Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a power supply connected to any one of L conductors of a three-phase four-wire alternating current power supply and to a neutral conductor of the three-phase four-wire alternating current power supply, a communication I/F unit connected to another apparatus via a cable, a determination circuit configured to output a determination signal indicating whether or not there is a miswired wall outlet, which includes the neutral conductor and a grounding conductor erroneously connected, in a building, and a control unit configured to display, on a display panel, a message on miswiring when it is identified that the miswired wall outlet is present based on the determination signal.

Abstract: A system can include a memory that can store a fuse load database including a list of fuses, a list of loads each designed to be coupled to at least one fuse from the list of fuses and a list of current values each corresponding to a load from the list of loads. The system can also include an input device configured to receive a selection of a fuse from the list of fuses. The system can also include a modeling processor coupled to the memory and the input device. The modeling processor can determine one or more loads from the list of loads that are designed to be coupled to the selected fuse. The modeling processor can also generate load summary data corresponding to a sum of the current values that correspond to the one or more loads.

Abstract: At least one method and system involves performing a time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) test and a bias temperature instability (BTI) test on a device. A device having at least one transistor and at least one dielectric layer is provided. A test signal is provided for performing a TDDB test and a BTI test on the device. The TDDB test and the BTI test are performed substantially simultaneously on the device based upon the test signal. The data relating to a breakdown of the dielectric layer and at least one characteristic of the transistor based upon the TDDB test and the BTI test is acquired, stored, and/or transmitted.

Abstract: An electrical arc detector for a series electrical connection as may be associated with an electric meter may comprise: an arc detector housing; a source of electrical power; a de-tuned resonant tank circuit configured to receive a magnetic field and/or an electric field generated by an electrical arc at a series electrical connection; an electrical detector for detecting signals generated in the de-tuned resonant tank circuit responsive to the magnetic field and/or the electric field generated by an electrical arc; and an output device responsive to the electrical detector and configured to provide a human perceivable indication of detection of an electrical arc at the series electrical connection.

Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus may include a unit chip and a characteristic measurement circuit configured to include a plurality of unit elements for test and to output electrical characteristic information of the plurality of unit elements for test.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a process and apparatus for accessing devices on a substrate. The substrate may include only full pin JTAG devices (504), only reduced pin JTAG devices (506), or a mixture of both full pin and reduced pin JTAG devices. The access is accomplished using a single interface (502) between the substrate (408) and a JTAG controller (404). The access interface may be a wired interface or a wireless interface and may be used for JTAG based device testing, debugging, programming, or other type of JTAG based operation.

Abstract: A test device includes: a test control unit suitable for detecting a deterioration-expected unit circuit among a plurality of unit circuits included in a test-subject device according to operation histories of the plural unit circuits, and detecting a deterioration degree according to a test output value of the deterioration-expected unit circuit; and an interface unit suitable for routing control operation results and test results between the test control unit and the test-subject device during a test operation.

Abstract: A built-in test circuit for testing a system timing margin of a processing device under-test is provided. The processing device includes a controller and first clock circuit, wherein the first clock circuit generates a first clock signal and the first clock signal is a main clock signal provided for operation of the processing device. The built-in test circuit includes a second clock circuit and a logic circuit, both of which are integrated with the processing device. The second clock circuit generates a second clock signal. The logic circuit processes the first and second clock signals and outputs a third clock signal. The third clock signal is used to determine system timing margin of the processing device.

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms to exchange test, debug or trace (TDT) information via a general purpose input/output (I/O) interface. In an embodiment, an I/O interface of a device is coupled to an external TDT unit, wherein the I/O interface is compatible with an interconnect standard that supports communication of data other than any test information, debug information or trace information. One or more circuit components reside on the device or are otherwise coupled to the external TDT unit via the I/O interface. Information exchanged via the I/O interface is generated by, or results in, the performance of one or more TDT operations to evaluate the one or more circuit components. In another embodiment, the glue logic of the device interfaces the I/O interface with a test access point that is coupled between the one or more circuit components and the I/O interface.

