Abstract: A method and device to control electrical devices using motion detection are presented, through which an object inside a monitoring area which is subdivided into a pre-detection area and a detection area is successively identified as well as verified in the detection area for reducing power input in standby mode and during operation in the main cycle using distance measurements and its position consequently determined. During the course of the distance measurements, the control device is brought into a readiness state and later on into operating state. After finishing the distance measurements and determining the position of the object in the detection area, an output signal which serves to control an external electrical device is generated by a control device.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for an intrusion detection system. The intrusion detection system comprises a first camera configured to acquire first visual images of a monitored area and a second camera configured to acquire second visual images of the monitored area. The intrusion detection system also comprises a detection device configured to compare the first images with a background image of the monitored area. The detection device can mark differences between the first images and the background image as a potential intruder. The intrusion detection system further comprises a tracking device configured to evaluate each of the first images relative to each of the second images to determine three-dimensional characteristics associated with the potential intruder.

Abstract: A process of mapping piping systems associated with a refinery and petrochemical facilities is disclosed, which maps piping systems, which interconnect facility operating units with other operating units, utilities, distribution facilities and storage units. A system for aiding in the isolation of piping systems, operating units and other facility components is also disclosed. The system includes a search database having representations of the piping systems and its related components. A method of isolating an event within a facility is also disclosed. The method includes identifying the location of an event in the facility, performing a search to identify the impacted piping systems and related components, and identifying measures to isolate the event.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing information about an object. A location on the object is identified. An association between the location on the object and a number of points in a point cloud for the object is identified. The number of points in the point cloud is associated with a number of parts for the object. The location on the object is associated with the number of parts for the object based on the association of the location on the object with the number of points in the point cloud. An identification of the number of parts associated with the location on the object is presented on a graphical user interface on a display system. Information for the location on the object in a number of types of media is identified. The information for the location on the object is associated with the location on the object.

Abstract: An information input device and a method and medium for inputting information in three-dimensional (3D) space are provided. The information input device includes a movement signal input unit receiving a movement signal of the information input device under control of a user in a three-dimensional (3D) space, a movement extent calculating unit calculating an extent of a movement of the information input device by analyzing the received movement signal, a movement identification unit identifying a type of the movement by comparing the calculated extent of the movement with a predetermined threshold, and a signal processor processing the received movement signal so that an instruction corresponding to the identified type of movement is performed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining plane similarity are provided. In one embodiment a system comprises a sensor configured to acquire a plurality of frames of data, and a processing unit coupled to the sensor, the processing unit configured to process the plurality of frames of data. The processing unit is further configured to store the plurality of frames of data on at least one memory device, read a first frame of data from the plurality of frames stored on the at least one memory device, and read a second frame of data from the plurality of frames stored on the at least one memory device. Additionally, the processing unit is configured to extract a first plane from the first frame of data, extract a second plane from the second frame of data, and calculate a divergence to measure a similarity between the first plane and the second plane.

Abstract: A state estimation apparatus has a plurality of sensors including a three-dimensional magnetic sensor for detecting magnetic components. A Kalman filter is used to update a state vector based on an observation residual. The state vector has components representing a plurality of state variables which include a state variable for estimating an offset of the magnetic data. A central point calculation unit assumes that coordinates indicated by a predetermined number of the magnetic data probabilistically distribute in the vicinity of a spherical surface, and calculates a central point of the spherical surface. The Kalman filter updates the state variable for estimating an offset of the magnetic data using the central point of the spherical surface.

Abstract: A method and a system for motion tracking, capable of tracking a trajectory of a movable object by an architecture having at least three accelerometers arranged in a predefined structure. The trajectory, displacement and rotational angle of the movable object are determined by ways of extrapolation, numerical calibration and vector transformation according to the acceleration signals detected by the at least three accelerometers.

