Abstract: A method and a system for determining a heating point and a heating line in steel plate bending place a virtual wooden pattern on a virtual steel plate; roll the wooden pattern or steel plate along a frame line from a reference position to contact the wooden pattern and steel plate at two points A, B on the steel plate and C, D on the wooden pattern; roll the wooden pattern or steel plate in the reverse direction for return to the reference position; obtain straight lines U, V connecting the contact points A, B and C, D, respectively; determine a heating point relative to a reference point based on an intersection point of the straight lines U, V; repeat the same steps while contacting the contact points A, C on a reference point side to use their contact point as a new reference point, to determine respective heating points along a specific line up to the end of the steel plate; draw straight lines from a certain heating point on a certain line to heating points on other lines based on the determined heating

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for measuring a door sealing gap of a vehicle in which a coordinate system is generated using reflectors and laser beams, and wherein 3D CAD data is trace-rotated using the coordinate system to measure a sealing gap for weather-stripping between a door panel and a side-out panel, in order to optimally facilitate weather-stripping design and placement to properly seal a door to a vehicle body when it is closed.

Abstract: A multi-trace geometric attribute of a regularly gridded surface is calculated at multiple scales, wherein, first, a window size is selected. Next, a set of the grid points is defined defining grid cells of the selected window size. Next, the geometric attribute is calculated using the traces at the set of the grid points. Next, the above selecting and calculating steps are repeated for sets of the grid points defining grid cells of different window sizes. Finally, the window size is determined whose calculations best represent the geometric attribute.

Abstract: A method and a system for determining a heating point and a heating line in steel plate bending place a virtual wooden pattern on a virtual steel plate; roll the wooden pattern or steel plate along a frame line from a reference position to contact the wooden pattern and steel plate at two points A, B on the steel plate and C, D on the wooden pattern; roll the wooden pattern or steel plate in the reverse direction for return to the reference position; obtain straight lines U, V connecting the contact points A, B and C, D, respectively; determine a heating point relative to a reference point based on an intersection point of the straight lines U, V; repeat the same steps while contacting the contact points A, C on a reference point side to use their contact point as a new reference point, to determine respective heating points along a specific line up to the end of the steel plate; draw straight lines from a certain heating point on a certain line to heating points on other lines based on the determined heating

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the position and classification of an object and which may provide signals that control deployment of an active restraint device, for example. Using a pulsed laser light beam from a laser source that is spread and preferably diffused to avoid ocular damage, an interference pattern is returned to a sensing module through a spectral filter. There it is optionally combined with a reference beam from the laser source, modified to emulate coherence length effects, and incident upon a phase transmission holographic template that may be segmented into regions for example. Each region of the holographic template contains Fourier transform images of occupant types. Behind the holographic template is a detector array that is sensitive to the laser light. An interference pattern derived from the object is convoluted or cross-correlated with the template. When an match occurs, a bright spot appears on the detector array.

Abstract: In a seedling-interval regulation apparatus, the transport interval between two adjacent seedlings successively transported by a variable speed conveyer is calculated by measuring a distance over which the preceding seedling is transported between a point in time when the preceding seedling is detected by a seedling sensor and a point in time when the succeeding seedling is detected by the seedling sensor. The calculated transport interval between the seedlings is compared with the planting interval. When the calculated transport interval coincides with the planting interval, the transport speed of the variable speed conveyer is maintained.

Abstract: A method and system for determining canopy coverage to a golf green to assist in increasing sunlight exposure of the green. The system allows users to enter data regarding the golf green, surrounding foliage, and other topographical and man-made features surrounding the green. The system can then plot the sun's path for a specific date and simulate shadows cast on the green by the surrounding foliage and features. Furthermore, the system allows the user to generate what-if data, allowing projected effects on canopy coverage to be viewed before any modifications to the canopy are carried out.

