Abstract: An improved high resolution method and apparatus are described for sensing and determining the spatial coordinates of a movable object with respect to a energized conductive surface. The coordinates of the object are precisely measured with respect to a two-dimensional coordinate system independent of the third orthogonal dimension, thereby avoiding significant measurement errors due to variations of the object position in the third orthogonal dimension. The system also ascertains the coordinate position of the object in this third dimension, which can then be utilized as an independent control variable in the system. Further, the system can accommodate a number of energized conductive surfaces over which the object may be positioned and can determine the spatial coordinates of the object with respect to any such surface.

Abstract: A stabilizing system, which is especially useful in radiation therapy, has markers located in a body in a set of positions relative to external coordinates, the set of positions having a calibrated spatial relationship with a target volume in the body, the markers being imaged by an imager at subsequent times to produce subsequent imager output signals which are compared by a data processor which generates a control signal which drives an actuator sub-system to move the body to stabilize the target volume relative to the external coordinates, wherein confounding effects of high energy, high intensity radiations which may also be present in the body are overcome by various distinguishing arrangements.

Abstract: A photon beam dose enhancement is controlled by configuring a topical magnetic field, the magnetic field configuration having a magnetic field component across the beam path and having a magnetic field gradient component along the beam path which cause the dose enhancement, the dose enhancement being changeable during beam use by changing the magnetic field configuration during beam use, wherein the topical magnetic field can be produced by an array of magnet coils.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus coupling at least two image processing systems connected to a network. The network couples image information to each system, and each system displays at least one image. Each system includes a communication unit and a control unit. The communication unit couples information to and receives information from the network. The control unit includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a partitioned memory space, including, both common and personal memory. The personal memory of each system contains one or more personal images that can be viewed only by the respective system, wherein each system is controlled to access only its respective personal memory. Under control of the CPUs in the respective systems, a common image is coupled to each system over the network and commonly displayed on each system. While the common image is commonly displayed on each system, it is edited by the first image processing system.

Abstract: An improved high resolution method and apparatus are described for sensing and determining the spatial coordinates of a movable object with respect to a energized conductive surface. The coordinates of the object are precisely measured with respect to a two-dimensional coordinate system independent of the third orthogonal dimension, thereby avoiding significant measurement errors due to variations of the object position in the third orthogonal dimension. The system also ascertains the coordinate position of the object in this third dimension, which can then be utilized as an independent control variable in the system. Further, the system can accommodate a number of energized conductive surfaces over which the object may be positioned and can determine the spatial coordinates of the object with respect to any such surface.

Abstract: An improved high resolution method and apparatus are described for sensing and determining the spatial coordinates of a movable object with respect to a energized conductive surface. The coordinates of the object are precisely measured with respect to a two-dimensional coordinate system independent of the third orthogonal dimension, thereby avoiding significant measurement errors due to variations of the object position in the third orthogonal dimension. The system also ascertains the coordinate position of the object in this third dimension, which can then be utilized as an independent control variable in the system. Further, the system can accommodate a number of energized conductive surfaces over which the object may be positioned and can determine the spatial coordinates of the object with respect to any such surface.

Abstract: A workstation with multiple, functionally related displays clustered under and controlled by a common transparent overlay control device. The position of a hand-held stylus is sensed by the overlay control device and is used as a system input to control system operations, system communications and input, manipulation and editing of images displayed on the displays. Control of certain workstation operations is achieved by directing the stylus towards function symbols which are affixed to the overlay surface. Actuators or other adjustment mechanisms are provided for adjustment of the height and pitch of the workstation for the comfort of the operator. Further, the workstation provides integrated data audio communication over ordinary narrow-band telephone lines or high speed data lines with other linked workstations.

Abstract: An improved high resolution method and apparatus are described for sensing and determining the spatial coordinates of a movable object with respect to a energized conductive surface. The coordinates of the object are precisely measured with respect to a two-dimensional coordinate system independent of the third orthogonal dimension, thereby avoiding significant measurement errors due to variations of the object position in the third orthogonal dimension. The system also ascertains the coordinate position of the object in this third dimension, which can then be utilized as an independent control variable in the system. Further, the system can accommodate a number of energized conductive surfaces over which the object may be positioned and can determine the spatial coordinates of the object with respect to any such surface.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for rapidly compressing, expanding, and displaying broad band information which is transmitted over a narrow band communications channel. In the preferred embodiment, a video image is cyclically assembled in low resolution and high resolution phases from digitized data representing gray level intensity for individual pixels which have been grouped into pixel. During the initial cycle of the low resolution phase, a representative sample of cell intensity values is transmitted by a sending station to a receiving station according to a video compression routine. The receiving station then uses a video expansion routine to calculate an intensity value for those pixels whose intensity values were not transmitted and displays an initial image. This image is refined during subsequent low-resolution cycles by additional transmissions from the sending station which replace the calculated cell intensity values with an actual or better approximation value for that pixel.

Abstract: A system for sensing the spatial position of a moveable object with respect to an energized conductive surface whereby the spatial coordinates of the object are determined. The system provides a means of accurately measuring the coordinates of the object with respect to a two-dimensional coordinate system independent of the third orthogonal dimension, thereby avoiding significant measurement errors due to variations of the object's position in the third orthogonal dimension. The system also ascertains the coordinate position of the object in this third dimension, which can then be utilized as an independent control variable in the system. Further, the system can accommodate a number of energized conductive surfaces over which the object may be positioned and can determine the spatial coordinates of the object with respect to any such surface.