Abstract: Techniques for selecting a portion of a 3D virtual environment are disclosed, where the portion of the 3D virtual environment may be one or more objects in the 3D virtual environment or one of scenes in the 3D virtual environment. A motion sensitive device (controller) is used. The controller generates sensor data sufficient to derive position and orientation of the controller in six degrees of freedom. In one embodiment, when selecting the portion of the 3D virtual environment, the controller generates a ray to an interaction of a display screen provided to display the 3D virtual environment, wherein the ray is further projected into the 3D virtual environment by a ray tracing technique as if the user had a real laser pointer that crosses from the physical world into the 3D virtual environment being displayed. Further a user is optionally to use a secondary input device to select one or more points or objects in a 3D space to control a distance along the ray being used.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to acquire direct thermal measurements, for example, from a LiDAR collecting vehicle or air vessel, of an overhead electrical conductor substantially simultaneous with collection of 3-dimensional location data of the conductor, and utilize temperature information derived from the direct thermal measurements in line modeling, line rating, thermal line analysis, clearance analysis, and/or vegetation management.

Abstract: A position detection system for an underwater inspection unit or vehicle improves the detection accuracy of the unit's position. The unit includes a pressure sensor for detecting its vertical position, and an inertial sensor for detecting its attitude angle. The unit also includes a range sensor unit for detecting relative distances relative to a neighboring structure A in several directions on substantially the same plane. A control unit computes a position of a detection direction plane of the range sensor unit based on the unit's detected vertical position and attitude angle, and a cross-sectional shape and position of the structure at the computed position of the detection direction plane. Additionally, the control unit computes the unit's relative position with respect to the structure's cross-sectional shape based on detection results by the range sensor unit, and computes the unit's horizontal position based on position information of the structure's cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a mark arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: generating mask data in which mark seed data that includes an inspection mark that includes vector information and is not drawn on a mask and mark data is arranged on a scribe line of the mask, calculating coordinates of the inspection mark from a reference position of the mark seed data, detecting an arrangement state of the inspection mark with respect to the reference position by using the coordinates and vector information, and judging whether the mark seed data is correctly arranged by comparing the arrangement state of the inspection mark with an arrangement check rule.

Abstract: A method is provided for tracking a magnetic object situated in an area in which a system of coordinates is defined, including an axis of abscissas, an axis ordinate and a height axis. The method includes: a phase of measuring at least one magnetic parameter in multiple measuring points in the area, in order to obtain multiple values take from this parameter in the measurement method including the following steps: construction of at least on projective magnitude; and establishment of the at least one projective magnitude on the values extracting in order to obtain an estimated value of a parameter proportional to a sensitivity within the multiple estimated points of the area, allowing the tracking of the object to take place.

Abstract: A system for tracking movable crane components to assist maneuvering the crane within a jobsite includes a computing device having a processor which calculates a 3D geospatial location and orientation of a 3D coordinate system for an upperworks that has an origin chosen along an axis of rotation between the upperworks and a lowerworks. The processor calculates a 3D position of the origin of the upperworks based on local coordinates and transforms the 3D position of the origin of the upperworks from the local coordinates to global 3D coordinates using absolute position sensing data from first and second positioning sensors attached to the crane (for instance on the upperworks and the hook, respectively) and using global 3D coordinates specific to the jobsite where the crane is located. The upperworks 3D coordinate system is useable to determine line segments in the upperworks 3D coordinate system for various movable components.

Abstract: A manipulable aid which is separate and distinct from the probe of a CMM permits a CMM operator to more directly interact with a CMM measurement volume to align a workpiece, configure a measurement path, and/or program a dimensional metrology application.

Abstract: A method for obtaining and analyzing information objects including generating, collecting or discovering information objects. The information objects are signified at least in part using deliberately ambiguated signifier prompts, for example, linear scale opposing negatives or positives, and/or multi-dimensional signifier prompts. The information objects may comprise text or non-text fragments, and may be generated or selected. The responses to the signifier prompts are stored with the fragments to provide a dataset of signified fragments. The signified fragments may be analyzed based on the signifiers and can be utilized as part of an explorable knowledge repository, or objective measures can be created to aid in mass opinion capture or human attitude auditing. The fragments may be represented on a graphical template.