Abstract: A method for recognizing circular features and determining the true centers of the circular features calculates a fitted circle that has a radius within a small range of the known radius of a known model. This method recognizes circular contact features on electronic components such as bumps on a flip chip and pads on a substrate and other visually similar applications and employs an algorithm which is unaffected by circular feature damage, artifact illuminations or traces connecting pads and contact bumps which create distortions that typically result in inaccuracies in determining the true center of the circular feature when using conventional center of mass or “centroid” algorithms. The method for filtering out the distortions includes determining the distance from the centroid of the circular contact feature to the boundary as a function of angle. Determining the boundary data in this manner creates a signature which provides a one dimensional representation of a two dimensional boundary.

Abstract: A method for determining warp potential of wood. One embodiment comprises nondestructively obtaining lengthwise shrinkage rates and grain angles of wood—such as trees, logs, or lumber—then determining warp potential of the wood based on the lengthwise shrinkage rates and grain angles. The method typically comprises measuring plural lengthwise shrinkage rates and plural grain angles to determine warp potential. Where the wood comprises lumber, lengthwise shrinkage rate and grain angle measurements typically are made on at least one major planar surface of the lumber at at least two measuring points separated by a predetermined distance, such as at substantially one-foot intervals along the lumber. Particular embodiments of the present invention determine lengthwise shrinkage rates using electromagnetic energy, acoustic energy, and combinations thereof. Working embodiments of the method use ultrasound energy to determine lengthwise shrinkage rates and grain angles.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring geometry elements, which can achieve a high-speed processing with improved operability. A distribution of sample points, which are obtained by a three-dimensional coordinate measuring machine, is examined to classify into zero through third degrees. A geometry element, or an object to be measured, is discriminated on the basis of the distribution of the sample points (zero through third degrees) and the number of the sample points. When the number of the sample points is equal to 2 or more and the distribution of the sample points is of the second degree, the geometry element can be discriminated as a plane or a circle in consideration of the probe moving direction. When the number of the sample points is equal to 6 or more, the geometry element can be discriminated as a cylinder or a circular cone on the basis of calculation of a half vertical angle of a circular cone that is specified from the sample points.

Abstract: The custom-made footwear manufacturing system and method using Internet may rapidly and simply realize the footwear comfortable and suitable for a customer.

Abstract: A process and arrangement for measuring taper threads on a coordinate measurement device are disclosed. The device is outfitted with a table adjustable in the X, Y and Z coordinates for receiving a specimen provided with the taper thread and which also comprises a feeler probe which is held at a spring clip with a measurement sleeve and at which a sensing is arranged. A calibration of the feeler probe is initially carried out. After the calibration, the sensing element is brought into contact with different thread flanks one after the other for the purpose of measuring the taper thread. The measurement values so determined are stored in an evaluating unit and the characteristic values and fundamental quantities of the taper thread are calculated on the basis of the stored measurement values.

Abstract: The present invention relates to wafer alignment. A reticle is employed which includes, a design and first and second alignment marks. The second alignment mark is symmetric to the first alignment mark such that a reticle center point is a midpoint of the first and second alignment marks. The first alignment mark is printed on a surface layer of the wafer. The second alignment mark is printed on the surface layer at an offset from the first alignment mark. A virtual alignment mark is determined, the virtual alignment mark being a midpoint of the printed first and second alignment marks. The virtual alignment mark is employed to facilitate aligning the wafer. The symmetric relationship between the first and second alignment mark results in the negation of print errors of the marks due to reticle rotation and/or lens magnification with respect to the virtual alignment mark. The employment of the virtual alignment mark in wafer alignment substantially facilitates mitigation of overlay error.

Abstract: When the user inputs at least four points that designates the path on the surface of a three-dimensional shape represented by three-dimensional shape data, groups of three points in which two points are commonly included in two groups are formed from the input points. Each group of three points defines a plane including the three points. The line of intersection of each plane and the surface of the three-dimensional shape is obtained to calculate lengths of the line of intersection between the adjacent two points of the three points in each of the groups. Two lengths between the two points that are commonly included in two groups along two different lines of intersection are obtained for one length of the path between the two points. As a result, the average of the two lengths is estimated as the length of the path between the two points. The total length of the path is obtained according to the estimated lengths and lengths along lines of intersection.

