Abstract: Method and apparatus for vibrometry, gauging, condition monitoring and feedback control of robots, using one or more ultrasonic probes (100) that are non-contact and form a focused beam. The ultrasonic probe is driven by a pulser-receiver (120) controlled by a computer. The probe has a substantially spherical transducer surface (75) that forms the focused beam within a gas or a liquid. The curvature of the transducer surface determines the focal length (25) and the extent of the focal region (50) of the beam. For greatest lateral accuracy, measurements are made within the focal length, where beam is narrowest. Diameter (80) of the probe determines the size of the beam, which can be chosen to satisfy a particular application. The focused beam has acoustic depth of field (85), which is the furthest distance from the probe to a surface (90) that can return a measurable echo to a pulse emitted by the probe.

Abstract: In a method for estimating at least one control parameter of an injection system in an internal combustion engine for a target injection quantity, the estimation of the control parameter is based on linear regression, which is determined between predefined grid points and calculated test points in an operating range of the injection system.

Abstract: Media monitoring and measurement systems and methods are disclosed. Some embodiments of the present invention provide a media measurement system and method that utilizes audience data to enhance content identifications. Some embodiments analyze media player log data to enhance content identification. Other embodiments of the present invention analyze sample sequence data to enhance content identifications. Other embodiments analyze sequence data to enhance content identification and/or to establish channel identification. Yet other embodiments provide a system and method in which sample construction and selection parameters are adjusted based upon identification results. Yet other embodiments provide a method in which play-altering activity of an audience member is deduced from content offset values of identifications corresponding to captured samples.

Abstract: A method for determining the adequacy of the refrigerant charge in an air conditioning system based upon both the instantaneous degree of subcooling present in the liquid refrigerant in the refrigerant line at a location whereat only liquid refrigerant is present and a calculated average subcooling value based upon accumulated instantaneous subcooling values. The adequacy of the refrigerant charge in the system may be indicated by an alert indicating “check charge” or by a series of lights including a first indicator light indicating that the refrigerant charge is low, a second indicator light indicating that the refrigerant charge is high, and a third indicator light indicating that the refrigerant charge is correct.

Abstract: The invention relates bridge structure safety evaluation technology by means of combining vibration measuring and structural model analysis techniques for bridge erosion evaluation and pre-warning monitoring applications. This technology can also be applied for long-term bridge structure monitoring and safety evaluation as well as judgment and evaluation of rail structure abnormality.

Abstract: A system for electronically recording an event that provides mechanical energy to a structure includes the structure and an event sensing and recording node. The event sensing and recording node is mounted on the structure and includes a sensor and a first electronic memory. The sensor includes a device for converting the mechanical energy into an electrical signal. The first electronic memory uses energy derived from the electrical signal for electronically recording the event. All energy for sensing the event and recording the event in the first electronic memory is derived from the mechanical energy.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting sports data are disclosed, which include measuring, at one or more sensor modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on at least one sports participant, data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of the at least one sports participant; broadcasting, from one or more telemetry modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on the at least one sports participant, signals carrying the data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of the at least one sports participant; measuring, at one or more sensor modules mounted, affixed, or embedded in a sports object, data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of the sports object; and broadcasting, from one or more telemetry modules mounted, affixed, or embedded on the sports object, signals carrying the data corresponding to identification, movement, position, or condition of the sports object.

Abstract: Data indicating a sudden change in a bulk modulus of fuel and data indicating a usage state and a usage environment of an injector as of occurrence of an injection abnormality are stored in EEPROM mounted in the injector. Thus, it can be analyzed whether a cause of a defect such as the injection abnormality is use of inferior fuel based on the data related to the bulk modulus. In addition, it can be analyzed whether the cause of the defect such as the injection abnormality is a severe usage state and a severe usage environment based on the data related to the usage state and the usage environment. Thus, the data useful for analyzing the cause of the defect related to the fuel injection can be provided.

Abstract: A medical robotic system comprises a number of components that may be monitored to determine their preventive maintenance needs by recording usage-related information for the monitored components into associated non-volatile memories. When usage of the component exceeds a specified usage threshold, the system displays a warning message on its display screen to have preventive maintenance performed for the component. If the usage continues without such maintenance and exceeds a higher usage threshold, the system displays an error message on its display screen and the system transitions into an error state during which medical procedures are not allowed to be performed. The usage-related information may also be communicated to a remote computer which gathers and processes usage-related information from a number of medical robotic systems to estimate resource requirements for timely performing preventive maintenance on the medical robotic systems, and anticipated service revenues from such maintenance.

