Abstract: A terminal block is disclosed that integrates a surge protection base, a disconnect and connection points to provide a Kelvin connection in which a surge protection element is in electrical communication with the ground and the connection points for incoming and outgoing wires. The terminal block includes a terminal body having a terminal body housing. a plurality of conductive elements arranged within the terminal body to create a continuous electrical path therethrough and a disconnect switch integral the terminal body, the switch arranged to open the continuous electrical path and expose a terminal. The terminal body is configured to receive a surge protection element and the surge protection element, when received in the terminal body, forms a portion of the continuous electrical path.

Abstract: An electron source for an X-ray scanner includes an emitter support block, an electron-emitting region formed on the support block and arranged to emit electrons, an electrical connector arranged to connect a source of electric current to the electron-emitting region, and heating structure arranged to heat the support block.

Abstract: An anode for an X-ray tube includes at least one thermally conductive anode segment in contact with a rigid support member and cooling means arranged to cool the anode. The anode may further include a plurality of anode segments aligned end to end, each in contact with the support member.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for backing up files used by a virtual machine are described herein. The files may be stored within a virtual disk image file. A full backup of the virtual disk image file may first be created. After creating the full backup, one or more incremental or differential backups of the virtual disk image file may be created. In some embodiments, fingerprints of the sectors of the virtual disk image file may be stored and used to identify which sectors should be included in the incremental or differential backups.

Abstract: A geospatial decision management system (GDMS) can save the overall state of a user's experience at one point in time within a GDMS session so that the user can restore the overall state at a later time, such as by restoring a geospatial browser view (e.g., camera settings for rending the map on the display screen, layer state information, map location) and restoring the states of one or more instances of geospatially-referenced tools that were active at the time of the state save. Upon restore, the browser and tools are initialized with their saved states so that the user is presented with the same functionality, data, and browser view that were displayed and accessible at the time of the state save. Saved states are transportable and can also be sequenced and animated to allow presentation of a slide show of individual GDMS views.

Abstract: A data processor comprises a plurality of processing elements arranged for parallel processing of data, and a controller for controlling the plurality of processing elements. The controller is operable to determine respective status information for a plurality of processing threads, and to control processing of the processing threads by the plurality of processors in dependence upon such status information.

Abstract: A controller operable to control an array of processing elements comprises a retrieval unit operable to retrieve instruction items for each of a plurality of instructions streams, each instruction stream having a plurality of instructions items, a combining unit operable to combine the plurality of instruction streams into a serial instruction stream, and a distribution unit operable to distribute the serial instruction stream to an array of processing elements.

Abstract: A data processor comprises a plurality of processing elements arranged in a first plurality of single instruction multiple data (SIMD) processing arrays, and comprises a second plurality of controllers for transferring instructions to the processing arrays. Each controller is operable to retrieve a plurality of incoming instruction streams in parallel with one another and operable to supply incoming instruction streams to one of a plurality of processing arrays.

Abstract: An X-ray tube includes an emitter wire enclosed in a suppressor. An extraction grid comprises a number of parallel wires extending perpendicular to the emitter wire, and a focusing grid comprises a number of wires parallel to the grid wires and spaced apart at equal spacing to the grid wires. The grid wire are connected by means of switches to a positive extracting potential or a negative inhibiting potential, and the switches are controlled so that at any one time a pair of adjacent grid wires are connected together to form an extracting pair, which produce an electron beam. The position of the beam is moved by switching different pairs of grid wires to the extracting potential.

Abstract: The present invention is a shielded anode having an anode with a surface facing an electron beam and a shield configured to encompass the anode surface. The shield has at least one aperture and an internal surface facing the anode surface. The shield internal surface and anode surface are separated by a gap in the range of 1 mm to 10 mm. The shield of the present invention is fabricated from a material, such as graphite, that is substantially transmissive to X-ray photons.

Abstract: A geospatial decision management system (GDMS) can save the overall state of a user's experience at one point in time within a GDMS session so that the user can restore the overall state at a later time, such as by restoring a geospatial browser view (e.g., camera settings for rending the map on the display screen, layer state information, map location) and restoring the states of one or more instances of geospatially-referenced tools that were active at the time of the state save. Upon restore, the browser and tools are initialized with their saved states so that the user is presented with the same functionality, data, and browser view that were displayed and accessible at the time of the state save. Saved states are transportable and can also be sequenced and animated to allow presentation of a slide show of individual GDMS views.

