Abstract: A method and an apparatus for reading radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are provided. First, an omni-directional radio frequency signal is emitted out to omni-directionally scan RFID tags. Then, a radio frequency signal composed of P beams is emitted directed to P specific directions, and a spatial matched filter processing is performed to read the RFID tags in P specific directions, wherein P is an integer larger than or equal to 1. In order to scan all the directions, the method adjusts angles of P specific directions and repeats the steps of emitting beams and filtering, and thereby reading the RFID tags in all the directions. Therefore, the method and apparatus of the present invention can simultaneously read a plurality of RFID tags and enlarge the scan range and effective read rate without increasing the transmit power.

Abstract: A method to enforce anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist financing and other anti-crime measures in compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and the USA PATRIOT Act in the USA or equivalent laws in other countries, and to reduce fraud in e-commerce activities such as online banking, trading, money services, shopping, etc. by reading the embedded identification information from a machine-readable government issued official identification document such as passport, driver's license, etc. and sending such information in a dynamically encrypted form to financial institution for approval and anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist financing and other anti-crime purposes. Furthermore, a set of methods can be used by the sender to dynamically encrypt the data in a different form in each transaction, and the recipient can be automatically synchronized to decrypt the received data based on said set of methods.

Abstract: A tool for measuring depths of countersunk holes includes a worktable (1), a measuring member (30), and a display device (50). The worktable includes a measuring plate (10) defining four adjusting screw holes (17) in four comers thereof, and four adjusting rods (28) adjustably attached in the adjusting screw holes below the measuring plate. The adjusting rods are adjusted so that the measuring plate can be level. The measuring member is generally cylindrical, and includes a cylindrical head (32) having a conical tip (34). The display device includes a vertical central shaft (58), and a bearing sleeve (60) surrounding a bottom of the central shaft. The central shaft can move vertically through the bearing sleeve. The display device further includes a cylindrical body (52) having a display (54) showing a height value of a top face of the central shaft, and a zeroing button (56).

Abstract: A tool for measuring depths of countersunk holes includes a worktable (1), a measuring member (30), and a display device (50). The worktable includes a measuring plate (10) defining four adjusting screw holes (17) in four corners thereof, and four adjusting rods (28) adjustably attached in the adjusting screw holes below the measuring plate. The adjusting rods are adjusted so that the measuring plate can be level. The measuring member is generally cylindrical, and includes a cylindrical head (32) having a conical tip (34). The display device includes a vertical central shaft (58), and a bearing sleeve (60) surrounding a bottom of the central shaft. The central shaft can move vertically through the bearing sleeve. The display device further includes a cylindrical body (52) having a display (54) showing a height value of a top face of the central shaft, and a zeroing button (56).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for imaging a heart with a scanning computed tomography (CT) imaging system. A cardiac cycle of a patient is measured. The patient's heart is then scanned with the scanning CT imaging system at an angular rate asynchronous to the measured cardiac cycle to obtain image data. An image of the patient's heart is then assembled from chronologically discontinuous segments of the image data. The image is representative of a selected portion of the cardiac cycle.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is a method for scanning an object with a multi-slice CT imaging system having multiple detector rows each having an isocenter. The method includes steps of helically scanning an object with the multi-slice CT imaging system to obtain data segments including peripheral data segments, combining data from a first peripheral data segment with an opposite, second peripheral segment to form a data set for reconstruction of an image slice; and reconstructing the combined data into image slices.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a method for multisector computed tomographic (CT) imaging of a cyclically moving object, including steps of: helically scanning a cyclically moving object with a CT imaging system having multiple detector rows and a rotating gantry, at a gantry rotation speed selected either to lead or to lag a cycle of the cyclically moving object; retrospectively gating the projection data of the object with a gating signal related to the motion of the cyclically moving object so that a geometric phase difference is created between a cycle of the rotating gantry and the motion of the cyclically moving object; and reconstructing an image of the cyclically moving object using gated sector data from image data representing a plurality of consecutive cycles of the cyclically moving object.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a method for multisector computed tomographic (CT) imaging of a cyclically moving object, including steps of: helically scanning a cyclically moving object with a CT imaging system having multiple detector rows and a rotating gantry, at a gantry rotation speed selected either to lead or to lag a cycle of the cyclically moving object; retrospectively gating the projection data of the object with a gating signal related to the motion of the cyclically moving object so that a geometric phase difference is created between a cycle of the rotating gantry and the motion of the cyclically moving object; and reconstructing an image of the cyclically moving object using gated sector data from image data representing a plurality of consecutive cycles of the cyclically moving object.

Abstract: The present invention, in one form, is a system for performing image reconstruction using data acquired from a single detector row in a helical scan. More specifically, a modified weighting factor W.sub.f (.beta.,.gamma.), which is a shifted and weighted average version of the single slice helical weighting factor, is generated. The modified weighting factor is then applied to data to reduce image noise and artifacts and/or increase image sharpness.

Abstract: Filtering algorithms which offer tradeoffs between slice profile widening and the noise and mAs, reduction are described. In one embodiment, the FWHM is adjusted based on the helical pitch to provide a constant reduction of noise. The percentage increase of FWHM is a function of helical pitch as described below in more detail. The amount of projection data used to reconstruct an image is fixed, independent of the helical pitch. In another embodiment, a roughly constant percentage increase of FWHM is maintained while the amount of reduction of mAs or noise decreases as helical pitch increases. The amount of projection data used to reconstruct an image is also a function of helical pitches. The above described filters provide that for various helical pitches, the filter maintains the same amount of mAs or noise reduction, or maintains the same percentage increase of FWHM. Such filters can be implemented without significantly increasing the processing time.

Abstract: A detachable pacifier with an electronic thermometer includes: a pacifier having a hollow nipple member formed on a guard member and a pair of staple portions disposed on the pacifier; and an electronic thermometer having a pair of fastening buckles detachably coupled to the pair of staple portions on the pacifier and a probe member protruding forwardly from a temperature indicating circuit mounted in the thermometer, the probe member having a plurality of teeth circumferentially formed on a front portion of the probe member, whereby upon insertion of the probe member into the nipple member, the teeth on the probe member will expand; the nipple member resulting in a thinning of a front nipple portion, thus decreasing the thermal resistance of the nipple member for a precise temperature measurement, whereby upon detachment of the pacifier from the electronic thermometer; the pacifier may be dipped in a boiling water bath for sterilization.