Abstract: A low cost and easy to assemble communicating utility meter provides selectable measurement, calibration, display, and communications means so as to be re-configurable based on several factors including; harmonic content of the power signal measured, LCD display alternatives, time of use measurements, bandpass filter settings, power quality measurements, PLC communications alternatives, radio frequency communications alternatives, optical communications alternatives, and hard wire communications alternatives.

Abstract: A catch is provided for a window, the catch comprising a striker member 10 for attachment to a first window component and attached member 11 for attachment to a second window member which is movable with respect to the first window member, the catch comprising at least one bolt member which can be shot into locking engagement with the striker member 10 by means of a manually rotatable lever 21. A catch member according to the invention provides greater security than known window catches.

Abstract: A system and method for non-contact measurement of a complex part is provided. The method comprises acquiring an image of the complex part including imposed laser lines on the complex part using at least one imaging device, determining a span of interest of the complex part being representative of at least a portion of the complex part and which comprises information related to the plurality of dimensions of the surface of the complex part, extracting information corresponding to the laser lines from the span of interest to reduce computation and further extracting a plurality of unique points from information corresponding to the laser lines, the plurality of unique points representing the plurality of dimensions of the surface. The plurality of unique points is used for reconstructing a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the surface of the complex part.

Abstract: A method for increasing the dynamic light intensity range of an image by combining pixel data from multiple images collected at different levels of illumination intensity to create a single floating-point image representation of an observed scene.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system in which a network system includes a virtual graph composed of a plurality individual networks. A first individual network is associated with a first user. The first individual network includes a plurality of service modules modeled to be representing a first set of network elements. The second individual network is associated with a second user. The second individual network includes a plurality of service modules modeled to be representing a second set of network elements. The second set of network element differs in the type of network elements included in the second individual network and the topological order of the network elements in the second individual network than the first set of network elements.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for determining the leading edge (E) of an airfoil (A) includes a first light source (S1) illuminating a portion of the airfoil including its leading edge and a first camera (M1) acquiring an image of the illuminated portion of the airfoil. A second light source (S2), spaced apart from the first light source, also illuminates a portion of the airfoil including its leading edge. A second camera (M2) acquires an image of the portion of the airfoil illuminated by the second light source. The location (N2) of the second light source and the first camera are coincident in space as are the location (N1) of the first light source and the second camera. An image processor (P) processes the respective images obtained from the two cameras to locate the leading edge of the object. In doing so, the processor utilizes similarities in illumination of the airfoil by the respective light sources and occlusion boundaries of the respective illuminated portions of the airfoil.

Abstract: A method for determining the axis of rotation (AR) of an object (12) mounted to a rotary stage or platform (10) in a gauge measurement system by estimating a transformation (&dgr;) between multiple views or measurements of the object (12) obtained at different poses.

Abstract: A method for increasing the dynamic light intensity range of an image by combining pixel data from multiple images collected at different levels of illumination intensity to create a single floating-point image representation of an observed scene.

Abstract: A method for use with a non-contact range finding and measurement system for generating a template guide representative of the surface of a observed object, and for utilizing the template guide to improve laser stripe signal to noise ratios and to compensate for corrupted regions in images of the observed object to improve measurement accuracy.

Abstract: A method for generating, in a non-contact range finding and measurement system, a template structure representative of the surface of an observed object, and for utilizing the template structure to synthesize data points in corrupted regions of an image of the object.

Abstract: A portable work stand including a table, having a frame, the frame having rails, stiles, and a crosstray, the cross tray located between the rails and attached on each end to a stile, the cross tray further having a pair of leg retaining slots formed in the bottom of the cross tray; a plurality of legs, the legs having a foot section and upright sections, the upright sections located at each end of the foot, the upright sections having ends adapted for rotatable attachment to the frame, the legs, when are positioned adjacent the frame, selectively mate with the leg retaining slot, retaining the legs in a folded position; a bag joined to and extending through the frame; and a cutting board adapted for selective attachment to the frame.

