Abstract: A system and method provides user authorization for use of a server without providing the server with sensitive user information. A secure authorization link is established between a user interface and a remote authentication server. The authorization link passes through a local server while being unreadable by the local server. User authorization data is sent from the user interface to the authorization server, via the authorization link. The authorization server then returns a redirected validation message to the user interface, via the authorization link. A local link is established between the user interface and the local server based on data included in the redirected validation message. All communication between the user interface, the local server and authorization server is performed utilizing the user interface web browser.

Abstract: Disclosed is a PFC (power factor correction) device for shaping an input current of a power converter. The device includes means for receiving a rectified input voltage derived from an AC input voltage; load determining means for determining a load value L which represents the power drawn by a load supplied by the power converter; current shaping means for shaping the input current of the power converter to follow a reference waveform; and control means for controlling the current shaping means to operate over a conduction interval ? during each positive and negative half cycle of the AC input voltage. The duration of the conduction interval is controlled in accordance with the load value L. The current shaping means may shape the input current to follow the reference waveform which crosses zero at phase angles which substantially correspond to the start and end of the conduction interval.

Abstract: Load sharing apparatus for load sharing between a plurality of power supplies (1, 2). The apparatus comprises one or more load sharing modules (Share1, Share2), each for association with a respective power supply. The or each load sharing module comprises load determining means for generating a signal which represents a load value corresponding to the power or current supplied by the respective power supply, and voltage control means for controlling the output voltage of the respective power supply to vary inversely with said load value at a first rate when the load value is below a threshold value, and for controlling the output voltage of the respective power supply to vary inversely with said load value at a second rate when the load value equals or exceeds said (first) threshold value. Said second rate is greater than said first rate.

Abstract: A document handling apparatus is disclosed which is particularly well adapted for counting documents of value, such as banknotes. The document handling apparatus comprises an input module for receiving a stack of documents and feeding them one by one into the apparatus, a detector box which houses a series of detectors for detecting characteristics of the documents, a transport system for conveying documents within the apparatus, a doubles detector for sensing the passage of each document therethrough and a stacker module for stacking the output documents and presenting them to the user. The apparatus is based on a metal framework in a plastics housing.

Abstract: A narrow aisle stacker crane is provided, which includes a base unit capable of traveling along aisles in a warehouse and a mast structure that is connected to the base unit. The mast structure may have a height greater than approximately 10 m. A hoisting carriage for an operator, with an attached load carrying platform, is included and is arranged to travel vertically along the mast. The base unit, the hoisting carriage and the load-carrying platform are sized to travel along warehouse aisles of 0.9 m to 1 m in width. The velocity of the base unit in a horizontal direction may be between 1 m/s to 5 m/s. The velocity of the hoisting carriage and load-carrying platform in the vertical direction may be less than 1.5 m/s. Horizontal movement of the base unit and vertical movement of the hoisting carriage and load-carrying platform may take place at the same time, so that fast item placement and retrieval can take place despite relatively low movement speeds.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a detector configured to receive data that can be reconstructed into a three-dimensional (3D) image of an object, and a computer programmed to obtain 3D image data of the object, the 3D image data including an internal structure of the object, define a longitudinal dimension of the internal structure from the 3D image data along a length of the structure, extract a first set of parameter-of-interest data related to the internal structure from the 3D image data along a first ray extending from a first location along the length of the structure and at a first angular orientation with respect to a base vector that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension, and plot the extracted first set of parameter-of-interest data at a pixel location of a two-dimensional (2D) plot that corresponds to the first location and corresponds to the first angular orientation.

Abstract: Luminescent material compositions, in particular for use in high-temperature environments, and structures, such as thermal barrier coatings (TBCs), which incorporate the same.

Abstract: A power conversion circuit comprising an input; an output; an electrical energy storage element having one side connected to the input; and at least two sub-circuits, wherein each respective sub-circuit is connected in series between the output and the other side of said electrical energy storage element; and wherein each said sub-circuit includes an inductive device, a rectifying element, and a controllable switching element connected in circuit therebetween to be capable of connecting the inductive device in parallel across the input; wherein the inductive elements of said at least two sub-circuits are magnetically coupled together. Smaller circuit components can therefore be used.

Abstract: The invention provides an article (20) comprising a substrate (1) having a micro-structured surface that defines a plurality of channels (4) and a fluid that is separated from the substrate until activation of the article is desired, wherein the article is designed such that it can be activated at a desired point in time to allow contact of the fluid with at least one of the channels of the substrate, said article being adapted for providing a measurable variable electrical characteristic, said variability being in correspondence with the progress of the fluid as it migrates through the channels of the substrate.

Abstract: A document feeder system for use in a document sorting apparatus is disclosed. The document feeder system comprises upper and lower portions, each having respective feeder elements for feeding documents from a hopper, the upper and lower portions being movable relative to one another between, a feeding position, in which the feeder elements of the upper and lower portions are engageable with a document to be fed, and a jam clearance position, in which a document between the feeder elements of the upper and lower portions may be retrieved, wherein the upper and lower portions are urged into the feeding position by a constant force spring.

