Patents Issued in December 8, 2016
  • Publication number: 20160356851
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for generating a set of test cases using a base test program. The base test program may be used as both a functional drive and as a performance measuring test case. From the base test program, additional key and value pairs may be added to the base test program to force specific test scenarios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Deborah A. Furman, Anthony T. Sofia
  • Publication number: 20160356852
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for assessing a health index of a switchgear, and the system comprises a remaining life assessment unit that calculates a remaining life of the switchgear based on a number of uses, a number of operations, and history information of the switchgear; a deterioration degree assessment unit that examines a deterioration degree of the switchgear based on installation environment information and inspection information; a risk degree assessment unit that detects a risk degree of the switchgear based on partial discharge data, insulating gas analysis data, and temperature data; and a health index assessment unit that assesses a health index of the switchgear based on the remaining life information of the switchgear, the deterioration degree information, and the risk degree information of the switchgear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dohoon LEE
  • Publication number: 20160356853
    Abstract: Test apparatus and method of testing kinetic switches. The test apparatus utilizes an RFID device attached to a high speed centrifuge on which the kinetic switches are mounted for testing. Sensors monitor the operation of the kinetic switch for movement from a first position to a second position. In addition, the speed of the centrifuge at the time of the movement is determined. This information may be transmitted in real time as received by the RFID device or saved in RFID memory and transmitted to determine the force applied to the kinetic switch at the time of the movement so that the acceptability of the kinetic switch can be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Frank A. FILANGERI, John J. CAMPANELLA
  • Publication number: 20160356854
    Abstract: A method for determining an undesired condition in an electrical drive system including an electrical machine and an electrical drive, wherein the method includes a) obtaining a measured signal of an electrical or mechanical parameter, b) obtaining a frequency spectrum of the measured signal, that contains a measured frequency component, c) determining whether the measured frequency component is within a predetermined distance from a trend line, which trend line is associated with only one specific frequency component of the electrical or mechanical parameter present during a specific undesired condition, d) on the condition that the measured frequency component is within the predetermined distance from the trend line increasing a counter associated with the trend line, e) repeating steps a) to d), wherein in case the counter reaches a predetermined number determining that the electrical drive system is subjected to the undesired condition associated with the trend line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Luca Peretti, Mehanathan Pathmanathan, Omer Ikram Ul Haq, Subrat Sahoo
  • Publication number: 20160356855
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a residual capacity of a storage battery including an electrode whose stage structure is changed based on a state of includes a current monitor configured to monitor a current value flowing in the storage battery; a voltage monitor configured to monitor a voltage value of the storage battery; a Coulomb counter configured to integrate the current value monitored by the current monitor; a differentiation circuit configured to detect a differential value of the voltage value monitored by the voltage monitor; a reset detecting circuit configured to reset an accumulated error due to current integration of the Coulomb counter using an inflection point of the differential value detected by the differentiation circuit; and a residual capacity estimating part configured to estimate a residual capacity of the storage battery based on a value of the Coulomb counter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventor: Yoichi TAMEGAI
  • Publication number: 20160356856
    Abstract: This method for ascertaining the state of a fixed storage battery has: (a1) a step for storing operating history data for a storage battery; (a2) a step in which the storage battery is completely discharged and the charging energy required to fully charge the storage battery is measured by a charge amount measurement device, thereby updating, at regular intervals, data on the charging energy required for the storage battery to be fully charged; and (a3) a step for estimating the electric storage capacity of the storage battery from the operating history data and the updated data on the charging energy required for the storage battery to be fully charged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventor: Hiroo HONGO
  • Publication number: 20160356857
