Abstract: The optimisation device (1) comprises means (4) for inputting data, means (2) for defining, on the basis of input data, time windows of availability and efficiency, relative to resources in consideration, an element (6) for expressing a space of solutions, i.e. said time windows, as probabilities, generating time-continuous functions in compliance with said time windows, an element (8) for optimising the resource allocation plan from the solutions space expressed as probabilities in this way, and user means (11) for using an optimal allocation plan defined in this way.

Abstract: A liner (18) for a shaped-charge (10) that is compressively formed from a mixture of powdered metal, powdered metal binder, and a selected quantity of nanoparticle material, is used to achieve improved penetration depths during perforation of a wellbore. Exemplary nanoparticles include lead, tin, copper, molybdenum, etc. Such nanoparticles increase the density, sound speed, or acoustic impedance of the liner. In another embodiment, the added nanoparticles comprise reactive materials which, after penetration into the formation, cause secondary reactions in the perforations.

Abstract: Parachutes for signalling rockets, for example, open in a jerky manner, as a result of which the suspension lines (13) are exposed to a heavy load. The invention envisages two suspension lines (14) configured in an extensible, particularly rubber-band-like manner, as a result of which the initially effective parachute surface area is reduced, which causes the parachute canopy (12) of the parachute (10) to open more slowly than with previous parachutes (10), which in turn reduces the opening jerk of the parachute (10). In this way, the suspension lines (13, 14) in particular, but also the parachute canopy (12) of the parachute (10), are subject to less load.

Abstract: The present invention describes an electronic fuze operable to complement a mechanical point impact fuze. The electronic fuze includes a voltage generator circuit, micro-controller, a piezo-electric sensor, a firing circuit and a safety lockout circuit. When a projectile strikes a target at an optimum angle, the mechanical point impact fuze is activated; when the strike angle is oblique, the mechanical point impact fuze may be ineffective but the piezo-electric sensor is operable to trigger the firing circuit. The safety lockout circuit ensures the firing circuit is operative only after a predetermined delay time when an n-channel FET is turned OFF. The micro-controller also generates a TIME-OUT signal, which provides for self-destruction of a projectile that has failed to explode.

Abstract: A template tool that is adapted to quickly and easily define standard cabinet front edge position, whether for base or wall cabinet, and whether from stud or drywall wall.

Abstract: A profile gauge contains: a body, a holding plate, a plurality of slidable measuring members, and a locking assembly. The body is formed in an elongated plate shape and includes an accommodating chamber defined thereon and two ruling portions parallelly arranged on two sides of the accommodating chamber, wherein each ruling portion has a graduation for measuring a distance between two points of a profile curve line of an object. The holding plate is rectangular and includes an insertion extending outwardly from a first end thereof and an extension extending outwardly from a second end thereof. Each slidable measuring member includes a fixed thickness and an elongated aperture defined thereon, wherein a width of the elongated aperture is more than a width between the two sides of the holding plate. The locking assembly is fixed on the extension to limit a slidable movement of each slidable measuring member.

Abstract: In one example a magnetometer unit comprises logic, to receive first magnetic response data from a first magnetic sensor and second magnetic response data from a second magnetic sensor displaced from the first magnetic sensor, generate a composite response surface representation from the first magnetic response data and the second magnetic response data, and store the composite response surface representation in a non-transitory memory. Other examples may be described.

Abstract: A method for reducing interference from scattered light/reflected light of an interference path by generating carrier through phase. Phase modulation is applied on the terminal of a fiber path, and a target signal is separated from an interference signal by selecting a specific working point, to obtain a purer target signal, thereby lengthening the measurement distance. The signal demodulation manner used in this method is different from the traditional manner of modulation performed by generating a carrier through the phase, and does not need to use the modulation frequency as the reference signal during demodulation, so this manner is easily implemented. The method is applicable to long-distance pipeline monitoring and wide-range fiber perimeter security, and especially to an application environment in which the modulation end is far away from the signal demodulation end.

