Abstract: A switched reluctance electrical motor comprises a rotor having a substantially circular cylindrical envelope with a diameter in a range of 50 mm to 300 mm and a length in the range of 20 mm to 250 mm. The rotor comprises a plurality of radially extending rotor teeth. A switched reluctance electrical motor further comprises a stator surrounding the rotor and comprising a plurality of stator poles. The rotor teeth are circumferentially-spaced apart from each other to define slots between adjacent teeth that, expressed in normalised angular and radial coordinates, have a cross-sectional profile transverse to an axis of rotation of the rotor, lying within a well-defined polygonal region.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of simulating operation of an electric drive unit to predict one or more performance parameters of the electric drive unit is provided. The electric drive unit comprises at least an electric motor. The method comprises obtaining parameters defining physical properties of the electric motor, obtaining parameters defining drive currents for driving the electric motor, processing the obtained parameters using a machine learning module trained a priori to predict a spatially varying electromagnetic and/or mechanical and/or thermal profile within the electric motor during operation, and providing as output a predicted profile for the electric motor, and using the predicted profile to compute the one or more performance parameters of the electric drive unit.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of simulating operation of an electric drive unit to predict one or more performance parameters of the electric drive unit is provided. The electric drive unit includes at least an electric motor. The method includes obtaining parameters defining physical properties of the electric motor, obtaining parameters defining drive currents for driving the electric motor, processing the obtained parameters using a machine learning module trained a priori to predict a spatially varying electromagnetic and/or mechanical and/or thermal profile within the electric motor during operation, and providing as output a predicted profile for the electric motor, and using the predicted profile to compute the one or more performance parameters of the electric drive unit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for associating the color of an object with an event preferably provides linked information for the object in any one of a plurality of succeeding video frames based only on the color value of the object. Preferably, at least one computer is coupled to a GUI and to a pointing structure, and is configured to: (i) identify coordinates of the object in a first video frame where the pointing structure has pointed; (ii) determine the color values of the identified object; (iii) store the color values of the identified object; (iv) detect an action of the object being selected in any one of the plurality of succeeding video frames; (v) determine the color values of the selected object; (vi) determine whether the selected object color values correspond to the stored color values; and (vii) automatically provide the linked information to the GUI only when the color values correspond.

Abstract: Method and arrangements are provided to generate supplemental analysis modules for items of invitational content, the modules including an event dictionary and event handlers. Such modules are configured to collect event information at an end user device associated with the operation of an item of invitational content, determine whether the event information corresponds to an entry in the event dictionary, and, upon determining that the event information corresponds to an entry, identify an event handler corresponding to the entry and routing the event information to the event handler, where the event handler is configured for generating an event message.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems and methods for generating staffing schedules. Some systems may be configured to generate staffing schedules including a flexible staffing recommendation indicative of a number and a time in which to schedule multi-skilled staff. In some examples, such staffing schedules can be generated based on a demand model generated based on historical demand data and scheduling thresholds.

Abstract: Method and arrangements are provided to generate supplemental analysis modules for items of invitational content, the modules including an event dictionary and event handlers. Such modules are configured to collect event information at an end user device associated with the operation of an item of invitational content, determine whether the event information corresponds to an entry in the event dictionary, and, upon determining that the event information corresponds to an entry, identify an event handler corresponding to the entry and routing the event information to the event handler, where the event handler is configured for generating an event message.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for associating the color of an object with an event. In one or more embodiments, the invention takes a streaming or static media and associates an active, dynamic, or static object with an event by its given color. The event may be, for instance the retrieval of a document at a specified URL in a web browser or the retrieval of other information in non-web browser implementations. In one embodiment, the invention defines the color by its mathematical properties. For instance, one embodiment uses the RGB standard which separates the red, green, and blue properties of the color as numerical values. Another embodiment also uses the HSV characteristics of the color, which define hue, saturation, and value as components of color. Another embodiment uses both RGB and HSV characteristics.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for associating the color of an object with an event preferably provides linked information for the object in any one of a plurality of succeeding video frames based only on the color value of the object. Preferably, at least one computer is coupled to a GUI and to a pointing structure, and is configured to: (i) identify coordinates of the object in a first video frame where the pointing structure has pointed; (ii) determine the color values of the identified object; (iii) store the color values of the identified object; (iv) detect an action of the object being selected in any one of the plurality of succeeding video frames; (v) determine the color values of the selected object; (vi) determine whether the selected object color values correspond to the stored color values; and (vii) automatically provide the linked information to the GUI only when the color values correspond.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method and computer instructions for x-ray imaging. In an embodiment, such a system includes: an x-ray emission module configured to emit a stream of x-rays; a rotatable x-ray definition module configured to define the size and shape of the x-ray stream, wherein rotating the x-ray definition module rotates the shape of the x-ray stream; an x-ray detection module configured to detect the x-ray stream and create an image based on the detected x-rays; and an output module configured to output the image. In certain embodiments, the x-ray definition module may be configured to change the size of the x-ray stream when the x-ray definition module is rotated, for example. In certain embodiments, the x-ray detection module may be configured to rotate the image and/or change the size of the image before the image is output by the output module, for example.