    Abstract: The invention relates to a battery management system for a battery having a plurality of battery cells connected in series, comprising a battery control unit, a plurality of low-voltage measuring devices, by means of which the voltage of one or more battery cells can be measured, and comprising one or more high-voltage measuring devices for a voltage across a plurality or all the battery cells, and/or at least one current measuring device, by means of which a current from or through the battery can be measured, and/or at least one a measuring module comprising a high-voltage measuring device, and a current measuring device, characterized by a signal transmission device, by way of which signals from low-voltage measuring devices and from at least one of the high-voltage measuring devices and/or the current measuring device and/or the measuring module can be transmitted to the battery control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Patrick KAUPP, Thomas SCHAEDLICH
  • Publication number: 20160356858
    Abstract: An impedance measuring device outputs an alternating current of a prescribed frequency to a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of the laminated type battery. The impedance measuring device detects an alternating-current potential difference between the positive electrode terminal and an intermediate-point terminal, and an alternating-current potential difference between the negative electrode terminal and the intermediate-point terminal. The impedance measuring device adjusts an amplitude of the alternating current such that the alternating-current potential difference between the positive electrode terminal and the intermediate-point terminal, and the alternating-current potential difference between the negative electrode terminal and the intermediate-point terminal coincide. The impedance measuring device computes an impedance of the laminated type battery on the basis of the alternating current adjusted and the alternating-current potential difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanobu SAKAI, Tetsuya AOKI, Hidetaka NISHIMURA, Masashi SATO, Michihiko MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160356859
    Abstract: A fault detection system for detecting abnormal energy generation data from an energy generation arrangement. The system comprises an electronic processing arrangement able to identify abnormal energy generation data from an energy generation arrangement and alert a user where analysis of the energy generated indicates that it is operating outside normal operation with reference to upper and/or lower thresholds. The thresholds are determined by the system with reference to a peer group of energy generation arrangements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Fraser Harding, Jim Crooks, Trevor Sweetnam, Edwin Carter
  • Publication number: 20160356860
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein for collecting and utilizing diagnostic information for advanced monitoring of wireless power delivery systems. Wireless power transmission systems and/or cloud processing systems accumulate significant volumes of data related to wireless devices, usage patterns, power delivery efficiency and system components. This data can be utilized to generate efficient and sophisticated power transmission schedules. Additionally, as discussed herein, the diagnostic information can be leveraged for advanced system diagnostics and health monitoring. Among other features, the diagnostic and health monitoring system can detect patterns and correlate events that lead to system errors or failures. In some embodiments, the diagnostic and health monitoring system can also provide error notification and/or automatic error correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Hatem Zeine, Fady El-Rukby, Dale Mayes
  • Publication number: 20160356861
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor assembly includes first and second shields each comprised of a magnetic material. The first and second shields define a physical shield-to-shield spacing. A sensor stack is disposed between the first and second shields and includes a seed layer adjacent the first shield, a cap :layer adjacent the second shield, and a magnetic sensor between the seed layer and the cap layer. At least a portion of the seed layer and/or the cap layer comprises a magnetic material to provide an effective shield-to-shield spacing of the magnetic sensor assembly that is less than the physical shield-to-shield spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Eric W. Singleton, Qing He, Jae-Young Yi, Matt Johnson, Zheng Gao, Dimitar V. Dimitrov, Song S. Xue
  • Publication number: 20160356862
    Abstract: Provided is a temperature compensation circuit capable of solely and independently adjusting a temperature compensation amount. The temperature compensation circuit includes: a first temperature compensation voltage terminal connected to a node between a first resistor and a second resistor; a second temperature compensation voltage terminal connected to a node between a third resistor and a fourth resistor; a first voltage terminal formed at a node between the first resistor and the fourth resistor; a second voltage terminal formed at a node between the second resistor and the third resistor; a fifth resistor connected between a power supply terminal and the first voltage terminal; and a sixth resistor connected between a ground terminal and the second voltage terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventor: Minoru ARIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20160356863