Abstract: Testing an integrated circuit (IC) that has a set of nominally similar cores and pairs of test data input (TDI) and test data output (TDO) pads common to the different cores. Similar scan chains in parallel in the different cores provide response signals as functions of corresponding TDI signals. Respective combined TDO signals are provided to the TDO pads. In the absence of a defect, the combined TDO signals are asserted and de-asserted like the response signals from corresponding chains in the different cores and like corresponding expected response signals. The combined TDO signals are different from the corresponding expected response signals in the presence of a defect in at least one of the cores. If the result is a fail, the ATE may identify a defective core using a diagnosis module in the IC providing response signals from a selected core.

Abstract: Control events may be signaled to a target system having a plurality of components coupled to a scan path by using the clock and data signals of the scan path. While the clock signal is held a high logic level, two or more edge transitions are detected on the data signal. The number of edge transitions on the data signal is counted while the clock signal is held at the high logic state. A control event is determined based on the counted number of edge transitions on the data signal after the clock signal transitions to the low logic state.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for providing a shadow access port within a device. The shadow access port is accessed to perform operations in the device by reusing the TDI, TMS, TCK and TDO signals that are used to operate a test access port within the device. The presence and operation of the shadow access port is transparent to the presence and operation of the test access port. According to the disclosure, the shadow access port operates on the falling edge of the TCK signal while the test access port conventionally operates on the rising edge of the TCK signal.

Abstract: A motor driving device includes, a DB current calculation unit which calculates a DB current flowing through a DB circuit, based on the motor rotational speed and intrinsic parameters for a motor and the DB circuit, a Joule heat calculation unit which calculates a Joule heat resulting from a DB current, based on the DB current, a storage unit which stores a table defining the relationship between the DB current at the start of DB and the Joule heat resulting from an arc generated in a relay depending on the DB current, an integration unit which integrates the Joule heat resulting from an arc at the start of DB, the Joule heat resulting from a DB current, or the sum of these Joule heats, every time DB is performed, and a comparison unit which outputs the comparison result between the resultant integration value and a predetermined reference value.

Abstract: Monitoring synchronization of an electric motor using current signals from power supplied to the motor is disclosed herein. The current signals may be used to calculate representative current values which may be used to calculate a rotational frequency of the rotor of the motor. The rotational frequency may be used to determine synchronization, such as slip. Monitoring may be during startup of a synchronous motor in induction mode. Upon reaching a predetermined synchronization threshold, the motor may be configured from induction mode to synchronous mode.

Abstract: A battery monitoring apparatus capable of reducing power consumption. At least one monitoring integrated circuit (IC) is electrically connected to a high-voltage battery formed of a plurality of cells and configured to monitor the high-voltage battery in a plurality of modes of operation. A low-voltage power supply circuit can deliver power of a lower voltage than the power of the high-voltage battery to the at least one monitoring IC. A power supply to the at least one monitoring IC is selected from a group of the high-voltage battery and the low-voltage power supply circuit depending on the mode of operation the at least one monitoring IC.

Abstract: A vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a DC power source and a controller are described. The internal combustion engine includes an engine starting system and an electrical charging system. A method for monitoring the DC power source includes determining a State of Charge (SOC) for the DC power source. Upon detecting that the SOC is less than a threshold SOC, routines are executed in the controller to evaluate a plurality of potential root causes associated with the low SOC. At least one of the potential root causes associated with the low SOC may be identified as a candidate root cause, and a fault probability for each of the candidate root causes is determined. One of the candidate root causes is determined to be a final root cause based upon the fault probabilities associated with the candidate root causes.

Abstract: A method for locating a battery module among multiple battery modules of a traction battery that are electrically connected to one another, having the following features: an electrical potential is measured at each of the battery modules in real time relative to a potential reference that is common to the battery modules; the potentials are used to subtractively compute voltages between the battery modules; a positional relationship for the battery modules is derived from the voltages; a module controller that is univocally denoted within the traction battery is used to retrieve a voltage dropped across the battery module that is to be located; and the retrieved voltage and the computed voltages are used to locate the battery module on the basis of the positional relationship within the traction battery. Also described is a corresponding apparatus, a corresponding computer program and a corresponding storage medium.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to accurately perform deterioration determination of a lithium ion secondary battery. In order to attain the object, in a deterioration determination method of the present invention, first, measurement processing of charging a deterioration determination target which is a battery cell or a battery module connecting a plurality of battery cells with each other up to a predetermined voltage value, discharging, and measuring a charge voltage value (a charge voltage value after the start of the discharge) within a predetermined period of time from the start of the discharge is repeated a plurality of times. Then, a deterioration state of the deterioration determination target is determined in consideration of a change mode of the charge voltage value after the start of the discharge due to the repetition of the charge and discharge.

