Abstract: A vision inspection system for laser welds includes a scanning station to support a workpiece including one or more laser welds. A vision sensing assembly includes a top surface, a bottom surface, side surfaces, a light source, and a sensor. The light source illuminates the workpiece while the sensor generates an image of the one or more laser welds of the workpiece. A shield is arranged around the top surface and the side surfaces of the vision sensing assembly. The bottom surface of the vision sensing assembly is arranged above a lower edge of the shield by a first predetermined distance.

Abstract: A method or system for application program interface (API) request conversion, includes generating a plurality of configuration files, each associated with a different API format. A first API format of the first API request is identified and a first configuration file is identified based on the first API format. A second API request having a second API format is generated by applying the first API request to the first configuration file. A third API request is received and a third API format of the third API request is identified. A second configuration file is identified based on the third API format. A fourth API request is generated having the second API format by applying the third API request to the second configuration file.

Abstract: A method or system for application program interface (API) request conversion, includes generating a plurality of configuration files, each associated with a different API format. A first API format of the first API request is identified and a first configuration file is identified based on the first API format. A second API request having a second API format is generated by applying the first API request to the first configuration file. A third API request is received and a third API format of the third API request is identified. A second configuration file is identified based on the third API format. A fourth API request is generated having the second API format by applying the third API request to the second configuration file.

Abstract: A method or system for application program interface (API) request conversion, includes generating a plurality of configuration files, each associated with a different API format. A first API format of the first API request is identified and a first configuration file is identified based on the first API format. A second API request having a second API format is generated by applying the first API request to the first configuration file. A third API request is received and a third API format of the third API request is identified. A second configuration file is identified based on the third API format. A fourth API request is generated having the second API format by applying the third API request to the second configuration file.

Abstract: An automated method for facilitating management of a data processing environment, including pluggable heterogeneous reconciliation, is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method may include facilitating detecting of a change to an element of a data processing device of the data processing environment. In various embodiments, the method may further include facilitating determining a predicated reconciliation action, among a plurality of heterogeneous predicated reconciliation actions provided by a number of different vendors, to respond to a detected change. In various embodiments, the method may further include facilitating performing the determined reconciliation action. Other embodiments of the present invention may include, but are not limited to, apparatuses and systems adapted to facilitate practice of the above-described method.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for orthopedic implant assessment. A method includes characterizing wear of an orthopedic implant including measuring a dimension in a direction that defines a path that passes through an articulating surface of a wear element of the orthopedic implant using at least one thickness sensor. An apparatus includes an orthopedic implant including a wear element having an articulating surface; and at least one thickness sensor coupled to the wear element, the at least one thickness sensor measuring a dimension in a direction that defines a path that passes through the articulating surface of the wear element. A method includes characterizing forces within an orthopedic implant including using a plurality of individually addressable pressure sensors including measuring parasitic impedance between at least two of the plurality of individually addressable pressure sensors.

Abstract: An automated method for facilitating management of a data processing environment is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method may include facilitating detecting of a change to an element of a data processing device of the data processing environment. In various embodiments, the method may further include facilitating reconciling the change with a conformance authority, the conformance authority having one or more guidelines. Other embodiments of the present invention may include, but are not limited to, apparatuses adapted to facilitate practice of the above-described method.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for automated change audit of an enterprise's IT infrastructure, including independent detection of changes, reconciliation of detected changes and independent reporting, to effectuate a triad of controls on managing changes within the IT infrastructure, preventive controls, detective controls and corrective controls.

Abstract: An automated method for facilitating management of a data processing environment is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method may include facilitating creation of a first memorialization, in digital form, of one or more changes detected on a data processing device of the data processing environment. In various embodiments, the method may further included facilitating comparison of the first memorialization to a second memorialization of one or more in-band changes that should have been made to the data processing device to facilitate detection of one or more out-of-band changes to the data processing device. Other embodiments of the present invention may include, but are not limited to, apparatus adapted to facilitate practice of the above-described method.

