Abstract: A method of controlling an optical output power of a laser diode associated with a photodiode includes obtaining first optical trimming parameters indicative of a first optical output power of the laser diode at a first laser diode current and a second optical output power of the laser diode at a second laser diode current above lasing threshold. Next, second electrical trimming parameters indicative of a photodiode characteristic curve of photodiode current versus laser diode current are obtained. A first photodiode current and a second photodiode current at a laser diode currents below lasing threshold. A slope of a photodiode current versus laser diode current is determined. The optical output power of the laser diode above lasing threshold is controlled based on the first optical trimming parameters, the second electrical trimming parameters and the slope of the photodiode current versus laser diode current below lasing threshold.

Abstract: A novel location and marking system is configured to provide a seamless in-the-field access to resource and asset information databases with automated functionality that effectively and more efficiently manages, controls, and distributes data according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, such systems can enable utilities to manage assets in real-time, provide map asset status, and provide automatic ticket routing, dispatching and management. For example, in some embodiments, the system is configured to generate maps with identifiers or components of an active division including tickets of one or more assets of an active division. These assets include sites of residential and business gas, electrical, and/or water and sewer conduits and metering systems, as well as related underground infrastructure that can be susceptible to earthquakes, ground disturbances, and other emergency situations according to some embodiments.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a server system including a computing device configured to be coupled to a communications network, a user device, a mapping database with mapping data, and an asset or infrastructure database including asset or infrastructure data. Program logic can receive a data communication including location information from the user device and display a map and asset or infrastructure information and a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display of the user device. Displayed information can be related to an emergency or safety alert, a condition related to asset or infrastructure data, or a response or status of assets or infrastructure to an environmental factor or human-made phenomenon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for estimating a condition parameter of a laser diode having an associated photodiode, to an apparatus for monitoring the operation of such a laser diode, and to a particle sensor apparatus. The photodiode (PD) is operable together with the laser diode (LD), wherein it detects the light (LS) of the laser diode (LD) and converts it into an electrical current, and is thermally coupled to the laser diode (LD). The at least one condition parameter is estimated during the operation of the laser diode (LD) and the estimation is based on current measurements and/or voltage measurements at the laser diode (LD) and/or at the photodiode (PD).

Abstract: A multi-factored authentication system is provided to identify users. Accordingly, the authentication system may utilize a combination of multiple authentication methods to identify and authenticate a user, such as facial recognition, voice recognition, fingerprint/retinal recognition, detection of cards/chips or smartphones located with the user, PINs, passwords, cryptographic keys, tokens, and the like. The various authentication methods may be used to calculate a confidence value for the authentication system, where the confidence value reflects the degree of certainty of the user's identity. Each authentication method may, upon identifying a positive match for a user, increase the confidence value by a certain degree.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method of measuring the axial rotation of a selected vertebra of a patient using a magnetic resonance (MR) image. The method includes: identifying, in the MR image, two or more features of the selected vertebra; determining a first axis connecting the identified features; identifying, in the MR image, two or more features of the patient's surrounding anatomy that are not features of the selected vertebra; determining a second axis connecting the identified features of the patient's surrounding anatomy; measuring the angular difference between the first and second axes; and determining the axial rotation of the cervical vertebra based on the measurement. In some examples of the disclosure, determining the axial rotation of the cervical vertebra is based on the degree of perpendicularity between the first and second axes.

Abstract: A laser device includes a laser diode configured to emit radiation, an output power of the radiation being dependent on a laser diode driving current, and a photodiode configured to receive the radiation emitted by the laser diode. A photodiode current induced in the photodiode by the received radiation is dependent on a power of the received radiation. The laser device further includes circuitry configured to measure the photodiode current for a laser diode driving current and calculate a laser threshold current of the laser diode from the measured photodiode current as a measure of an actual laser threshold current of the laser diode. The circuitry is further configured to detect a malfunction or degradation of the laser diode.

Abstract: A method reduces false-positive particle counts detected by an interference particle sensor module, which has a laser and a light detector. The method including: emitting laser light; providing a high-frequency signal during the emission of the laser light, a modulation frequency of the high-frequency signal being between 10-500 MHz; detecting an optical response by the light detector in reaction to the emitted laser light while providing the high-frequency signal, which is arranged such that a detection signal caused by a macroscopic object positioned between a first and second distance is reduced in comparison to a detection signal caused by the macroscopic object at the same position without providing the high-frequency signal. The high-frequency signal is provided to a tuning structure of the particle sensor module which is arranged to modify a resonance frequency of an optical resonator comprised by the laser sensor module upon reception of the high-frequency signal.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems magnetic resonance imaging. The system may acquire images associated with a target region the body part including the target region moves, using a series of imaging planes correlated with the motion. The images are then displayed in time order sequence to provide a motion picture. The system may also provide for imaging in multiple planes such as mutually-perpendicular planes with rapid and facile switching between these planes. The multi-plane views can be used, for example, to monitor insertion of an instrument into the patient.

Abstract: An ESD protective device for a MEMS element is described as having at least one first line; at least one n-region connected to the first line; at least one insulating region connected to the n-region; at least one p-region connected to the insulating region; at least one second line connected to the p-region; the n-region, the insulating region, and the p-region being situated on a substrate.

