Abstract: An improved magazine catch for semi-automatic rifles containing a mechanism that requires the operator to take down the action of the rifle. The mechanism may release the magazine immediately upon taking down the action, or may require the operator to release the magazine manually.

Abstract: A silencer device for a firearm has a center portion including at least two substantially semi-circular chamber partition wall elements being spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the center portion, a housing portion into which the center portion is introduced, wherein between the at least two substantially semi-circular chamber partition wall elements and the inner wall of the housing portion at least one chamber is formed; and a positioning portion being at least connectable to the housing portion. The at least two substantially semi-circular chamber partition wall elements respectively comprise on their outer sides at least one chamfer, which form a lateral passage for explosive gases with the inner wall of the housing portion.

Abstract: A dry fire trigger device for dry firing a lower receiver of a firearm having a magazine well, a trigger, and a hammer, the dry fire trigger device comprising is provided. The dry fire trigger device includes a lever housing shaped to engage the magazine well of the lower receiver and a lever movably secured to the lever housing. The lever includes a hammer contact portion shaped to contact the hammer of the lower receiver. The hammer contact portion is adjacent the hammer of the lower receiver when the device is secured in the magazine well of the firearm. In a first position the hammer contacts the hammer contact portion of the lever when the trigger is pulled and further wherein the movable lever substantially re-cocks the hammer after the hammer contacts the lever when the lever is moved to a second position.

Abstract: An axially offset foregrip assembly for a long gun has a grip portion having a first grip axis, with a middle portion of the grip portion configured to be grasped by a hand of a user about the first grip axis. The foregrip assembly also has a coupling portion for coupling between the middle portion of the grip portion and a fore-end of a long gun. The long gun has a barrel having a longitudinal axis and a rear grip having a second grip axis, which together define a vertical barrel plane. The coupling portion is configured to couple the grip portion to the fore-end of the long gun such that the first grip axis is in a vertical grip plane horizontally offset from the vertical barrel plane, with the vertical grip plane and the first grip axis substantially parallel to the vertical barrel plane.

Abstract: A firearm magazine cover is disclosed for encircling a firearm magazine. The firearm magazine cover comprises a sleeve defining a front wall, a primary side wall, a secondary side wall, and a rear wall extending between an upper edge and a lower edge. An upper aperture is in the upper edge of the sleeve for receiving the firearm magazine. A lower aperture is in the lower edge of the sleeve for protruding the firearm magazine beyond the sleeve. The sleeve is constructed of an elastic rubber for defining a grasping collar. The grasping collar permits grasping the firearm magazine during engagement with the firearm and firmly grasping the firearm magazine during disengagement with the firearm.

Abstract: A holster for a handgun, having at least some of an at least partial cavity; a lever having a finger button portion and an engagement portion, wherein the lever includes a locking projection extending from at least a portion of the engagement portion, wherein the lever is pivotally attached or coupled to at least a portion of the holster, approximately between the finger button portion and the engagement portion; and a lockout element, wherein at least a portion of the lockout element is positionable within at least a portion of the holster such that if at least a portion of the lockout element is positioned within at least a portion of the holster, at least a portion of the lockout element is positioned below at least a portion of the finger button portion to keep the lever from being pivoted to a disengaged position.

Abstract: An aiming device including a thermoelectric module, a light source and a sight element. The thermoelectric module generates electricity from a thermal gradient, produced from a user's body heat that is transferred to the module. The electricity powers the light source. The light source illuminates a sight element of a projectile shooting device to enhance visibility of the sight element in a variety of ambient lighting conditions, optionally in low light conditions. The aiming device can be mounted to a projectile shooting device. With the aiming device, a user can selectively illuminate a sight element of a projectile shooting device, with the user's own body heat, to assist aiming the projectile shooting device during a shooting activity. The projectile shooting device can be any type of archery bow and/or firearm. Related methods are also provided.