    Abstract: A system for magnetic detection includes a nitrogen vacancy (NV) diamond material comprising a plurality of NV centers, a radio frequency (RF) excitation source configured to provide RF excitation to the NV diamond material, an optical excitation source configured to provide optical excitation to the NV diamond material, an optical detector configured to receive an optical signal emitted by the NV diamond material, and a controller. The optical signal is based on hyperfine states of the NV diamond material. The controller is configured to detect a gradient of the optical signal based on the hyperfine states emitted by the NV diamond material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Brian P. BOESCH, Gregory Scott BRUCE, Jeff D. CAMMERATA, David Nelson COAR, Laird Nicholas EGAN, Bryan Neal FISK, Wilbur LEW, Arul MANICKAM, Stephen Michael SEKELSKY, John B. STETSON, JR., Peter G. KAUP, Julie Lynne MILLER, Jon C. RUSSO, Emanuel Solomon STOCKMAN, Thomas J. MEYER, James Michael KRAUSE, James P. MABRY, Elton PEPA
  • Publication number: 20160356864
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to xMR sensors, sensor elements and structures, and methods. In an embodiment, a sensor element comprises a non-elongated xMR structure; and a plurality of contact regions formed on the xMR structure spaced apart from one another such that a non-homogeneous current direction and current density distribution are induced in the xMR structure when a voltage is applied between the plurality of contact regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventor: Juergen Zimmer
  • Publication number: 20160356865
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes: a magnetoresistive effect element having a sensitivity axis in a specific direction in which a fixed magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic material layer, and a free magnetic layer are laminated in this order; an antiferromagnetic layer which generates an exchange coupling bias with the free magnetic layer and which aligns the magnetization direction thereof in a predetermined direction provided on the free magnetic layer; and a ferromagnetic layer which generates an exchange coupling bias with the antiferromagnetic layer and which aligns the magnetization direction thereof in a predetermined direction provided on the antiferromagnetic layer. The magnetization direction on the exchange coupling bias in the free magnetic layer is the same direction as that on the exchange coupling bias in the ferromagnetic layer, and the ferromagnetic layer is able to impart a reflux magnetic field having a component along a sensitivity axis to the free magnetic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Yosuke IDE, Masamichi SAITO
  • Publication number: 20160356866
    Abstract: A sensing system may comprise a reader device including a primary magnetic coil, and a sensing device including a secondary magnetic coil and a sensing platform configured to acquire sensing data. The sensing system may further include a first part having the sensing device embedded therein. The reader device and the sensing device may be configured to communicate over a non-contact wireless interface using low frequency wireless power transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Paul Attridge, Nicholas Charles Soldner, Joseph V. Mantese, Cagatay Tokgoz, Xin Wu, Michael A. Klecka, Joseph Zacchio
  • Publication number: 20160356867
    Abstract: Example minimalist magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radio frequency (RF) coils that are connected to off coil circuitry by capacitive coupling plates are described. A min-imalist MRI RF coil may have some elements that form a traditional coil located off the coil in off coil circuitry. An MR procedure may involve a number of minimalist MRI RF coils that are moved through an excitation zone as a patient is moved through the excitation zone. Example minimalist MRI RF coils may be selectively connected to off coil circuitry while the coils are in the excitation zone. The coupling may be made by capacitive coupling plates. Unlike conventional systems, example systems have capacitive coupling plates with properties that facilitate maintaining a constant capacitance between a coupling plate associated with the coil and coupling plates associated with the off coil circuitry as the coupling plates move relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: HIROYUKI FUJITA, OLIVER HEID, XIAOYU YANG
  • Publication number: 20160356868
    Abstract: A continuous common mode trap assembly includes a central conductor and plural common mode traps. The central conductor has a length, and is configured to transmit a signal between a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) receive coil and at least one processor of an MRI system. The plural common mode traps extend along at least a portion of the length of the central conductor. The common mode traps are disposed contiguously. The common mode traps are configured to provide an impedance to reduce transmitter driven currents of the MRI system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Robert Steven Stormont, Scott Allen Lindsay
  • Publication number: 20160356869
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a split magnet system having a pair of MRI magnet housings separated by gap. A pair of main MRI magnets are disposed within respective MRI magnet housings. A plurality of buttress assemblies are attached to the MRI magnet housings. Some or all of the buttress assemblies are provided with removable connections to the MRI magnet housings. This allows for partial disassembly of the MRI system for improved transport and maneuverability for relocating the MRI system. The MRI system can include a gantry in the gap for supporting a radiation therapy system. Also, the removably buttress assemblies can be used for housing conduits, such as electrical and fluid conduits, between the pair of MRI magnet housings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: James F. Dempsey, John L. Patrick, Shmaryu M. Shvartsman, Gordon D. Demeester