Abstract: A document feeder system for use in a document sorting apparatus is disclosed. The document feeder system comprises upper and lower portions, each having respective feeder elements for feeding documents from a hopper, the upper and lower portions being movable relative to one another between a feeding position, in which the feeder elements of the upper and lower portions are engageable with a document to be fed, and a jam clearance position, in which a document between the feeder elements of the upper and lower portions may be retrieved, wherein the upper and lower portions are urged into the feeding position by a constant force spring.

Abstract: A document feeder system for use in a document sorting apparatus is disclosed. The document feeder system comprises upper and lower portions, each having respective feeder elements for feeding documents from a hopper, the upper and lower portions being movable relative to one another between a feeding position, in which the feeder elements of the upper and lower portions are engageable with a document to be fed, and a jam clearance position, in which a document between the feeder elements of the upper and lower portions may be retrieved, wherein the upper and lower portions are urged into the feeding position by a constant force spring.

Abstract: A document feeder system (4) for use in a document sorting apparatus (1) is disclosed. The document feeder system (4) comprises upper (102) and lower (101) portions, each having respective feeder elements for feeding documents from a hopper (100), the upper and lower portions being movable relative to one another between a feeding position, in which the feeder elements of the upper and lower portions are engageable with a document to be fed, and a jam clearance position, in which a document between the feeder elements of the upper and lower portions may be retrieved, wherein the upper and lower portions are urged into the feeding position by a constant force spring (121).

Abstract: A method for displaying an image includes executing a viewer application to display an image. The viewer application is linked to an annotation library including annotation instructions. The annotation instructions are called from the viewer application to display annotation data on the image. An imaging system includes an image data file, an annotation library, and a first workstation. The annotation library includes annotation instruction. The first workstation is operable to execute a viewer application to display an image associated with the image data file. The viewer application is linked to the annotation library and operable to call the annotation instructions to display annotation data on the image.

Abstract: A method of detecting a magnetic thread comprises causing relative movement between the thread and an array of magnetic heads, each head generates a signal upon detecting a portion of the thread. The arrival of a thread at one of the heads is detected, that head being denoted a primary head, and the head on each side a secondary head. Output signals from the primary and secondary heads are monitored to generate a representation of the thread, and the magnitude of the signals from the primary and secondary heads are compared such that if the magnitude of the output signal from a secondary head exceeds that from the primary head, the primary and secondary heads are reallocated accordingly.

Abstract: A method of detecting a magnetic thread comprises causing relative movement between the thread and an array of magnetic heads, each head generates a signal upon detecting a portion of the thread. The arrival of a thread at one of the heads is detected, that head being denoted a primary head, and the head on each side a secondary head. Output signals from the primary and secondary heads are monitored to generate a representation of the thread, and the magnitude of the signals from the primary and secondary heads are compared such that if the magnitude of the output signal from a secondary head exceeds that from the primary head, the primary and secondary heads are reallocated accordingly.

Abstract: A system and method provides user authorization for use of a server without providing the server with sensitive user information. A secure authorization link is established between a user interface and a remote authentication server. The authorization link passes through a local server while being unreadable by the local server. User authorization data is sent from the user interface to the authorization server, via the authorization link. The authorization server then returns a redirected validation message to the user interface, via the authorization link. A local link is established between the user interface and the local server based on data included in the redirected validation message. All communication between the user interface, the local server and authorization server is performed utilizing the user interface web browser.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which a non-procedural image annotation template is translated into source code, and compiled into an image annotation executable that has native computer instructions for an imaging system. In some embodiments, an image viewer on the imaging system accesses the native instructions and invokes the native instructions to annotate an image with text information. In some embodiments, the imaging system is a magnetic resonance, computer tomography, X-ray, ultrasound, or positron emission tomography imaging system.

Abstract: A method of integrating an Xt Intrinsics based toolkit with a JAVA application. The application includes a process thread that implements an X event loop and an application thread that suspends execution of the event loop to allow a call to be made through the JAVA Native Interface to a toolkit or a widget to cause something to be displayed. The application thread includes a write socket to communicate a token to a read socket of the event loop, and performs a blocking read suspending the thread. The event loop returns an acknowledgment token via a write socket to a read socket of the thread that unblocks its blocking read and the event loop invokes its own blocking read suspending its execution. The file descriptor function, XtAppAddInput, preferably, is used to read the token and to set the blocking read. After a toolkit call is made, a token is sent from a second write socket of the thread to a second read socket of the event loop that unblocks its blocking read resuming the event loop.

Abstract: A polyisocyanate composition used for binding lignocellulosic materials comprising a polyisocyanate prepolymer, said prepolymer being the reaction product from a polyisocyanate and a polyol characterized in that the polyisocyanate composition has a free unreacted diisocyanate content of at least 8% by weight.