Abstract: A system for monitoring the condition of a bridge includes: a video camera stably positioned at a selected distance from a bridge and having an unobstructed view of a selected portion of the bridge structure; and, a data processing system to analyze the output of the video camera over a selected time interval and calculate a physical parameter related to movement of the selected portion of said bridge structure as a function of time, and further including: a GUI that displays: a fixed image frame from the video camera, corresponding to a particular user-selected time within the time interval; an area selector, movable by the user to select a portion of the structure for analysis; and, a display of the physical parameter versus time for the selected portion over the selected time interval. The processor may perform some tasks, e.g., area selection, autonomously or via predetermined rules.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring machine components includes: a device for acquiring video image files; a data analysis system including processor and memory; a computer program operating in said processor to identify an area in said images where periodic movements associated with a mechanical vibration may be detected and quantified using an adaptive array comparison procedure; and, an interface to output said vibration information in a usable form. The apparatus may further include a graphical user interface and an accessible database. An associated method for using the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for monitoring vital signs includes: an imaging device for acquiring video image files of a living individual; a data analysis system including a processor and memory; a computer program running in the data analysis system to automatically analyze the video images, autonomously identify an area in the images where periodic movements associated with a selected vital sign may be detected and quantified; and, an interface that outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the waveform of the selected vital sign. The system may include a Graphical User Interface, which may display a visual graph of the waveform and a single video frame or a video stream of the individual.

Abstract: An apparatus for visualizing physical movements includes: a device for acquiring video image files; a data analysis system including processor and memory; a computer program operating in the processor to identify an area in the images where periodic motions associated with physical movement of an object may be detected and quantified, and compute a new image sequence in which the motions are visually amplified; and, a user interface that displays the motion-amplified video image of the mechanical component. An associated method for using the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the condition of a bridge includes: a video camera stably positioned at a selected distance from a bridge and having an unobstructed view of a selected portion of the bridge structure; and, a data processing system to analyze the output of the video camera over a selected time interval and calculate a physical parameter related to movement of the selected portion of said bridge structure as a function of time, and further including: a GUI that displays: a fixed image frame from the video camera, corresponding to a particular user-selected time within the time interval; an area selector, movable by the user to select a portion of the structure for analysis; and, a display of the physical parameter versus time for the selected portion over the selected time interval. The processor may perform some tasks, e.g., area selection, autonomously or via predetermined rules.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the condition of a bridge includes: stably positioning a video camera at a selected location with an unobstructed view of a selected portion of the bridge structure; collecting a video file of the structure over a selected total time interval; using a data processing system to analyze the video and calculate a physical parameter related to movement of the selected portion as a function of time, wherein the data processing system is controlled through a graphical user interface (GUI) having the following features: a display of a single video frame corresponding to a selected time; a movable area selector in the video frame to indicate the selection of an area of the structure for analysis; and, a display of displacement versus time for the selected area over the total time interval. The processor may perform some tasks, e.g., area selection, autonomously or via predetermined rules.

Abstract: An apparatus for visualizing physical movements includes: a device for acquiring video image files; a data analysis system including processor and memory; a computer program operating in the processor to identify an area in the images where periodic motions associated with physical movement of an object may be detected and quantified, and compute a new image sequence in which the motions are visually amplified; and, a user interface that displays the motion-amplified video image of the mechanical component. An associated method for using the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring machine components includes: a device for acquiring video image files; a data analysis system including processor and memory; a computer program operating in said processor to identify an area in said images where periodic movements associated with a mechanical vibration may be detected and quantified using an adaptive array comparison procedure; and, an interface to output said vibration information in a usable form. The apparatus may further include a graphical user interface and an accessible database.

Abstract: A system for analyzing periodic motions includes: a device for acquiring video files; a data analysis system including a processor and memory; a computer program to automatically analyze the video images, identify an area in the images where periodic movements may be detected and quantified using an Adaptive Array Comparison method; and, an interface to provide an output signal related to at least one parameter characteristic of said periodic movement. A graphical user interface may be provided and may display various analytical results along with the video imagery or a single frame therefrom.

Abstract: A system for monitoring vital signs includes: an imaging device for acquiring video image files of a living individual; a data analysis system including a processor and memory; a computer program running in the data analysis system to automatically analyze the video images, autonomously identify an area in the images where periodic movements associated with a selected vital sign may be detected and quantified; and, an interface that outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the waveform of the selected vital sign. The system may include a Graphical User Interface, which may display a visual graph of the waveform and a single video frame or a video stream of the individual.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the condition of a bridge includes: stably positioning a video camera at a selected location with an unobstructed view of a selected portion of the bridge structure; collecting a video file of the structure over a selected total time interval; using a data processing system to analyze the video and calculate a physical parameter related to movement of the selected portion as a function of time, wherein the data processing system is controlled through a graphical user interface (GUI) having the following features: a display of a single video frame corresponding to a selected time; a movable area selector in the video frame to indicate the selection of an area of the structure for analysis; and, a display of displacement versus time for the selected area over the total time interval. The processor may perform some tasks, e.g., area selection, autonomously or via predetermined rules.

