Abstract: A method for providing environment information to a mobile device user is presented. The method comprises receiving a request for target environment information from a mobile device, determining the pose of the mobile interface device relative to the target environment, and obtaining target environment data for one or more measurable environment parameters (e.g., radiation level). The target environment data is used to assemble augmented reality information configured for viewing in conjunction with a real-time view of the target environment captured by the mobile interface device. The target augmented reality information is then transmitted to the mobile device for display to the user.

Abstract: A fixture assembly for securing at least one side rail to a shroud tile of a gas turbine is disclosed. The fixture assembly may include a first support member, a second support member, a first guide block and a second guide block. The first and second guide blocks may be formed from a material that has the same or a similar coefficient of thermal expansion as the material used to form at least one of the shroud tile and the at least one side rail. In addition, the first and second support members may be formed from a material that has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the material used to form the first and second guide blocks.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of reducing a microbial infection of a heparinized surface wherein heparin precipitation is reduced as compared to a control. In some embodiments a composition comprising ethanol and isopropanol is applied to the surface. In other embodiments, two or more ethanol compositions are applied and removed sequentially from the surface prior to contacting the surface with a biological fluid, tissue or vessel, wherein the composition in each successive administration comprises an increased amount of ethanol. Also provided is a method of reducing a microbial infection of a surface comprising applying a mucilage extract from an Opuntia ficus indica species to the surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an observation of an object to be classified, the method comprising using a particle filter in which an observation of an object to be classified is used to weight particles on a plurality of models for the object. The method may further comprise performing at least one further iteration of using the particle filter to weight the particles on the plurality of models for the object using a further observation of the object to be classified. The method may further comprise providing respective classification probabilities that each respective model corresponds to the object based on the weightings of the particles of the respective model. Each of the respective particles may be divided into a respective plurality of sub-particles.

Abstract: Automated polishing systems include a polisher for polishing the coating on the article and a robotic positioner for moving the polisher relative to the article on an automated path, wherein the polisher polishes at least a part of the coating during movement, a force feedback sensor for determining a force of the polisher against the article during polishing, and a controller for maintaining the polisher within a predetermined force range against the article based at least in part on the force determined by the force feedback sensor.

Abstract: A method utilizing image correlation to determine position measurements in a machine vision system. In a first operating state, the machine vision system utilizes traditional scale-based techniques to determine position measurements, while in a second operating state, image correlation displacement sensing techniques are utilized to determine position measurements. The image correlation techniques provide for higher accuracy for measuring distances between features that are separated by more than one field of view. The user may toggle between the operating states through a selection on the user interface, and guidance may be provided regarding when the image correlation mode is likely to provide higher accuracy, depending on factors such as the distance to be measured and the characteristics of the surface being measured.

Abstract: A liquid fuel composition comprising a base fuel suitable for use in an internal combustion engine; one or more organic UV filter compounds; and one or more ester co-additive compounds provides improvements in terms of stability properties in an additive blend containing said one or more organic UV filter compounds and said one or more ester co-additive compounds, particularly at low temperatures, such as temperatures of 5° C. or lower.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for analysing a process. An exemplary method includes: generating a process template; and determining a probabilistic model specifying the process template. The method can include use of task nodes for tasks of the process; observables nodes for observables that may be caused by performance of the tasks; and a background activities node, wherein observables may further be caused by background activities of the background node. The method can include use of task nodes for tasks of the process; observables nodes for observables that may be caused by performance of the tasks; and a background activities node, observables may further be caused by background activities of the background node. The method can include measuring values of an observable corresponding to one of the observables nodes; and updating a probabilistic estimate of the process state using the measured values.

Abstract: Certain UV filter compounds improve the combustion properties of diesel fuel compositions, and in particular modify the ignition delay and/or modify the burn period and/or modify the peak pressure and/or increase the cetane number of the liquid fuel composition. A liquid fuel composition is provided containing: (a) a diesel base fuel suitable for use in an internal combustion engine; and (b) in the range of 10 ppmw to 2 wt %, by weight of the liquid fuel composition, of one or more organic UV filter compounds selected from imidazoles, triazines, triazones and triazoles, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A liquid fuel composition comprising: (a) a gasoline base fuel suitable for use in an internal combustion engine; (b) one or more organic UV filter compounds selected from imidazoles, triazines, triazone and triazoles, and mixtures thereof. The liquid fuel composition provides benefits in terms of improved acceleration and/or power output of an internal combustion engine fuelled by said fuel as well as an increase in flame speed.

Abstract: In a cloud computing environment, a user authenticates to multiple cloud services concurrently. A master service has knowledge of or tracks the cloud service(s) to which a user is authenticated. Each cloud service may enforce its own inactivity period, and the inactivity period of at least first and second cloud services may be distinct from one another. When the master service receives an indication that the authenticated user is attempting to take an action at a first cloud service despite an activity timeout there, the master service issues a status request to at least the second cloud service to determine whether the user is still active at the second cloud service (despite its different inactivity period). If the user is still active at the second cloud service, the master service provides a response, selectively overriding (re-setting) the activity timeout at the first cloud service to permit the action.