Abstract: A device including a zoom-camera assembly having a first lens group, a magnifier lens group, a beam splitter, an imaging sensor, a motor, and an illuminator, the illuminator generating a first beam of light and cooperating with the beam splitter to send the beam of light through the first lens group to a retroreflector, the first lens group receiving the second beam of light and cooperating with the beam splitter to pass the received second beam of light through the magnifier lens group onto the imaging sensor, the motor adjusting a spacing between the first lens group and the magnifier lens group.

Abstract: A program storage device having instructions that cause a programmable control device to obtain a two-dimensional (2D) image of markings on a retroreflector, determine a 2D mathematical representation of the markings on the retroreflector, extract a first collection of 2D coordinates from the 2D mathematical representation and a corresponding second collection of 2D coordinates from the 2D image of markings, determine a figure of merit, and adjust guess values for three orientation angles of the retroreflector to improve the figure of merit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metrology system (100) for dimensional measurement of an object (200) comprising a light-projection device (110), LPD, configured to project an image (112) onto the object (200); a position-measurement device (120), PMD, having a measurement volume, configured to determine the position and/or the orientation of the LPD (110) disposed within the measurement volume; a dimensional acquisition device (140), DAD, that is an optical non-contact probe rigidly attached to the LPD configured to acquire dimensional data of the object (200); and an adjustment unit (130) configured to adjust the projected image (112) to have an essentially static appearance in relation to the object (200), which adjustment is responsive to movement of the LPD (110) detected by the PMD (120); wherein the image projected by the LPD (110) conveys feedback information to the user responsive to dimensional acquisition by the DAD (140).

Abstract: A distance measurement method determines the distance of a sensor system to a physical object. The method includes obtaining at least a pair of stereoscopic images including the physical object, and applying to each element of at least a portion of a first image of the pair of stereoscopic images and to each element of at least a portion of a second image of the pair of stereoscopic images at least two differently shaped or sized filters, respectively. Correlation values for each filter applied to the first and second image are determined, and, combined correlation values are determined for the applied filters by combining the determined correlation values for each applied filter. The combined correlation values are evaluated for different disparities for an extremum value of the combined correlation values. A distance value to the physical object is calculated and output based on a disparity value at which the extremum occurs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for measuring the weight of a passivation coating composition on a moving substrate with minimal interruption. The method of present invention is especially useful for effective quality control in an industrial setting.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein relates to light based positioning. In one embodiment, a method comprises: responsive to receiving a light signal from at least one light source available to the device, decoding a beacon from the received light signal, the beacon associated with the at least one light source; measuring signal strength of the received light signal; and determining a position of the device at least in part based on the decoded beacon, the measured signal strength, and number of the at least one light source. In addition, the frequency channelization and random channel hopping may be utilized to further improve the performance.

Abstract: A method for measuring a separation (a) between blade tips of rotor blades (40) on a rotor and a casing (41) annularly surrounding the rotor blade tips, when the rotor is rotating: measuring separation using at least one separation measurement device (1) which measures in contactless fashion. A separation measurement device for carrying this method includes a tubular housing (2), a separation sensor which measures in contactless fashion and which is accommodated in the housing (2) such that the sensor moves axially between an operating position, wherein a tip of the sensor projects outward from the separation measurement device (1), and a withdrawn position, wherein the tip of the separation sensor (7) is arranged within the separation measurement device (1); and an arresting device (8) which arrests the separation sensor (7) at least in its operating position.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for identifying a wire-pull test location on a wire of a microelectronic package. A first distance between a first terminating location of the wire on the microelectronic package and a second terminating location of the wire on the microelectronic package is determined. Based on the first distance, a second distance from either the first terminating location or the second terminating location is determined as the wire-pull test location for testing a strength of a connection of the wire to at least one of the first terminating location or the second terminating location. An adjustment is performed such that a visual guide is oriented on the wire at the wire-pull test location.

