Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and techniques to optimize processor resources at a user-defined level. In at least one embodiment, priority of one or more tasks are adjusted to prevent one or more other dependent tasks from entering an idle state due to lack of resources to consume.

Abstract: Hydraulic axial piston unit having a rotational group for driving or being driven by a driving shaft, and a tiltable displacement element for adjusting the displacement volume of the rotational group. The rotational group includes a rotatable cylinder block in which working pistons are mounted reciprocally moveable in cylinder bores for conveying hydraulic fluid from an inlet port to an outlet port on a valve segment. At least two control ports are located on the valve segment each between the inlet port and the outlet port. The control ports can be brought sequentially in fluid connection with the cylinder bores when the cylinder block is rotating. At least one hydraulic fluid injector is connected fluidly to one control port, for sequentially injecting pressurized hydraulic fluid via the control port into the passing cylinder bores. Via the other control port hydraulic fluid can be drained from passing cylinder bores.

Abstract: Hydraulic axial piston unit having a rotational group for driving or being driven by a driving shaft, and a tiltable displacement element for adjusting the displacement volume of the rotational group. The rotational group includes a rotatable cylinder block in which working pistons are mounted reciprocally moveable in cylinder bores for conveying hydraulic fluid from a kidney-shaped inlet port to a kidney-shaped outlet port on a valve segment. At least two control ports are located on the valve segment each between the respective circumferential ends of the kidney-shaped inlet port and the outlet port. The control ports can be brought sequentially in fluid connection with the cylinder bores when the cylinder block is rotating. At least one hydraulic fluid injector is connected fluidly to one control port, for sequentially injecting pressurized hydraulic fluid via the control port into the passing cylinder bores. Via the other control port hydraulic fluid can be drained from passing cylinder bores.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus having a particle beamline for passage of charged particles of radiation therealong, comprising: a first beam tracker structure comprising at least one position sensitive detector (PSD) for determining a location with respect to a cross-sectional area of the beam line at which particles pass through the PSD; energy discrimination apparatus for determining an energy of particles that have passed through the first beam tracker structure; and support means for supporting a subject in a path of a particle along the beamline between the first beam tracker structure and the energy discrimination apparatus, the apparatus being configured to be operated in a selected one of a first mode and a second mode, the apparatus being configured, in the first mode of operation, to control an energy of the beam of charged particles passing through the first beam tracker structure such that a Bragg peak of charged particle absorption is located within the subject, and i

Abstract: A method of reconstructing a 3-dimensional image in a proton transmission computerized tomography (CT) apparatus is disclosed. The method comprises the creation of a reconstruction matrix. The matrix is created by directing a plurality of particles to traverse the object; and for each particle, measuring the trajectory and energy of each particle before and after it has traversed the object; for each particle, calculating the water-equivalent path length within the object; and for each particle, calculating the positions at which it entered and exited the object; and adding the water-equivalent path length, entry and exit positions to the reconstruction matrix. This procedure is repeated from a plurality of angular positions surrounding an object to be imaged. Then, a spatially varying 2-dimensional filter function is applied to the reconstruction matrix. Subsequently, a correction factor is applied to the filtered reconstruction matrix to at least partially correct for the finite extent of the matrix.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a 2D position-sensitive detector assembly comprising at least three substantially planar detector portions arranged in overlapping relationship as viewed normal to a plane of the detector portions, each detector portion comprising an array of substantially parallel, linear detector elements, the detector elements of respective detector portions being mutually non-parallel, the detector elements each being configured to generate one or more electrical signals in response to interaction of a particle of radiation therewith.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus for detecting particles of radiation comprising: a plurality of solid state semiconductor detector devices provided at spaced apart locations along a beam axis, the detector devices each being configured to generate an electrical signal indicative of passage of a particle through or absorption of a particle by the device; and at least one absorber portion configured to absorb at least a portion of an energy of a particle, wherein one said at least one absorber portion is provided in a particle path between at least one pair of adjacent detector devices, the apparatus being configured to provide an output signal indicative of the energy of a particle, the output signal provided being dependent on the electrical signals indicative of passage of a particle through or absorption of a particle by the devices.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for seaming an end cap to an end of a target object using a fixed, rigid roller carriage that is configured to move along a direction that is orthogonal to a rotation axis of the end cap and the target object. The end cap seaming apparatus and system preferably comprise servo motors that move the roller carriage and rotate the end cap and the target object. The end cap seaming apparatus and system may be configured to learn the shape of the end cap and the target object by learning a shape of an end cap holding member on which the end cap is held. An automated method of seaming the end cap to the target object is executed based on the learned shape of the end cap holding member.

Abstract: A method of reconstructing a 3-dimensional image in a proton transmission computerized tomography (CT) apparatus is disclosed. The method comprises the creation of a reconstruction matrix. The matrix is created by directing a plurality of particles to traverse the object; and for each particle, measuring the trajectory and energy of each particle before and after it has traversed the object; for each particle, calculating the water-equivalent path length within the object; and for each particle, calculating the positions at which it entered and exited the object; and adding the water-equivalent path length, entry and exit positions to the reconstruction matrix. This procedure is repeated from a plurality of angular positions surrounding an object to be imaged. Then, a spatially varying 2-dimensional filter function is applied to the reconstruction matrix. Subsequently, a correction factor is applied to the filtered reconstruction matrix to at least partially correct for the finite extent of the matrix.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus having a particle beamline for passage of charged particles of radiation therealong, comprising: a first beam tracker structure comprising at least one position sensitive detector (PSD) for determining a location with respect to a cross-sectional area of the beam line at which particles pass through the PSD; energy discrimination apparatus for determining an energy of particles that have passed through the first beam tracker structure; and support means for supporting a subject in a path of a particle along the beamline between the first beam tracker structure and the energy discrimination apparatus, the apparatus being configured to be operated in a selected one of a first mode and a second mode, the apparatus being configured, in the first mode of operation, to control an energy of the beam of charged particles passing through the first beam tracker structure such that a Bragg peak of charged particle absorption is located within the subject, and i

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a 2D position-sensitive detector assembly comprising at least three substantially planar detector portions arranged in overlapping relationship as viewed normal to a plane of the detector portions, each detector portion comprising an array of substantially parallel, linear detector elements, the detector elements of respective detector portions being mutually non-parallel, the detector elements each being configured to generate one or more electrical signals in response to interaction of a particle of radiation therewith.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus for detecting particles of radiation comprising: a plurality of solid state semiconductor detector devices provided at spaced apart locations along a beam axis, the detector devices each being configured to generate an electrical signal indicative of passage of a particle through or absorption of a particle by the device; and at least one absorber portion configured to absorb at least a portion of an energy of a particle, wherein one said at least one absorber portion is provided in a particle path between at least one pair of adjacent detector devices, the apparatus being configured to provide an output signal indicative of the energy of a particle, the output signal provided being dependent on the electrical signals indicative of passage of a particle through or absorption of a particle by the devices.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for seaming an end cap to an end of a target object using a fixed, rigid roller carriage that is configured to move along a direction that is orthogonal to a rotation axis of the end cap and the target object. The end cap seaming apparatus and system preferably comprise servo motors that move the roller carriage and rotate the end cap and the target object. The end cap seaming apparatus and system may be configured to learn the shape of the end cap and the target object by learning a shape of an end cap holding member on which the end cap is held. An automated method of seaming the end cap to the target object is executed based on the learned shape of the end cap holding member.