Abstract: A weather effects generator that generates weather data based on real-world weather data, and provides this data to a host simulator. The type of data provided and the spatial distribution of the data depend on the type of simulation. A real world database is accessed to obtain a dataspace of weather data elements, each having a location parameter and various weather-related parameters. For visual display simulators, the data elements are preprocessed to obtain color, transparency, and texture values for each data element. The preprocessed data elements are further processed to obtain a prioritized display list of those data elements that correspond to field-of-view data provided by the simulator. Each data element in this list is assigned a graphics primitive that can be rasterized in accordance with the color and transparency values. Simulators other than visual display simulators provide location data and receive data representing the weather effects at that location.

Abstract: A weather simulation system that generates and distributes weather data to simulation subsystems for the real time simulation of weather conditions, from three-dimensional real world data. A real world database is accessed to obtain a dataspace of weather data elements, each having a set of various weather-related parameters. For "out-the-window" weather displays, these data elements are preprocessed to obtain color and transparency values for each data element. The preprocessed data elements are further processed to obtain a prioritized display list of those data elements that are in a field of view. Each data element in this list is assigned a graphics primitive, whose alignment is determined by a wind vector of that data element. Pixel values are assigned to the graphics primitives, using color and transparency values of the associated data elements.

Abstract: A weather effects generator that generates weather data based on real-world weather data, and provides this data to a host simulator. The type of data provided and the spatial distribution of the data depend on the type of simulation. A real world database is accessed to obtain a dataspace of weather data elements, each having a location parameter and various weather-related parameters. For visual display simulators, the data elements are preprocessed to obtain color, transparency, and texture values for each data element. The preprocessed data elements are further processed to obtain a prioritized display list of those data elements that correspond to field-of-view data provided by the simulator. Each data element in this list is assigned a graphics primitive that can be rasterized in accordance with the color and transparency values. Simulators other than visual display simulators provide location data and receive data representing the weather effects at that location.

Abstract: A weather simulation system that generates and distributes weather data to simulation subsystems for the real time simulation of weather conditions, from three-dimensional real world data. A real world database is accessed to obtain a dataspace of weather data elements, each having a set of various weather-related parameters. For "out-the-window" weather displays, these data elements are preprocessed to obtain color and transparency values for each data element. The preprocessed data elements are further processed to obtain a prioritized display list of those data elements that are in a field of view. Each data element in this list is assigned a graphics primitive, whose alignment is determined by a wind vector of that data element. Pixel values are assigned to the graphics primitives, using color and transparency values of the associated data elements.

Abstract: A weather simulation system that generates and distributes weather data to simulation subsystems for the real time simulation of weather conditions, from three-dimensional real world data. A real world database is accessed to obtain a dataspace of weather data elements, each having a set of various weather-related parameters. For "out-the-window" weather displays, these data elements are preprocessed to obtain color and transparency values for each data element. The preprocessed data elements are further processed to obtain a prioritized display list of those data elements that are in a field of view. Each data element in this list is assigned a graphics primitive, whose alignment is determined by a wind vector of that data element. Pixel values are assigned to the graphics primitives, using color and transparency values of the associated data elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an automated optical robotic polishing system for removing flaws in transparencies, such as transparent canopies used in aircraft. A pneumatic random orbital polishing tool attached to a robot arm is used to polish canopies to remove flaws. The flaws are removed by grinding the area surrounding the flaw and smoothing the flaw site to conform to the contour of the canopy. To identify optimum motions for the polishing tool for grinding to remove the bulk of the plastic material around a flaw, mathematical topology simulation techniques are implemented using various polishing pad pressure profiles and various polishing motions.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a transducer array of individual pressure or force sensitive elements and for selecting the element within the array which most tracks the actual pulse waveform in an underlying artery, thus providing the most accurate measurement of the patient's blood pressure. The outputs of all of the transducer elements are employed in locating the particular element which is centrally located over the artery. A limited number of elements exhibiting local minima of diastolic pressure is first chosen. Then, pulse amplitude outputs from the limited number of transducer elements are employed in selecting that element within the limited-number group which is to be used for obtaining blood pressure measurements. The method provided by the present invention selects from the limited-number group of elements that element about which is centered the greatest spatially weighted average of a predetermined number of pulse amplitude values.

Abstract: A method for computing optimal hold down pressure for a transducer comprising an array of pressure sensing elements for generation of electrical waveforms indicative of blood pressure in an artery. Using the selected pressure sensing element that is determined to be positioned substantially over the center of the underlying artery, a set of data corresponding to the diastolic pressure and the pulse amplitude pressure is collected and stored. The diastolic pressures and pulse amplitude pressures are taken as a function of hold down pressure over a range of hold down pressures between the pressure at which the artery is unflattened and the pressure at which the artery is occluded. First and second polynomials are fitted to the diastolic pressure data set and the pulse amplitude data set, respectively. The hold-down pressure at the point of minimum slope of the first polynomial fitted to the diastolic versus hold-down pressures values provides one estimate of the correct hold-down pressure.

Abstract: A method for determining the pulse rate of a person. The method of the present invention is implemented in two phases. The first phase involes the determination of pulse intervals and the second phase provides an indication of the pulse rate based on the data produced during the first phase. The first phase is implemented by an algorithm which produces a pulse distribution profile from an array of pulses obtained from an appropriate transducer. In the second phase of the measurement, the distribution is searched to locate the region of maximum density. The pulse rate within the maximally dense region are then averaged to determine pulse rate. The pulse rate detection method of the present invention eliminates a significant number of erroneous pulse signals before calculation of pulse rate, thus providing a more accurate indication of the true pulse rate.