Abstract: A firearm accessory mount for a take-down rifle is disclosed. The mount has a first portion having an accessory interface, and a second portion opposing the first portion. The second portion has a locking block with a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is shaped and positioned to engage a receiver assembly of the take-down rifle. At least one of the first portion or the second portion has a barrel engagement surface. A related method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A bullet resistant garment is provided for in the current invention having a pliable protective insert contained within a concealed carrier shell that is integrated into an outer-garment. In certain embodiments, interconnecting seams and or darts may be incorporated into the pliable protective insert and/or carrier shell to provide a comfortable and protective three-dimensional shape to bullet resistant garment, especially for women.

Abstract: A tuning and mitigation system and method for mitigating a blast or impact event having an elastic layer having an acoustic impedance chosen to tune stress waves resulting from the blast or impact to one or more specific tuned frequencies, and a dissipative layer made of a viscoelastic material having a critical damping frequency that matches at least one or more specific tuned frequencies.

Abstract: A lighted crossbow nock with an external switch preferably includes a crossbow nock body, a light unit, a compression spring and a power source. The crossbow nock body preferably includes a crossbow string portion and a shank portion. A crossbow string receiver is formed in the crossbow nock body. A battery bore is formed through the shank portion. A switch opening is formed through a wall of the crossbow nock body and into battery bore. The light unit preferably includes a modified top hat LED, an LED housing, an LED housing insert and a switch. The LED housing includes an insert notch for insertion of the LED housing insert. The LED housing insert includes a switch notch. The switch includes a switch base and a pair of snap legs. The LED, LED housing and a LED housing insert are assembled and inserted into the battery bore.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter includes a method, apparatus and computer storage device for reducing dispersion of a rocket caused by jet-stream misalignment, the rocket comprising a rocket engine. Information indicative of a division of total operation time of the rocket engine into a first time period and a second time period is obtained; wherein an impulse which is generated during the first time period is at least approximately the same as an impulse generated during the second time period; a period of time which equals to the first time period starting from time of activation of the rocket engine is measured; upon termination of the period of time, the rocket is rotated around the rocket's longitudinal axis; and the angle of rotation measured; and the rotation is stopped once a 180° rotation is completed.

Abstract: To increase the range of a spin-stabilized projectile which moves in a surrounding medium, the surrounding medium from a stagnant-water region of the projectile is, by means of a part of the rotational energy of the projectile, conveyed under the inflowing boundary layer at the outer surface of the projectile, and thus the speed gradient of the boundary layer in the vicinity of the wall is reduced. For this purpose, the outer surface has at least one encircling groove (9) which is connected by radial transverse ducts (10) to at least one longitudinal duct (11) in the interior of the projectile, which in turn is connected to an opening in the rear of the projectile.

Abstract: A dissolvable glass projectile for a firearm is molded from dissolvable glass for the ammunitions and firearms industry. The dissolvable glass projectile may be molded into different sizes or geometry based on firearm and user preference. A mixture of chemicals components are heated and melted and then poured into a mold and is allowed to cool to a solid that can be handled.

Abstract: A rocket comprises at least one propulsion unit including a pivotable rocket motor, a spring-assisted one-time deployment mechanism, and a release mechanism. The pivotable rocket motor is pivotable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The spring-assisted one-time deployment mechanism moves the rocket motor from the stowed position to the deployed position when the deployment mechanism is released by the release mechanism. Outer geometry of the rocket is changed as the rocket motor is moved to the deployed position.

Abstract: A tool with multiple measurement markings for use in assessing the depth and width of a hole or crevasse while gardening, landscaping, or performing other forms of excavation. The tool may also be used to measure distances on the ground or the height of various objects. The tool includes a handle with a tool attachment, such as a shovel or hoe blade, affixed to the proximal end of the handle. The tool has multiple lines of measurement markings across the front or back of the handle and attachment. These lines may start at the tip of the attachment and continue sequentially to the distal end of the handle. There may also be an additional line of measurement markings on the back of the handle with a starting point at the distal end of the handle. The attachment itself also may be marked with one or more lines of measurement markings on the front or back of the attachment.

Abstract: Generally, in accordance with the various illustrative embodiments disclosed herein, a homodyne optical interferometer can include a multi-phase beam combining system that receives a composite beam from an optical beam guidance system and uses a diffraction grating to produce a diffracted plurality of light beam members. Each of the diffracted plurality of light beam members is propagated through a birefringent optical element that imposes a differential phase shift on each member based on polarization and differing optical path lengths. In one example implementation, the birefringent optical element can be a parallel plate optical element arranged at an angle with respect to a light-propagation axis of the multi-phase beam combining system and in a second example implementation, the birefringent optical element can be a multifaceted optical element having a first planar external surface that is sloped with respect to an opposing external planar surface.

