Abstract: A workpiece presentment system and associated method for workpiece presentment with a pick and place device is provided. The system includes a pair of parallel stationary rails, and first and second shuttle rails respectively disposed adjacent first and second ends of the stationary rails. Each shuttle rail is independently moveable laterally to a longitudinal alignment with a selected one of the pair of stationary rails. A control circuit is configured to circulate only two pallets simultaneously in the same rectangular path of travel to load trays to the pallets on one of the stationary rails while presenting the trays to the pick and place device on the other stationary rail.

Abstract: A technique is provided for acquiring data with reduced correlated low frequency noise interference via a data acquisition circuit. The data acquisition circuit includes a plurality of data channels comprising a plurality of amplifiers and a biasing circuit for providing bias voltages to the plurality of amplifiers. The biasing circuit is configured to generate the bias voltages and establish a relationship between the bias voltages so as to reduce correlated low frequency noise in the plurality of amplifiers.

Abstract: A rotating assembly for a turbomachine includes a plurality of rotating members that extend radially outward from a central hub. Each of the plurality of rotating members includes a base portion detachably mounted to the central hub, a tip portion, a mid-span portion that extends between the base portion and the tip portion, and a shroud portion positioned at one of the tip portion and the mid-span portion. The shroud portion includes a pressure side and a suction side. At least one hard face interface member is secured to at least one of the suction side and the pressure side of the shroud portion. The at least one hard face interface member is both mechanically interlocked with, and metallurgically bonded to, the shroud portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method directed to encoding data from an object in order to simultaneously identify a serialization value of the object from the data while incrementally tracking the object's position from the data.

Abstract: A workpiece presentment system and associated method for workpiece presentment with a pick and place device is provided. The system includes a pair of parallel stationary rails, and first and second shuttle rails respectively disposed adjacent first and second ends ofthe stationary rails. Each shuttle rail is independently moveable laterally to a longitudinal alignment with a selected one of the pair of stationary rails. A control circuit is configured to circulate only two pallets simultaneously in the same rectangular path of travel to load trays to the pallets on one of the stationary rails while presenting the trays to the pick and place device on the other stationary rail.

Abstract: This invention relates to providing automated support for the analysis of patents, patent applications and other texts, and more specifically, for supporting the analysis of claims in view of specifications, and for supporting claim analysis as compared to published texts that might constitute possible prior art or infringement of the patent. Patent prosecution requires that the inventor, patent attorney, or patent agent carefully construct claims and specifications that delineate the invention according to well known principles of law. Patent licensing requires that documents describing products, services or methods which might infringe or invalidate a patent be organized in a clear style that can be presented to potential licensees. Patent litigation requires the analysis of patent claims against supporting statements in the patent specification, and against published technical literature which may or may not constitute prior art to the patent under analysis.

Abstract: A parallel dynamical system for computing sparse representations of data, i.e., where the data can be fully represented in terms of a small number of non-zero code elements, and for reconstructing compressively sensed images. The system is based on the principles of thresholding and local competition that solves a family of sparse approximation problems corresponding to various sparsity metrics. The system utilizes Locally Competitive Algorithms (LCAs), nodes in a population continually compete with neighboring units using (usually one-way) lateral inhibition to calculate coefficients representing an input in an over complete dictionary.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a rotor assembly for a turbine, the turbine including a central rotational axis is provided. The method includes forging a first rotor component from a first material, separately forging a second rotor component from a second material, and coupling the second rotor component to the first rotor component at a location radially inward of the first rotor component. The second rotor component is coupled to the first rotor component in at least one axial-circumferential plane that is at least one of substantially parallel and obliquely oriented with respect to the central rotational axis.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating facsimile transmissions coupled to the switched telephone network in a manner supporting multiple communication channels, each of which allowing communication sessions with originating fax machines. The store and forward facilities include a computer for controlling operations and mass data storage equipment. The store and forward facility receives a facsimile message from an originating fax machine. The store and forward facility then delivers the facsimile message to a mailbox associated with the intended receiving facsimile machine. Subscriber mailboxes may be provided as part of the mass storage, which can then be accessed by the subscriber.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating facsimile transmissions has one or more store and forward facilities. The store and forward facilities include a computer for controlling operations and mass data storage equipment. Subscriber mailboxes are provided as part of the mass storage, which can be accessed by a subscriber to have his messages delivered to any facsimile machine he designates. Secure facsimile transmission is achieved through use of subscriber PIN numbers. The system can also be used in cooperation with a paperless facsimile machine which directly displays the facsimile message on a screen and is capable of entering outgoing facsimile messages to the store and forward facility.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a method and system for improved x-ray image data acquisition using a digital x-ray detector. The method and system include defining groups of scan lines in a detector, associating data lines in the detector with the groups of scan lines, and reading image data from the groups of scan lines using the associated data lines. The scan lines are connected with a plurality of pixels. A region of interest may be defined in the detector. The pixels obtain image data regarding the region of interest. The image data may be read from at least one scan line in each of the groups of scan lines using the associated data lines. Alternatively, the image data may be read from alternating groups of the scan lines using the associated data lines. Image data may also be binned from adjacent pixels read using a plurality of data lines.