Abstract: A process of forming a front-grid electrode on a silicon wafer having an ARC layer, comprising the steps: (1) printing and drying a metal paste A comprising an inorganic content comprising 0.5 to 8 wt.-% of glass frit and having fire-through capability, wherein the metal paste A is printed on the ARC layer in a grid pattern which comprises (i) thin parallel finger lines forming a bottom set of finger lines and (ii) busbars intersecting the finger lines at right angle, (2) printing and drying a metal paste B comprising an inorganic content comprising 0 to 3 wt.-% of glass frit over the bottom set of finger lines to form a top set of finger lines superimposing the bottom set of finger lines, and (3) firing the double-printed silicon wafer, wherein the inorganic content of metal paste B contains less glass frit plus optionally present other inorganic additives than the inorganic content of metal paste A.

Abstract: A process of forming a front-grid electrode on a silicon wafer having an ARC layer, comprising the steps: (1) printing and drying a metal paste A comprising an inorganic content comprising 0.5 to 8 wt.-% of glass frit and having fire-through capability, wherein the metal paste A is printed on the ARC layer to form a bottom set of thin parallel finger lines, (2) printing and drying a metal paste B comprising an inorganic content comprising 0.2 to 3 wt.-% of glass frit over the bottom set of finger lines, wherein the metal paste B is printed in a grid pattern which comprises (i) thin parallel finger lines forming a top set of finger lines superimposing the bottom set of finger lines and (ii) busbars intersecting the finger lines at right angle, and (3) firing the double-printed silicon wafer, wherein the inorganic content of metal paste B contains less glass frit plus optionally present other inorganic additives than the inorganic content of metal paste A.

Abstract: A process of forming a front-grid electrode on a silicon wafer having an ARC layer, comprising the steps: (1) printing and drying a metal paste A comprising an inorganic content comprising 0.5 to 8 wt.-% of glass frit and having fire-through capability, wherein the metal paste A is printed on the ARC layer to form a bottom set of thin parallel finger lines, (2) printing and drying a metal paste B comprising an inorganic content comprising 0 to 3 wt.-% of glass frit over the bottom set of finger lines forming a top set of finger lines superimposing the bottom set of finger lines, (3) printing and drying a metal paste C comprising an inorganic content comprising 0.2 to 3 wt.-% of glass frit to form busbars intersecting the finger lines at right angle, and (4) firing the triple-printed silicon wafer, wherein the inorganic content of metal paste B as well as that of paste C contains less glass frit plus optionally present other inorganic additives than the inorganic content of metal paste A.

Abstract: A parallel data processing apparatus using a SIMD array of processing elements is disclosed. The apparatus makes use of a register in order to control issuance of instructions to the processing elements in the array.

Abstract: An X-ray tube comprises an electron source in the form of a cathodE (12), and an anode (14) within a housing (10). The anode (14) is a thin film anode, so that most of the electrons which do not interact with it to produce X-rays pass directly through it. X-rays can be collected through a first window (16) directly behind the anode (14), or a second window (18) to one side of the anode. A retardation electrode 20 is located behind the anode 4 and is held at a potential which is negative with respect to the anode 14, and slightly positive with respect to the cathode (12). This retardation electrode (20) produces an electric field which slows down electrons passing through the anode (14) so that, when they interact with it, they are at relatively low energies. This reduces the heat load on the tube.

Abstract: A biodegradable material for use in making items usable in surgery and related fields of medicine. The material comprising a bioabsorbable thermoplastic polymer component and a bioactive filler material. In components made of the material particles of the filler material occur embedded within the surface of the components.

Abstract: A computer facilitated method of requesting a spectral analysis of a sample having an unknown concentration or purity, performing an energy absorption analysis of the sample to obtain spectral data regarding the analysis and comparing the spectral data to stored spectral data regarding the analyses of the samples having a predetermined concentration and purity to determine the concentration or purity of the sample having an unknown concentration or purity. The spectral analysis is performed on site where the sample is prepared or administered using a portable analytical apparatus and provides a real time report of the concentration or purity of the sample. The apparatus requires only a small sample size.

Abstract: A multi-band communication device with a front end antenna switch module and shared bias circuit is disclosed. Control inputs determine signal routing and amplifier biasing in response to the communication device's mode or band of operation. A received signal is routed to an active path, which corresponds to the band of the received signal. A received signal is selectively switched to one or more switch outputs, which connect to one or more filters matched to the band of the received signal. After filtering, the signal is directly provided to an active amplifier. An amplifier is activated by a bias signal received from a shared bias circuit. The shared bias circuit generates a bias signal which is selectively switched to an amplifier associated with an active path.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an X-ray tube that has an electron source in the form of a cathode and an anode within a housing. The anode is a thin film anode, so that most of the electrons which do not interact with it to produce X-rays pass directly through it. A retardation electrode is located behind the anode and is held at a potential which is negative with respect to the anode and slightly positive with respect to the cathode.