Abstract: An efficient method of evaluating the level of contrast of an OCT dataset is presented. The method develops a metric to segregate useful and not-so-useful data in one or more OCT B-scans, in order to reduce spurious subsequent analyses of the data by downstream segmentation algorithms. It is designed to be fast and efficient and is applied to determining autofocus of an OCT instrument real-time and in identifying a real image from its complex conjugate twin.

Abstract: Methods for dimensioning a 3D item are described. A FOV is mapped over three spatial dimensions, each of the three spatial dimensions oriented orthogonally in relation to each of the others and graduated according to a linear scale. The 3D item is scanned relative to the mapped FOV. Each of the 2D surfaces of the scanned 3D item is identified. A dimension is measured for each of the identified 2D surfaces of the scanned 3D item. A perspective-correct representation of the measured dimension is rendered, in real time or near real time, with respect to the measuring the dimension step, onto each of the identified 2D surfaces of the scanned 3D item.

Abstract: A positioning system, in particular, six-dimensions positioning system of a shadow sensor with respect to a constellation of light sources is provided. The sensor can be a shadow sensor and has a mask and a 2D imager. By recording the shadow of the mask cast by each light source on the imager, and by properly multiplexing the light sources, the system can compute the 6D position of the shadow sensor with respect to the constellation of light sources. This computation is based, in part, on treating the shadow of the mask cast on the imager as the equivalent of the projection of light in a pinhole or projective camera. In one embodiment, the system is applied in a surgical domain. In another embodiment, the system is rapidly deployed.

Abstract: A laser projection method including the steps of: irradiating, from a laser projection unit, a workpiece that is a measurement object, with a laser while controlling a plurality of mirror angles; imaging the workpiece with a stereo camera, extracting a contour of the workpiece, and calculating a three-dimensional coordinate; calculating a positional relationship between the laser projection unit and the workpiece by comparing the calculated three-dimensional coordinate of the workpiece contour with the minor angle; and performing coordinate transformation of CAD data information and drawing CAD data from the laser projection unit to the workpiece, based on the positional relationship between the laser projection unit and the workpiece. The machining method including the steps of: selecting a component of a tool; assembling the component; imaging the tool assembled; and determining whether or not a desired tool has been assembled.

Abstract: The present invention provides a detection device and a detection method. The detection device comprises a light source module, a receiving module, an image generation module and a judgment module. The light source module is configured to emit light towards a film at a predetermined angle, the receiving module is configured to receive interference light formed by first reflected light reflected by an upper surface of the film and second reflected light reflected by a lower surface of the film, the image generation module is configured to generate an equal thickness interference fringe image according to the interference light, and the judgment module is configured to judge whether thickness of the film is uniform according to the equal thickness interference fringe image. The detection device can perform high accuracy detection on uniformity of the thickness of a film, thereby facilitating improving display quality of a display panel.

Abstract: An integrated sensing device with a suite of sensors assists construction machine operators in finding the correct level to dig a ditch/trench. The sensing device includes a gravity sensor to determine angles, a laser distance meter (LDM), and a laser receiver for detecting a known jobsite elevation. The sensing device is mounted to the dipper stick of an excavator; the gravity sensor detects the angle of the stick, and the laser receiver detects a laser plane of light that represents a known jobsite elevation. The LDM is aimed at another member of the machine that moves in a predetermined path as the bucket is rotated, and the distance between the LDM and the target member is used to calculate the vertical elevation of the working tool edge. A display graphically shows the operator the proper dig depth and the present position of the working tool edge.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a memory, a communication interface in communication with the memory and configured to communicate via a network, and a processor in communication with the memory and the communication interface. The processor receives facial image data associated with a user of a client device, registers the facial image data, and stores the facial image data and contextual data associated with the user in a database. The processor also receives video stream data from at least one image capture device in communication with the network, analyzes the video stream data and contextual data associated with the video stream data to define analyzed video data and analyzed contextual data, respectively, and defines a confidence level based on comparing the data associated with the video stream data to the data stored in the database. The processor defines a user-specific contextual video stream when the confidence level satisfies a criterion.