Abstract: A scanning device for determining the shape of irregular substantially cylindrical objects. Lines of light are projected onto the surface of the object. The position of the images of the lines on the surface are measured at predetermined positions to obtain a three dimensional profile of the object. The device can be incorporated into a log cutting system and the position of the log can be adjusted based on the profile determination to obtain maximum yield from the log.

Abstract: A system and method for assembling a fuel tank is disclosed. A measuring device is mounted on a carriage on which at least one machine tool (e.g., saw, router) is also mounted. This carriage is operatively interconnected with a computer and may be longitudinally moved between a headstock and tailstock which are longitudinally displaced and on which various subassemblies of the fuel tank may be mounted during the assembly of a given fuel tank. Length measurements are preferably made of each fuel tank subassembly prior to any machining operation being executed thereon, as well as after each such machining operation, by monitoring/knowing the longitudinal position of the carriage via the measuring device. These length measurements may be automatically recorded on an appropriate computer-readable storage medium in relation to the subject fuel tank subassembly and the subject fuel tank.

Abstract: A system is provided for determining an eccentricity vector &egr; which defines the magnitude and direction of an initial placement displaced from a desired location of a centroid O of a right quadrilateral semiconductor wafer which may be clear or opaque. With an initial point of reference desirably established on its peripheral edge for detection by an edge sensor, the wafer is rotated about a point P and a curve defining the profile of the peripheral edge is obtained. The eccentricity vector is computed from the sensed positions of the corners of the wafer and has a magnitude representative of the spatial dislocation of the centroid O relative to the point P and having an orientation &phgr; representative of the angle subtended by a first line connecting the point P and the centroid O relative to a second line connecting opposite corners of the wafer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically measuring the diameter of a part. A part to be measured is rotated through a plurality of measurement positions by an angle of rotation. A measuring device measures the radial distance from a surface point at each position of the part to the center thereof for each angle of rotation. The distance is calculated between successive points on the surface as a function of the measured radial distance of successive points along the surface and the angle of rotation between the measured points. A plurality of the distances as taken through a complete rotation of the rotational device is summed together to provide a circumference measurement of the part. A diameter measurement of the part is achieved by dividing the circumference by &pgr;.

Abstract: A process and device for automaticaly posting virtually and item of mail wherein the item of mail is deposited on a handling surface and images of the item of are processed by an electronic camera.

Abstract: The present method of processing spectral data calculates the first to fourth derivative spectra of an original spectrum with respect to the wavenumber and creates a two-dimensional representation by plotting coordinates consisting of the derivative values of some order as their abscissas and the original spectral values or derivative values of another order different from that order as their ordinates. In this two-dimensional plotting, maximal points, minimal points, maximal slope points (inflection points) and the like are clearly represented, so that a great amount of accurate feature information about the analyzed object can be easily obtained.

Abstract: A light scattering Mueller matrix for an irregular particle placed on a plane interface is derived using the process of the present invention. The relationships discovered in this derivation are unique because they are independent of the particle shape, and only depend on the substrate refractive index (which is known), the wavelength and angle of incidence of the incident light (also known), and the approximate size of the scatterer (unknown). All that is required to estimate the size of the contaminant is to vary the scatterer size parameter until the model calculations of the light scattering Mueller matrix elements match the experimentally measured light scattering Mueller matrix elements. The probe of the present invention may be used as follows. First, the polarization state of the scattered light can be determined by measuring the Mueller matrix or Jones elements. Next, a "best fit" is made between these elements and the model.

Abstract: A probe coordinate system driving apparatus in which, in a coordinate measuring machine, a probe can be driven in a direction in conformity with the position of the probe to thereby facilitate probe driving operation through joy stick operation. There is provided a probe head capable of freely changing the probe position through setting elevation angle .alpha. and angle of traverse .beta., and unit direction vectors representing the axes of a probe coordinate system in conformity with the probe position are obtained on the basis of the angles set. Vectors obtained from the scalar product of three electric signals output from a joy stick operating unit through the operation by the operator and the three unit direction vectors are synthesized to calculate a drive vector, and the driving of the coordinate measuring machine is controlled in accordance with this drive vector.