Abstract: The compounds of the invention are generally described by the formula: B1Z*2B3Z*4X*5Q6F7X8X9X10X11 ??(1), B1X2X3X4X5Q6F7X8X9X10X11 ??(2), or B1Z2B3X4Z5Q6F7Z8X9X10X11 ??(3) and the salts, esters, amides, and acyl forms thereof. Each position represented by a letter indicates a single amino acid residue: B is a basic of polar/large amino acid or a modified form thereof; X is a small or hydrophobic amino acid or a modified form thereof; X* is a small or polar/large amino acid or a modified form thereof; Z is a polar/large or hydrophobic amino acid or a modified form thereof; Z* is Proline or a polar/large of hydrophobic amino acid or a modified form thereof. As described below, one or more of the peptide linkages between the amino acid residues may be replaced by a peptide linkage mimic. These compounds may be used as molecular building blocks to create compounds that are optimized for inhibiting the protease activity of Botulinum b and tetanus toxins.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating facsimile transmissions has one or more store and forward facilities, each associated with a plurality of subscriber facsimile machines, typically coupled over the switched telephone network. The store and forward facsimiles include a computer for controlling operations and mass data storage equipment. A subscriber to the system delivers an outgoing facsimile message to the store and forward facility with which it is associated, which records the fax message together with data as to originating facsimile machine and destination facsimile machine. The store and forward facility then delivers the facsimile message to the intended receiver facsimile machine, either directly or through another store and forward facility. If unsuccessful on an initial attempt, the store and forward facility periodically retrys to send the facsimile message.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method by which the magnitude of an interfering electrical and/or magnetic field may be sampled locally (in the X-ray detector for example) and reduced or eliminated. More specifically, embodiments comprise a system and method by which an interfering field may be sampled within the same orientation as the X-ray detector panel, and then subtracted out of each respective element sample.

Abstract: A method of maintaining an initial bias of an x-ray detector (12) includes setting the initial bias of the x-ray detector. Operating state of a readout circuit (30) is altered. A photodiode common contact voltage potential is adjusted by a data line drift amount to approximately maintain the initial bias. An x-ray imaging system (10) includes a detector (12) that has multiple pixels, multiple data lines (50), and a common contact (62) that is at a common contact voltage potential. The readout circuit (30) is electrically coupled to the data lines (50) and has a multiple power states. A controller (36) is electrically coupled to the readout circuit (30), detects a change in operating state of the readout circuit (30), and adjusts voltage potential of the common contact (62) in response to the change in operating state.

Abstract: A forging blank of a forging nickel-base superalloy is forged in a forging press having forging dies made of a die nickel-base superalloy. The forging is accomplished by heating the forging blank to a forging-blank starting temperature of from about 1850° F. to about 1950° F., heating the forging dies to a forging-die starting temperature of from about 1500° F. to about 1750° F., placing the forging blank into the forging press and between the forging dies, and forging the forging blank at the forging-blank starting temperature using the forging dies at the forging-die starting temperature, to produce a forging.

Abstract: The compounds of the invention are generally described by the formula: B1Z*2B3Z*4X*5Q6F7X8X9X10X11 ??(1), B1X2X3X4X5Q6F7X8X9X10X11 ??(2), or B1Z2B3X4Z5Q6F7Z8X9X10X11 ??(3) and the salts, esters, amides, and acyl forms thereof. Each position represented by a letter indicates a single amino acid residue: B is a basic of polar/large amino acid or a modified form thereof; X is a small or hydrophobic amino acid or a modified form thereof; X* is a small or polar/large amino acid or a modified form thereof; Z is a polar/large or hydrophobic amino acid or a modified form thereof; Z* is Proline or a polar/large of hydrophobic amino acid or a modified form thereof. As described below, one or more of the peptide linkages between the amino acid residues may be replaced by a peptide linkage mimic. These compounds may be used as molecular building blocks to create compounds that are optimized for inhibiting the protease activity of Botulinum b and tetanus toxins.

Abstract: The present invention allows placement of a disc at an angular orientation by marking the disc with an index mark or feature that can be detected, such as by a disc stacking machine used in a servo track writer. Either index is used to rotate the disc to the angular position. The present invention includes marking a disc surface with a mark or feature. An apparatus, such a stacking machine, will read the mark or feature to orient the disc in an angular position. The stacking machine will stack the positioned discs for servo track writing.