48results about How to "Facilitate manipulation" patented technology

A system and method for adding vector textures to images may employ a unified vector representation for images and textures based on extensions to diffusion curve representations, along with tools to facilitate the draping of texture maps over an image. This vector representation may support user-configurable parameters that allow artists to design and manipulate complex textures at a high-level, and to deform them directly in two-dimensional images. The vector representation may provide material descriptors and visual cues of three-dimensional shape in two-dimensional images. It may facilitate the creation of lighting and shading effects in such images. The system may include tools to manipulate the configurable parameters to create texels, to distribute texels in a texture map, to automatically generate new texture elements, to generate 2.5D surface approximations of two-dimensional images based on diffusible normal attributes, and/or to apply a texture by mapping or projecting it onto such 2.5D surface approximations.

A method an apparatus for manipulating particles (micro, nano, and pico) having one or more characteristics with an optical trap formed by modulating a laser beam with a Diffractive Optical Element (DOE). At least one characteristic of the material is selected; and a laser beam having a selected wavelength corresponding to the at least one selected characteristic of the material is generated. Values of the DOE are calculated corresponding to the at least one selected characteristic of the material. The beam and the DOE are modulated to produce a holographic optical trap having properties corresponding to the at least one selected characteristic; the trap is focused to a beam focus or selected spot size; and the beam focus is located near a particle location for trapping the particle therein.

Exemplary embodiments of an apparatus can be provided for obtaining portions or samples of tissue from a target region of a biological tissue. One or more needles can be provided that have a small internal diameter, e.g., about 1 mm or less, and the needles can be configured to extract the tissue portions when the needles are inserted into and withdrawn from the tissue. Windows and/or markings can be provided on the wall of the needles to facilitate access to the sample. The needles can be provided in an enclosure, and an actuator can be provided to direct the needles into the tissue and/or withdraw them. A plurality of tissue portions having known relative locations in the target region can be obtained, and extraction of the tissue portions can be well-tolerated by the tissue as compared with conventional punch biopsies or the like.

A generic management definition object, described using a CIM MOF file or an Extensible Markup Language document, can be used to format display panels that are independent of a management console. A generic integration layer is created between the management data and the display and behavior of such data. A transformation engine is used to convert data definitions included in management data to a formatted structure that is stored in a repository. A translation engine renders the formatted structure into graphical user interface constructs that are independent of any particular management console architecture. The transformation and translation engines coordinate a set of processes that facilitate the display and manipulation of the management data object's data model. GUI display panels that support the management model are generated in a console neutral manner so that the same panels are displayed from a variety of management consoles.

ESR microscope systems and methods for examining specimens using both continuous wave and pulsed modes in the 9 to 60 GHz range. The ESR microscope uses an image probe comprising gradient coils in addition to conventional modulation coils (in continuous wave mode) or magnetic field bias coils (in pulse mode), and a resonator constructed from high permittivity material. The systems and methods also involves the use of sample containers that permit the precise placement of samples in relation to the image probe. The microscope uses a microstrip or thin coaxial or dielectric antenna to obtain a high coupling coefficient to the specimen being imaged. The microscope systems provide resolution at the single micron level, and permit the observation of images comprising tens to hundreds of pixels for each of two or three dimensions in a few minutes. Novel stable radicals used as the imaging media are also described.

A vehicle wheel axle assembly, including: an axle element that is rotationally stationary about an axial axis; a handle connected to the axle element that may be pivotally articulated relative to the axle element about a pivot axis and between an open position and a closed position; and a frame element with a first frame member to interface with the axle assembly. The handle includes a handle axis extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the pivot axis, a radially projecting lever portion, and a lever axis extending radially outwardly from the pivot axis and along the lever portion. The pivot axis is generally parallel to the lever axis. The axle assembly is secured to the first frame member by means of a threadable engagement. With the handle in the open position, the axle element may be manually manipulated by means of the handle to threadably adjust the threadable engagement.

Database management and security is implemented in a variety of embodiments. In one such embodiment, data sets containing sensitive data elements are analyzed using aliases representing sensitive data elements. In another embodiment, the sensitive data elements are stored in an encrypted form for use from a secure access, while the alias is available for standard access.

The invention provides a construction method of spinosad heterologous expression strain, a spinosad heterologous expression strain obtained by the method and use thereof in preparing spinosad. The method utilizes a plurality of homologous recombination to replace the erythromycin synthetic gene cluster of Saccharopolyspora erythraea with the spinosad synthetic gene cluster and the rhamnose synthetic gene cluster, such that the Saccharopolyspora erythraea produces spinosad.

The invention relates to a multi-layer thermal insulation element for thermally insulating a battery, comprising a first cover layer, a second cover layer and a compressible and/or flexible intermediate layer arranged between the cover layers, said intermediate layer having at least one heat-resistant fiber layer, wherein the fiber layer is formed from a needled nonwoven fabric and/or wherein thecover layers are flexurally weak and the thermal insulation element is overall compressible and flexible.

Systems and methods that facilitate magnetic collection and/or manipulation of individual micropallets are provided. The embodiments provided herein are directed to a new method for collecting micropallets once released from a substrate. It is accomplished by endowing the micropallets with magnetic properties by incorporating ferromagnetic or superparamagnetic nanoparticles into the photoresist material or otherwise incorporating magnetically responsive material into the micropallet structure. The magnetic particles, which posses magnetic qualities, e.g., ferromagnetism, ferrimagnetism, paramagnetism, and are composed of iron, nickel, and/or other magnetic materials, are mixed into the bulk photoresist prior to its use in the fabrication of microstructures. Also covered are other methods of incorporating magnetically-attractable material into the micropallet structure, such as plating of the micropallets with a material that is magnetically responsive, such as nickel. Additionally, the embodiments provided include a “collection probe” that is used to collect the released magnetic micropallets.