Abstract: The present invention is a sample analyzer, comprising: an analyzing section for analyzing a sample; a memory for storing analysis results of the sample by the analyzing section and an event history information indicating an event that occurred in the sample analyzer; an input device used to specify an analysis result from a plurality of analysis results stored in the memory; a display; and a controller for acquiring an event history information related to the analysis result specified by the input device from the memory and controlling the display to show information related to a cause of uncertainty of the specified analysis result based on the acquired event history information.

Abstract: There is provided a system for use in performance of injection molding operations, wherein the system can include a plurality of injection molding assembly components. In one embodiment, the system can be operative so that various information respecting components of the system can be recorded within a component database. The component database can be a computer implemented database and in one embodiment can be utilized to output information that indicates past and/or present conditions prevailing within the system.

Abstract: When a system operator selects a message to be analyzed from among a plurality of messages listed in a state change list displayed on an HMI unit, a monitoring target is identified from the selected message and all other messages that correspond to the same monitoring target are automatically searched. Subsequently, a timeline chart is displayed that represents changes in the operating state specified in the selected message and the found messages.

Abstract: An image processing device in which predetermined image processing is carried out on image data, and the image data that has been processed is saved as processing history information, is provided with: a format determination means that determines whether or not the image data is in a specified document format, and a saving means that, when it is judged that the image data determined by the format determination means is in the specified document format, saves format information of the specified document format together with the image data as the processing history information.

Abstract: An activity monitor that has a sensor for sensing movement, a processor for processing sensed data and a memory, wherein the processor is configured to use the sensed data to determine the number of steps taken for each of a plurality of epochs and to determine a measure of the fraction of each epoch spent stepping, the monitor being configured to record in a long term part of the memory at least two of the number of steps; the measure of the fraction of each epoch spent stepping and a measure of cadence calculated using the number of steps and the fraction of each epoch spent stepping.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diagnostic method for a centrally managed computer system. The method provides central diagnostic expertise regarding central management software used for managing a system. The method further provides for managed software that integrates with the central management software; the managed software includes its own diagnostic expertise. The method further provides for importing the managed diagnostic expertise and combining it with central diagnostic expertise to define collective diagnostic expertise.

Abstract: Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for detecting lightning activity. Waveform data indicative of lightning activity is received by a waveform sensor from one or more signal converters. The waveform data comprises a group of electromagnetic waveforms. The waveform data is filtered by a processor to remove noise frequencies. One or more uncompressed portions of the waveform data are transmitted to a processing server. Digital filter data based on the one or more uncompressed portions of waveform data are received from the processing server. One or more frequencies are removed from the waveform data based on the digital filter data. The waveform data is compressed. The compressing includes selecting one or more points on a waveform, wherein the one or more points are above a predetermined threshold. The compressing includes determining an inflection of the selected points based on a predefined algorithm.

Abstract: A fault isolation method and system includes tailored fault isolators for each grouping of similar data to differentiate between one or several potential faults within any group.

Abstract: A system for endoscope data management of an endoscopic image of a body acquired by an endoscope is provided. An image filing apparatus retrieves the image from the endoscope, and records data of the image and scope ID assigned to the endoscope in association with one another. A washer washes the endoscope. A memory is incorporated in the washer, for storing log information of washing of the endoscope. A data manager retrieves the log information on line with the washer, to record the scope ID and the log information in association with one another. A server device records the data of the image, the scope ID and the log information on line with the image filing apparatus and the data manager. Furthermore, the data manager includes an editor for editing the log information of the washer.

Abstract: A circuit measures a time interval between a first event and a second event. One or more activity inputs receive a respective signal indicating the first and second events. For each activity input, a respective high-speed serial receiver includes a sampling circuit and a deserializer. The sampling circuit generates sample bits from sampling the respective signal at active edges of a clock signal. The deserializer converts the sample bits into a sequence of parallel data words. The sample bits undergo a first change in response to the first event and a second change in response to the second event. An arithmetic circuit receives the sequence of parallel data words from the respective high-speed serial receiver. The arithmetic circuit determines a number of the sample bits between the first and second changes in the sequence of parallel data words. The number measures the time interval between the first and second events.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for capturing and using problem fingerprints in an Information Technology (IT) infrastructure for integrity management. A fingerprint of the transaction topology in an IT infrastructure is automatically captured at various time intervals prior to the occurrence of an event leading to a problem, such as a failure, hard threshold violation, defined transaction violation or user-provided occurrence. The fingerprint provides an indication of the activity and operation of the IT infrastructure immediately preceding the problem event. The captured fingerprint is then used to monitor real-time data in the IT infrastructure operation and activity to look for activity that matches a captured fingerprint to provide an indication of a pending problems before the problems occur.

