Abstract: A food slicing apparatus includes a container, a removable top, and a slicing device that includes blades and slides relative to the top. The top defines a patterned hole which accommodates the blades as the slicing device slides from an open position in which the blades are spaced from the top, toward a closed position in which the blades are disposed through the patterned hole. A piece of food that is placed on the top below the blades and is sliced by pressing the slicing device against the food and the sliced pieces are moved into the container by further pressing on the slicing device thereby pressing the frame of the slicing device against the food. The slicing device and top are thereafter removed from the container, and a lid is placed on the container to accommodate the food after it has been sliced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of sorting plant products based on damage to the plant products is disclosed. A beam emitter emits an illumination light toward the outer surface of a plant product. A beam detector detects substantially a single wavelength of a reflected light produced by the plant product responsive to the illumination light. A control unit determines at least one of a presence, an amount, and a severity of damage responsive to the reflected light. The control unit assigns a damage category to the plant product responsive to the determination of damage.

Abstract: The computer process controls operation of a system which sorts objects by surface characteristics. The system includes a multi-rail conveyor, an imaging unit for each rail of the conveyor and a computer including a user interface. Each imaging unit includes at least one camera, and at least one block of LEDs of multiple predetermined colors. The process initializes system hardware and software, calibrates the imaging units, sets, tests and reports various parameters for imaging, automatically or under user control, and synchronizes the operation of the imaging units with conveyor action to produce optimal imaging, as well as controlling sorting based upon imaging output.

Abstract: A three dimensional imaging radar system and method for generating and processing radar information to produce a three dimensional image of objects viewed by the system. The system is designed to create three dimensional images of physical objects at relatively short range, up to a distance of about 1000 feet. The radar system comprises a servo controlled antenna system, wherein the servo system provides azimuth and elevation pointing angle output signals. Two radar transmitters provide radar signals in two different radar bands that are selectively transmitted by the antenna system as a radar beam. A radar receiver preprocesses radar return signals reflected from targets.