Abstract: A system for transmitting information in a wireless network includes at least one mobile transponder, each transponder adapted to be on the person of a user; an area controller gateway for controlling and managing the network, the area controller gateway operatively connected to the at least one mobile transponder; and a central monitoring station adapted to receive information from the at least one mobile transponder via the area controller gateway and to transmit other information to the at least one mobile transponder via the area controller gateway. The central monitoring station is operatively connected to the area controller gateway by an interne or cellular connection. The system may include a repeater adapted to receive information from the at least one mobile transponder and to transmit said information to the area controller gateway. The mobile transponder may be a duress pendant to provide duress notification or coverage to the user.

Abstract: A system for transmitting information in a wireless network includes at least one mobile transponder, each transponder adapted to be on the person of a user; an area controller gateway for controlling and managing the network, the area controller gateway operatively connected to the at least one mobile transponder; and a central monitoring station adapted to receive information from the at least one mobile transponder via the area controller gateway and to transmit other information to the at least one mobile transponder via the area controller gateway. The central monitoring station is operatively connected to the area controller gateway by an interne or cellular connection. The system may include a repeater adapted to receive information from the at least one mobile transponder and to transmit said information to the area controller gateway. The mobile transponder may be a duress pendant to provide duress notification or coverage to the user.

Abstract: Improved component placement inspection and verification is performed by a pick and place machine. Improvements include stereovision imaging of the intended placement location; enhanced illumination to facilitate the provision of relatively high-power illumination in the restricted space near the placement nozzle(s); optics to allow image acquisition device to view the placement location from an angle relative to a plane of the placement location, thereby reducing the possibility of such images being obstructed by the component; techniques for rapidly acquiring images with commercially available CCD arrays such that acquisition of before and after images does not substantially impact system throughput; and image processing techniques to provide component inspection and verification information.

Abstract: Improved component placement inspection and verification is performed by a pick and place machine. Improvements include stereovision imaging of the intended placement location; enhanced illumination to facilitate the provision of relatively high-power illumination in the restricted space near the placement nozzle(s); optics to allow image acquisition device to view the placement location from an angle relative to a plane of the placement location, thereby reducing the possibility of such images being obstructed by the component; techniques for rapidly acquiring images with commercially available CCD arrays such that acquisition of before and after images does not substantially impact system throughput; and image processing techniques to provide component inspection and verification information.

Abstract: Improved component placement inspection and verification is performed by a pick and place machine. Improvements include stereovision imaging of the intended placement location; enhanced illumination to facilitate the provision of relatively high-power illumination in the restricted space near the placement nozzle(s); optics to allow image acquisition device to view the placement location from an angle relative to a plane of the placement location, thereby reducing the possibility of such images being obstructed by the component; techniques for rapidly acquiring images with commercially available CCD arrays such that acquisition of before and after images does not substantially impact system throughput; and image processing techniques to provide component inspection and verification information.

Abstract: The azimuthal aperture of the transducer in a transesophageal echocardiography probe can be maximized, for a given probe diameter, by eliminating unnecessary structures in the azimuthal direction.

Abstract: A phased array ultrasound transducer is made from a plurality of independently excitable elements that are arranged in a row in the azimuthal direction, configured so that azimuthal aiming of an outgoing ultrasound beam is controlled by timing the excitation of the elements. The geometry of the elements is configured to focus the outgoing beam in the elevation direction so as to improve the images of target regions located at or about a particular radial distance. In some embodiments, this is accomplished by forming each element from a plurality of subelements that are stacked in the elevation direction, with the subelements of any given element all (a) wired together and (b) positioned at about the same distance from a substantially rod-shaped focal region.

Abstract: Signal processing techniques reduce the impact of noise (including speckle noise and shot noise) on ultrasound images by reducing the intensity of pixels that are probably noise and increasing the intensity of pixels that are probably signal. The decision of whether a given pixel is probably noise or probably signal is made based on spectral characteristics of the samples in and around the given pixel, based on knowledge of the expected spectral characteristics of the signal and the expected spectral characteristics of the noise.

Abstract: Transesophageal echocardiography is implemented using a miniature transversely oriented transducer that is preferably small enough to fit in a 7.5 mm diameter probe, and most preferably small enough to fit in a 5 mm diameter probe. Signal processing techniques improve the depth of penetration to the point where the complete trans-gastric short axis view of the left ventricle can be obtained, despite the fact that the transducer is so small. The reduced diameter of the probe (as compared to prior art probes) reduces risks to patients, reduces or eliminates the need for anesthesia, and permits long term direct-visualization monitoring of patients' cardiac function.

Abstract: Transesophageal echocardiography is implemented using a miniature transversely oriented transducer that is preferably small enough to fit in a 7.5 mm diameter probe, and most preferably small enough to fit in a 5 mm diameter probe. Signal processing techniques improve the depth of penetration to the point where the complete trans-gastric short axis view of the left ventricle can be obtained, despite the fact that the transducer is so small. The reduced diameter of the probe (as compared to prior art probes) reduces risks to patients, reduces or eliminates the need for anesthesia, and permits long term direct-visualization monitoring of patients' cardiac function.

Abstract: A method for reducing speckle in an ultrasonic image formed from a digitized scan line including linearly arranged signal intensity data points obtained from ultrasonic energy reflected by structures within a body. The scan line is divided into intensity pixels. Each intensity pixel includes at least one data point. A raw intensity level and a feature gain factor are determined for each intensity pixel. A corrected intensity level is calculated for each intensity pixel by multiplying the raw intensity level for each intensity pixel by the corresponding feature gain factor. The corrected intensity level of each intensity pixel is displayed.

Abstract: Attorney Docket No.: RP.P006Page 12 of 14Express Mail No.: Jun. 3, 2002A method of initiating a suspension of a device connected to a parent device. The method including the steps of receiving a request from a user; generating an interrupt signal from the device to the parent device; concluding any data transfers between the device and the parent device; and, providing an indication to the user once all data transfers between the device and the parent device have concluded.

Abstract: A linked list memory (8) having an address generator (19) used during initial processing and a method for assigning addresses to lists corresponding to devices using a common memory (10). When the address generator (19) has assigned each address location once, a free list is used to track available addresses. The free list is not used until all addresses have been assigned once. In one embodiment, a counter (22) is incremented each time an address is assigned, where the value of counter (22) provides the address for a write operation. The counter (22) is not effected by requests to read from memory. The free list is not used until the counter (22) has been used to assign all addresses in the memory (10).

Abstract: A linked list memory (8) having an address generator (19) used during initial processing and a method for assigning addresses to lists corresponding to devices using a common memory (10). When the address generator (19) has assigned each address location once, a free list is used to track available addresses. The free list is not used until all addresses have been assigned once. In one embodiment, a counter (22) is incremented each time an address is assigned, where the value of counter (22) provides the address for a write operation. The counter (22) is not effected by requests to read from memory. The free list is not used until the counter (22) has been used to assign all addresses in the memory (10).