2338results about "Container/cavity capacity measurement" patented technology

Various corporate, industry, and regulatory guidelines, best practices and standards are used in establishing acceptable levels of accuracy for volume dimensioning systems used in commerce. A volume dimensioning system can determine at least one distortion value that is indicative of an amount of distortion present in the system and responsive to the amount of distortion, autonomously alter or adjust the units of accuracy of information reported by the system. Such alteration or adjustment of units of accuracy may be performed based on an assessment of the distortion relative to a number of distortion thresholds. Responsive to the assessment, the volume dimensioning system can adjust a unit of accuracy in a representation of volume dimensioning related information.

Volume dimensioning employs techniques to reduce multipath reflection or return of illumination, and hence distortion. Volume dimensioning for any given target object includes a sequence of one or more illuminations and respective detections of returned illumination. A sequence typically includes illumination with at least one initial spatial illumination pattern and with one or more refined spatial illumination patterns. Refined spatial illumination patterns are generated based on previous illumination in order to reduce distortion. The number of refined spatial illumination patterns in a sequence may be fixed, or may vary based on results of prior illumination(s) in the sequence. Refined spatial illumination patterns may avoid illuminating background areas that contribute to distortion. Sometimes, illumination with the initial spatial illumination pattern may produce sufficiently acceptable results, and refined spatial illumination patterns in the sequence omitted.

Method and apparatus for providing a leak detection circuit for data monitoring and management system using the guard trace of a glucose sensor by applying a leak detection test signal to determine whether a leakage current is present is provided. The leak detection circuit may includes an interface circuit such as a capacitor coupled to the guard trace to detect the leakage current when the leak detection test signal is applied to the guard trace, such that the user or patient using the data monitoring and management system such as glucose monitoring systems may be promptly and accurately notified of a failed sensor, and to alert the user to replace the sensor.

A system and method for obtaining a dimension measurement that conforms to a conformance criteria is disclosed. The dimensioning system provides either (i) feedback to confirm that the measurement complies with the criteria or (ii) information on how the measurement geometry could be adjusted in order to provide a compliant measurement in a subsequent dimension measurement.

A method for determining a burst pipe that requires immediate feeding-valve closing using acoustic and/or vibration sensors coupled to the pipe lor detecting signals, a microprocessor for analyzing signals from said sensors in real-time, a memory coupled to said microprocessor for storing data, including digital signatures acoustic and/or vibration signatures, as well as an actuator electrically coupled to said microprocessor and mechanically coupled to said feeding-valve. When the sensor signals match stored leak-signatures or when a persistent sensor signal produces no match, the system of the present invention initiates a valve closing. To improve detection, signals from other sensors, i.e. water sensors, smoke detectors, heat sensors or acoustic/vibration sensors mounted on other pipes are also used. Some of the said systems have IP addresses and can communicate over the Internet or wirelessly with others.

A method for monitoring the health of a system comprises performing at each of a plurality of times the steps of:

constructing a condition signature from a plurality of condition indicators including (a) a plurality of vibration measurements acquired from the system or (b) one or more vibration measurements and one or more performance parameter measurements acquired from the system;

predicting a normal signature from a model defining one or more inter-dependencies between said condition indicators, the normal signature corresponding to the condition signature for a healthy system;

comparing the condition signature with the normal signature; and

registering an event if the condition signature differs from the normal signature by more than a predetermined threshold.

A vibration data collection system performs an integration or differentiation process on incoming digitized vibration data in real time. The system uses a digital Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filter running at the input data rate to provide the integration or differentiation function. With this approach, the system reduces hardware complexity and data storage requirements. Also, the system provides the ability to directly integrate or differentiate stored time waveforms without resorting to FFT processing methods.

A method for determining a preferred operating gradient for use in attaining a life objective for an electrical energy storage device in a hybrid vehicle is disclosed. A present state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device is provided and a life target for the electrical energy storage device is established as a predetermined limit in a predetermined metric at a predetermined state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device. A state-of-life gradient is then determined with respect to the predetermined metric which converges the state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device to the life target.