Abstract: A laser and monitoring system is provided. In another aspect of the present invention, the system includes a laser, pulse shaper and detection device. A further aspect of the present invention employs a femtosecond laser and binary pulse shaping (BPS). Still another aspect of the present invention uses a laser beam pulse, a pulse shaper and a SHG crystal. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a multiphoton intrapulse interference phase scan (hereinafter “MIIPS”) method is used to characterize the spectral phase of femtosecond laser pulses and to correct them. A further aspect of the system of the present invention is employed to monitor environmental chemicals and biological agents, including toxins, explosives, and diseases.

Abstract: Systems, methods and portable devices are provided for interconnecting one or more computing modules within an enclosure together to form an integrated system. A portable device may include a communication interface configured to be removably coupled to each computing module for interconnecting them together to form the integrated system. A portable device may also include memory configured to store an integrated system personality that serves as a point of authority for each computing module of the integrated system. The integrated system personality may include an identifier of the integrated system.

Abstract: A communication end device of a two-way communication system is shown. The device includes an audio signal capture device for capturing local audio to be transmitted to another end device, an audio signal rendering device for playing remote audio received from the other end device, and buffers for buffering the captured and rendered audio signals. The device also includes an audio echo canceller operating to predict echo from the rendered audio signal at a calculated relative offset in the captured audio signal based on an adaptive filter, and subtract the predicted echo from the signal transmitted to the other end device The calculated relative offset that is used by the audio echo canceller for a current signal sample is adjusted if a difference between it and an adjusted relative offset of a preceding sample exceeds a threshold value.

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: Techniques are disclosed for presenting users with dynamic views of process data related to the operations of an industrial system. Data obtained by a SCADA system may be stored in a real-time status database (which reflects the current process data of the industrial system) and a historian database (which archives the process data from the industrial system as it changes over time). A design canvas allows users to compose a dynamic view of the process data obtained by the SCADA system. For example, a user may compose a dynamic view of selected temperatures, pressures, and flow rates obtained by the SCADA system while monitoring the status of a pipeline.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that in an embodiment represent previously-accessed data items as nodes in a tree or trees and display the tree or trees with the access time on an axis. The root node of a tree represents a data item accessed via an address entered by a user while a child node of the tree represents a data item selected from a parent node of the child node. In an embodiment, data items that were displayed in the same window as their parents have different connectors between their associated nodes than do data items that were displayed in different windows from their parents.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for tracking one or more items. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a device for tracking one or more items. The device may include a plurality of sensors for detecting light, temperature, humidity, pressure, and acceleration. The device may also include a memory for storing information received from the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: At least one method, structure and apparatus used to measure tearing resistance of a commercial member. The method includes the use of full-scale testing methods and apparatuses to obtain unloading compliance measurements, which are used to generate a tearing resistance curve that includes the effects of geometry and considers data beyond the yield point of the commercial member. The commercial member may be a pipeline for carrying hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A distributed historian framework is provided where historical data is collected in accordance with an organizational model of a hierarchical system that is distributed across various elements of an enterprise. A directory service operates with the organizational model to enable configuration of historian components within the organization and to enable data to be located within the organization. In one aspect, an industrial automation system is provided. The system includes at least one historian component to archive data within an organization. A common data model then exposes functionality and data of the organization to the historian component.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an authentication unit that authenticates an authorized user; a ticket generating unit that generates a job execution ticket including conditions for allowing execution of a job, a data acquiring unit that outputs the job execution ticket and an acquirement request for data selected by the authorized user who logs in through authentication, to a server device that is connected to a network; and a controller that allows processing of the data under the conditions even after the authorized user logs out, when the data having the job execution ticket attached thereto is received within a predetermined period of time since the log-out.

Abstract: One apparatus embodiment includes an electronic assembly, equipped to sense one or more changes in an environmental condition. The assembly includes a logic circuit coupled to: one or more environmental sensors, memory that provides data storage, and a wireless communicator. The logic circuit is configured to perform time measurement, perform environmental measurement with the one or more environmental sensors, store time-stamped environmental data in the memory, and communicate with particular other electronic assemblies, equipped to sense one or more changes in an environmental condition, via the wireless communicator. The logic circuit is also coupled to a power source that provides power to at least one of the logic circuit and the wireless communicator.

