Abstract: A double-flow type volute casing having a structure for changing the direction of flow in a turbine inlet is proposed. The volute casing includes a partition plate for partitioning a volute defined in the casing into an inner flow channel and an outer flow channel, provided so as to surround a turbine, a plurality of flow-rate adjustment holes formed in the partition plate so as to be arranged at a gradually decreasing interval such that a high-pressure fluid flowing in the outer flow channel is introduced into the inner flow channel and the fluid flowing in the inner flow channel is directed perpendicularly to the turbine blades, in order to minimize the amount of energy that is lost and to reduce imbalanced variation of torque applied to the turbine blades.

Abstract: Disclosed is a Francis turbine, and more particularly a double-flow type volute casing having a structure for changing the direction of flow in a turbine inlet, wherein a partition plate for partitioning a volute defined in the casing into an inner flow channel and an outer flow channel is provided so as to surround a turbine, the ratio in sectional area of the inner flow channel to the outer flow channel in a volute inlet, into which a fluid is introduced, is 4:6, a plurality of flow-rate adjustment holes is formed in the partition plate so as to be arranged at a gradually decreasing interval such that a high-pressure fluid flowing in the outer flow channel is introduced into the inner flow channel and the fluid flowing in the inner flow channel is directed perpendicularly to the turbine blades, in order to minimize the amount of energy that is lost and to reduce imbalanced variation of torque applied to the turbine blades, whereby it is possible to prevent the generation of vibration and to obtain high rota

Abstract: A tire tread temperature sensing and display apparatus, system and method are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a temperature sensor, a controller and a display. The sensor is configured to be mounted to a vehicle and to sense tire tread temperature. The controller is configured to receive and process temperature measurements and to communicate to a display, the display configured to display temperature related information in response to communication from the controller.

Abstract: An electronic device and method for collectively controlling target devices are provided. The electronic device includes a communication unit configured to communicate data, and a processor configured to initiate a group conversation to control at least one target device, and, upon reception of a control command to control a function of the at least one target device, to transmit the control command to the at least one target device through the group conversation.

Abstract: A driver assistance detection system and method for determining levels of functionality of an interactive device in a vehicle are provided. The driver assistance detection system comprises a vision-based detection device, a processing device, and an interactive device. The vision-based detection device is configured to visually detect objects, recognize whether the object is an object of interest, and then obtain data regarding a status of the object. The processing device is configured to receive data from the vision-based detection device, run a set of instructions and switch the interactive device between a first mode and a second mode. The interactive device is configured to have at least two modes, wherein the second mode has reduced functionality relative to the first mode.

Abstract: An electrically-conductive housing is configured to support a patch antenna and to enclose or cover electronic components mounted onto a circuit board to which the housing is attached. The housing is formed to have a grounded passageway for a feed line for the patch antenna. The passageway thus acts as a RF shield. An optional ferrule can be placed into the shield to align the feed line. An optional feed line contact can be placed into the ferrule to allow for the housing construct to behave as an RF connector.

Abstract: An electrically-conductive housing is configured to support a patch antenna and to enclose or cover electronic components mounted onto a circuit board to which the housing is attached. The housing is formed to have a grounded passageway for a feed line for the patch antenna. The passageway thus acts as a RF shield. An optional ferrule can be placed into the shield to align the feed line. An optional feed line contact can be placed into the ferrule to allow for the housing construct to behave as an RF connector.

Abstract: A driver assistance detection system and method for determining levels of functionality of an interactive device in a vehicle are provided. The driver assistance detection system comprises a vision-based detection device, a processing device, and an interactive device. The vision-based detection device is configured to visually detect objects, recognize whether the object is an object of interest, and then obtain data regarding a status of the object. The processing device is configured to receive data from the vision-based detection device, run a set of instructions and switch the interactive device between a first mode and a second mode. The interactive device is configured to have at least two modes, wherein the second mode has reduced functionality relative to the first mode.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for improving performance of a hard disk drive at low temperature are provided. The method includes: measuring an internal temperature of the hard disk drive; checking whether a measured internal temperature is not more than a predetermined critical temperature; if the measured internal temperature is not more than the predetermined critical temperature, driving a motor of the hard disk drive for a predetermined time and proceeding to the operation of the measuring of the internal temperature of the hard disk drive; and if the measured internal temperature is greater than the predetermined critical temperature, determining that reading/writing operations with respect to the hard disk drive are available.

Abstract: A method of controlling vibration of a moving system having driving and driven units includes measuring an acceleration of the driven unit, generating a nominal acceleration by subtracting gravity from the measured acceleration, generating a control driving force according to the nominal acceleration, the driving force having a direction opposite to that of the measured acceleration, and applying the control driving force to the driven unit.

