Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a toy building block system that includes a building portion having a housing with a surface and a building component. The building component is extendable from the housing and movable relative to the housing surface. The building component and the housing surface define a configuration of the building portion that is changeable during play. The toy building block system further includes a play component which is engageable with the building component.

Abstract: A ramp structure for toy vehicles includes an upper track section angled downward toward a first opening, a middle track section disposed beneath the upper track section and angled downward toward a second opening, and a lower track section disposed beneath the middle track section and angled downward toward an exit. The middle track section includes a first engagement plate engageable by a first end of a toy vehicle traveling in a first direction from the upper track section. The lower track section includes a second engagement plate engageable by a second end of the toy vehicle traveling in a second direction, the second end and the second direction being opposite to the first end and the first direction, respectively. The lower ramp section is angled so that the toy vehicle can travel in the first direction to the exit.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a toy building block system include housing having a building portion with a surface and a building component, the building component being extendable from the housing and movable relative to the surface, the building component and the surface defining a configuration of the building portion, the configuration of the building portion being changeable during play; and a play component engageable with the building component.

Abstract: An image projection system includes an image projection device for projecting a light image onto a wall, ceiling or other designated surface. The image projection device includes a housing within which is disposed separately located light sources. The housing further includes a slot for receiving several image slides. Each image slide has multiple, separated, slide image patterns thereon and each slide image pattern is in a different location on the image slide. Each of the light sources is disposed in a light chamber such that light from one of the light sources projects through only one of the separated image patterns on the image slide. Light from light sources passing through respective slide image patterns can then intersect to project multiple superimposed images on an image viewing surface. Furthermore, an electronic controller controls the light intensity and light timing of each individual light source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an attachment system or mounting structure that can be used with a device to mount or couple the device to a support, such as an infant support structure. In different embodiments, the device can be an entertainment device, such as a mobile or toy aquarium, or another type of device, such as a monitor. In different embodiments, the infant support structure can be a crib or bassinet or other type of structure.

Abstract: An image projection system includes an image projection device for projecting a light image onto a wall, ceiling or other designated surface. The image projection device includes a housing within which is disposed separately located light sources. The housing further includes a slot for receiving several image slides. Each image slide has multiple, separated, slide image patterns thereon and each slide image pattern is in a different location on the image slide. Each of the light sources is disposed in a light chamber such that light from one of the light sources projects through only one of the separated image patterns on the image slide. Light from light sources passing through respective slide image patterns can then intersect to project multiple superimposed images on an image viewing surface. Furthermore, an electronic controller controls the light intensity and light timing of each individual light source.

Abstract: This is a device for a bore wiping, self-lubricating ramrod used for muzzle loading gun barrels. The device consists of a bullet jag with two 0-rings, and a center hole to allow the lubricant to get into the bore. As the jag is passed down the bore a small amount of lubricant is released into the bore. The first 0-ring stops the lubricant from leaving the bore, and the second 0-ring wipes the bore clean when the ramrod is pulled out of the bore. The ramrod may be made in different diameters to accommodate different caliber muzzleloaders. The shooter uses the same ramrod for lubing and loading the weapon with the same pass down the barrel.

Abstract: A self-diagnosing image sensor (100) detects and stores maps of functioning and malfunctioning pixels (124) in a memory (144) directly coupled to the sensor (100). The memory (144) is coupled to an external monitoring computer (118) which retrieves the pixel map and adjusts the sensor data received from the image sensor (100) in accordance with the retrieved pixel map. A defect discriminator (140) is coupled directly to the image sensor (100) and to the memory (144) for detecting whether a pixel (124) malfunctions, and updates the map accordingly. Additionally, if the number of malfunctioning pixels (124) in the sensor (100) exceeds a predefined threshold, an alert message is available to the external monitoring computer or display (118) to warn the user that the sensor (100) may be generating inaccurate information.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically collimating X-rays. A digital X-ray system (100) includes a generator (108), a sensor unit (110), a control station (112), and a preview monitor (114). The generator (108) generates X-ray radiation that is captured by the sensor unit (110) as a digital image and transmitted to the control station (112). The captured image is displayed on the preview monitor (114). The generator (108) includes a collimator (212) that collimates the generated radiation into a primary beam of X-rays. The size and shape of the primary beam can be adjusted by modifying collimation parameters. A short duration beam of X-rays is generated by the generator (108) and captured (414) by the sensor unit (110). This step is repeated as necessary or desired. The resulting digital images are analyzed (418) by the control station (112) to calculate a calibration coefficient. Another short duration beam of X-rays is generated and a reference image is captured (514).

