Abstract: A system configured to monitor the structural health of reactor vessel internals of a nuclear reactor is disclosed herein. The system includes a memory configured to store historical information associated with past performance of the nuclear reactor, and an anomaly detection subsystem including a control circuit configured to receive a signal from a sensor. The anomaly detection subsystem is configured to determine, via the control circuit, a characteristic of a vibrational response of the reactor vessel internals based, at least in part, on the signal; access, via the control circuit, the historical information stored in the memory; compare, via the control circuit, the determined characteristic to the historical information stored in the memory; and determine, via the control circuit, a condition of the reactor vessel internals based, at least in part, on the comparison of the determined characteristic and the historical information.

Abstract: A realistic tactile haptic device comprising a first vibration sensor, a digital controller, an actuator, and a similar or identical second vibration sensor, and a realistic tactile haptic feedback method thereof, provides users with realistic tactile haptic feedback that is similar to or the same as real tactile haptic feedback which users would experience by touching real objects.

Abstract: A user interface for multimedia centers advantageously utilizes hand-held inertial-sensing user input devices to select channels and quickly navigate the dense menus of options. Extensive use of the high resolution and bandwidth of such user input devices is combined with strategies to avoid unintentional inputs and with dense and intuitive interactive graphical displays.

Abstract: A realistic tactile haptic device comprising a first vibration sensor, a digital controller, an actuator, and a similar or identical second vibration sensor, and a realistic tactile haptic feedback method thereof, provides users with realistic tactile haptic feedback that is similar to or the same as real tactile haptic feedback which users would experience by touching real objects.

Abstract: Latent Semantic Engineering processes, devices, and methods match (aspirational, emotional, functional, physical) Latent Semantic Engineering semantic space user needs to (aspirational, emotional, functional, physical) Latent Semantic Engineering semantic space designs. Latent Semantic Engineering processes, devices, and methods thereby match user needs to designs, increase matching accuracy, and increase product quality, customer satisfaction, and product success.

Abstract: A method for recognizing objects in images is disclosed. The method of the present invention comprises the following steps. First, acquire a digital image. Then, select one or more objects from the image according to a certain characteristic. Next, generate an x-axis histogram and/or a y-axis histogram from the segmented image. Then, find the zeroes and maxima for the x-axis histogram and/or the y-axis histogram and use the polynomial regression analysis to determine the shape, shape and location of each of the objects in the segmented image according to the zeroes and maxima. If the two curves linking two zeroes and one maximum in the x-axis histogram and the y-axis histogram are two sloped line, the corresponding object may be determined to be a triangle. If each of the four curves linking two zeroes and two maxima is a line, the corresponding object may be determined to be a rectangle.

Abstract: A mesh structure to which is mounted one or more ornamental stones. The mesh structure includes a series of chain links that are inter-woven. A thin metallic film in the form of a solder layer is hardened onto the surface of the mesh structure so as to make the mesh structure rigid. One or more settings are drilled into the rigid mesh structure, and a stone is disposed in each of the settings that are provided. A series of prongs are formed about the periphery of each of the so-disposed stones by up-setting the mesh.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and program product for attenuating a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader. In one embodiment, the system includes optimizing a coverage area of an RFID reader.

Abstract: An archery bow riser that generally aligns a moveable arrow rest with a longitudinal axis in order to minimize a rotational effect of an archer's forehand when drawing a bow string.

Abstract: A method for recognizing objects in images is disclosed. The method of the present invention comprises the following steps. First, acquire a digital image. Then, select one or more objects from the image according to a certain characteristic. Next, generate an x-axis histogram and/or a y-axis histogram from the segmented image. Then, find the zeroes and maxima for the x-axis histogram and/or the y-axis histogram and use the polynomial regression analysis to determine the shape, shape and location of each of the objects in the segmented image according to the zeroes and maxima. If the two curves linking two zeroes and one maximum in the x-axis histogram and the y-axis histogram are two sloped line, the corresponding object may be determined to be a triangle. If each of the four curves linking two zeroes and two maxima is a line, the corresponding object may be determined to be a rectangle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the effective dielectric constant of materials used in a semiconductor device are shown and described. In one embodiment, a method comprises providing a semiconductor substrate with a plurality of pillars formed thereon, depositing a first layer of dielectric material over a plurality of pillars, removing a portion of the first layer deposited over the plurality of pillars, and depositing a second layer of dielectric material over the plurality of pillars, where the second layer leaves a plurality of voids between the plurality of pillars.

Abstract: A user interface for multimedia centers advantageously utilizes hand-held inertial-sensing user input devices to select channels and quickly navigate the dense menus of options. Extensive use of the high resolution and bandwidth of such user input devices is combined with strategies to avoid unintentional inputs and with dense and intuitive interactive graphical displays.

Abstract: A user interface for multimedia centers advantageously utilizes hand-held inertial-sensing user input devices to select channels and quickly navigate the dense menus of options. Extensive use of the high resolution and bandwidth of such user input devices is combined with strategies to avoid unintentional inputs and with dense and intuitive interactive graphical displays.

Abstract: A release device with a follow-through or recoil motion for use with mechanically launched projectiles. A recoil motion is in a direction opposite the path of the projectile. Releasing an arrow from a bow provides correct form and follow-through motion of a user hand directly opposite to a direction of a path of the launched arrow, to improve flight accuracy. The release device includes a housing, a trigger, a keeper and a recoil assembly. This invention also relates to a method of using the release device.

Abstract: A user interface for multimedia centers advantageously utilizes hand-held inertial-sensing user input devices to select channels and quickly navigate the dense menus of options. Extensive use of the high resolution and bandwidth of such user input devices is combined with strategies to avoid unintentional inputs and with dense and intuitive interactive graphical displays.

Abstract: A user interface for multimedia centers advantageously utilizes hand-held inertial-sensing user input devices to select channels and quickly navigate the dense menus of options. Extensive use of the high resolution and bandwidth of such user input devices is combined with strategies to avoid unintentional inputs and with dense and intuitive interactive graphical displays.

Abstract: A blade opening arrowhead having an actuator moveably mounted with respect to a blade carrying body. The actuator can move each blade between a closed position and an opened position. During flight, the blade is in the closed position. Upon target penetration, for example, the actuator moves the blade into the opened position.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and program product for attenuating a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader. In one embodiment, the system includes optimizing a coverage area of an RFID reader.

Abstract: A release device with a follow-through or recoil motion for use with mechanically launched projectiles. A recoil motion is in a direction opposite the path of the projectile. Releasing an arrow from a bow provides correct form and follow-through motion of a user hand directly opposite to a direction of a path of the launched arrow, to improve flight accuracy. The release device includes a housing, a trigger, a keeper and a recoil assembly. This invention also relates to a method of using the release device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the effective dielectric constant of materials used in a semiconductor device are shown and described. In one embodiment, a method comprises providing a semiconductor substrate with a plurality of pillars formed thereon, depositing a first layer of dielectric material over a plurality of pillars, removing a portion of the first layer deposited over the plurality of pillars, and depositing a second layer of dielectric material over the plurality of pillars, where the second layer leaves a plurality of voids between the plurality of pillars.