  • Publication number: 20160356870
    Abstract: A system and method for creating magnetic resonance images are provided. The system applies an RF irradiation during a saturation time period at a reference frequency that saturates a range of selected labile spin species of the subject. The system encodes frequency offsets by applying a gradient G1 at least during the saturation time period. The system applies a plurality of slice selection gradients accompanied by a train of RF pulses during a voxel selection time period and a gradient G3 during an acquisition time period. One or more spin/gradient echo signals having information pertaining to at least one of metabolites and metabolite byproducts is acquired to form a CEST medical imaging data set and the CEST medical imaging data set is reconstructed to form a CEST image of the subject including information about the at least one of metabolites and metabolite byproducts within the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Phillip Z. Sun, Iris Y. Zhou
  • Publication number: 20160356871
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method for the quantification of a volume element composition and a magnetic resonance device and computer program product for carrying out the method. The method for the quantification of a volume element composition of an object under examination using magnetic resonance signals, which are generated by the interaction of electromagnetic waves with at least one component of the volume element, includes providing of a plurality of signal evolutions including an evaluation signal evolution of the magnetic resonance signals and at least one database signal evolution. The signal evolutions are used to determine weighting factors for the at least one component of the volume element. Each signal evolution includes a plurality of corresponding evaluation points, where each evaluation point is assigned a signal value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventor: David Grodzki
  • Publication number: 20160356872
    Abstract: Example apparatus and methods provide improved quantitative T2 mapping for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Conventional T2 (spin-spin) mapping in MRI may employ a spin echo with multiple echoes (SEMC) approach like the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) spin echo sequence. These conventional approaches may be negatively impacted by a slice profile effect that incorrectly and undesirably lowers the signal of a first echo and by a stimulated echo effect that incorrectly and undesirably raises the signal for even echoes. Example apparatus mitigate these issues by using a T2 preparation phase that uses three dimensional (3D) non-slice selective block RF pulses followed by a multi-echo data acquisition that uses an in-out k-space trajectory. The multi-echo acquisition may employ k-space segmentation to acquire one line of partition encodings per T2 preparation phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Tiejun Zhao, Kecheng Liu, Dan Ma, Mark Griswold
  • Publication number: 20160356873
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present inventive concept there is provided a method for quantifying isotropic diffusion and/or anisotropic diffusion in a sample, the method comprising: performing diffusion weighted magnetic resonance measurements on the sample using diffusion encoding magnetic gradient pulse sequences Gi=1 . . . m, wherein each magnetic gradient pulse sequence Gi is generated such that a diffusion encoding tensor bi for the magnetic gradient pulse sequence Gi has one to three non-zero eigenvalues, where bi=Formula (I), qi(t) is proportional to Formula (II) and t is an echo time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: CR Development AB
    Inventors: Daniel Topgaard, Samo Lasic, Markus Nilsson
  • Publication number: 20160356874
    Abstract: A dialysis system includes at least one pump to conduct a fluid through a fluid circuit, a conductivity meter to measure conductivity values of the fluid, at least one conductivity detector to measure conductivity values of the fluid, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the conductivity values from the conductivity meter and the sensor values from the at least one conductivity detector, compute a plurality of representative conductivity values from the received conductivity values and a plurality of representative sensor values from the received sensor values, determine a first conductivity point associated with a first representative conductivity value and a first representative sensor value, determine a second conductivity point associated with a second representative conductivity value and a second representative sensor value; and compute a calibration curve based on the first and second calibration points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Aiyuan Wang, Fei Wang, Martin Joseph Crnkovich
  • Publication number: 20160356875
    Abstract: Using atmospheric data from one or more reference nodes to estimate an altitude of a receiver. Assistance data associated with a set of reference nodes within a region is identified, and the assistance data is used to identify atmospheric reference data associated with a subset of selected reference nodes. An estimate of the receiver's altitude is generated using the atmospheric reference data from the subset of reference nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: THOMAS WOLF, MICHAEL DORMODY