Abstract: Disclosed is a power supply system having a minimum of two power supplies that are together configured to supply at least a specified level of power when one of the power supplies is in an offline condition. When in operation, a self-test control circuit causes one of the power supplies to enter an offline condition and a power interruption protection circuit of the offline power supply is tested. While the offline power supply is being tested, the remaining power supplies provide sufficient power to whatever loads may be present.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for fault detection in a power control system. In one aspect, a method includes measuring a plurality of values of a feedback voltage from a power control system over a period of time; determining a rate of feedback voltage change based on the measured values of the feedback voltage and a duration of the period of time; determining, with a controller, that the determined rate of feedback voltage change is smaller than a threshold rate of change; and in response to determining that the determined rate of feedback voltage change is smaller than the threshold rate of change, transmitting a fault indication signal to the power control system.

Abstract: A power source voltage detection apparatus is provided, including a reference voltage generator connected to a differential amplifier via a first transmission line and decreases a power source voltage of a direct current power source to output a power source reference voltage, the first transmission line transmitting the power source reference voltage as a first power source voltage detection voltage; a standard voltage generator connected to the differential amplifier via a second transmission line and outputs a predetermined standard voltage, the second transmission line transmitting the standard voltage as a second power source voltage detection voltage; the differential amplifier differentially amplifying the first and second power source voltage detection voltages; and an abnormality detector which, based on the first and second power source voltage detection voltages, detects the power source voltage and detects an abnormality of the first transmission line and/or the second transmission line.

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.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging method comprises performing imaging where more than one polarizing magnetic field strength is used during scanning and processing at least one image resulting from the scanning to yield an enhanced contrast image.

Abstract: A data detection device is used in combination with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus. A magnetic field detection unit (34) serves to detect a temporally varying magnetic field generated by the MRI apparatus, and a timestamping unit (35) generates magnetic field detection timestamps in dependence of the detected temporally varying magnetic field. This allows determining a temporal relation to acquired MRI data.

Abstract: In a method and imaging apparatus for acquiring multi-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) data, a data acquisition scanner is operated in a simultaneous multislice data acquisition sequence to radiate at least one single-band binomial radio-frequency (RF) pulse, that excites fat protons in at least some slices of an examination subject from which MR raw data are to be acquired simultaneously, and leaving water in a longitudinal plane for those at least some slices, and leaving all spin species in a longitudinal plane in others of the slices that are to be acquired simultaneously. A spoiler gradient is subsequently activated that dephases the fat protons that were excited. The scanner is then operated to execute an MR data acquisition sequence with excitation by radiation of multi-band RF pulses. MR raw data resulting from excitation of the fat protons, and MR raw data acquired with said multi-band RF excitation, are compiled in respective data files.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique in which the two-dimensional (2D) Displacement Encoding with Stimulated Echoes (DENSE) imaging technique and the multiband technique are combined to provide a 2D multi-slice quantitative assessment of displacement, deformation, and mechanics indices of tissue. The scan time is equivalent to the short scan time of the conventional single slice 2D imaging while providing spatial volumetric coverage similar to three-dimensional (3D) imaging. The techniques are combined in both the sequence (i.e., data acquisition) and reconstruction sides. Quantification of tissue displacement and motion is achieved through the combination and further evaluation of tissue mechanical properties is provided by calculating different indices based on the displacement and motion values.

Abstract: In a method to determine a control sequence for a magnetic resonance imaging system in order to acquire echo signal-based raw magnetic resonance data in k-space along one or more trajectories on the basis of the control sequence, the control sequence is optimized so that, to control a gradient magnetic field for at least a predetermined portion of the control sequence, a change of an attribute of the gradient magnetic field is limited. The limitation takes place so that a momentary amplitude change rate of the gradient magnetic field falls below a predetermined amplitude change rate limit value, and/or so that a momentary direction change rate of the gradient magnetic field falls below a predetermined direction change rate limit value, and/or so that a momentary gradient change rate of the gradient magnetic field that is based on a combination of the momentary amplitude change rate and the momentary direction change rate falls below a predetermined gradient change rate limit value.