Abstract: This invention intends to reduce a time difference in information collection time as much as possible in a vehicle installed network system for collecting information on distributed positions within a vehicle. According to this invention, information on a measurement result by a sensor (23) at a time point after a previously-defined time elapses since a specified signal transmitted regularly is received is held in a sensor data storage register (49) on a network (21) installed within a vehicle, capable of broadcasting, achieved according to a communication method in which a transmission right is supplied regularly, and the information is transmitted at a time point when the transmission right is obtained on the network (21). In the vehicle installed network system for collecting information on the distributed positions within the vehicle, the time difference in the information collection time can be reduced as much as possible.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for precise event time measurement using high-speed deserializer circuitry. The described embodiments utilize high speed deserializer circuitry to achieve a precision based upon a bit period associated with the operation of the high speed operation of the deserializer circuitry rather than upon slower speed clock periods associated with reference clock signals. In certain embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods receive an event occurrence signal and use deserializer circuitry to sample the event occurrence signal and to produce multi-bit parallel data representing the event occurrence signal. Precise timestamps can then be generated based upon the multi-bit parallel data. Advantageously, the precision of these time measurements is associated with the bit period of the high speed operation of the deserializer circuitry and are not limited to lower speeds at which other circuitry within the system may be operating, for example, based upon a slower reference clock signal.

Abstract: A device and method for use in detecting anomalies in wind turbines is provided. The method includes monitoring data acquired by at least one sensor in a first wind turbine, wherein the data is calculated to produce a value for a predetermined amount of time, monitoring data acquired by at least one sensor in a grouping of wind turbines similar to the first wind turbine, wherein the monitored data corresponds to the monitored data of the first wind turbine and is combined for a predetermined amount of time, and comparing the monitored data of the first wind turbine with the monitored data of the grouping of wind turbines. The method also includes generating a sensor error if the monitored data of the first wind turbine deviates more than a predetermined amount from the monitored data of the grouping of wind turbines, and displaying the results of the comparison of the monitored data.

Abstract: A metric of a system is monitored using a monitoring tool that receives an operation metric and a planned downtime metric that reflects whether the monitored system is currently in a planned downtime, the planned downtime metric received as another one of the multiple metric inputs. The operation metric and the planned downtime metric are combined into a processed operation metric for the monitored system.

Abstract: A method and a device are provided for operating an internal combustion engine which allow for an improved diagnosis of the valve mechanism of cylinders of the internal combustion engine. For this purpose, a variable characteristic of a suction performance of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine is ascertained. The variable characteristic of the suction performance is ascertained as a function of the mass flow flowing into an intake manifold of the internal combustion engine and of a change of the intake manifold pressure during an intake phase of the cylinder.

Abstract: A method to increase the accuracy of the interpolation of railroad mileposts is disclosed. Based upon image data and data provided in customer track charts, reference points are selected along the track, and their location is verified using GPS data. Once verified, the locations of various points between the reference points are determined using mathematical interpolation.

Abstract: The present relates to a device and system for monitoring events over a geographic area performed by means of an apparatus, where the apparatus has an actuator for performing the events. The device comprises a trigger, a geographic location module and a processor. The trigger is adapted to be operationally engaged with the actuator of the apparatus. The trigger generates a confirmation signal upon actuation of the actuator of the apparatus by a user. The geographic location module obtains geographic location information. The processor periodically gathers geographic location information and associates to each confirmation signal a corresponding one of the geographic location information.

Abstract: A method has been found for assessing an aircraft approach to landing on a shipboard landing surface. The method includes a comparison of an identified aircraft performance with the mean or median of a baseline data set. The baseline data set is assembled from a multiplicity of actual approaches to landing data that are selected for relevance and then statistically evaluated. A high data recording rate captures the pilot's control inputs and allows evaluation of the pilot's manual efficiency of input to controls. The method is particularly useful to evaluate performance under conditions in which evaluation by human observation is limited or evaluation against guidelines produces less meaningful results.

Abstract: An manufacturing method that uses synthetic redundancy to optimize equipment reliability, performance, weight, and cost. The manufacturing method identifies critical components, that would ordinarily require a redundant component to meet reliability and safety requirements, and replaces them with a single, non-redundant component. Safety and reliability is maintained by using prognostic health management to replace the non-redundant critical component prior to its failure. Verification techniques are used to ensure reliability requirements are being met.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and software applications for quantifying a target in an experimental sample by collecting and processing initial signal data from the experimental sample and at least two standard control samples containing known target copy numbers. In this regards, the present invention allows the quantification of target copy number in the experimental sample.