A system for facilitating pipeline management, software, and methods are provided. The system includes a pipeline company computer positioned at a pipeline company site to define a pipeline company server, having a processor, memory coupled to the processor to store software and database records therein, a graphical display coupled to the processor for displaying graphical images and a user interface coupled to the processor to provide a user access to manipulate the software and database records, and pipeline information management analyzing software to analyze pipeline management requirements. The system also includes an area network in communication with the server, a remote user computer in communication with the area network, positioned remote from the server at remote site, and positioned to access the pipeline information management analyzing software, and a portable user computer adapted to interface with the area network to access the pipeline information management analyzing software to provide the field user access to the server database.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining status of a canister of a topical negative pressure (TNP) system. The method includes the steps of monitoring pressure provided by a pump element of the TNP system, determining at least one characteristic associated with the monitored pressure and determining status of at least one parameter associated with a canister of the TNP system responsive to the determined characteristics.

A method for locating gas leaks from underground gas pipelines in which a first acoustic sensor having a first signal output is positioned in ground disposed substantially above or at a distance from the underground gas pipeline. At least one second acoustic sensor having a second signal output is positioned in the ground at a plurality of locations substantially above the underground gas pipeline. The output signals from the acoustic sensors are measured for each location of the second acoustic sensor and the signals are adaptively filtered to remove common noise signal components. The statistical minima of these rms voltages are determined for both the first output signal and the adaptively filtered second output signals and the differences determined. The location of the second acoustic sensor corresponding to the largest positive said difference is the location closest to the leak site.

A contact sensitive device includes a member capable of supporting bending waves and a plurality of sensors mounted on the member for measuring bending wave vibration in the member. The sensors measure the bending wave signals and by calculating a phase angle for each measured bending wave signal and a phase difference between the phase angles of least two pairs of sensors so that at least two phase differences are calculated, the location of the contact can be determined.

A chatter vibration detection method includes acquiring vibration data of a tool (4) at a time of machining a workpiece at a predetermined sampling period (Δt), calculating an autocorrelation coefficient (Rxx′) corresponding to a time required for a cutting edge (4a, 4b) to contact the workpiece (W) several times based on acquired time series vibration data and calculating a period (Tx) of characteristics of the calculated autocorrelation coefficient (Rxx′), and deciding that chatter vibration occurs when a contact period (T1) at which the cutting edge (4a, 4b) contacts the workpiece (W) is not an integral multiple of the calculated period (Tx).

A flow cytometry apparatus and methods to process information incident to particles or cells entrained in a sheath fluid stream allowing assessment, differentiation, assignment, and separation of such particles or cells even at high rates of speed. A first signal processor individually or in combination with at least one additional signal processor for applying compensation transformation on data from a signal. Compensation transformation can involve complex operations on data from at least one signal to compensate for one or numerous operating parameters. Compensated parameters can be returned to the first signal processor for provide information upon which to define and differentiate particles from one another.

A service provider receives fluid test data generated from multiple different entities and permits authorized users affiliated with the different entities, as well as others, to visualize information associated with that data to via the Internet using graphical computer interfaces at respective computers. The fluid test data can be gathered using portable sensor units equipped with GPS and wireless communication to transmit the fluid test data and geographical information to the service provider.

The present invention provides systems and methods that identify a flow anomaly to an operator or other person by: executing a first device of a plurality of water using devices; receiving flow data on a quantity of water used by the first device during a time period required to generate a first water use signature from the first device; comparing a future water use pattern against the first water use signature to identify a flow anomaly with the first device; and providing information regarding the flow anomaly to the person. Identifying anomalies can be useful in numerous ways, including discovering problems that need fixing, reducing waste, and even calculating appropriate irrigation application rates.

The invention provides a system for leak detection of a fluid in a pipe network. The system includes flow meters, and vibration detectors adapted to be attached to a pipe at a location in the pipe network. A processor analyzes signals generated by the flow meters and vibration detectors to identify the presence of one or more leaks in the pipe network. The invention also provides a method for detecting and localizing leaks in a pipeline network, and a device comprising a flow meter integral with a vibration detector for use in the system of the invention.