Abstract: In a method and computer for the representation of magnetic resonance data, and a method and computer for storing magnetic resonance data in a computer, magnetic resonance data are acquired from an object under investigation, the acquired data represents a spatially resolved distribution of values of a number of tissue parameters in the object. A tree structure is created that has a trunk and a number of first tree elements branching from the trunk. A first tissue parameter among the multiple tissue parameters is assigned to the trunk and a second tissue parameter among the multiple tissue parameters is assigned to the number of first tree elements. The tree structure with respect to the acquired values of the multiple tissue parameters, so an adapted tree structure is compiled. The adapted tree structure is presented for a user on a display monitor.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance data acquisition unit is operated according to an imaging protocol wherein at least one echo spacing exists following radiation of an excitation RF pulse, via an RF channel that includes an RF amplifier, and a subsequent readout of an echo. Loading of the RF amplifier is reduced by lengthening the echo spacing in the imaging protocol. One or more refocusing RF pulses are radiated with a lengthened echo spacing.

Abstract: A method for magnetic resonance imaging includes unwrapping a calibration image based on coil sensitivity data obtained according to an array spatial sensitivity encoding technique and acquiring raw scan data of a plurality of MRI scan shots. The method further includes reconstructing an aliased image for each of the MRI scan shots, reconstructing an unaliased image for each of the MRI scan shots, according to the calibration image, recovering a plurality of pseudo-sensitivity maps from the plurality of unaliased images and from the calibration image, and unwrapping at least one final unaliased image from the plurality of aliased images, according to the plurality of pseudo-sensitivity maps.

Abstract: A controller that is operatively connected with a magnet assembly, which defines a target volume; and an image processor, which is configured to obtain calibration data from the controller; map B1 transmit intensity from the magnet assembly to the target volume, based on the calibration data; calculate a B1 transmit shading correction based at least on the map of B1 transmit intensity and on pulse sequence parameters; obtain k-space data of an imaging subject within the target volume from the controller operating the magnet assembly based on the pulse sequence parameters; develop an MR image from the k-space data; and apply the B1 transmit shading correction to the MR image.

Abstract: In a method for recording magnetic resonance data in a target region of a patient while the target region moves due to respiration a single-shot turbo spin echo sequence is used as a magnetic resonance sequence in a magnetic resonance apparatus. SPAIR fat saturation is used by emitting an inversion pulse at an inversion time before the data recording with the magnetic resonance apparatus. Multiple repetitions of the sequence of an inversion pulse, an inversion time and a data recording using the magnetic resonance sequence are triggered by a respiratory signal describing the respiratory cycle, each repetition occurring upon fulfillment of a recording criterion. At least one further inversion pulse is emitted in a waiting time between the sequences.

Abstract: An electric-motor-control system with current sensor offset correction includes three current-sensors and a controller. Each of the three current-sensors is used to detect current through one of three windings of a Y-connected motor. The controller is in communication with the three current-sensors. The controller records periodically measurements of sensed-current indicated by each current-sensor while variable-current flows through each of the three windings, determines an x-offset and a y-offset of a rotating-vector indicated by a plurality of the measurements, and determines an offset-current of each of the three current-sensors based on the x-offset and the y-offset.

Abstract: An RF fingerprint of the environment of a base station antenna will be regularly monitored, such as by regularly evaluating various RF metrics of uplink reflections of downlink transmission from the antenna. Through regular monitoring of the RF fingerprint, a baseline RF fingerprint could be established. And through continued monitoring of the RF fingerprint, an unexpected change in the RF fingerprint could then be detected, as an indication that the antenna's RF beam direction may have changed. In response to detecting the unexpected change in the antenna's RF fingerprint, the antenna's RF beam direction could then be newly determined, and the antenna's configuration record could be updated to indicate the newly determined RF beam direction.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to an onboard unit for a traffic telematics system, comprising: a first communication module, designed for near-range radio communication with a first external communication device, a second communication module, designed for far-range radio communication with a second external communication device, and a non-volatile memory, which can be accessed both by the first and the second communication module, wherein each communication module has a power-supplied communication mode and a powerless or power-saving rest mode, and wherein the power supply of the memory during an access thereto is effected by the accessing communication module. The present subject matter further relates to an onboard system for a vehicle comprising such an onboard unit, and to a communication device for said system.