Abstract: Provided is a foot structure for a humanoid robot capable of effectively keeping its balance in a pause state or action. The foot structure includes a support; a plurality of lower structures having an upper member connected to a bottom of the support; a plurality of lower members having a plurality of independent portions each movably connected to the upper member; and a revolute joint for coupling the upper member and the lower member. Since a contact between the foot structure and the floor is smoothly made, a shock is prevented from being transferred to a body of the humanoid robot. Also, a vibration generated when the humanoid robot steps on the floor is eliminated, so that the humanoid robot can pose a stable and smooth gate.

Abstract: A spindle motor structure including a spindle motor installed on a base and having a hydrodynamic bearing supporting a shaft to be capable of rotating using hydrodynamic pressure and a driving source rotating the shaft using an electromagnetic force. A circuit board is installed to face the base and supplies driving power to the driving source. A heater is installed on the circuit board at a position facing the hydrodynamic bearing and heats the hydrodynamic bearing.

Abstract: There are provided an autonomous vehicle, and an apparatus and method for estimating the motion of the autonomous vehicle and detecting three-dimensional (3D) information of an object appearing in front of the moving autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle measures its orientation using an acceleration sensor and a magnetic flux sensor, and extracts epipolar geometry information using the measured orientation information. Since the corresponding points between images required for extracting the epipolar geometry information can be reduced to two, it is possible to more easily and correctly obtain motion information of the autonomous vehicle and 3D information of an object in front of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: An agitator (100) for a suction nozzle (10) in a vacuum cleaner is disclosed for largely improving efficiency of the vacuum cleaner, the agitator (100) including a body rotatably provided at an inlet (12) of the suction nozzle (10), and at least one blade assembly (120) including a plurality of blades (121) configured to come in contact with a surface to be cleaned, and mounted at the body (110) along a length direction thereof.

Abstract: A landmark used to effectively determine the location of an autonomous vehicle, and a self-localization apparatus and method using the landmark are provided. In the self-localization method, first, first and second outer line information and shape information are extracted from a landmark image received from a camera. Next, a projective invariant is calculated from the shape information and stored in a hash table. Thereafter, the calculated projective invariant is compared with reference projective invariants for a plurality of landmarks stored in a predetermined data storage area in the form of a hash table, thereby determining which landmark corresponds to the landmark image. Then, information on the distance and orientation of the determined landmark with respect to the autonomous vehicle is analyzed in response to the first and second outer line information.

Abstract: A drying machine is disclosed. The drying machine includes a selectively rotatable drum receiving an object to be dried, a steam supply member having one side connected to a steam generator and the other side connected to the drum, and a swirler installed in the steam supply member at a predetermined position for swirling steam flowing through the steam supply member. A method for controlling the drying machine includes heating a drum, supplying steam generated in a steam generator into the drum, and supplying hot air into the drum. The drying machine having the above described configuration can efficiently eliminate creases of clothes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reconstructing 3D image. The method may include the steps of: detecting a plurality of line of responses (LORs) emitted from an object; transforming the plurality of LORs into first sinogram data; back-projecting the first sinogram data with a plurality of projection angles to produce image data for the object; and projecting the produced image data with the plurality of projection angles to transform the image data into second sinogram data. The back-projecting may include filling pixels of image plane for each of the plurality of projection angles with the first sinogram data and rotating a coordinate axis of the image plane with corresponding projection angle to produce the image data. The projecting may include rotating the image data with corresponding projection angle in an opposite direction before projecting the image data with the plurality of projection angles. The projecting and the back-projecting may use symmetry properties in coordinate space.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes both a main dust separation unit and a secondary dust separation unit. One of the dust separation units is provided on a main body of the vacuum cleaner, and the other dust separation unit is provided on a removable dust collection unit that is mountable on the main body.

Abstract: A hard disk drive (HDD) including a disk, a spindle motor to rotate the disk, the spindle motor including a spindle shaft, a plurality of magnetic circuits having cores and coils wound around the cores, the magnetic circuits being installed along a peripheral portion of the spindle shaft, a base plate to support the spindle motor, and an actuator to move a head. The magnetic circuits include a first magnetic circuit installed in an operating region of the actuator, and a second magnetic circuit installed outside the operating region of the actuator. The first and second magnetic circuits have different shapes. The first magnetic circuit has a larger length in a respective core direction thereof parallel to the base plate and the second magnetic circuit has a larger thickness in a direction perpendicular to the respective core direction and perpendicular to the base plate.

Abstract: Provided is a hand/eye calibration method by using a projective invariant shape descriptor of a two-dimensional image. The method includes calculating a projective invariant shape descriptor of a two-dimensional image from at least two images obtained by a camera mounted on a robot hand, at a predetermined time interval, extracting corresponding points between the images by using the projective invariant shape descriptor, calculating a rotation matrix for the corresponding points from translation of the robot hand, calculating translation vector for the corresponding points from translation and rotation of the robot hand, and finding a relation between the robot hand and the camera based on the rotation matrix and the translation vector.