Abstract: Provided is a chromatic confocal sensor including: a first light source that emits measurement light including a plurality of light beams having different wavelengths; a second light source that emits a visible light beam having a predetermined wavelength; an optical head that causes incident light to be converged at a focal position corresponding to a wavelength of the incident light and outputs reflection light reflected by an object to be measured at the focal position; a position calculation section that calculates a position of the object to be measured on the basis of the reflection light output by the optical head; and a switching section that selectively switches between a first operation in which only the measurement light enters the optical head and a second operation in which at least the visible light beam enters the optical head.

Abstract: An automated signaling equipment inspection system is provided. The system includes signaling equipment, a LiDAR imaging device permanently installed close to the signaling equipment at a position and with an orientation allowing complete imaging of the orientation and configuration in space of the signaling equipment and of any potential movement of the signaling equipment during its operation, an image data processing device for detecting a non-conformity of the signaling equipment, and a reference image database storing reference image data of the signaling equipment. The LiDAR imaging device is configured to scan the signaling equipment to obtain real image data thereof. The image data processing device is configured to detect a non-conformity of the signaling equipment by comparing the real image data with reference image data taken from the reference image database.

Abstract: To address the problem in which when measuring the overlay of patterns formed on upper and lower layers of a semiconductor pattern by comparing a reference image and measurement image obtained through imaging by an SEM, the contrast of the SEM image of the pattern of the lower layer is low relative to that of the SEM image of the pattern of the upper layer and alignment state verification is difficult even if the reference image and measurement image are superposed on the basis of measurement results, the present invention determines the amount of positional displacement of patterns of an object of overlay measurement from a reference image and measurement image obtained through imaging by an SEM, carries out differential processing on the reference image and measurement image, aligns the reference image and measurement image that have been subjected to differential processing on the basis of the positional displacement amount determined previously, expresses the gradation values of the aligned differential r

Abstract: A method for determining properties of a pipeline includes feeding a sound wave signal at a predetermined feed point into the pipeline so that the sound wave signal propagates in an axial direction of the pipeline. The frequency spectrum of the transmitted sound wave signal has a frequency component or a spectral range with a maximum frequency that is smaller than the lower limit frequency for the first upper mode. Reflected portions of the transmitted sound wave signal are detected as received sound wave signal and are evaluated with regard to the transmitted sound wave signal to determine at least the distance of each reflection site from the feed point.

Abstract: A boiler system includes a boiler having at least one heat exchanger having a surface on which a deposit may form. The boiler system further includes at least one retractable sootblower having a lance tube for carrying a high pressure fluid into the boiler. The lance tube is configured such that the high pressure fluid impacts the heat exchanger surface to effect a vibration in the boiler system. The boiler system also includes at least one vibration measuring device coupled to the boiler system. The vibration measuring device is configured to measure the vibration in the boiler system, and the measured vibration indicates presence or absence of the deposit on the heat exchanger surface. The vibration measuring device may optionally detect a vibration caused by the release of the deposit from the surface of the heat exchanger or the impact of the released deposit with a surface in the boiler system.

Abstract: An optical sensor includes at least two optical sensing pixels and at least two different grating elements. These grating elements are disposed above these optical sensing pixels correspondingly.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining orientation and three-dimensional position of construction equipment are presented. An orientation device is mounted to a machine. The orientation device has an image sensor. The orientation device measures an offset between a direction of the orientation device and a reference at a known location. The heading of the machine is calculated based on the offset and the known location of the reference.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a processor; and a memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: determine whether or not recalibration is required of a magnetometer configured to compensate for hard-iron and soft-iron effects by determining whether a plurality of magnetometer readings received from the magnetometer is consistent with: a scaled pre-calibrated matrix describing the soft-iron effect for at least one scaling factor of the pre-calibrated matrix; and a pre-calibrated vector describing the hard-iron effect.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method comprises generating a waveform; measuring signals representative of angular rotation rate in a linear region of the waveform; and diminishing bias error about at least one of a waveform's maxima and minima.