Abstract: A position/orientation measurement apparatus inputs the two-dimensional image of a measurement object captured by an image capturing apparatus, obtains the distance data of the measurement object measured by a distance sensor, detects an image feature of the measurement object from the two-dimensional image, determines the state of the measurement object, sets, based on the determined state, a usage mode regarding the image feature and the distance data when measuring the position/orientation, and measures the position/orientation of the measurement object in accordance with the set usage mode.

Abstract: There is provided a method for generating a 3D reconstruction of an internal surface of a hollow lumen, comprising: generating a light pattern having a code denoting angular positions; projecting the light pattern onto an internal surface of a tubular lumen; receiving reflections of the light pattern from the internal surface of the tubular lumen; identifying angular positions of the light pattern based on the code; and generating a 3D reconstruction of the internal surface from the received light pattern reflections based on the identified angular positions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a position detection apparatus including a detection unit configured to detect moire caused by overlap between a first diffraction grating including patterns arrayed in a first direction and a second diffraction grating including patterns arrayed in the first direction, and a processing unit configured to obtain a relative position of the first diffraction grating and the second diffraction grating based on the moire, wherein a width of an end pattern of patterns included in at least one of the first diffraction grating and the second diffraction grating in the first direction is smaller than widths of remaining patterns of the at least one diffraction grating in the first direction.

Abstract: A method of documenting a position of an underground utility which involves overlaying temporary marking strips on the underground utility to make markings designating the underground utility vivid and then taking at least one photograph of the markings designating the underground utility, thereby providing a visual reference.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises: (1) measuring unit configured to transmit a signal towards the object and to determine a plurality of voxels, each comprising phase and magnitude of a reflected signal and spatial coordinates (comprising Z-axis, X-axis and Y-axis), and the voxels comprise a plurality of series of voxels along the Z-axis, each having a same X-coordinate and a same Y-coordinate; and (2) surface-determining unit comprising (a) magnitude unit configured to determine a maximum magnitude voxel for each series of voxels, (b) phase unit configured to determine, for each maximum magnitude voxel, phases of at least three voxels (maximum magnitude voxel and voxels adjacent thereto), (c) angle unit configured to determine, for each maximum magnitude voxel, a normal vector based on the respective phases, and (d) reconstructing unit configured to determine the object surface based on the spatial coordinates of the maximum magnitude voxels and the respective normal vectors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a part with a contact probe mounted on a coordinate positioning machine. The method includes measuring a plurality of points on the part when both the part and contact probe are moving continuously between different positions within the coordinate positioning machine. The probe moves, relative to the part, along a scan path such that substantially coincident points that are closely located together along a curve or surface being measured are measured at relatively far apart positions in the machine and at relatively far apart positions along the scan path.

Abstract: A compact folded signal transmission and image viewing pathway design and visual display technique for laser rangefinding instruments incorporates a beam splitting cube in the eyepiece optical space and advantageously provides an objective image focal length substantially twice that of the physical length of the instrument optical components. Through the use of some of the same optical elements in both the image viewing pathway as well as the laser transmission pathway, a relatively long transmission focal length is provided which saves in both physical instrument space and component cost while also allowing for the use of reasonably sized photodiodes with improved power output over that of previous designs.

Abstract: A gradient measuring apparatus includes a gimbal assembly operably supported in a construction vehicle for viewing by an operator to see gradient indications in fore-aft and sideways directions. The gimbal assembly includes an outer orb with pointer that moves with the vehicle, and an inner orb with concentric circles that stays in a true vertical by gravitational forces, the combination of which simultaneously accurately reflects a fore-aft and sideways grade at which a ground surface is being cut in an excavating process.

Abstract: An apparatus and methodology for measuring strike and dip of a plane, trend and plunge of a line, directional bearing in the horizontal plane, and angle of inclination in the vertical plane. More specifically, the present invention relates to a compass adapted to measure geological features using single compass configurations for each type of measurement. The compass includes a base, a hinge assembly rotatably interconnected to the base, and a lid rotatably interconnected to the hinge assembly. The lid is operable to rotate around both a major axis and a minor axis of the compass. A sight tube is positioned in a hollow bore of the hinge assembly and is operable to sight directional bearings.