Abstract: A longitude/latitude ten-dimension XYZ digital-displaying spectrometer includes an imaging device combined with the digital-displaying spectrometer to work with a Z axis position processing unit and a coordinate processing unit and arranged in information connection with a plurality of displaying elements to allow of calculation of Z0° in horizontal of East, West, South, North, and the circumference with respect to the horizontal level of the compass through the combination of the imaging device with the processing units and displaying of the angles through the displaying elements, so as to provide an improvement of precise reading of the angles in the ten dimensions.

Abstract: In a method for 3D digitization of an object (1), a plurality of camera images of the object are recorded and assembled to determine the 3D coordinates of the object. To improve such method, pictures are taken from the object (1), from which 2D feature points (11, 12, 13; 21, 22, 23) of the object (1) are determined. The 3D coordinates of the 2D feature points are determined. The 2D point correspondences (32, 32, 22) between the 2D feature points of a picture and the 2D feature points of another picture are determined. Several of these 2D point correspondences are selected, and an associated 3D transformation is determined. The quality of this 3D transformation is determined with reference to the transformed 3D coordinates of the 2D feature points. Valid 3D feature points are determined therefrom. For assembling the camera images of the object (1), the 3D coordinates of the valid 3D feature points are used.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for uniquely identifying wireless devices in close physical proximity are described. When two wireless devices are brought into close proximity, one of the devices displays an optical indicator, such as a light pattern. This device then sends messages to other devices which are within wireless range to cause them to use any light sensor to detect a signal. In an embodiment, the light sensor is a camera and the detected signal is an image captured by the camera. Each device then sends data identifying what was detected back to the device displaying the pattern. By analyzing this data, the first device can determine which other device detected the indicator that it displayed and therefore determine that this device is within close physical proximity. In an example, the first device is an interactive surface arranged to identify the wireless addresses of devices which are placed on the surface.

Abstract: A person location detecting apparatus according to the present invention includes a light emitting section for radiating a projection light and a TOF method distance image sensor for receiving a reflected light from a room space of the projection light to output distance information in accordance with a distance to an object in the room space from each of a plurality of light receiving sections, and further includes a distance change detecting section for detecting a distance change to the object in the room space based on the distance information from the TOF method distance image sensor and a person distinguishing section for distinguishing a person by specifying a shape of a detected distance change area to detect a direction and distance to the distance change area that is specified as a shape of a person as a location of a person.

Abstract: From a sequence of images captured by an image pickup unit, images necessary for measuring placement information regarding markers and/or a sensor are automatically determined and obtained. To this end, using position and orientation information regarding the image pickup unit at the time the image pickup unit has captured an obtained image and placement information regarding detected markers, whether to use the captured image corresponding to the position and orientation is determined. Using the captured image determined to be used, the marker placement information, placement information regarding a measurement target, or the position and orientation of the image pickup unit serving as an unknown parameter is obtained so as to minimize the error between the measured image coordinates and theoretical image coordinates of each marker, which are estimated on the basis of a rough value of the parameter.

Abstract: A method is provided for tracking an object's position. One or more semiconductor-based sensors obtain measurements of an energy field associated with the object. A processor applies an algorithm to the measurements to generate one or more values representing a position of the object in a coordinate system. The energy field may comprise a magnetic field, for example. The object may comprise a magnet, for example.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptide fragments which have one or more shared and/or similar amino acid sequences to amino acid sequences of specific portions of the 14 kDa protein of S. mansoni (Sm14) or related FABPs (Fatty Acid Binding Proteins), the peptide fragments functioning as continuous or discontinuous epitopic regions of the molecule or mimicking its biological activity. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for constructing active peptide fragments, peptide fragments, immunogenic composition and diagnostic kit using peptide fragments.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to interacting with a target object using an imaging device of a handheld mobile device.

Abstract: A magnetic navigation system senses the three-dimensional magnetic fields of the Earth and compares them with a model of the Earth's magnetic fields. An initial guess as to system location is corrected toward the actual location by accessing magnetic amplitude from library pages in response to corrected location. Error detectors determine amplitude error, which is processed with magnetic gradient information from gradient models to generate the new attitude and location correction values. The correction values are subtracted from the guess to generate the new updated location. The system iterates to continually tend toward the actual location.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide not only a technical solution for calibrating a positioning device but also a technical solution for characterizing an area of interest in a space. Specifically, there is provided a system, which may include: a tag capable of emitting ranging signals, placed at location points which are selected as space feature points in the space; a positioning device in the space, configured to obtain relative coordinates of the space feature points in relation to the positioning device based on the ranging signals from the tag; and a server, configured to determine location parameters of the positioning device in the space based on said relative coordinates, so as to calibrate the positioning device. The positioning device can be calibrated automatically, fast and accurately using the system.