  • Publication number: 20160356876
    Abstract: A method for locating a mobile device is disclosed. Initially, a set of modulated ultrasound signals and a set of radio signals are separately broadcast from a group of transmitters. The ultrasound signals include at least one symbol configured for pulse compression. After the receipt of a demodulated ultrasound signal from a mobile device, wherein the demodulated ultrasound signal is derived from the modulated ultrasound signals, transmitter identifier and timing information are extracted from the demodulated ultrasound signal. Timing information include, for example, the arrival time of the demodulated ultrasound signal in relation to the start time of its transmission. After the locations of the transmitters have been ascertained from the transmitter identifier information, the location of the mobile device can be determined based on the timing information and the locations of the transmitters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: PATRICK LAZIK, NIRANJINI RAJAGOPAL, OLIVER SHIH, ANTHONY ROWE, BRUNO SINOPOLI
  • Publication number: 20160356877
    Abstract: The methods, system and device disclosed herein provide a controller for controlling a computer device, the controller comprising a plurality of Radio Frequency (RF) transmitting units or repeating units, the RF transmitting units are configured to generate RF signals the RF signals differ in frequency and/or time and/or coding scheme between said units in a scene; a receiver comprising a plurality of RF receiving units, said RF units are configured to receive reflections of the RF signals; and a computer processor configured to analyze the RF reflected signals and measure the location and/or orientation of the controller in said scene
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Raviv MELAMED, Moshe SHAY, Damian HOFFMAN, Shachar SHAYOVITZ, Rohi HALIMI
  • Publication number: 20160356878
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for mobile computing device proximity notification. The method includes one or more processors acquiring location information for a plurality of mobile computing devices. The method further includes one or more processors creating a first group of mobile computing devices based on location proximity in the acquired location information of the plurality of mobile computing devices, wherein the created first group includes a first mobile computing device and a second mobile computing device. The method further includes one or more processors determining whether the first mobile computing device is within a predetermined distance to the second mobile computing device, and the first mobile computing device and the second mobile computing device are outside of an area associated with the first group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Tomoka Mochizuki, Tomohiro Shioya, Asuka Unno, Lianzi Wen
  • Publication number: 20160356879
    Abstract: A positioning target terminal according to an embodiment includes a wireless communicator and a positioning calculator. The wireless communicator has a connection function and time synchronization function with the positioning node, and acts as a master of time synchronization. The positioning calculator performs a positioning calculation based on a reception time of a sound wave transmitted from the positioning node or a reception time of a sound wave received by the positioning node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yuji TOHZAKA, Takafumi Sakamoto, Yusuke Doi
  • Publication number: 20160356880
    Abstract: An apparatus for a vehicle includes a radar detector configured to detect a police radar signal and a receiver configured to receive information about an image of an environment of the vehicle. A controller in communication with the radar detector and the receiver is configured to change at least one operating characteristic of the radar detector based on the received information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Negussu, Richard L. Dickerson, Gary E. Carrelli, John D. Hiers
  • Publication number: 20160356881
    Abstract: LiDAR (light detection and ranging) systems use one or more emitters and a detector array to cover a given field of view where the emitters each emit a single pulse or a multi-pulse packet of light that is sampled by the detector array. On each emitter cycle the detector array will sample the incoming signal intensity at the pre-determined sampling frequency that generates two or more samples per emitted light packet to allow for volumetric analysis of the retroreflected signal portion of each emitted light packet as reflected by one or more objects in the field of view and then received by each detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: James E. Retterath, Robert A. Laumeyer
  • Publication number: 20160356882