Abstract: Systems and methods that facilitate discovery of history data via a locator component associated with a plant embedded historian(s) of an industrial programmer (e.g., a controller device.) Such locator component can further detect micro historians that are distributed on the back plane of an industrial network. The locator component can be part of applications running on a control unit, which can function as a management control center for the industrial network system. A common data model can be employed to expose functionality and data of the organization to the embedded historian component.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining plasma parameters such as plasma electron density ne. The probe apparatus includes an LC resonance probe comprising an inductive element and a capacitive element connected in series. The capacitive element of the probe can be in the form of a parallel plate capacitor, a cylindrical capacitor, a spherical capacitor, or any other suitable capacitor. The configuration of the probe apparatus gives it a characteristic resonance frequency ?R0 which can be determined by a circuit analysis device. When the capacitive element of the probe apparatus is placed in a plasma, the probe exhibits a new resonance frequency ?R, which is different from ?R0 because of the dielectric constant ? of the plasma. The difference in resonance frequencies can be used to determine plasma density ne, where n e = m e ? ? 0 e 2 ? ( ? R 2 - ? R ? ? 0 2 ) .

Abstract: An electronic control unit installed in a vehicle performs diagnosis of plural diagnosis objects based on sensor signals, and stores diagnosis results that indicate abnormality of the diagnosis objects in a DTC storage area only when the DTC storage area does not store data having an initial value. The data in the DTC storage area is, in other words, rewritten to different values from the initial value for allowing storage of DTCs when the electronic control unit determines that all of the diagnosis objects are in a normal condition with no indication of abnormality after performing diagnosis, thereby making it possible to exclusively prevent useless abnormality information detected during a vehicle manufacturing process from being stored in an rewritable non-volatile memory.

Abstract: Described is a technology by which logged events such as in a security event log (e.g., within a defined timeframe) are processed to determine logon times and logoff times, which are then used to determine system usage. Logoff times may correspond to an actual logoff event, a shutdown event, or another login. In one example, logon and logoff times determine the combined times that each user of the system was logged on, e.g., a total session time for each user. Multiple users' times may be combined into a total usage time of all users. Each user's combined session time may be evaluated against the total usage time to determine whether any user is a primary user, e.g., by being logged on more than a threshold percentage of the total usage time. A primary user may be identified, or the system determined to be a shared system without a primary user.

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, method, and computer program product for benchmarking a stream processing system are disclosed. The method comprises generating a plurality of correlated test streams. A semantically related data set is embedded within each of the test streams in the plurality of correlated test streams. The plurality of correlated test streams is provided to at least one stream processing system. A summary is generated for each of the semantically related embedded data sets. A common identifier, which is transparent to the system being tested, is embedded within each stream in the plurality of correlated test streams. The common identifier is extracted from the output data set generated by the stream processing system. At least one of the stored copies of the summaries and the common identifier are compared to an output data set including a set of zero or more correlation results generated by the stream processing system.

Abstract: A method of processing force signals from plural force platforms includes, in a computer, in an initialization process, receiving data distinguishing the plural platforms, monitoring force data signals from each of the plural platforms, and identifying each of the plural platforms to a force platform data process application by a sequence of received above-threshold force data signals. The method further includes, subsequent to the initialization process, processing subsequent force data signals according to the identification of each of the plural force platforms. The distinguishing data can include data retrieved from nonvolatile memory of each of the plural force platforms, such as a platform serial number, calibration data, and platform capacity. A force platform system includes one or more force platforms and force platform signal conditioning circuitry connected to the one or more force platforms.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer inspection device which identifies an operator when an operation is performed and checks if the requested operation is permitted is provided. In a device that has already performed an operator authentication, the operator identification is further carried out when a particular operation is requested. If the operation requested is a permitted one, it is executed even if requested by an operator different from the one previously authenticated. The history of operations and the change history of in-device data are recorded and displayed. The operator authentication is performed only when necessary.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for monitoring a motor vehicle. The system includes a sensor unit for collecting at least one vehicle statistic and a portable device for displaying the vehicle statistics. The portable device requests the vehicle statistics from the sensor unit at regular intervals or in response to a particular event and displays statistics on a built-in display screen. In one embodiment, the portable device may be attached to the keys used to operate the vehicle being monitored.