Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system for use with a model railroad which models, for one or more of the model rail cars, the actual sounds made by the real rail car(s) modeled thereby and having certain characteristics, including general operational characteristics, wear, age, defects, etc., when subjected to various physical stresses/actions during operation. The disclosed system senses similar physical stresses/actions as applied to a model of the rail car during modeled operation thereof and generates corresponding simulations of the actual sounds which would be made by the actual rail car under similar operational conditions, wherein the generation of the simulated sounds may account for the characteristic of the rail car (age, wear, defects), regardless of whether the model of the rail car models those characteristics.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system for use with a model railroad which models, for one or more of the model rail cars, the actual sounds made by the real rail car(s) modeled thereby and having certain characteristics, including general operational characteristics, wear, age, defects, etc., when subjected to various physical stresses/actions during operation. The disclosed system senses similar physical stresses/actions as applied to a model of the rail car during modeled operation thereof and generates corresponding simulations of the actual sounds which would be made by the actual rail car under similar operational conditions, wherein the generation of the simulated sounds may account for the characteristic of the rail car (age, wear, defects), regardless of whether the model of the rail car models those characteristics.

Abstract: Real-time scanning and display of images is synchronized for ultrasound imaging. The scanning rate requirements for obtaining a frame of ultrasound data are determined. The video rate for imaging is adjusted as a function of the scanning rate.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a border of a region of interest of an image, such as a medical image, are disclosed. Imaging data is acquired for generation of an image. A region of interest of the image is determined. A display value is allocated to a plurality of pixels, respectively, based on color or tissue information from the imaging data. If at least one pixel corresponds to a border of the region of interest, a border value is allocated to the at least one pixel substantially at the same time as when the display value is allocated. The image having the border of the region of interest is displayed.

Abstract: Gain is adjusted automatically in ultrasound imaging. The average of signals regardless of type of reflector (e.g., tissue or fluid) is determined, such as from all data in a frame of data representing a scanned region. The gain is set based on the difference between the average and the target. The gain offset is used with or without other gain limitations for analog, digital, or both analog and digital amplifiers. Given less computational expense, a same processor performing image processing functions may be used to also determine gain. A handheld ultrasound scanner with less computation bandwidth may implement the automatic gain adjustment. Given limited space for input devices, a depth gain may be provided without sliders or other depth based gain input.

Abstract: Gain is adjusted automatically in ultrasound imaging. The average of signals regardless of type of reflector (e.g., tissue or fluid) is determined, such as from all data in a frame of data representing a scanned region. The gain is set based on the difference between the average and the target. The gain offset is used with or without other gain limitations for analog, digital, or both analog and digital amplifiers. Given less computational expense, a same processor performing image processing functions may be used to also determine gain. A handheld ultrasound scanner with less computation bandwidth may implement the automatic gain adjustment. Given limited space for input devices, a depth gain may be provided without sliders or other depth based gain input.

Abstract: Real-time scanning and display of images is synchronized for ultrasound imaging. The scanning rate requirements for obtaining a frame of ultrasound data are determined. The video rate for imaging is adjusted as a function of the scanning rate.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a border of a region of interest of an image, such as a medical image, are disclosed. Imaging data is acquired for generation of an image. A region of interest of the image is determined. A display value is allocated to a plurality of pixels, respectively, based on color or tissue information from the imaging data. If at least one pixel corresponds to a border of the region of interest, a border value is allocated to the at least one pixel substantially at the same time as when the display value is allocated. The image having the border of the region of interest is displayed.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved welding technique that provides real-time control of the servo valve to account for the changing conditions of the parts being welded. The present invention may be implemented within any electrical welder having at least one movable platen for carrying a part to be welded, at least one hydraulic cylinder coupled to the movable platen, the hydraulic cylinder having a first chamber and a second chamber, and a servo valve coupled to the hydraulic cylinder. The present invention includes means for making instantaneous pressure measurements within the first and second chambers of the hydraulic cylinder. Also included is a force control module that reacts to the pressures within the first and second chambers to control the servo valve. The force control module receives the instantaneous pressure information from the first and second chambers of the hydraulic cylinder and determines whether the platen is moving and how far the servo valve is from its target force.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved butt welding technique that provides adaptive control of force that is applied to a part during a welding process to enable a maintained joint resistance across joint. The force may be adjusted to account for the changing conditions of the part. The present invention may be implemented within any electrical welder having at least one movable platen for carrying a part to be welded, at least one hydraulic cylinder coupled to the movable platen, the hydraulic cylinder having a first chamber and a second chamber, and a servo valve coupled to the hydraulic cylinder. The present invention includes means for making voltage drop measurements across the joint to be welded. The voltage measurements provide feedback as to whether the force should be adjusted. A force control module may be implemented to provide controlled force to the part.

Abstract: Techniques for assuring the accuracy of the welding of a part including a part calibration cycle, a tap check cycle and a gap detection cycle. The part calibration cycle determines the electrical load presented by the part to the welder transformer. The tap check cycle verifies that the operator has set the correct tap on the primary of the welder transformer, The gap detection cycle finds the actual spacing between the platen when the ends of the part are substantially touching so that the ends of the part can be accurately spaced at the beginning of the weld cycle.