Abstract: A vibrating inertial sensor is provided, micro machined in a plane thin wafer, allowing the measurement of an angular position or of an angular speed. The sensor comprises two vibrating masses suspended by springs with identical stiffness in X and Y and coupled together by identical stiffness springs in X and Y, and at least excitation transducers and detection transducers disposed on at least one of the masses. The mobile assembly consisting of a vibrating mass and the parts of transducers fastened to this mass has a generally symmetric structure with respect to an axis of symmetry OX and with respect to an axis of symmetry OY.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for determining rotation. A gyroscope includes a drive frame and a base, the drive frame springedly coupled to the base. The gyroscope includes a drive structure configured for causing a drive frame to oscillate along a first axis. The gyroscope includes a sense mass springedly coupled to the drive frame. The gyroscope includes a sense mass sense structure configured for measuring a displacement of the sense mass along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. The gyroscope includes measurement circuitry configured for determining a velocity of the drive frame, extracting a Coriolis component from the measured displacement, and determining, based on the determined velocity and extracted Coriolis component, a rotation rate of the gyroscope.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for determining rotation. A gyroscope includes a drive frame and a base, the drive frame springedly coupled to the base. The gyroscope includes a drive structure configured for causing a drive frame to oscillate along a first axis. The gyroscope includes a sense mass springedly coupled to the drive frame. The gyroscope includes a sense mass sense structure configured for measuring a displacement of the sense mass along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. The gyroscope includes measurement circuitry configured for determining a velocity of the drive frame, extracting a Coriolis component from the measured displacement, and determining, based on the determined velocity and extracted Coriolis component, a rotation rate of the gyroscope.

Abstract: MEMS device having a support region elastically carrying a suspended mass through first elastic elements. A tuned dynamic absorber is elastically coupled to the suspended mass and configured to dampen quadrature forces acting on the suspended mass at the natural oscillation frequency of the dynamic absorber. The tuned dynamic absorber is formed by a damping mass coupled to the suspended mass through second elastic elements. In an embodiment, the suspended mass and the damping mass are formed in a same structural layer, for example of semiconductor material, and the damping mass is surrounded by the suspended mass.

Abstract: A closed-loop microelectromechanical gyroscope with a self-test function. At least one test input signal is generated from a signal of the vibrational primary motion and input during operation of the microelectromechanical gyroscope to the sense circuit.

Abstract: Representative implementations provide devices and techniques for observing the movement of one or more objects over a duration of time. Collected locational data of the objects is grouped according to a plurality of sliding time intervals having a variable length. The data is converted to one or more geometric representations, which are representative of object movement during a time interval. Movement patterns of the objects may be determined based on the properties of the geometric representations.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method executable by an electronic device for displaying a position on a map. The method comprises appreciating coordinates of position; appreciating coordinates of a map object having a curve near position; identifying a point of curve nearest to position comprising identifying a first segment of curve bounded by a first region and a second segment of curve bounded by a second region, determining that a distance from position to a point of first segment is not greater than a distance from position to a known nearest point of second region, and calculating a shortest distance from position to first segment as a shortest distance from position to either of first segment and second segment without calculating a distance from position to at least one point of second segment other than known nearest point of second region; and causing displaying, on map, of an indication of point of curve nearest to position.

