Abstract: An elevator buffering device and an elevator system. The elevator buffering device includes a multi-stage buffer including: a body bracket; and a plurality of buffering elements mounted on the body bracket; wherein each of the buffering elements is at different heights when they are driven to operating positions in a vertical direction; a drive mechanism including: a power source for powering the drive mechanism; and a telescopic push rod pivotally connected to the body bracket; and a control element for controlling a telescopic length of the telescopic push rod of the drive mechanism so that one of the plurality of buffering elements on the body bracket is driven to the operating position.

Abstract: An elevator buffering device and an elevator system. The elevator buffering device includes a multi-stage buffer including: a body bracket; and a plurality of buffering elements mounted on the body bracket; wherein each of the buffering elements is at different heights when they are driven to operating positions in a vertical direction; a drive mechanism including: a power source for powering the drive mechanism; and a telescopic push rod pivotally connected to the body bracket; and a control element for controlling a telescopic length of the telescopic push rod of the drive mechanism so that one of the plurality of buffering elements on the body bracket is driven to the operating position.

Abstract: An elevator system and an elevator car. The elevator system includes one or more elevator cars traveling in an elevator hoistway along a guide rail, a shock absorbing device and a buffering device, the shock absorbing device is installed on at least one outside surface of the elevator car, and the buffering device is installed on an inside wall and/or a bottom of the elevator hoistway and configured to contact the shock absorbing device when the elevator car travels to lowest position along the guide rail.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and device for calibrating the offset of an imaging system. The core idea of the invention is to place a reference object in the measurement chamber of the imaging system, measure the signals associated with the reference object at different points of time, calculate the merit function based on changes of the parameters representing the electromagnetic property of the reference object, and derive an optimal set of offset data that minimizes the value of the merit function for compensating the offset of the system in subsequent image reconstructions. In one embodiment, the invention uses a reference object comprising a non-conductive envelope and a cavity which can be filled with a conductive fluid and emptied, and in this way reduces the imaging interference caused by the reference object during monitoring.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for estimating artifacts in the image reconstruction of an object of interest (101).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for magnetic induction tomography, the system comprising: at least one transmitting coil for generating a primary magnetic field to be applied to the object of interest; and at least one measurement coil arrangement for measuring electric signals induced by a secondary magnetic field which is generated by the object of interest in response to the primary magnetic field, wherein the at least one measurement coil arrangement comprises a plurality of measurement coils which are positioned in substantially the same plane. By using a plurality of independent measurement coils positioned in a plane so as to replace a conventional single measurement coil, the measurement coil across which the measured difference voltage is most sensitive to a change of the secondary magnetic field can be selected for calculating the change of conductivity distribution, resulting in an improved sensitivity of a MIT system.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and device for calibrating the offset of an imaging system. The core idea of the invention is to place a reference object in the measurement chamber of the imaging system, measure the signals associated with the reference object at different points of time, calculate the merit function based on changes of the parameters representing the electromagnetic property of the reference object, and derive an optimal set of offset data that minimizes the value of the merit function for compensating the offset of the system in subsequent image reconstructions. In one embodiment, the invention uses a reference object comprising a non-conductive envelope and a cavity which can be filled with a conductive fluid and emptied, and in this way reduces the imaging interference caused by the reference object during monitoring.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for monitoring an object of interest (100). According to the invention, a cushion (104) is inflated such that the inflated cushion extends inwards to envelop the object of interest (100), whereupon the pressure exerted on the object of interest (1600) by the inflated cushion (104) is measured and a signal is output to stop inflating when the pressure reaches a predefined threshold. After that, the volume of the inflated cushion is measured and the size of the object of interest (100) is derived from the volume of the inflated cushion (104). In this way, the invention can keep the object of interest still during monitoring. Furthermore, the size of the object of interest can be used for imaging reconstruction to improve the quality of reconstructed images.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for recording data by a plurality of laser beams (A, B) on an optical disc, said optical disc comprising segments which (1-51) are each identified by a synchronization pattern, said plurality of laser beams comprising at least a first laser beam (A) which has a first position on said optical disc for recording/reading data on a first segment and a second laser beam (B) which has a second position on said optical disc for recording data on a second segment, said method comprising the steps of: —calculating (410) said second position from said first position and the relative distance between said first laser beam and said second laser beam, —detecting (420) a synchronization pattern by said second laser beam, and —starting (430) to record data with said second laser beam on the basis of said second position and said detected synchronization pattern.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for recording data by a plurality of laser beams (A, B) on an optical disc, said optical disc comprising segments which (1-51) are each identified by a synchronization pattern, said plurality of laser beams comprising at least a first laser beam (A) which has a first position on said optical disc for recording/reading data on a first segment and a second laser beam (B) which has a second position on said optical disc for recording data on a second segment, said method comprising the steps of: —calculating (410) said second position from said first position and the relative distance between said first laser beam and said second laser beam, —detecting (420) a synchronization pattern by said second laser beam, and —starting (430) to record data with said second laser beam on the basis of said second position and said detected synchronization pattern.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method of recording data on an optical disc by a plurality of laser beams positioned along inner tracks to outer tracks of said optical disc, said optical disc comprising segments each being identified by a start of segment, said method comprising the steps of: switching writing on (710) successively each laser beam at different starts of segments for recording data, switching writing off (720) successively each laser beam arriving at the start of a segment previously recorded by another laser beam, detecting (730) when only one laser beam remains writing on, detecting (740) a subsequent start of a segment accessed by said one laser beam, switching writing off (750) said one laser beam, shifting (760) all the laser beams so that the innermost laser beam gets positioned at said subsequent start.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding polypeptides from a human, reagents related thereto (including purified polypeptides specific antibodies) are provided. Methods of using said reagents and diagnostic kits are also provided.

Abstract: A method for template-dependent in vitro replication and transcapsidation of double stranded RNA from Reoviridae mRNA templates is described. This method provides an efficient means for isolating rotaviral mRNA, manipulating the mRNA, and expressing the new dsRNA species without the use of infected cells by constructing a new virus in the test tube without any cellular components. Viral protein complexes are prepared by test tube degradation of purified virus particles or by expression of a small subset of viral genes in insect cells, where the proteins form complexes. Viral mRNAs are made in the test tube by transcription of "native" viral mRNAs from viral transcriptase particles previously made in vitro, or by expression of viral mRNAs from transcription vectors in vitro.