Abstract: An automated method for facilitating management of a data processing environment is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method may include facilitating detecting of a change to an element of a data processing device of the data processing environment. In various embodiments, the method may further included facilitating correlating the change to one or more events associated with the element, and reporting the detected change for the element, supplemented with one or more of the correlated events of the element. Other embodiments of the present invention may include, but are not limited to, apparatus adapted to facilitate practice of the above-described method.

Abstract: A touch sensor method and device are described that allow one or more simultaneous touches to be sensed and mapped to Cartesian coordinates. The device utilizes closely spaced multiple conducting strips to provide digital location of a touch position according to the position strip and analog location along the length of the strip. When the strips are energized individually and in coordinated ways, multiple touches are individually sensed and their positions are reported.

Abstract: Fluorescence modification, meaning either fluorescence enhancement or fluorescence diminishment, is obtained in a transparent layer structure comprised of a substrate, a dielectric layer and a fluorophore-labeled biomolecule layer. A metal particle layer is positioned in the layer structure a distance of 200-500 nm from the fluorophore-labeled biomolecule layer. Separation distances between 200 and 500 nanometers can be used to enhance or diminish fluorescence. All of the layers may be made transparent so that microscopic viewing of the fluorescence is possible from either side of the layer structure.

Abstract: A method for facilitating management of a data processing environment is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method may include facilitating homogeneous monitoring of a plurality of heterogeneous data processing nodes of the data processing environment, the homogeneous monitoring including facilitating detecting one or more changes of one or more elements of the plurality of heterogeneous data processing nodes. In various embodiments, the method may further include facilitating performing one or more actions in response to detecting the one or more changes. Other embodiments of the present invention may include, but are not limited to, apparatuses and systems adapted to facilitate practice of the above-described method.

Abstract: A surface wave chemical detector comprising at least one surface wave substrate, each of said substrates having a surface wave and at least one measurable surface wave parameter; means for exposing said surface wave substrate to an unknown sample of at least one chemical to be analyzed, said substrate adsorbing said at least one chemical to be sensed if present in said sample; a source of radiation for radiating said surface wave substrate with different wavelengths of said radiation, said surface wave parameter being changed by said adsorbing; and means for recording signals representative of said surface wave parameter of each of said surface wave substrates responsive to said radiation of said different wavelengths, measurable changes of said parameter due to adsorbing said chemical defining a unique signature of a detected chemical.

Abstract: A sensor for determining the presence of an analyte is disclosed comprising a reactive layer disposed between a base plate and a movable plate. The reactive layer is configured to interact with an analyte effecting a change in capacitance between the base plate and movable plate. When the analyte has a polarity or overall Hildebrand solubility parameter that is similar to the reactive layer, the change in capacitance is caused by a swelling of the reactive layer as analyte is absorbed into the reactive layer. This results in a decrease in capacitance. When the analyte has a solubility parameter not near the reactive layer, the absorbed analyte causes the reactive layer's total polarity to increase, an effect that dominates swelling. This causes an increase in capacitance. A capacitive sensing circuit is included for measuring the change in capacitance which is indicative of the analyte exposed to the sensor.

Abstract: The present inventions are directed to touch sensors with improved topological equivalence between an equipotential space and a Cartesian space to which the equipotential space will be mapped. The touch sensor comprises a substrate with a touch region, and a set of electrodes that are electrically coupled to the touch region. The touch sensor further comprises a plurality of resistive band segments that frames the touch region. The electrodes are located between the resistive band segments. Each resistive band segment has a resistivity that is intermediate between the resistivity of the electrodes and the resistivity of the touch region, thereby providing a transition between the low resistivity electrodes and the high resistivity touch region, and improving the topological equivalence within the corners of the touch region. At least one of the band segments has a non-uniform linear resistance to provide further improvement to the topological equivalence.

Abstract: A new touch screen is based upon the mapping of coordinates from an equipotential space defined by a simple set of screen electrodes to some other, more useful coordinates, such as Cartesian. The key idea is that unique coordinate mapping can be achieved with each sensing pair of electronic readings. A new sensor is described with a band of intermediate conductivity framing the sensor area. This sensor can be used advantageously either as a standalone with uniform equipotential distributions or in connection with the mapping concepts discussed herein with non-uniform distributions.