Abstract: A system and method for safely slowing or controlling a vehicle's speed or engine speed by selectively replacing a genuine engine control signal with a spoofed engine control signal to slow or control the vehicle. The operator is allowed control of the vehicle (e.g. genuine engine control signal) if the speed is below a threshold speed and the operator is denied control of the vehicle (e.g. spoofed engine control signal) if the speed is above the threshold speed; similarly, a maximum idle engine speed and time to idle before shut-down is enforced by selectively replacing a genuine engine control signal with a spoofed engine control signal, responsive to a set threshold for each. The threshold is set over the air (OTA).

Abstract: A system and method for safely slowing or controlling a vehicle's speed or engine speed by selectively replacing a genuine engine control signal with a spoofed engine control signal to slow or control the vehicle. The operator is allowed control of the vehicle (e.g. genuine engine control signal) if the speed is below a threshold speed and the operator is denied control of the vehicle (e.g. spoofed engine control signal) if the speed is above the threshold speed; similarly, a maximum idle engine speed and time to idle before shut-down is enforced by selectively replacing a genuine engine control signal with a spoofed engine control signal, responsive to a set threshold for each. The threshold is set over the air (OTA).

Abstract: A system and method for safely slowing or controlling a vehicle's speed or engine speed by selectively replacing a genuine engine control signal with a spoofed engine control signal to slow or control the vehicle. The operator is allowed control of the vehicle (e.g. genuine engine control signal) if the speed is below a threshold speed and the operator is denied control of the vehicle (e.g. spoofed engine control signal) if the speed is above the threshold speed; similarly, a maximum idle engine speed and time to idle before shut-down is enforced by selectively replacing a genuine engine control signal with a spoofed engine control signal, responsive to a set threshold for each. The threshold is set over the air (OTA).

Abstract: A system and method for safely slowing or stopping a vehicle by selectively replacing a genuine engine control signal with a spoofed engine control signal to slow or stop a vehicle in a gradual or stepped manor. The operator is allowed control of the vehicle (e.g. genuine engine control signal) if the speed is below a threshold speed and the operator is denied control of the vehicle (e.g. spoofed engine control signal) if the speed is above the threshold speed, thus forcing the vehicle to slow to the threshold speed. The threshold is gradually reduced over time, causing the operator to stop the vehicle.

Abstract: Suture clips include a first clip portion and a second clip portion complimentarily configured with the first clip portion for securing a suture between the first and second clip portions when the first and second clip portions are selectively pressed together. The first and second clip portions include base members and clamp portions, at least one of the clamp portions defining a directional locking region configured to permit the suture to move in only one direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering an ordered list of items of supplemental content to a consumer comprising determining a context of a portion of media selected for consumption, determining consumer preference information corresponding to the consumer, generating the ordered list of items of supplemental content as a function of the context and of the consumer preference information.

Abstract: A system and method for safely slowing or controlling a vehicle's speed or engine speed by selectively replacing a genuine engine control signal with a spoofed engine control signal to slow or control the vehicle. The operator is allowed control of the vehicle (e.g. genuine engine control signal) if the speed is below a threshold speed and the operator is denied control of the vehicle (e.g. spoofed engine control signal) if the speed is above the threshold speed; similarly, a maximum idle engine speed and time to idle before shut-down is enforced by selectively replacing a genuine engine control signal with a spoofed engine control signal, responsive to a set threshold for each. The threshold is set over the air (OTA).

Abstract: Metal detectors include a sense coil coupled to an analog to digital converter that produces a numeric representation of an electrical signal associated with a conductive object situated in an active region of a sense coil. The numeric representation is processed to obtain a noise contribution associated with random noise, fixed pattern noise, and/or thermal drift. The noise is subtracted from the numeric representation to produce a numeric difference. The numeric difference includes contributions associated with conductive objects located in a sense volume defined by the sense coil. The numeric difference (or the numeric representation) can be digitally processed with, for example, a matched filter to enhance the conductive object contribution. The matched filter can be based on a measured sense coil speed or can be based on typical sense coil speeds.

Abstract: An apparatus rides along a rail of a railroad track. A transmitter transmits ultrasonic guided waves bidirectionally along the rail while the apparatus and transmitter are moving along the railroad track. A sensor detects flaws in response to the transmitted ultrasonic guided waves while the apparatus, transmitter and sensor are moving along the railroad track. An electronic coupler operatively couples the sensor to monitoring equipment.