Abstract: A method for depicting location attributes in a map environment. The method includes receiving a request for parameters about a first type of location. The method includes determining a first set of directional arrows, where each directional arrow is associated with a location and has a first set of properties based on the parameters about the first type of location. The method further includes determining a selection of a first directional arrow, which is associated with a first location, from the first set of directional arrows. Modifications to the first set of directional arrows are made based on the selection of the first directional arrow.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and system for verifying the road network of map. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for verifying a road network of a map. The method comprises: determining, based on locations of a set of points in the map, a trajectory distance of a trajectory between a start point and an end point in the set of points on the map; determining a route distance between the start point and the end point in the road network of the map; and verifying the road network by comparing the trajectory distance and the route distance. A corresponding system is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, can be used to dynamically generate electronic maps with highlighted entity boundaries. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request for an electronic map segment for a geographic region, with the request identifying a geographic entity to be highlighted in the requested electronic map segment. A plurality of layers of map data associated with the geographic region and data defining a boundary of the identified geographic entity are retrieved in response to the request. The electronic map segment is rendered based on the retrieved plurality of layers of map data and the data defining the boundary of the geographic entity, with one or more of the retrieved layers are rendered over a rendering of a highlighted boundary of the geographic entity. The rendered electronic map segment is transmitted in response to the request.

Abstract: Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where a potentially hazardous condition exists. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate a location at which a precautionary action is to be taken relating to the hazardous condition. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to determine when the vehicle is at a location that corresponds to the location of a precautionary action. When the vehicle is at such a location, a precautionary action is taken by a vehicle system as the vehicle is approaching the location where the potentially hazardous condition exists.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided. A hierarchical navigation database with multiple levels including tiles is defined. Link data records representative of a road segments are stored in the hierarchical navigation database. A lower level tile containing a starting point data record of a route is identified. A link data record crossing the lower level tile border is identified. Whether the identified link data record also crosses a tile border of a higher level tile is determined. If the identified link data record crosses a tile border of a higher level tile, whether the higher level tile includes a destination point record is determined. Unless the higher level tile is determined to include the destination point record, a next link data record is determined in the route from the higher level.

Abstract: An electronic device configured to detect arrival at a specified location, includes: a location information acquisition unit configured to acquire current location of the electronic device; a detection range setting unit configured to set detection ranges for detecting arrival of the electronic device at specified locations given the order; and a detection range control unit configured to change the detection ranges according to location status of the electronic device based on relationship between the current location and the specified locations.

Abstract: A method of analyzing images over time is provided herein. The method includes: capturing a plurality of images each associated with specified objects in specified locations such that a specified area is covered; specifying regions of interest (ROI) in each of the captured images; repeating the capturing with at least one of: a different location, a different orientation, and a different timing such that the captured images are associated with the specified covered area; and comparing the captured imaged produced in the capturing with the captured imaged produced in the repeating of the capturing to yield comparison between the captured objects by comparing specified ROI.

Abstract: An approach is provided for determining a drop-off location, a pick-up location, or a combination thereof at a certain time period based, at least in part, on user fitness targets, user preferences, or a combination thereof. The approach involves determining at least one user location associated with at least one user. The approach also involves determining fitness parameter information associated with the at least one user. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, a calculation of at least one drop-off location, at least one pick-up location, or a combination thereof with respect to the at least one user location based, at least in part, on the fitness parameter information. The approach also involves causing, at least in part, a configuration of at least one vehicle to travel to the at least one drop-off location, at least one pick-up location, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and system for generating a road network. An embodiment of the present invention provides a method comprising: identifying a target area to be refined in a road network skeleton; and refining the target area using at least one trajectory associated with the target area to generate the road network. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a corresponding system.

Abstract: Route calculation systems, methods, and programs extract from stored past routes, past routes that at least partly pass through a departure point area and at least partly pass through a destination area, and calculate, for each extracted past route, a new departure point side section route and a new destination side section route. The systems, methods, and programs calculate, for each extracted past route, a new candidate route that sequentially passes through the calculated new departure point side section route, a past section route, and the calculated new destination side section route. The systems, methods, and programs compute a cost of each calculated new candidate route and set the new route as the new candidate route having the smallest computed cost.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a location identification grid and for using a location identification grid. The location identification grid can include a first geographic area that correspond to a pre-existing area. This pre-existing area can correspond to a postal code such as a zip code, a telephone code such as, an area code, or any other desired pre-existing area. The location identification grid can be subdivided into smaller geographic areas to allow more accurate identification of a location. The location identification grid can include a second geographic area. The second geographic area can be a subdivision of the first geographic area. The location identification grid can be used with signals that identify a location within a location identification grid. These signals can include a first component corresponding to the first geographic area and the second component corresponding to one or more second geographic areas.