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a calibration apparatus capable of reducing a workload for calibrating a position and a direction of each range sensor. [Solving Means] In the measurement arithmetic unit 100, the social group identification portion 5610 identifies a group candidate that is detected as a group out of moving measuring objects in each laser range finder. The group comparison portion 5612 identifies a group in agreement for each pair of the laser range finder, and calculates the relative position of each pair of the laser range finder according to the position and the directions of the identified matching group. The network position identifying portion 5620 calibrates the position and the direction of each laser range finder in the sensor network coordinate system such that the error of the position of the object observed in common from each pair becomes minimum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Dylan Fairchild Glas, Florent Ferreri, Takahiro Miyashita
  • Publication number: 20160356883
    Abstract: An object detection apparatus of the present invention has a wave transmitter that transmits energy waves (ultrasound waves) to a detection target region. The object detection apparatus also has a wave receiver that receives the energy waves reflected from an object existing in the detection target region and converts the received energy waves to wave reception signals made of electric signals. The object detection apparatus further has a controller that controls the wave transmitter to continuously transmit the energy waves during a predetermined wave transmission period, and a measurement part that measures a distance from the object detection apparatus to the object based on the wave reception signals output from the wave receiver. The controller is configured so as to change the wave transmission period corresponding to the distance measured by the measurement part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: SHOGO SAGARA, HAYATO NARUSE, AKITOSHI UEDA
  • Publication number: 20160356884
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a plurality of processing chains (2061, . . . , 206K) for a plurality of transducer element channels (1081, . . . , 108K). A processing chain of the plurality of processing chains, includes: a phase rotation processor (1141, . . . , 114K) that focuses an N-bit digital representation, of an analog RF signal received on the corresponding transducer element channel, through phase rotation through phase additions or subtractions, and outputs a focused N-bit quantized value, where N is a predetermined positive integer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Drake A. Guenther, Michael Fuller, Travis Blalock
  • Publication number: 20160356885
    Abstract: A method for operating a radar apparatus having transmitting antennas and at least one receiving antenna, including: generating transmission spectra by complex modulation of mutually equidistant orthogonal OFDM subcarriers; transforming the transmitted spectra into the time domain; digital/analog conversion, high-frequency modulation of the transmitted spectra, and simultaneous emission of the modulated transmitted spectra via the transmitting antennas; demodulating and digitizing a received signal; generating one received spectrum per transmitted spectrum, a division of the OFDM subcarriers corresponding to their division in the transmitted spectra being carried out; eliminating the transmitted signal forms of the transmitted spectra from the received spectra; generating one radar image per received spectrum; evaluating the radar images in a distance dimension and in a speed dimension; and carrying out a signal evaluation for the received signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Gor Hakobyan, Siegbert Steinlechner
  • Publication number: 20160356886
    Abstract: In some aspects, the disclosure is directed methods and systems for screening an unconstrained subject. A plurality of transmitters may be spatially distributed on two sides along a path of movement of a subject Each of the transmitters may transmit, in sequence, radiation to be scattered from the subject. A plurality of sensors may be spatially distributed on the two sides and coherently configured with respect to the plurality of transmitters. The plurality of sensors may collect measurements of scattered radiation corresponding to the radiation transmitted by each of the plurality of transmitters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Borja Gonzalez Valdes, Carey Rappaport, Jose Martinez
  • Publication number: 20160356887
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining ranges to a target disposed behind a transparent surface are described. A target acquisition system receives a plurality of lidar returns, at least some of which are from a target and at least some of which are from a transparent surface. The lidar returns correspond to a portion of a lidar signal generated by a lidar, directed toward the target, and reflected back to the lidar from either the target or the transparent surface. A range measurement for each of the plurality of lidar returns is determined. The target acquisition system generates a histogram of the range measurements. The histogram includes an array including a plurality of range bins. Each range bin defines a unique portion of a predetermined distance out from the lidar. The histogram further includes a count associated with each respective range bin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Humayun Chaudhry, Christopher Thompson
  • Publication number: 20160356888