Abstract: A computing device is provided. The computing device includes a user interface configured to receive an input that indicates a user has detected an object of interest in a body of water, a processing device coupled to the user interface, the processing device configured to automatically retrieve, in response to the input, data from at least one data source, and generate a report including the retrieved data, and a means for transmitting data coupled to the processing device and configured to transmit the generated report to a database that includes a plurality of navigational charts, wherein the generated report is used to update at least one of the database and at least one of the plurality of navigational charts to include the object of interest.

Abstract: A method of room based position determination for a mobile node in a positioning system is disclosed. The method comprises determining a room in an area deployed with at least a reference node of the positioning system, collecting a plurality of RSSI data from the at least a reference node in every place of the room, establishing a room fingerprint, performing a real-time RSSI measurement on the at least a reference node, to collect a plurality of real-time RSSI data from the at least a reference node, and determining whether the mobile node is within the room according to the RSSI mean parameter, the maximum distance parameter of the room fingerprint database and the collected real-time RSSI data from the at least a reference node.

Abstract: The new invention is a method for a self-contained multifunctional navigation device. It computes 3D-Spatial velocity of the vehicle and of fluid medium surrounding the vehicle, using a movement sensor system comprising low power Transmitter and plurality of Receivers placed close to the Transmitter. The said computation measures propagation time delay of low frequency pulse envelope modulating carrier EM (radio) waves using Time to Digital Converter (TDC). Orientation, direction, position and movement data are derived using well known mathematical formulae. Derived movement data are displayed graphically on a Visual Display Screen. A commercial computer comprising real time operating system, stored digitalized Navigation data and digitalized map facilitates data computation and control and guidance. The method and movement sensor device can be used in any type of vehicle (airborne, surface, sub-surface, marine, sub-marine or space) as a means for navigation and control guidance aid.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing two independent dissimilar attitude solutions, two independent dissimilar inertial solutions or both from one improved navigation device are disclosed. In one embodiment, an avionics system comprises: an inertial navigation device configured to produce a first set of attitude solutions; an attitude heading and reference unit configured to produce a primary set of attitude solutions and a secondary set of attitude solutions; and a display device configured to receive the first set of attitude solutions, the primary set of attitude solutions and the secondary set of attitude solutions, wherein if the first set of attitude solutions and the primary set of attitude solutions are yielding different results, then the display device is configured to determine whether the first set of attitude solutions or the primary set of attitude solutions is correct by determining differences between the attitude solutions and determining which difference is below a threshold.

Abstract: Example implementations may relate to an RC vehicle with a receiver and an inertial measurement unit. In particular, the RC vehicle may include vehicle controller circuitry that works together with the inertial measurement unit to instruct the receiver to enter a bind mode when the RC vehicle is rotated, oriented, or positioned in a certain way. In an example embodiment, the RC vehicle may instruct the receiver to enter a bind mode when the RC vehicle is first powered on and is rotated 180 degrees in a certain direction, such as from upright to upside-down.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to condensing sensor data for transmission and processing. For example, laser scan data including location, elevation, and intensity information may be collected along a roadway. This data may be sectioned into quanta representing some period of time during which the laser sweeps through a portion of its field of view. The data may also be filtered spatially to remove data outside of a threshold quality area. The data within the threshold quality area for a particular quantum may be projected onto a two-dimensional grid of cells. For each cell of the two-dimensional grid, a computer evaluates the cells to determine a set of characteristics for the cell. The sets of characteristics for all of the cells of the two-dimensional grid for the particular quantum are then sent to a central computing system for further processing.

Abstract: A vehicle position measurement method includes a process of determining whether or not position information of an own vehicle is able to be acquired with predetermined quality from the outside, a process of acquiring position information of a nearby vehicle present in an area in which the own vehicle is capable of acquiring information when the position information is determined not to be able to be acquired with the predetermined quality, and a process of replacing the position information of the own vehicle with the acquired position information of the nearby vehicle.