Abstract: A method, including: determining a line of response for an imaging apparatus, the line of response being defined by respective locations of a pair of detector crystals of the imaging apparatus; defining an array of emission points corresponding to the determined line of response; determining, for each point in the array of emission points corresponding to the line of response, a solid angle subtended by surfaces of the pair of detector crystals that define the line of response; averaging the determined solid angles to generate an average solid angle; determining a depth of interaction factor dependent upon penetration of a gamma ray in the pair of detector crystals of the imaging apparatus; and calculating a geometric corrective factor for the determined line of response by multiplying a reciprocal of the average solid angle by the determined depth of interaction factor.

Abstract: A method of measuring with a coordinate measurement device and a target sensor a sense characteristic and a surface set associated with the sense characteristic, the method including the steps of: providing the target sensor having a body, a first retroreflector, a sensor, and a sensor processor, providing the coordinate measurement device, sending the first beam of light from the coordinate measurement device to the first retroreflector; receiving the second beam of light from the first retroreflector; measuring the orientational set and the translational set, the translational set based at least in part on the second beam of light; determining the surface set; sensing the sense characteristic; and saving the surface set and the sense characteristic.

Abstract: The present invention provides a geographical data collecting device, including a distance measuring unit 5 for projecting a distance measuring light and for measuring a distance to an object to be measured, an image pickup unit 3 for taking an image in a measuring direction, a display unit 6 for displaying an image picked up, a touch panel installed to match a position of screen of the display unit, a tilt sensor 11 for detecting a tilting in a measuring direction, an azimuth sensor 12 for detecting a horizontal angle in the measuring direction, and a control arithmetic unit 8, wherein the control arithmetic unit displays a scale to indicate horizontal and vertical lines on the display unit and controls the scale display so that the scale always indicates the horizontal and the vertical lines in the image based on a result of detection of tilting from the tilt sensor.

Abstract: A method for modeling of an overhead electrical conductor, includes: collecting 3-dimensional location data of the conductor; substantially simultaneous with said collecting, acquiring a thermal measurement of the conductor with a local thermal sensor; and generating a CAD model of the conductor using the collected 3-dimensional location data of the conductor and the thermal measurement of the conductor. The CAD model facilitates thermal line analysis of the conductor, thermal rating of a power line that includes the conductor, clearance analysis relative to the conductor, and vegetation management relative to the conductor.

Abstract: A surgical navigation system for navigating a region of a patient that may include a non-invasive dynamic reference frame and/or fiducial marker, sensor tipped instruments, and isolator circuits. The dynamic reference frame may be placed on the patient in a precise location for guiding the instruments. The dynamic reference frames may be fixedly placed on the patient. Also the dynamic reference frames may be placed to allow generally natural movements of soft tissue relative to the dynamic reference frames. Also methods are provided to determine positions of the dynamic reference frames. Anatomical landmarks may be determined intra-operatively and without access to the anatomical structure.

Abstract: A system for performing alignment of two wafers is disclosed. The system comprises an optical coherence tomography system and a wafer alignment system. The wafer alignment system is configured and disposed to control the relative position of a first wafer and a second wafer.

Abstract: A computing system and method verifies a probe tip of a coordinate measuring machine. The computing system simulates a virtual sphere and calculates coordinates of the center of the virtual sphere. The coordinates of first real contact points of the real sphere is obtained to calculate coordinates of the center of the real sphere and coordinates of the ideal contact points of the real sphere. The computing system obtains coordinates of second real contact points of the real sphere is obtained according to the coordinates of the ideal contact points of the real sphere. The radius of the probe tip is calculated according to the coordinates of second real contact points of the real sphere. The computing system determines if the calculated radius of the probe tip falls in an allowable range.