Abstract: A computer system identifies data representing interest of users in a plurality of geographic sites, such as images of geographic sites submitted by people to public photo sharing sites. The system generates a “heat map” representing densities of the interest data. The system generates a route from a starting location to an ending location. The route includes at least one of the plurality of geographic sites, even if the route is not the maximally efficient route from the starting location to the ending location (measured, e.g., in terms of the total time required to travel the route or the total distance of the route). The system favors high-temperature sites for inclusion in the route, but ensures that the route does not deviate too far from the route having the shortest possible distance between the starting location and the ending location at the expense of including high-temperature sites.

Abstract: Methods and systems to provide navigational assistance to a traveler. Given a start point and a destination, one or more routes may be generated using routes, or segments thereof, that are familiar to the traveler. This provides a route from the start point to the destination where at least some of the route is familiar to the traveler. Such a route may then be provided to the traveler. A description of the route may be provided in the form of a map and/or verbal or written directions. In alternative embodiments, landmarks may be incorporated into the route description as a way of assisting the traveler. In embodiments, difficult driving maneuvers may be highlighted in the description of the route. The description may point out that a given difficult maneuver is similar to a maneuver that the traveler has previously encountered, and remind the traveler of the location where this maneuver was previously seen.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to generating turn-by-turn direction previews. In one aspect, one or more computing devices, may receive a request for a turn-by-turn direction preview. The one or more computing devices may generate a set of turn-by-turn directions based on a series of road segments connecting a first geographic location and a second geographic location. Each direction in the set of turn-by-turn directions may be associated with a corresponding waypoint. The one or more computing devices then identify a set of images corresponding the series of road segments between two adjacent waypoints of the set of turn-by-turn directions, and determine a subset of the set of images to include in the turn-by-turn direction preview. Subsequently, the one or more computing devices may generate the turn-by-turn direction preview based on at least in part on the determined subset of the set of images.

Abstract: A routing module identifies POIs that can be reached from a route with a cost less than distance m. A routing engine performs a reverse exploration on nodes in the planned route to locate POIs from which the route can be reached with a cost of less than a second cost n. POIs identified as being reachable from the route with a cost of less than m, and from which the route is reachable with a cost less than n are then further filtered to identify a subset of the POIs for which the sum of the time or distance from the route to the POI and the time or distance from the POI back to the route is less than a threshold time or distance, t.

Abstract: A method for depicting location attributes in a map environment. The method includes receiving a request for parameters about a first type of location. The method includes determining a first set of directional arrows, where each directional arrow is associated with a location and has a first set of properties based on the parameters about the first type of location. The method further includes determining a selection of a first directional arrow, which is associated with a first location, from the first set of directional arrows. Modifications to the first set of directional arrows are made based on the selection of the first directional arrow.

Abstract: A method, a system, and a computer-readable medium for planning a path are provided. The method comprises the following steps. A plurality of pictures with geographic information are received from a cloud server. A selection signal selecting at least two of the pictures is received and the geographic information of the selected pictures is obtained. The path is planned according to the geographic information and then displayed on a map.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a location identification grid and for using a location identification grid. The location identification grid can include a first geographic area that correspond to a pre-existing area. This pre-existing area can correspond to a postal code such as a zip code, a telephone code such as, an area code, or any other desired pre-existing area. The location identification grid can be subdivided into smaller geographic areas to allow more accurate identification of a location. The location identification grid can include a second geographic area. The second geographic area can be a subdivision of the first geographic area. The location identification grid can be used with signals that identify a location within a location identification grid. These signals can include a first component corresponding to the first geographic area and the second component corresponding to one or more second geographic areas.