Abstract: An optical particle sensor apparatus is equipped with a housing (MD) having an optical exit region (OF); an optical emitter device (LD) in the housing that is set up to emit an optical measurement beam (OB) for capturing particles; a focusing lens device (LE) in the housing for directing the optical measurement beam through the optical exit region to outside the housing in a focus region (FA), within which particle capturing is performable; an optical detector device (DD) arranged in the housing and set up to capture the measurement beam (OB?) scattered by particles (P) and to output information produced using an algorithm relating to the presence of the particles; and a controllable adaptation device (C, E), which is set up to adapt at least one optical property of the lens device and/or of the optical emitter device and/or of the optical detector device based on an input signal (ES; ES?) that provides information relating to a presence and to optical properties of an external optical window (EF) arranged be

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure describes a method for detecting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow of a subject in which magnetic resonance imaging signals of a selected region of interest of the subject's anatomy are acquired. Preferably, the selected region of interest comprises the cerebro-spinal anatomy. A central location of the selected region of interest of the subject's anatomy is determined and used to determine a mean intensity value associated with image pixels of the central location. The mean intensity value is then used to establish interior and exterior outlines of the the selected region of interest of the subject's anatomy so that the CSF flow within the interior and exterior anatomical outlines may be measured or detected.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems, methods, and computer program products for a cassette system and device network for secure resource replenishment and distribution among a plurality of computer terminals. A resource replenishment device comprising a tamper-proof, sealable container may securely store and transport one or more resources within the interior of the device. The resource replenishment device may be used for efficiently fulfilling calculated resource deficiency requests at one or more computer terminals, wherein resources may be transferred to the resource replenishment device from a resource reserves station for transport and transfer to a resource-deficient, requesting computer terminal.

Abstract: Processes for the generation of thin inorganic films on substrates, in particular atomic layer deposition processes. In particular, a process of bringing a compound of general formula (I) into the gaseous or aerosol state Ln - - - M - - - Xm??(I) and depositing the compound of general formula (I) from the gaseous or aerosol state onto a solid substrate, wherein M is a metal, L is a ligand which coordinates to M and contains at least one phosphorus-carbon multiple bond, wherein L contains a phosphorus-containing heterocyclic ring or a phosphorus-carbon triple bond, X is a ligand which coordinates to M, n is 1 to 5, and m is 0 to 5.

Abstract: A system for determining a particle contamination and a method for determining a particle contamination in a measurement environment is provided in which individual particles in the measurement environment are detected (S1), wherein a) an estimate of the number of particles per volume in the measurement environment is ascertained (S2), b) an estimate of the number of particles per volume and characterization information describing the particle source in the measurement information are taken as a basis for ascertaining an output value for the particle contamination in the measurement environment (S3), and c) context-related data are made available and the characterization information is estimated on the basis of the available context-related data (S4).

Abstract: A method and system for correlating slice profiles associated with a series of magnetic resonance images taken at a plurality of positions. The method comprises first positioning a patient in a first position in the imaging volume of the magnet. A scout scan is then acquired. Selection is then made of an anatomical landmark in the scout scan, which will be referred to as an anatomical fiducial. A particular slice, typically one of a stack of slices to be acquired in a subsequent scan, is selected and precisely positioned at the location of the anatomical fiducial in the scout scan. Following completion of the scan, the patient may be repositioned, necessitating a new scout scan to set up parameters for a second scan.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting particles, having the steps of: receiving (S1) a measurement signal; calculating (S2) at least one estimated noise value using the received measurement signal; and detecting (S3) the particles using the measurement signal on the basis of at least one detection criterion, wherein the at least one detection criterion depends on the at least one calculated estimated noise value.

Abstract: A multi-factored authentication system is provided to identify users. Accordingly, the authentication system may utilize a combination of multiple authentication methods to identify and authenticate a user, such as facial recognition, voice recognition, fingerprint/retinal recognition, detection of cards/chips or smartphones located with the user, PINs, passwords, cryptographic keys, tokens, and the like. The various authentication methods may be used to calculate a confidence value for the authentication system, where the confidence value reflects the degree of certainty of the user's identity. Each authentication method may, upon identifying a positive match for a user, increase the confidence value by a certain degree.

Abstract: A system for determining a particle contamination and a method for determining a particle contamination in a measurement environment, is provided in which individual particles in the measurement environment are detected (S1), wherein a) an estimate of the number of particles per volume in the measurement environment is ascertained (S2), b) an estimate of the number of particles per volume and characterization information describing the particle source in the measurement information are taken as a basis for ascertaining an output value for the particle contamination in the measurement environment (S3), and c) context-related data are made available and the characterization information is estimated on the basis of the available context-related data (S4).

Abstract: An ESD protective device for a MEMS element is described as having at least one first line; at least one n-region connected to the first line; at least one insulating region connected to the n-region; at least one p-region connected to the insulating region; at least one second line connected to the p-region; the n-region, the insulating region, and the p-region being situated on a substrate.