Abstract: A method and devices are disclosed, for localization of a radio beacon at a remote receiver in the framework of a satellite system. Such satellite system could be Cospas-Sarsat, for Search and Rescue of people, ships and aircraft in distress, and particularly its MEOSAR (Medium Earth Orbit Search and Rescue) segments: DASS/GPS, SAR/Galileo and SAR/Glonass; said beacon is typically one of a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) or EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) or ELT (Emergency Locator Beacon); and said remote receiver is typically a MEOLUT (Medium Earth Orbit Local User Terminal) base station. Present art MEOSAR localization is based on Time measurements and Frequency measurements on signals emitted by radio beacons, relayed by satellites and detected at a MEOLUT; however since the exact time of transmission of the beacon is unknown at the MEOLUT, Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) equations are applied.

Abstract: Method, node, computer program, and computer program product in a wireless communication network, comprising a network communication unit with a medium access control layer (MAC-Layer), said node configured to calculate the Time of Arrival and/or Time of Flight based on a counted time from transmission of a response request message in the medium access control layer of said node to the corresponding arrival of a response to said response request message in the medium access control layer (MAC-Layer) of said node.

Abstract: A tracking system provides light source(s), a mobile communication unit and light sensor(s) with cameras, and a central control unit at least coupled to the sensor(s). The communication unit receives with its camera an identification information item broadcast by the light source(s) and broadcasts an activation signal, including data correlated with the received item, to the control unit. The control unit determines, based on the signal, at which position the communication unit is arranged and which sensor(s) is arranged relative to the position of the communication unit so that the communication unit can be detected by the camera of the sensor; activates the camera of the detected sensor(s) for providing image information by its camera to the control unit, to determine and identify a carrier of the communication unit at the determined position; and activates sensor(s) coupled to the control unit for tracking the identified carrier of the communication unit.

Abstract: A sparse multichannel array includes a plurality of array elements, a receiver behind each array element, and a Doppler filter bank behind each receiver, whereby within each Doppler bin is placed spatial nulls at selected angles of undesired interference. The invention enables Doppler processing to be performed on sparse arrays, such as nested or coprime arrays, used in nonlinear adaptive beamforming to mitigate the impact of unintentional interference and hostile jamming on the received signal.

Abstract: A system for detecting a target, the system comprises a transceiver and a signal processor; wherein the transceiver that is configured to: transmit a first pulse train that comprises multiple radio frequency (RF) pulses of a first non-linear polarity; receive first echoes resulting from the transmission of the first pulse train; generate first detection signals that represent the first echoes; and wherein the signal processor is configured to process the first detection signals to provide an estimated polarization orientation of a target; wherein the processing of the first detection signals comprises estimating a Jones matrix of the target.

Abstract: A radar system and method is provided for increasing the search volume, detection range, and/or update rate of a search radar without requiring an increase of the radar transmit power or antenna aperture size. This is accomplished by using a target response calculation that uses signal energy that is thrown away by conventional systems. A probability of target presence and target behavior (Ppb) is calculated based on the retained signal energy to thus improve the radar's ability to detect the presence of a target. The invention processes multiple CPIs either coherently or incoherently via the Ppb methodology to further improve the radar's detection abilities.

Abstract: A radar system includes a plurality of radiating elements configured to radiate electromagnetic energy and a plurality of feed waveguides defining a common plane and configured to guide electromagnetic energy to the plurality of radiating elements. The radar system also includes a plurality of waveguides arranged as a dividing network configured to split the electromagnetic energy from the source among the plurality of feed waveguides, such that each feed waveguide receives a respective portion of the electromagnetic energy. Additionally, the dividing network is configured to adjust a phase of the electromagnetic energy received by each waveguide. The splitting and adjusting of the dividing network may be based on differences in height and/or width between the waveguides of the dividing network and the feed waveguides. At least a portion of the dividing network is located in a plane other than the common plane of the feed waveguides.

Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to adaptive frequency correction for pulse compression radar. In one implementation, a method may include generating a first transmission signal using a first direct digital synthesizer of a pulse compression radar system based on frequency sweep coefficients. The method may also include comparing a frequency of the first transmission signal at a feedback loop of a phase locked loop circuit and a frequency of an ideal waveform signal. The method may further include generating adaptive frequency coefficients based on the comparison, where the adaptive frequency coefficients are configured to compensate for a difference between the frequency of the first transmission signal at the feedback loop and the frequency of the ideal waveform signal. The method may additionally include generating a compensated transmission signal using the pulse compression radar system based on the adaptive frequency coefficients and the frequency sweep coefficients.

Abstract: An on-vehicle radar apparatus includes a radar sensor and a mounting angle calculation section that calculates a mounting angle of the radar sensor, and the radar sensor is mounted on a vehicle so that a sensing area includes a direction of 90 degrees relative to a front-back direction of the vehicle and detects a relative speed to an observation point at which the radar wave is reflected in the sensing area and an azimuth at which the observation point is located. The mounting angle calculation section calculates a mounting angle of the radar sensor from an azimuth of a speed zero observation point, the speed zero observation point being the observation point with a relative speed of zero.

Abstract: An automotive radar system and method transmit a plurality of radar signals into a region, detect reflected radar signals, and convert the reflected radar signals into digital data signals. A plurality of range-Doppler maps for the region are generated from the digital data signals, and the plurality of range-Doppler maps are averaged to generate an averaged range-Doppler map for the region. Data points in the averaged range-Doppler map are analyzed to detect blobs in the averaged range Doppler map. If a blob is detected in the averaged range-Doppler map, the radar detector is indicated to be unblocked.

Abstract: An apparatus is described having an image signal processor. The image signal processor has a plurality of depth calculation units to calculate a respective time of flight depth value for different pixel array locations. Each of the plurality of depth calculation units is to receive a response signal from a same pixel in a pixel array so that the plurality of depth calculation units are able to calculate multiple depth values for the different locations of the pixel array from respective response signals from different groups of pixels in the pixel array of which the pixel is a member. Each of the groups include pixels of different receive clock phases sufficient to calculate a respective depth value. Another apparatus is also described where multiple depth values are similarly calculated from different groups of pixels that each include a same pixel but where a depth calculation unit calculates each of the multiple depth values.

Abstract: To reduce the size, simplify the structure of a light emitting and receiving system. The system that detects a target object with the use of reflected lights gained from a light irradiated to the target object includes a flat-plate shaped light control apparatus having light control parts, a light-entry apparatus allowing light to enter into a light control part, a light-receiving apparatus that receives emitting lights from the remaining light control parts, a control apparatus that controls the light-entry apparatus and the light-receiving apparatus and detects the target object. The light control apparatus includes liquid crystal elements supporting light control parts between a pair of substrates and a drive unit to drive the liquid crystal elements. Each of the light control parts includes a pair of electrodes, a high-resistance film disposed between the electrodes, and a liquid crystal layer disposed at least to the region overlapping the high-resistance film.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems can be provided to implement active feedback to electrically sense or monitor the illumination and shutter pulses and adjust them actively to maintain the desired phase relationship/difference between the pulses. By maintaining the desired phase difference, the distance calculation can be made more accurate, even when conditions of the time-of-flight camera varies (e.g., temperature, aging, etc.). Advantageously, active compensation can correct for errors ‘on-the-fly’, eliminating detailed characterization and manual adjustment during operation.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating accurate 3-dimensional images of objects immersed in liquids including optically opaque liquids which may also have significant sound attenuation, is described. Sound pulses are caused to impinge on the object, and the time-of-flight of the reflected sound is used to create a 3-dimensional image of the object in almost real-time. The apparatus is capable of creating images of objects immersed in fluids that are optically opaque and have high sound attenuation at resolutions less than about 1 mm. The apparatus may include a piezoelectric transducer for generating the acoustic pulses; a high-density polyethylene compound acoustic lens, a 2-dimensional segmented piezoelectric detecting array positioned behind the lens for receiving acoustic pulses reflected by the object, the electric output of which is directed to digital signal processing electronics for generating the image.

Abstract: A beamforming apparatus includes: a signal output unit configured to output signals; a time difference corrector configured to correct a time difference between the signals; and a weight applier configured to apply a weight value to the signals, according to an error between the signals with the corrected time difference and a target delay pattern.