Abstract: A sheet metal processing system is provided that includes a first sheet metal processing machine, a first sheet metal processing machine terminal for controlling the operations of the first sheet metal processing machine, a first measuring apparatus for measuring the dimensions of a product or part processed by the first sheet metal processing machine, a second sheet metal processing machine, a second sheet metal processing machine terminal for controlling the operations of the second sheet metal processing machine, and a second measuring apparatus for measuring the dimensions of a product or part processed by the second sheet metal processing machine. Each terminal includes a display apparatus for displaying the sites of the part to be measured by each measuring apparatus. Each measuring apparatus includes a transmitter for transmitting the measured dimensions of the part to a receiver provided in each terminal.

Abstract: An axisymmetric figure shaping device including an input unit for receiving input of a figure formed including a curve and a data processing unit for shaping an input figure to be precisely symmetric with respect to a predetermined axis of symmetry, the data processing unit including a characteristic point calculating unit for calculating, from a coordinate point sequence of a figure input through the input unit, coordinates of each vertex, and maximal points and minimal points in the horizontal and the vertical directions of the input figure and taking them as characteristic points of the input figure, a candidate axis of symmetry calculating unit for calculating a candidate axis of symmetry for use in the decision of symmetry based on calculated characteristic points, a symmetry decision unit for deciding about symmetry of an input figure with respect to a calculated candidate axis of symmetry, and a shaping unit for shaping, when a decision is made that an input figure has symmetry with respect to a candid

Abstract: An electronic measuring apparatus having a plurality of measuring modes. Each one of the plurality of measuring modes is selectively set to perform a corresponding operation. The electronic measuring apparatus includes a plurality of operational buttons. Information which associates one of the plurality of operational buttons with one of the plurality of measuring modes is stored in a memory. It is then distinguished which one of the plurality of operational buttons has been operated. Information stored in the memory, which associates the distinguished one of the plurality of operational buttons with the one of the plurality of measuring modes is searched and an operation unique to the one of the plurality of measuring modes which is associated with the distinguished one of the plurality of operational buttons is performed.

Abstract: A method for measuring dishing in discs, including the steps of irradiating a laser beam along a scanning line which spirals from an inner side to an outer side of a surface of a magneto-optical disc or a digital video disc; determining a tilt angle at each of a plurality of measurement points on the scanning line based on displacement of a reflected laser beam from a normal reflected position; and using a measurement point on a first circuit on the inner side of the scanning line as a reference to determine dishing amounts at corresponding measurement points on circuits after the first circuit based on the tilt angles.

Abstract: In apparatus and method for measuring a displacement of an object to be measured, a magnitude of the displacement is derived on the basis of a difference in periods of a phase modulated signal and a reference signal, a ratio between the periods of a basic clock and of an interpolation clock which is varied according to the magnitude of the displacement, a clock signal whose period is a multiplication of a period of the basic clock by the ratio as a multiplier, a pulse train signal is created whose number of pulses are given by the magnitude of the displacement and supplied to an A/B phase converter.

Abstract: A shape measuring apparatus includes a partial surface measuring device for dividing a surface to be measured having a three-dimensional shape into a plurality of partial regions having mutually overlapped regions and measuring surface shapes of the plurality of partial regions. Movement mechanisms for respectively determining positional attitudes of the partial regions and the partial surface measuring device are also includes, along with a measurement controller for roughly joining measured data on the surface shapes of the partial regions to one another, based on the positional attitudes. Thereafter, fitting of the measured data on the surface shape of the other partial region to the measured data on the surface shape of one partial region in the overlapped regions is performed only in the direction of the substantial normal to the surface of each overlapped region so as to join adjacent the partial regions to one another.

