Abstract: A method and apparatus for visualizing in three-dimensions an image of a subsurface object such as an internal structure of a mechanical component, or of a fetus or other internal biological feature within a human body, utilizes a sensor such as an ultrasonic transducer of an ultrasound wand to acquire ultrasonic images of an object, and a target plate attached to a wand which is optically imaged by a digital camera during each of a sequence of ultrasound scans. Each ultrasound image scan of an object is made with the position and/or orientation of the ultrasonic scan beam changed, thereby forming a sequence of quasi two-dimensional slices which intersect the object at different locations and/or aspect angles.

Abstract: A transducer sensor array for measuring forces or pressures exerted on a surface includes a lattice of individual force or pressure sensor transducer elements comprising intersecting regions of pairs of elongated, flexible threads, each consisting of a central electrically conductive wire core covered by a layer of piezoresistive material having an electrical resistivity which varies inversely with pressure exerted on the material. The threads are arranged into two parallel planar sets, one set forming parallel spaced apart rows and the other set forming parallel spaced apart columns angled with respect to the rows. Row and column piezoresistive threads are retained in physical contact with one another at cross-over intersection points forming a lattice of piezoresistive junctions comprising individual force sensing elements, either by being bonded between a pair of thin, flexible, upper and lower laminating sheets, or by being interwoven to form a fabric mesh.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a three-dimensional image of a subsurface object utilizes an ultrasonic transducer wand to acquire ultrasonic images of an object, and a target plate attached to the wand which is optically imaged during each of a sequence of ultrasound scans, each of which is made with a different positioning of the ultrasonic scanning beam, thereby forming a sequence of quasi two-dimensional sonogram image slices of the object. Intersecting lines on the target are used to calculate a first coordinate transformation which transforms each optical image of the target plate and sensor to a normal view thereof, and each normally oriented target plate image is used to orient each sonogram image in a fixed coordinate system. A transformation matrix is then used to construct in a fixed coordinate system normalized two-dimensional sensor image slices of correct relative size, location, and orientation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring pressures exerted on human feet or horses' hooves comprises a rectangular array of piezoresistive force sensors encapsulated in a thin polymer package that is inserted into a shoe, or incorporated into a sock that may be pulled over a foot or hoof. The preferred embodiment employs novel piezoresistive normal force or pressure sensing elements which include a polymer fabric mesh impregnated with conductive particles suspended in an elastomeric vehicle, preferably silicone rubber. The piezoresistive mesh layer is sandwiched between an array of row and column conductor strip laminations, preferably made of a nylon mesh impregnated with printed metallic paths. In a variation of the basic embodiment, each normal force sensor element is bordered by laterally and longitudinally disposed pairs of shear force sensor elements, each of the latter comprising a pair of adjacent resilient piezoresistive pads that have longitudinally contacting lateral surfaces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (68, 40) for measuring pressures exerted on 6 human feet or horses' hooves comprises a rectangular array of piezoresistive force sensors encapsulated in a thin polymer package (40) that is inserted into a shoe, or incorporated into a sock that may be pulled over a foot or hoof. The preferred embodiment employs novel piezoresistive normal force or pressure sensing elements (36) which include a polymer fabric mesh impregnated with conductive particles suspended in an elastomeric vehicle, preferably silicone rubber. The piezoresistive mesh layer (33) is sandwiched between an array of row (34) and column (31) conductor strip laminations, preferably made of a nylon mesh impregnated with printed metallic paths.

Abstract: A remote wound assessment method and apparatus includes forming an oblique image of a wound and a target plate containing a rectangle and placed near the wound. Using a novel method of determining vanishing points where photographic images of parallel lines on the target object intersect, coordinate transformations are calculated which map the oblique image of the rectangle into a normal image thereof. Using the same coordinate transformations, an oblique image of a wound adjacent to the target plate is mapped into a normal view thereof, allowing precise measurement of wound features. By forming two separate images of a wound and target plate at two different oblique inclinations, three dimensional features of a wound may be measured.

Abstract: A method and article for optically encoding copies of a printed document to make the copies unreadable to a casual observer uses a mask having alternating transparent and opaque, white-colored areas placed over the document prior to making a first photocopy of the document, referred to as a first coded half. The opaque regions of the mask, which preferably are spatially periodic, obscure portions of printed letters to make the first coded half unreadable. The mask is then shifted in location relative to the document so as to position transparent regions of the mask over formerly obscured areas, and vice versa. A second photocopy, or second coded half is then made. The first and second coded halves are then physically transmitted or telefaxed to a recipient, who must superimpose the first and second coded halves to render the document readable.

Abstract: A water inflatable structural module for constructing temporary dikes and related structures includes two identical elongated flattened cylinders sealed at opposite lateral ends to form a sealed, water-tight chamber within a cylinder. The cylinders are joined along a horizontal mid-plane to opposite longitudinal edges of a thin, flexible, elongated, rectangular web. A sealable inlet port in each of the two cylinders permits the cylinders to be inflated with water to form two relatively stiff, parallel, elongated cylinders attached at facing inner mid section lines to the flexible web. In a preferred version of the module the width of the web, and therefore the minimum spacing between the two cylinders with the web flat, is of the proper dimension to make the ratio of minimum spacing to inflated cylinder diameter lie in the approximate range of 1.75 to 1 to 2 to 1.

Abstract: An improved thruster for propelling borescopes by the reaction forces generated by pressurized fluid expelled from the thruster has a desirably small cross-sectional profile made possible by its novel construction. The basic embodiment of the thruster comprises an elongated hollow cylinder sealed at one end by a bulkhead and supplied with pressurized fluid at the opposite, open end. A thin slot cut through the cylinder wall permits pressurized fluid to exit the hollow interior space of the cylinder, producing a reaction force useful in propelling a borescope tip to which the thruster is fastenable.

Abstract: An apparatus for remotely orienting the distant tip of a flexible borescope cable to point in a desired direction utilizes a plurality of vertabrae-like annular disks disposed transversely within the hollow interior of the distal end of the flexible cable. Fine, flexible wires fabricated from a shape memory effect (SME) alloy are fixedly attached to outermost disk, and extend longitudinally backwards slidably through aligned holes in the other disks, and slidably through hollow flexible tubes rearward of the innermost of the disks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for spatially orienting a remote flexible member such as the tip of a borescope to point in a desired direction employs heating to its transition temperature a shape memory efffect SME alloy actuating element coupled to the tip and cable. In one embodiment, an elongated helical spring fabricated from an SME alloy such as NI--TI or CU--ZN--AL is longitudinally disposed between the remote end of a borescope cable, and the borescope tip. An electrical resistance wire heater in contact with the spring and energized by an electrical power source controlled by an observer at the near end of the cable is used to heat a selected part of the spring to the transition temperature of the SME alloy of which it is fabricated, producing a controlled deflection of the borescope tip to point in a direction directed by the observer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for propelling a borescope being used to inspect inaccessible areas comprises one or more reaction jets attached to the borescope, the reaction jets expelling gas, liquid or other fluids to produce a reaction thrust force on the borescope. In one embodiment, a reaction jet is fastened to the remote head of an articulateable borescope, and the propulsion direction is controlled by an operator who views a desired aim point at the output end of the borescope cable, and articulates the borescope head to point at the desired aim point. In another embodiment, the orientation of the thrust vector of the reaction jets is controllable, permitting an operator to control the direction of travel of a borescope not necessarily possessing an independent articulation capability.