Abstract: A method for generating an infrared (IR) beam for illuminating a scene to be imaged comprises providing at least two IR emitters, including a first IR emitter operable to emit a wide beam component of the IR beam, and a second IR emitter operable to emit a narrow beam component of the IR beam, wherein the wide beam component has a linear profile that has a lower standard deviation than a linear profile of the narrow beam component. The method also comprises selecting a desired linear profile for the IR beam, and selecting a power ratio of power directed to the first IR emitter and power directed to the second IR emitter that produces the IR beam with the desired linear profile when the narrow beam component and wide beam component are combined.

Abstract: An electrosurgical probe including a probe body which defines a longitudinal probe axis. The electrosurgical probe also includes a first and second conductive electrode, each disposed along the probe axis. The surface area of the first conductive electrode is greater of the surface area of the second conductive electrode. The ratio of the surface area of the first conductive electrode to the surface area of the second conductive electrode may be adjustable. Another aspect of the present invention is an electrosurgical probe having a probe body which defines a single longitudinal probe axis. The electrosurgical probe of this aspect of the invention further includes more than two electrodes operatively disposed at separate and distinct positions along the axis of the probe body. The electrodes may be selectively connected to one of or a combination of a stimulation energy source, an ablation energy source or a ground for either energy source.

Abstract: A method and system for automatic face recognition. A primary and a plurality of secondary video cameras can be provided to monitor a detection area. The primary video camera can detect people present in the detection zone. Data can be then transmitted to a prioritizor module that produces a prioritized list of detected people. The plurality of secondary video cameras then captures a high-resolution image of the faces of the people present in the detection area according to the prioritized list provided by the prioritizor module. The high-resolution images can be then provided to a face recognition module, which is used to identify the people present in the detection area.

Abstract: A method of managing a system of minimally invasive surgery. The management method includes providing a practitioner with a minimally invasive surgery system including a controller. One or more use parameters is stored to memory associated with the controller. In addition, an electrosurgical probe having its own memory is provided to mate with the remaining elements of the system. Complementary use parameters are stored in the memory of the probe. The management method also includes communicating and comparing the use parameters of the controller with the complementary use parameters of the probe and managing the use of the electrosurgical probe according to the use parameters.

Abstract: A cutting element is provided having a substrate and an ultra hard material cutting layer over the substrate. The cutting layer includes a surface portion for making contact with a material to be cut by the cutting element. The surface portion in cross-section has a curvature that has a varying radius of curvature. A bit incorporating such a cutting element is also provided.

Abstract: PCD materials comprise a diamond body having bonded diamond crystals and interstitial regions disposed among the crystals. The diamond body is formed from diamond grains and a catalyst material at high pressure/high temperature conditions. The diamond grains have an average particle size of about 0.03 mm or greater. At least a portion of the diamond body has a high diamond volume content of greater than about 93 percent by volume. The entire diamond body can comprise high volume content diamond or a region of the diamond body can comprise the high volume content diamond. The diamond body includes a working surface, a first region substantially free of the catalyst material, and a second region that includes the catalyst material. At least a portion of the first region extends from the working surface to depth of from about 0.01 to about 0.1 mm.

Abstract: PCD materials comprise a diamond body having bonded diamond crystals and interstitial regions disposed among the crystals. The diamond body is formed from diamond grains and a catalyst material at high pressure/high temperature conditions. The diamond grains have an average particle size of about 0.03 mm or greater. At least a portion of the diamond body has a high diamond volume content of greater than about 93 percent by volume. The entire diamond body can comprise high volume content diamond or a region of the diamond body can comprise the high volume content diamond. The diamond body includes a working surface, a first region substantially free of the catalyst material, and a second region that includes the catalyst material. At least a portion of the first region extends from the working surface to depth of from about 0.01 to about 0.1 mm.

Abstract: A cutting element is provided having a substrate and an ultra hard material cutting layer over the substrate. The cutting layer includes a surface portion for making contact with a material to be cut by the cutting element. The surface portion in cross-section has a curvature that has a varying radius of curvature. A bit incorporating such a cutting element is also provided.

Abstract: A cutting element is provided having a substrate and an ultra hard material cutting layer over the substrate. The cutting layer includes a surface portion for making contact with a material to be cut by the cutting element. The surface portion in cross-section has a curvature that has a varying radius of curvature. A bit incorporating such a cutting element is also provided.

Abstract: A method of managing a system of minimally invasive surgery. The management method includes providing a practitioner with a minimally invasive surgery system including a controller. One or more use parameters is stored to memory associated with the controller. In addition, an electrosurgical probe having its own memory is provided to mate with the remaining elements of the system. Complementary use parameters are stored in the memory of the probe. The management method also includes communicating and comparing the use parameters of the controller with the complementary use parameters of the probe and managing the use of the electrosurgical probe according to the use parameters.

Abstract: PCD materials comprise a diamond body having bonded diamond crystals and interstitial regions disposed among the crystals. The diamond body is formed from diamond grains and a catalyst material at high pressure/high temperature conditions. The diamond grains have an average particle size of about 0.03 mm or greater. At least a portion of the diamond body has a high diamond volume content of greater than about 93 percent by volume. The entire diamond body can comprise high volume content diamond or a region of the diamond body can comprise the high volume content diamond. The diamond body includes a working surface, a first region substantially free of the catalyst material, and a second region that includes the catalyst material. At least a portion of the first region extends from the working surface to depth of from about 0.01 to about 0.1 mm.