Abstract: Methods for processing signals from a magnetic user interface device having a manual actuator are disclosed. Movements of the actuator may cause relative movement between one or more magnets and one or more corresponding sensors that may each generate signals representing independent magnetic field components detected within each sensor. A field model may be used in the magnetic user interface device to translate magnetic sensor readings during operation to position information, which may then be converted to output signals for transmission to an electronic computing system representing displacement and/or deformation of the actuator. The output signals may be generated in a predetermined format, such as USB format or other computer-interface formats, that can be interpreted by the electronic computing system.

Abstract: A force feedback method for presenting a force sense to an operator by jetting gas or liquid from a nozzle of jetting means according to a position or an orientation of a receiver is disclosed. In the force feedback method, the receiver is provided with an inclined side surface unit shaped to be inclined, outward from a center part of the receiver, with respect to an axis line of the receiver, and the force feedback method provides a force, to the receiver, including a component perpendicular to a jet direction of the gas or the liquid, by jetting the gas or the liquid to the inclined side surface unit.

Abstract: Adaptive rule-based methods to solve localization problems for ad hoc wireless sensor networks are disclosed. A large problem may be solved as a sequence of very small subproblems, each of which is solved by semidefinite programming relaxation of a geometric optimization model. The subproblems may be generated according to a set of sensor/anchor selection rules and a priority list. The methods scale well and provide improved positioning accuracy. A dynamic version may be used for estimating moving sensors locations in a real-time environment. The method may use dynamic distance measurement updates among sensors, and utilizes subproblem solving for static sensor localization. Methods to deploy sensor localization algorithms in clustered distributed environments are also provided, permitting application to arbitrarily large networks. In addition, the methods may be used to solve sensor localizations in 2D or 3D space. A preprocessor may be used for localization of networks without absolute position information.

Abstract: The method uses a cable measurement and cable positioning or laser projection device to measure a structure to produce a digitized design of the structure and to put the design on a panel by laser pointer projection or by cable positioning so that the panel can be marked and cut for fitting on the structure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention disclose a system and a method for determining a pose of a probe relative to an object by probing the object with the probe, comprising steps of: determining a probability of the pose using Rao-Blackwellized particle filtering, wherein a probability of a location of the pose is represented by a location of each particle, and a probability of an orientation of the pose is represented by a Gaussian distribution over orientation of each particle conditioned on the location of the particle, wherein the determining is performed for each subsequent probing until the probability of the pose concentrates around a particular pose; and estimating the pose of the probe relative to the object based on the particular pose.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light-weight, small and portable ambulatory sensor for measuring and monitoring a person's physical activity. Based on these measurements and computations, the invented system quantifies the subject's physical activity, quantifies the subject's gait, determines his or her risk of falling, and automatically detects falls. The invention combines the features of portability, high autonomy, and real-time computational capacity. High autonomy is achieved by using only accelerometers, which have low power consumption rates as compared with gyroscope-based systems. Accelerometer measurements, however, contain significant amounts of noise, which must be removed before further analysis. The invention therefore uses novel time-frequency filters to denoise the measurements, and in conjunction with biomechanical models of human movement, perform the requisite computations, which may also be done in real time.

Abstract: A machine tool that includes a first part that is moveable relative to a second part. The first part of the machine tool includes a calibration device having at least a first calibration artefact and a second calibration artefact. The second part of the machine tool includes a measurement probe. The method includes the step of using the measurement probe to measure the position of a plurality of points on the surface of each of the first and second calibration artefacts. These measurements are used to establish a position of the first calibration artefact and a position of the second calibration artefact. A reference measurement point is then defined for the calibration device that has a fixed position relative to the established positions of the first and second calibration artefacts. The calibration artefacts may include spheres.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for locating the position, preferably in three dimensions, of a sensor by generating magnetic fields which are detected at the sensor. The magnetic fields are generated from a plurality of locations and, in one embodiment of the invention, enable both the orientation and location of a single coil sensor to be determined. The present invention thus finds application in many areas where the use of prior art sensors comprising two or more mutually perpendicular coils is inappropriate.