Abstract: A modification process and modified article are disclosed. The modification process includes locating an area in an article, removing the area by machining to form a machined region, inserting a modification material into the machined region, securing the modification material to the article, machining the modification material flush with a geometry of the article, and applying a coating over at least a portion of the article. Another modification process includes locating an area under a suction side leading edge tip shroud fillet of an airfoil, removing the area by machining to form a hole, inserting a modification material having improved material properties as compared to an original base material into the hole, securing the modification material in place, machining the modification material and the airfoil to form a new fillet contour, and applying a coating over at least a portion of the airfoil. Also disclosed is the modified article.

Abstract: Composite electro-spark electrodes, along with methods of their use in an electro-spark deposition process, are provided. The composite electro-spark electrode can include an electrode tip that is mechanically and electrically attached to a shank. The shank comprises a resistive material, and the electrode tip comprises a metal, with the metal of the electrode tip being less electrically resistive than the resistive material of the shank. Additionally, the metal of the electrode tip can be more thermally conductive than the resistive material of the shank.

Abstract: A machine vision inspection system comprises an optical portion providing an image of a field of view of a workpiece which may be a magnified image. A first camera and a second camera provide first and second images of a shared or common field of view of the workpiece and are arranged such that the orientation of the common field of view imaged in the first camera is rotated relative to the orientation of the common field of view imaged in the second camera. Signal processing provides an edge measurement of an edge feature within the common field of view and determines which of the first and second images is used as a basis for the edge measurement based on whether their respective edge orientation (with respect to the pixel array of each camera) differs from the pixel array orientation of their associated camera by an orientation difference threshold amount.

Abstract: A method improves focus height repeatability in a machine vision inspection system. A region of interest is defined within a field of view imaged by a camera portion, wherein an aligned edge feature in the region of interest may introduce a focus height sensitivity that varies depending on the aligned edge feature offset relative to the image pixels. A first set of focus-determining operations determines a focus height for the region of interest, and comprise at least one of: (a) operations that reduce the sensitivity of the focus height determination to the offset of the aligned edge feature relative to the image pixels; and (b) operations that adjust the offset of the aligned edge feature relative to the image pixels according to a predetermined offset repeatability criteria, such that the image data used in the focus height determination fulfills the offset repeatability criteria.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sliding door systems, apparatus and methods of using and making the same. Specifically, the present invention relates to systems for opening horizontally sliding doors on a structure, such as, for example, a barn, warehouse, hangar, or other building or structure. Moreover, the present invention relates to apparatuses for guiding horizontally-sliding doors over an opening. In addition, systems and methods of making and using the same are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sliding door systems, apparatus and methods of using and making the same. Specifically, the present invention relates to systems for opening horizontally sliding doors on a structure, such as, for example, a barn, warehouse, hangar, or other building or structure. Moreover, the present invention relates to apparatuses for providing the automatic opening of sliding doors. In addition, methods of making and using the same are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic device comprising a glass, glass ceramic, or ceramic sheet having a thickness less than about 0.4 mm and wherein a minimum strength of the inorganic substrate is greater than about 500 MPa. Also disclosed is a method of making an electronic device including drawing a viscous inorganic material to form an inorganic ribbon having opposing as-formed edges along a length of the ribbon, separating the ribbon to form a substrate sheet of inorganic material comprising two as-formed edges and forming a device element on the inorganic substrate.

Abstract: A method for controlling a structured illumination pattern generating portion is provided for illuminating a workpiece during an image acquisition by a camera in a precision machine vision inspection system. A controllable spatial light modulator (e.g., a digital light processing projector) is part of the generating portion for generating the structured illumination pattern. The pattern may comprise an array of stripes including a sinusoidal gray level intensity variation across each stripe. An overall image exposure is increased by repeating a complete structured illumination pattern generation iteration, including gray level variation, a plurality of times during an image integration period. Structured illumination microscopy techniques for determining a workpiece surface profile may benefit, wherein multiple (e.g., 3 or 4) images are acquired at respective focus positions to be analyzed, by using the method to project a different phase of a structured light pattern for each of the multiple images.

Abstract: A hybrid diffusion-brazing process and hybrid diffusion-brazed article are disclosed. The hybrid diffusion-brazing process includes providing a component having a temperature-tolerant region and a temperature-sensitive region, brazing a braze material to the temperature-tolerant region during a localized brazing cycle, then heating the component in a furnace during a diffusion cycle. The brazing and the heating diffusion-braze the braze material to the component, and the localized brazing cycle is performed independent of the diffusion cycle in the hybrid diffusion-brazing process. The hybrid diffusion-brazed article includes a component, and a braze material diffusion-brazed to the component with a filler material. The filler material has a melting temperature that is above a tolerance temperature of the component.