Abstract: A system having an approach for prioritizing targets for an order of capturing the targets photographically or otherwise. Prioritizing is based on cost of obtaining or capturing the target for viewing or photographing in high resolution. One acquisition mechanism is for obtaining a wide field of view of a scene of targets and another acquisition mechanism is for obtaining a narrow field of view of a target for capture. The cost for prioritizing is based on the time that the narrow field of view acquisition mechanism takes to pan and tilt to get a close-up image of a target divided by the width of the target. The targets may be faces of people.

Abstract: Thermally stable ultra-hard compact constructions comprise a polycrystalline diamond body substantially free of a catalyst material, and a substrate that is joined thereto. The substrate can be ceramic, metallic, cermet and combinations thereof, and can be joined to the body by a braze material or other material that forms an attachment bond at high pressure/high temperature conditions. The body and substrate are specially formed having complementary interfacing surface features to facilitate providing an improved degree of attachment therebetween. The complementary surface features can in the form of openings and projections, e.g., one of the body or substrate can comprise one or more openings, and the other of the body or substrate can comprise one or more projections, disposed within or extending from respective interfacing surfaces. The complementary surface features operate to resist unwanted delamination between the body and substrate, thereby extending effective service life of the construction.

Abstract: A method and system for automatic face recognition. A primary and a plurality of secondary video cameras can be provided to monitor a detection area. The primary video camera can detect people present in the detection zone. Data can be then transmitted to a prioritizor module that produces a prioritized list of detected people. The plurality of secondary video cameras then captures a high-resolution image of the faces of the people present in the detection area according to the prioritized list provided by the prioritizor module. The high-resolution images can be then provided to a face recognition module, which is used to identify the people present in the detection area.

Abstract: A multi-camera arrangement for capturing a high resolution image of a target. A first camera may be for capturing a wide field of view low resolution image having a target. The target or a component of it may be border-boxed with a marking. The target may be a human being component, such as a face, having approximately the same size among virtually all humans. A distance of the target may be determined from a known size of a component of the target. The target may be other items of similar size. Coordinates of pixels of the image portion containing the target may be mapped to a pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) camera. The pan and tilt of the PTZ camera may be adjusted according to image information from the wide field of view camera. Then the PTZ camera may zoom in on the target to obtain a high resolution image of the target.

Abstract: A system having an approach for prioritizing targets for an order of capturing the targets photographically or otherwise. Prioritizing is based on cost of obtaining or capturing the target for viewing or photographing in high resolution. One acquisition mechanism is for obtaining a wide field of view of a scene of targets and another acquisition mechanism is for obtaining a narrow field of view of a target for capture. The cost for prioritizing is based on the time that the narrow field of view acquisition mechanism takes to pan and tilt to get a close-up image of a target divided by the width of the target. The targets may be faces of people.

Abstract: An electrosurgical probe including a probe body which defines a longitudinal probe axis. The electrosurgical probe also includes a first and second conductive electrode, each disposed along the probe axis. The surface area of the first conductive electrode is greater of the surface area of the second conductive electrode. The ratio of the surface area of the first conductive electrode to the surface area of the second conductive electrode may be adjustable. Another aspect of the present invention is an electrosurgical probe having a probe body which defines a single longitudinal probe axis. The electrosurgical probe of this aspect of the invention further includes more than two electrodes operatively disposed at separate and distinct positions along the axis of the probe body. The electrodes may be selectively connected to one of or a combination of a stimulation energy source, an ablation energy source or a ground for either energy source.

Abstract: In a method for controlling a laser body shell welding system, in which a scanning head is attached to a machine arm or is operated as an external tool of the machine arm, the scanning head having at least one scanning mirror for positioning a laser beam on a workpiece to be welded, and the operation of the laser welding system including time-critical functions for controlling the time-critical functions, an embedded control system or a memory-programmable control system is used.

Abstract: PCD materials comprise a diamond body having bonded diamond crystals and interstitial regions disposed among the crystals. The diamond body is formed from diamond grains and a catalyst material at high pressure/high temperature conditions. The diamond grains have an average particle size of about 0.03 mm or greater. At least a portion of the diamond body has a high diamond volume content of greater than about 93 percent by volume. The entire diamond body can comprise high volume content diamond or a region of the diamond body can comprise the high volume content diamond. The diamond body includes a working surface, a first region substantially free of the catalyst material, and a second region that includes the catalyst material. At least a portion of the first region extends from the working surface to depth of from about 0.01 to about 0.1 mm.

Abstract: PCD materials comprise a diamond body having bonded diamond crystals and interstitial regions disposed among the crystals. The diamond body is formed from diamond grains and a catalyst material at high pressure/high temperature conditions. The diamond grains have an average particle size of about 0.03 mm or greater. At least a portion of the diamond body has a high diamond volume content of greater than about 93 percent by volume. The entire diamond body can comprise high volume content diamond or a region of the diamond body can comprise the high volume content diamond. The diamond body includes a working surface, a first region substantially free of the catalyst material, and a second region that includes the catalyst material. At least a portion of the first region extends from the working surface to depth of from about 0.01 to about 0.1 mm.