Abstract: A telemetric spacial data recorder for the elaboration of a floor plan is described herein. The telemetric spacial data recorder includes a base module, a remote module, a hand held module and a data acquisition device. The distances between (a) the base module and the remote module, (b) the remote module and the hand held module and (c) the hand held module and a target point of a physical object are measured by electronic distance measuring devices. Similarly, the angle relations between, (i) the base module and the remote module, (ii) the remote module and the hand held module and (iii) the hand held module and the target point of a physical object are measured by electronic angle measuring devices. The measurement devices are linked to the data acquisition device which makes a geometrical construction to determine the relative spacial position of the target point of the physical surface with respect to the spacial position of the base module.

Abstract: A three dimensional imaging method and device including a ranging sensor that is used to produce a series of profiles of a target surface. The profiles comprise one set of profiles nearly parallel to each other and a further such set of nearly parallel profiles, with the profiles of one set extending at an angle to those of the other set to generate a large number of profile crossings. At the location of each crossing the shortest distance between the profiles is detected and represents an energy contribution between this pair of profiles. An energy function is defined as the sum of the energy contributions of all the crossings. Using a known mathematical model, the profiles are then reoriented relative to each other in such a manner as to minimise this total energy. This process can be repeated for higher precision. The finally reoriented profiles can be used to define the desired three-dimensional shape of the target surface.

Abstract: A modular coating thickness gauge includes a probe which generates a signal representative of coating thickness, a PCMCIA card connected to the probe for converting the signal into a standard PCMCIA output format, and a portable computing unit for receiving the signal via the PCMCIA card. The gauge allows the on-site user to alternately record coating thickness measurement data and descriptive textual or graphical data relating to each coating thickness measurement.

Abstract: A system for acquiring and displaying which represents a two-dimensional array of data in an intuitive graphical display, where the graphical display is controlled through a plurality of display interfaces. Specifically, the system acquires data representing a phenomenon such as a plasma, processes that data and displays the data, in real-time, in one of a number of user selectable graphical formats. The data, once acquired, can be further processed by editing, filtering and smoothing. Such processed data can then be "replayed" such that a user can compare various sets of data acquired under various test scenarios. Additionally, the system is used to control and optimize a plasma within plasma generating equipment.

Abstract: The front end position of the leads of a leaded part can be accurately detected even from image data having a noise signal mixed therein.

Abstract: A computer-controlled device for determining relative yarn hairiness. Yarn is moved past a light source to create a yarn shadow, and an imaging device captures the yarn shadow. The imaging device includes a number of separate, closely-spaced light sensing elements, each with an output level related to the amount of light shining on the element. A selected sensing element output level is established as indicative that an element is blocked by the yarn. The width of a number of closely-spaced portions of the yarn is determined, at two different selected sensing elements output levels, to distinguish the yarn hairs from the yarn core.

Abstract: A master transmitter couples to first and second slave units through a bus. The slave units provide outputs to the bus related to first and second pressures of a process. The bus provides power to the units and carries signals. The master transmitter is adapted to couple to a two-wire process control loop which wholly powers the system.

Abstract: A CAD apparatus includes an input device, a central processing unit, and a display device. In the CAD apparatus, the central processing unit uses an intersection/contact point calculation function to determine diagrammatical elements of points, lines, and circles which are additional elements by using the points, the lines, and the circles as fundamental elements in plotting and inputting necessary parameters to the input device, so that a macro-diagram is formed on a screen of the display device, with a diagram-forming process being performed by accumulation of constraint conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for determining, in a first speed mode of operation, speed and range of a moving object and, in a second survey mode of operation, determining direct distances to an object and automatically calculate horizontal and vertical component distances to the object. Also disclosed is a system and method for data entry and retroactive reconstruction of the relative position of features and objects, in particular with respect to scenes such as transitory occurrences, utilizing a signal transmitting and receiving speed, distance and tilt angle determining apparatus or device. In a particular embodiment, the apparatus disclosed has especial applicability to tactical situation use by law enforcement personnel and the system and method in the on-scene recordation and subsequent ex post facto reconstruction of crime and traffic accident scenes by law enforcement officers.