Abstract: A map information update apparatus includes: a map information storage unit that stores district map information including a plurality of division areas; a receiver that receives a broadcast wave carrying information of one or more of the plurality of division areas; a wireless communication unit that receives a radio wave carrying information of one or more of the plurality of division areas by wireless communication; and an information update unit that updates, when the district map information does not satisfy a first basis, the district map information for each division area based on the information carried by the broadcast wave received by the receiver and updates, when the district map information satisfies the first basis, the district map information for each division area based on the information carried by the radio wave received by the wireless communication unit.

Abstract: A method for maintaining vehicle-resident map information may include, in a vehicle with at least one communications processor integrated within the vehicle, the at least one communications processor being operable to receive wireless transmissions including map information from a remote location separate and apart from the vehicle, obtaining GPS information relating to the vehicle. The map information received by the at least one communications processor may be downloaded from the remote location. A map corresponding to the map information, and an indication of the current vehicle location may be displayed within the map, based on the GPS information. The map information may correspond to the GPS information. Road information may be wirelessly transmitted to one or more locations based on the GPS information.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes a processor having a memory. The processor is programmed to predict a vehicle key-on time based on a next destination of a vehicle. The processor is further programmed to request, at a predetermined amount of time before the key-on time, optimization data from a remote server.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a map application that displays a selectable user interface (UI) item for a transit station, a representation of which, is displayed over a presentation of a portion of a map of an area. Upon selection of the UI item, the map application of some embodiments provides a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes a first set of information about the transit station, and a second set of information about departure schedules of several different transit lines from the transit station.

Abstract: A system for representing predicted travel times between pick-up and drop-off addresses for which routes are to be scheduled. In some embodiments, a computer system defines a disk representing a geographic area surrounding each address having a radius that is selected such that a travel time between any two locations in the area of the disk is within a predetermined time limit. If the travel time from an address to a man-made or natural obstacle that limits travel in the area of the disk is within the predetermined time limit then the radius of the disk is reduced to the distance to the obstacle. A memory stores predicted travel times between addresses encompassed by the geographic areas of different disks.

Abstract: There is provided a route guidance apparatus including a route search unit which searches for at least one route, to a predetermined destination, which is to be traveled by an electric vehicle propelled by electric power stored in a secondary battery provided within the vehicle, and a power consumption calculation unit which calculates power consumption of the electric vehicle when a route to a destination, which was searched for by the route search unit, is traveled by the electric vehicle, based on information on electric power to be consumed when the electric vehicle travels and geographical information relating to the route.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for inferring a user's intent to stop at a predefined location or breakpoint along a predetermined route, such as an exit along a highway, and to enable users to report back to systems maintaining exit or breakpoint POI data. An application executing on a user's mobile device may infer or query the user's intent upon detecting a deviation away from the route and to use this as a “check-in” at a predefined location corresponding to the point of deviation. Then further check-ins and ratings at amenities/locations associated with the exit can also be used to enhance the rating and popularity of the predefined location (e.g., highway exit) itself. The ratings and popularity of highway exits can then be exposed in applications to provide relevant content related to the highest rated or most popular breakpoints located along their route of travel.

Abstract: Navigation system assistance to a user within an area is provided by ascertaining location data and content of digital signage within the area. Further, based on the system receiving a request from a user for navigation directions to a destination location from a starting location, a navigation route is generated for the user to the destination location. The navigation route passes, at least in part, within the area, and the navigation route includes reference to one or more digital signs of the digital signage within the area, and a location of the one or more digital signs within the area in relation to the navigation route.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores instructions that implement an application programming interface (API) for generating digital maps. When invoked by a software module executing on one or more processors of a client device, the API operates to (i) determine a geographic location to be included in a digital map, where the geographic location is specified by a server device coupled to the client device via a communication network, (ii) select a parameter for a viewport of the digital map based at least on a distance from a current location of the client device to the specified geographic location, (iii) generate the digital map in accordance with the selected parameter, and display the digital map via a user interface of the client device.

Abstract: An off-screen point of interest, that has a corresponding off-screen display attribute, is identified. A distance of the identified off-screen point of interest is compared to a distance threshold. A display element, corresponding to the off-screen points of interest, is displayed on a border of a map display, based upon the comparison, and based upon a direction in which the off-screen point of interest is located, relative to a reference point on the map display.