Abstract: The method uses a location device and a timing element to determine the location of a protection device at various periods of time. During these periods of time, the human may be participating in a variety of activities and positions.

Abstract: A system is provided for capturing motion of a moving object via a plurality of motion sensor modules placed on various body segments. The sensor modules capture both 3D position and 3D orientation data relating to their respective body segments, thereby gathering motion data having six degrees of freedom with respect to a coordinate system not fixed to the body. Each body sensor collects 3D inertial sensor data and, optionally, magnetic field data. In embodiments, either DSP circuitry within the sensor modules or an external computing device, processes the sensor data to arrive at orientation and position estimates by using an estimation algorithm, such as a Kalman filter or a particle filter. The processing includes biomechanical model constraints that allow flexibility in the joints and provide characteristics for various joint types. To improve estimation accuracy, the system may be integrated with various types of aiding sensors.

Abstract: The invention is related to methods and apparatus that use a visual sensor and dead reckoning sensors to process Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). These techniques can be used in robot navigation. Advantageously, such visual techniques can be used to autonomously generate and update a map. Unlike with laser rangefinders, the visual techniques are economically practical in a wide range of applications and can be used in relatively dynamic environments, such as environments in which people move. One embodiment further advantageously uses multiple particles to maintain multiple hypotheses with respect to localization and mapping. Further advantageously, one embodiment maintains the particles in a relatively computationally-efficient manner, thereby permitting the SLAM processes to be performed in software using relatively inexpensive microprocessor-based computer systems.

Abstract: A virtual model of an intraoral cavity is provided, wherein this process is initialized by a dental clinic, and the design and manufacture of a suitable dental prosthesis for the intraoral cavity is shared between a dental lab and a service center.

Abstract: A system for monitoring an angle of a door is provided comprising: an angle measuring device for measuring an angle of a door and transmitting a signal representing the measured angle; a computer for receiving from the angle measuring device the signal representing the measured angle; and computer software for determining and at least one of displaying and recording the measured angle based on the signal received by the computer.

Abstract: A method and system for magnetic locating resolves phase ambiguity. The system uses time-division multiplexed magnetic fields emitted from plural transmit coils. The magnetic fields are alternating fields at a carrier frequency, and the fields emitted from different coils in different transmit intervals have known phase relationship with one another as, for example where the alternating fields are coherent with one another. A receiver uses a plurality of sensor coils and derives plural components using the common phase reference or plural phase reference times having a known relationship. If the determinant of a matrix of the components has a first value, the phase information in the components is correct, and position and orientation are derived from the components. If the determinant has a second value, the phase information in the components is incorrect.

Abstract: The invention is related to methods and apparatus that use a visual sensor and dead reckoning sensors to process Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). These techniques can be used in robot navigation. Such visual techniques can be used to autonomously generate and update a map. Unlike with laser rangefinders, the visual techniques are practical in a wide range of applications and can be used in relatively dynamic environments, such as environments in which people move. One embodiment further uses multiple particles to maintain multiple hypotheses with respect to localization and mapping. One embodiment maintains the particles, thereby permitting the SLAM processes to be performed in software using microprocessor-based computer systems.

Abstract: A process of mapping piping systems associated with a refinery and petrochemical facilities is disclosed, which maps piping systems, which interconnect facility operating units with other operating units, utilities, distribution facilities and storage units. A system for aiding in the isolation of piping systems, operating units and other facility components is also disclosed. The system includes a search database having representations of the piping systems and its related components. A method of isolating an event within a facility is also disclosed. The method includes identifying the location of an event in the facility, performing a search to identify the impacted piping systems and related components, and identifying measures to isolate the event.

Abstract: The invention is related to methods and apparatus that use a visual sensor and dead reckoning sensors to process Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). These techniques can be used in robot navigation. Such visual techniques can be used to autonomously generate and update a map. Unlike with laser rangefinders, the visual techniques are practical in a wide range of applications and can be used in relatively dynamic environments, such as environments in which people move. One embodiment further uses multiple particles to maintain multiple hypotheses with respect to localization and mapping. One embodiment maintains the particles, thereby permitting the SLAM processes to be performed in software using microprocessor-based computer systems.