    Abstract: The invention provides a three-dimensional surveying instrument, which comprises a light emitter for emitting a pulsed distance measuring light, a scanning unit for scanning a range as required including an object to be measured with the distance measuring light from the light emitter, a distance measuring unit for performing a distance measurement based on a reflected light from the object to be measured, at least one image pickup unit for acquiring an image of the object to be measured, a filter unit provided on an image pickup optical axis of the image pickup unit and a control arithmetic unit which enables changing a measurement mode, wherein the filter unit has at least a distance measuring light transmission filter for transmitting the distance measuring light, and the control arithmetic unit calculates a reflectance information of the object to be measured based on a distance measuring light image acquired by the image pickup unit through the distance measuring light transmission filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventor: Kohji Ohnishi
  • Publication number: 20160356889
    Abstract: The measuring system may include an input unit configured to receive an indication of a desired measurement and a reference point. The measuring system may include a laser unit including one or more lasers, and may be configured to emit laser light and detect laser data. The measuring system may include a measurement control unit connected to the laser unit. The measurement control unit may be configured to adjust the laser unit such that the laser light is deposited onto a location corresponding with the reference point. The measurement control unit may be configured to determine the desired measurement based on the laser data. The measuring system may include an output unit configured to output the determined desired measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: Magenium Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Thomas C. LaMantia, Timothy Traxinger, Eric Reiner, Matthew R. Goeringer, Mark Miller
  • Publication number: 20160356890
    Abstract: A method of imaging a scene includes estimating multiple three-dimensional (3D) representations, each of which corresponds to a respective portion of the scene. Neighboring portions of the scene area are at least partially overlapping. Each 3D representation is estimated by illuminating the respective portion of the scene with a light burst including multiple light pulses, after which multiple point clouds are generated by detecting photons reflected or scattered from the respective portion of the scene using a focal plane array. Data points in the point clouds represent a distance between the focal plane array and a scene point in the respective portion of the scene. The 3D representation is then estimated based on the multiple point clouds via coincidence processing. The method then generates a 3D image of the scene based on the multiple 3D representations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Dale G. Fried, Jonathan Frechette
  • Publication number: 20160356891
    Abstract: Techniques for allowing a remote or fielded receiver to derive a precise time reference (such as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)) when the fielded receiver is not able to derive time directly from received GPS signals. One or more fixed DME reference stations are located within range of DME beacon signals from an existing DME beacon station, the DME reference stations also having the capability to receive GPS signals and derive UTC therefrom. Based on the known distance between the DME reference station and the DME beacon station, the DME reference station can determine the time of transmission from the DME beacon station of each DME beacon signal. This time tag information is then provided to the fielded receiver, which is also within range of DME beacon signals from the DME beacon station. With this time tag information, the fielded receiver can correlate that with the received DME beacon signals and derive UTC to within an acceptably small margin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: RICHARD M. LEE, ERIC DERBEZ
  • Publication number: 20160356892
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for determining the altitude of an aircraft. In accordance with the method, Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) data is received from a plurality of GPS satellites and a GPS altitude value is determined from the GPS data. In addition, a pressure altitude value is determined. An altitude difference is determined between the GPS altitude value and the pressure altitude value. At least one of the GPS altitude value and the pressure altitude value is adjusted using the altitude difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Gerald J. Block, William J. Warkany
  • Publication number: 20160356893
    Abstract: A radio-chromic film dosimeters based on polystyrene binder and dithizone dye are invented for high dose applications. The dose response of Dz-PS film dosimeters increases linearly with increase absorbed dose up to 100 kGy. The dose sensitivity of the films increases strongly with increase of concentrations of dithizone dye. The effects of irradiation temperature, relative humidity, dose rate and the stability of the response of the films after irradiation were investigated and found that these films could be used as routine dosimeter in industrial radiation processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: AHMED ALI BASFAR, KHALID A. RABAEH
  • Publication number: 20160356894
    Abstract: For dead time compensation, a point source with a same radioisotope as used for the radiopharmaceutical is positioned by the detector. Counts from the point source without the patient and with the patient are used to correct the system or detector sensitivity. Reconstruction is performed with the sensitivity normalized for count rate, compensating for the dead time and spectral broadening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventor: Manojeet Bhattacharya