Abstract: Digital X-ray imaging system 10 automatically provides an enhanced digital display image 10D from a digital camera image 10C showing internal structure 10S of interest within subject 11S. Calibrated radiation attenuators 10A placed near the subject appear in the camera image and in the display image. X-ray source 10X generates X-ray radiations which are attenuated within the calibrated attenuators to provide calibrated attenuations. The X-ray radiations are also differentially attenuated within the interior of the subject to reveal internal structure therein. Digital X-ray camera 11C detects the calibrated radiations to form the camera image of the calibrated greyscale levels. The camera also detects the differentially attenuated radiations to provide the camera image of internal structure of the subject. Each calibrated attenuator appears in the camera image as a collection of adjacent camera pixels exhibiting one of the plurality of calibrated greyscale levels within the camera greyscale.

Abstract: Diagnostic x-ray images having uniform optical density are generated by selectively scanning (806) lines of pixels (402) in a sensor unit (202) used to capture x-ray images in a digital radiography system (200). By selectively scanning (806) the lines of pixels (402), the exposure time of such pixels can be controlled. The lines of pixels (402) are selectively scanned (806) according to exposure compensation profiles (600) for the anatomic regions of interest. The exposure compensation profiles (600) include an ordered sequence of exposure times which can be loaded into a programmable timer (306) coupled to read out circuitry (304) located in the sensor unit (202). The timer (306) uses this ordered sequence of exposure times to determine which pixel line to access next, and when to initiate that access. The exposure compensation profiles (600) can be generated (802) from empirical data by taking (800) preliminary low dose exposures of the body parts to be examined.

Abstract: A digital x-ray image (600) is divided (802) into regions (602), (604) according to a selected (800) exposure compensation profile. Each region (602),(604) includes pixel values indicative of gray-scale levels in that region. The pixel values are used to index entries in one of a plurality of spatial LUTs (312a-n) assigned (804) to that region. Entries in the selected spatial LUT (312a-n) contain new pixel values indicative of a transform (806) on the original pixel values used to index the spatial LUT (312a-n). Original pixel values are replaced (808) with corresponding pixel values from the spatial LUT (312a-n). Each region of the x-ray image (600) needing compensation is transformed (806), in turn, until the entire image (600) is processed.

Abstract: The x-ray exposure of an image pixel array (202) is measured by assigning to certain pixels (209ep) of the array the task of measuring the level of exposure. A target set (209) of pixels from array (202) is selected and divided into a set of exposure pixels (209ep) and a set of image pixels (209ip). Both sets of pixels generate and collect electrical charges in proportion to the amount of x-ray exposure experienced by them. The charges collected by the exposure pixels (209ep) are continuously read out during the capture of an image and compared with a desired exposure level. Once the desired exposure level is reached, as indicated by the exposure pixels (209ep), the image pixels (209ip) are read out and an image is produced.

Abstract: A method and system for storing and selectively retrieving information, such as words, from a document set. The method includes generating an image data set representative of the information contained in the document set. The method also involves generating a text data set representative of a text portion of the information contained in the document set. A text-image correspondence (TIC) table is generated that includes data representative of coordinates information corresponding to each phrase of the document set. A search phrase is identified in response to user-specified search criteria and the search phrase is identified in the text image data set. Then, the TIC table is used to identify the coordinates information corresponding to the search phrase identified in the text data set. A display of the portion of the page containing the search phrase is generated using the coordinates information.

Abstract: A document transport apparatus (100) that may be attached to or integrated with a system (200) for performing a plurality of functions on a single sheet of paper. The apparatus (100) includes one or more elongate tray elements (102), having an end stop element (110) to stop the movement of the sheet of paper as it is delivered to the tray element (102). A rotation element (104), such as a roll bar, is attached to the tray element (102) and proximate to the receiving end (101) of the tray element (102). The rotation element (104) may selectively be activated by a motor (112) attached to the rotation element (104), to rotate the tray element (102) from a first position for receiving a sheet of paper from an output port (206) of one device, to a second position for delivering that same sheet of paper to the input port (208) of another device.