide improved pressure capability for the seal without the need for backup rings. The elastomeric body is formed to have a waisted cross section with a narrower portion in the middle and a wider portion at each end. The wider ends provide multiple sealing surfaces and allow fewer rings to be used.

Abstract: A multi-gasket sealing assembly or mount is disclosed for improved mounting of a swimming pool water skimmer in an opening in a pool wall of the type having a metal wall portion and a flexible inner sheet liner. The water skimmer has a housing defining a water inlet chamber for intake of water and an annular chamber end portion which protrudes through the pool wall opening. The housing also has an outwardly projecting peripheral flange spaced from the chamber end portion, the flange being bolted to the metal wall portion. A continuous gasket is located around the chamber end portion. An annular face plate is connected to the chamber end portion to compress the gasket and also to press the pool liner against the metal wall portion to prevent water from getting behind the liner. Another gasket is compressed between the peripheral flange and the metal wall portion to seal against the ingress of sand and other particulate matter into the skimmer from behind the pool wall.

Abstract: A back scrubber device adapted to be mounted in a shower stall or on the wall of a bathtub including a substantially U-shaped back scrubber bar having a central portion and first and second spaced leg portions, the central portion being connectible to a wall support mounting bracket and the spaced portions of said bar being sufficiently spaced to fit a person therebetween, scrubber means attached at one end of one of the spaced leg portions and the other spaced leg portion providing a handle means, the scrubber being movable in an up and down motion to scrub a person's back through movement of the handle means by the person standing between the two spaced leg portions of the back scrubber bar.

Abstract: A variable magnetic rotary seal sealingly couples a shaft to a housing as the shaft rotates. The variable magnetic rotary seal includes a seal head, a seal ring and a mating ring. The seal head is formed out of a non-magnetic material. The seal head has a first annular surface in the first plane with a circular groove therein and a second annular surface with a plurality of recesses. Each recess has a bottom wall. The sealing ring is disposed in the circular groove and is mechanically coupled thereto. A first "O" ring sealingly couples the seal head to the shaft. The mating ring is formed out of a magnetic, heat-treated and hardened material. The mating ring surrounds the shaft. The mating ring has an annular sealing surface in a second plane which is parallel and adjacent to the first plane. a second "O" ring sealingly couples the mating ring to the housing and secures the mating ring against rotation relative to the shaft. The variable magnetic rotary seal also includes a plurality of separate magnets.

Abstract: A low water flush toilet having a bowl with a horizontal ledge extending around the bowl periphery near its open upper end with a flush water nozzle on the ledge for discharging water in a generally horizontal direction onto the ledge. A pulsator is provided for producing pulses of flush water that are discharged onto the ledge with the water of each pulse flowing at varying velocities such that as the water flows around the ledge, some of the water will fall off the ledge around substantially the entire periphery of the bowl resulting in wetting of the entire bowl surface for cleaning the bowl. The pulsator includes a spring biased piston for discharging pulses of water.

Abstract: A mechanical seal arrangement for use in association with a pump casing structure and a drive shaft for driving a pump impeller which is housed in the pump casing structure. The mechanical seal arrangement has a rotatable seal ring with a seal face mountable concentrically on the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft. A non-rotatable seal ring is provided having a seal face mounted in axial alignment with the rotatable seal ring assembly. Biasing means are provided for urging the rotatable and non-rotatable seal rings axially towards each other for effecting sealing engagement of the seal faces of the respective seal rings. The biasing means has at least two disk spring elements spaced apart and encapsulated in an elastomeric body, with the biasing means being located in use in a tensioned state between either one of the seal rings and the pump casing structure.

Abstract: An improved target for use in an optical measurement system comprising an upper cylindrical housing portion and a lower cylindrical housing portion separably coupled at an intermediate location, the lower housing portion having a lower cylindrical region of a reduced diameter depending therefrom for receipt in a hole of the tooling to be sighted and an upper region having threads and an upwardly facing cylindrical recess, the upper cylindrical portion having threads at a lower region for separably coupling with threads of the lower portion and with the upper region having a downwardly facing cylindrical recess; illumination mechanisms positioned within the recesses and comprising a battery, a light emitting diode and potting material therebetween in a cylindrical configuration with electrical contacts extending from its lower face in contact with the battery and from one side surface in contact with the housing for establishing electrical contact between the battery and the light emitting diode; and a viewer

Abstract: Method and apparatus for accurately and instantaneously determining the thermodynamic temperature of remote objects by continuous determination of the emissivity, the reflectivity, and optical constants, as well as the apparent or brightness temperature of the sample with a single instrument. The emissivity measurement is preferably made by a complex polarimeter including a laser that generates polarized light, which is reflected from the sample into a detector system. The detector system includes a beamsplitter, polarization analyzers, and four detectors to measure independently the four Stokes vectors of the reflected radiation. The same detectors, or a separate detector in the same instrument, is used to measure brightness temperature. Thus, the instrument is capable of measuring both the change in polarization upon reflection as well as the degree of depolarization and hence diffuseness.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optically measuring coefficient of thermal expansion includes an optical dilatometer system. The system provides a housing having a chamber defined therein and a transparent end adapted for receiving a focused laser beam into the chamber. The housing is adapted for maintaining a vacuum in the chamber. The optical dilatometer system further provides an interferometer comprising first and second interference surfaces, the interferometer being positioned within the chamber. The system further provides a test sample positioned between the first and second interference surfaces. The method includes the step of transmitting a focused laser beam through the transparent end and to the interferometer, thereby generating an interference pattern defined by Newton rings. The Newton ring interference pattern is utilized to determine the coefficient of thermal expansion of the test sample.

Abstract: The invention concerns a measuring device for measuring the diameter of a rotationally symmetric body, for instance a roll, with a measuring jaw that wraps around the peripheral surface of the body and features two arms, and with two styli of which each is arranged on the free end of an arm for scanning the peripheral surface. The invention is characterized by the following features: the arms have an essentially straight-line design and the arms are constructed of rails which form a parallelogram with each other and permit swiveling in the sense of setting or retracting the respective stylus on or from the peripheral surface.