Abstract: A system and method for redundantly storing documents, specifically medical records, both on a local computer and on a remote server. A copy of patient data is stored remotely in the event of system problems, and to allow access to patient data from multiple sites. Data is stored on the local computer to speed retrieval of the data at a later date. When data stored on the local computer is newer or the same age as data stored on the remote server, the data is not downloaded from the remote server. If the local data is older than the data on the remote server, the data is downloaded from the remote server. Data may be displayed and organized utilizing a customizable, hierarchical “tree view.” Data may include image files, text files, and information about the files, such as the patient with whom they are associated, the time they were entered into the system, the time of the patient's next appointment, and the like.

Abstract: A low cost and easy to assemble communicating utility meter provides selectable measurement, calibration, display, and communications means so as to be re-configurable based on several factors including; harmonic content of the power signal measured, LCD display alternatives, time of use measurements, bandpass filter settings, power quality measurements, PLC communications alternatives, radio frequency communications alternatives, optical communications alternatives, and hard wire communications alternatives.

Abstract: A low cost and easy to assemble communicating utility meter provides selectable measurement, calibration, display, and communications means so as to be re-configurable based on several factors including; harmonic content of the power signal measured, LCD display alternatives, time of use measurements, bandpass filter settings, power quality measurements, PLC communications alternatives, radio frequency communications alternatives, optical communications alternatives, and hard wire communications alternatives.

Abstract: A speech coding system and associated method relies on a speech encoder (15) and a speech decoder (20). The speech decoder (20) includes an LPC synthesis filter (90), a Gaussian noise generator (80) for generating unvoiced excitation, an epoch-adaptive harmonic generator (70) for generating voiced excitation for pitch harmonics below voicing cutoff frequency, and an excitation summer (72) for summing the voiced and unvoiced excitation generated by the Gaussian noise generator (80) and the harmonic generator (70). The output of the excitation summer (72) is provided to the LPC synthesis filter (90) to generate synthesized speech. The system and method provides natural sounding synthesized speech at a low bit rate.

Abstract: A speech coding system (10) and associated method rely on a speech encoder (15) and a speech decoder (20). The speech decoder (20) includes a Linear Predictive Coding (LPC) filter (90) having an input and an output. The LPC filter (90) provides synthesized speech at its output in response to voiced and unvoiced excitation provided at its input. A harmonic generator (70) for providing voiced excitation to the input of the LPC filter includes a pitch-related randomized adaptive phase off-setter. The adaptive phase off-setter off-sets the harmonic phases of the voiced excitation in accordance with the fundamental pitch frequency of respective frames of speech. The system and method thereby reduce perceived buzziness of synthesized speech provided at the output of the LPC filter.

Abstract: A speech coding system and associated method rely on a speech encoder and a speech decoder. The speech decoder includes a Linear Predictive Coding (LPC) filter having an input and an output. The LPC filter provides synthesized speech at the output in response to voiced and unvoiced excitation provided at the input. A harmonic generator for providing voiced excitation to the input of the LPC filter includes a spectral formant enhancer for attenuating the amplitude of harmonics generate by the harmonic generator in spectral valleys between format peaks of respective frames of voiced speech. The system and method reduce perceived buzziness while increasing perceived spectral depth of synthesized speech at the output of the LPC filter.

Abstract: A speech coding system and associated method relies on a speech encoder and a speech decoder. The encoder includes a spectral quantizer for computing line spectral frequencies (LSFs) for respective frames of speech and for quantizing the LSFs to obtain a minimum bit representation of a spectral envelope of each respective frame of speech. For even numbered frames of speech the LSFs are quantized using a vector quantization technique. For odd numbered frames of speech samples the LSFs are quantized using a dynamic bit allocation (DBA) method. The dynamic bit allocation method determines an interpolation factor for interpolating between the LSFs of the previous and next frames. According to the dynamic bit allocation method the most perceptually important LSFs are represented by relatively more bits, while the least perceptually important LSFs are represented by relatively fewer bits.

Abstract: A speech coding system and associated method relies on a speech coder and a speech decoder. The speech coder provides speech spectrum information, including Line Spectral Frequency (LSF) information, for respective frames of speech. The LSF information is provided to the speech decoder. The speech decoder includes an LSF smoothing filter comprising an adaptive finite impulse response filter for averaging consecutive LSFs which are similar. Consecutive LSFs which are dissimilar are not averaged. The system and method causes a reduction in the shaky quality of synthesized speech without causing a corresponding decrease in the clarity of the synthesized speech.