  • Publication number: 20160356895
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing scintillator arrays, e.g., crystal arrays for PET imaging. The apparatus includes, a two-sided tray arranged to hold scintillator arrays in either side and slide the arrays into a light-tight box having a radiation source beneath the arrays and photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) above the arrays. When arranged in the testing position with the arrays interposed between the radiation source and the PMTs, ambient light from outside the box is prevented from leaking into the box and high-voltage power is supplied to the PMTs. Otherwise, to prevent PMT damage, the high-voltage is off. The radiation source is an arrangement of sealed low-activity pieces of radioactive elements, thus minimizing requirements for radiation shielding and minimizing safety risks. The method calculates a flood map from scintillation data/counts and performs analysis according to predefined criteria, e.g., the peak-to-valley ratio, to flag arrays exhibiting inferior quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kent C. BURR, Zhengyan Wang, Madhuri Kaul
  • Publication number: 20160356896
    Abstract: A signal processing device (1) includes a noise generator (11) configured to have a noise strength set therein and to output a noise with a set noise strength; a noise adder (12) configured to add the noise to an input signal including a weak signal as a measurement target to generate a noise-added signal; a threshold processing circuit (13) configured to perform threshold processing on the noise-added signal; an evaluating circuit (20) configured to extract, from an output signal output from the threshold processing circuit, a pulse signal component that meets a pulse waveform condition and to evaluate the extracted pulse signal; and a strength setting circuit (31) configured to set, in the noise generator, a noise strength to a desired value based on an output from the evaluating circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki MASUNAGA, Takamasa ASANO, Kazuhiro KOIZUMI
  • Publication number: 20160356897
    Abstract: A waveform discrimination device includes: a waveform detector receiving waveforms of pulses to be measured and converting the waveforms to electrical signals; an analog amplifier expanding transient waveforms of the electrical signals along a time-domain axis; an AD converter converting the electrical signals to digital data in rise and fall times of the electrical signals; and a signal processing circuit calculating a characteristic-amount of the rise time as a point on a first coordinate axis by using the digital data, and calculating a characteristic-amount of the fall time as a point on a second coordinate axis, so as to define a set of the points on the first and second coordinate axes as a coordinate point, and plot the coordinate point on a discrimination plane, wherein, by plotted positions of the coordinate point, whether the pulses has a first waveform or a second waveform is discriminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicants: ANSeeN, INC., National University Corporation Shizuoka University
    Inventors: Toru AOKI, Akifumi KOIKE
  • Publication number: 20160356898
    Abstract: A scintillator device includes a scintillator layer on a substrate and a foil layer that covers the scintillator layer. The foil layer overlaps an outer edge of the scintillator layer and is adhered to a portion of the substrate surrounding the scintillator layer to form at least part of a first moisture barrier between the scintillator layer and the surrounding environment. A sealant overlaps an outer edge of the foil layer onto a portion of the substrate surrounding the foil layer to form at least part of a second moisture barrier between the scintillator layer and the surrounding environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventor: Wanqing CAO
  • Publication number: 20160356899
    Abstract: Embodiments of a solid state photomultiplier are provided herein. In some embodiments, a solid state photomultiplier may include a microcell configured to generate an analog signal when exposed to optical photons, a quench resistor electrically coupled to the microcell in series; and a first switch disposed between the quench resistor and an output of the solid state photomultiplier, the first switch electrically coupled to the microcell via the quench resistor and configured to selectively couple the microcell to the output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Sergei Ivanovich Dolinsky, David Leo McDaniel
  • Publication number: 20160356900
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to an advanced fast and thermal neutron detector material composition with the properties useful for Special Nuclear Material (SNM) detection. Specific embodiments of the material composition result in two excimer scintillation light production mechanisms that provide two corresponding independent techniques for gamma discrimination; namely Pulse Shape Discrimination and Pulse Height Discrimination. A dual discrimination method, Pulse Shape and Pulse Height Discrimination (PSHD), can be implemented relying on both pulse height discrimination and pulse shape discrimination, and can allow the operation of large area, fast and thermal neutron detectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: JAMES K. WALKER, YOUNGWOOK NOH, RICHARD T. FARLEY