Abstract: Apparatus for non-destructively testing material to enable detection of any damage sites, comprising means for generating localized heating at any damage site in the material, and means for imaging the material to enable detection of any localized heating at the damage site.

Abstract: In thermography apparatus, a lamp 102 is modulated sinusoidally and a camera 106 captures thermal images at the modulated frequency, but delayed by an adjustable preset delay. A signal delay box 107 is connected between a sinusoidal modulation signal function generator 104 and the camera 106. The delay box introduces a delay to the function generator signal so that the thermal image is captured after a period of time, resulting in an enhanced image.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for associating the color of an object with an event. In one or more embodiments, the invention takes a streaming or static media and associates an active, dynamic, or static object with an event by its given color. The event may be, for instance the retrieval of a document at a specified URL in a web browser or the retrieval of other information in non-web browser implementations. In one embodiment, the invention defines the color by its mathematical properties. For instance, one embodiment uses the RGB standard which separates the red, green, and blue properties of the color as numerical values. Another embodiment also uses the HSV characteristics of the color, which define hue, saturation, and value as components of color. Another embodiment uses both RGB and HSV characteristics.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for reducing image noise with the use of a minimal error spatiotemporal recursive filter. An input image is filtered both temporally and spatially, producing a temporal output and a spatial output. Both the temporal output and the spatial output are correlated with the input image to produce a temporal correlation output and a spatial correlation output. The temporal correlation output and the spatial correlation output are mixed to generate a selecting signal. The selecting signal directly or indirectly determines the composition. of an output image. The selecting signal may select a portion of the temporal output and a portion of the spatial output to compose an output image. Alternatively, the selecting signal may select either the temporal output or the spatial output to compose an output image.

Abstract: Material analysis apparatus and method, particularly of use in detecting barely visible impact damage but also of use to detect other material characteristics. The apparatus includes a function generator which provides a sinusoidal signal to an ultrasonic amplifier as well as to a PC. The PC is connected to an infrared camera. The sinusoidal signal is fed into the amplifier and causes two probes attached to the sample of material to emit ultrasonic energy at the modulated frequency. Ultrasonic energy from the two probes then enters the sample by means of mechanical coupling and an image of the resulting thermal radiation is captured by the infrared camera and transferred to the PC for further processing and analysis.

Abstract: Apparatus for non-destructively testing material to enable detection of any damage sites, comprising means for generating localised heating at any damage site in the material, and means for imaging the material to enable detection of any localised heating at the damage site.

Abstract: Material analysis apparatus and method, particularly of use in detecting barely visible impact damage but also of use to detect other material characteristics. The apparatus includes a function generator (15) which provides a sinusoidal signal to an ultrasonic amplifier (14) as well as to a PC (16). The PC is connected to an infrared camera (17). The sinusoidal signal is fed into the amplifier and causes two probes (12, 13) attached to the sample of material to emit ultrasonic energy at the modulated frequency. Ultrasonic energy from the two probes then enters the sample (11) by means of a mechanical coupling and an image of the resulting thermal radiation is captured by the infrared camera and transferred to the PC for further processing and analysis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing sound in a spatial environment is provided. Control is provided over the perceived position of sound sources, including perceived positions behind the listener or listeners. The invention is effective for multiple simultaneous listeners distributed throughout the spatial environment. The invention provides techniques for real-time interaction with graphic images, computer game controls, or other computer-based events. The invention provides control over the relative amplitude of signals provided to each of a plurality of spatially diverse transducers. By controlling the relative amplitudes of signals applied to each of the transducers, the present invention provides control over the perceived position of sound sources in a spatial environment with respect to one or more listeners. Attenuation parameters may be stored in a table, indexed by the spatial region to which they apply, and used to adjust the relative amplitude of each of the transducers used to produce a sound.

Abstract: A software algorithm is disclosed which allows audio signals to be positioned discretely and dynamically in a 360.degree. environment, the center of which is assumed to be the position of the user-listener. The algorithm includes: a) proprietary knowledge of the sound sources (such as a synthesizer chip); b) proprietary knowledge of the number of independently addressable couplers (i.e. how many speakers are employed); and c) a software driver incorporated on a host, computer, or a stand-alone device which includes the algorithm for routing the sound sources to the transducers at the proper volume levels. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the algorithm functions by controlling the amplitude attenuation of each source as it is coupled to the transducers, and the relationship of the amplitudes sent to each transducer by means of reference values contained in a matrix table native to the algorithm.