2635results about How to "Improve simplicity" patented technology

A test apparatus having a base which performs a plurality of tests for different analytes in body fluids. A portable tester, such as a glucose meter, is detachably mounted to the base and provides a convenient and ergonomic hand-held instrument which a diabetic may carry to frequently monitor blood glucose levels. When mounted or docked to the base, the portable tester is data linked to the base. The invention provides a communications network among the base, the portable tester and another device such as a PC. The portable tester can therefore be kept small and inexpensive since advanced computing and data storage capabilities are provided in the base or a PC.

The present invention relates to a retrievable medical filter which can be placed in a blood vessel or other body passage. The filter has improved structural features for enhancing its performance, including deployment, filtration and position stability at the desired site, as well as retrievability. The filter may preferably have a hook structure that provides multiple retrieval surfaces, or may be provided with anchors for removably retaining the filter in position. A filter may be designed with one end being customized for retrieval and the other end being customized for position retention, in which case a cartridge may be provided to ensure proper orientation of the filter during delivery.

Systems and methods for 2D image and spatial data capture for 3D stereo imaging are disclosed. The system utilizes a cinematography camera and at least one reference or “witness” camera spaced apart from the cinematography camera at a distance much greater that the interocular separation to capture 2D images over an overlapping volume associated with a scene having one or more objects. The captured image date is post-processed to create a depth map, and a point cloud is created form the depth map. The robustness of the depth map and the point cloud allows for dual virtual cameras to be placed substantially arbitrarily in the resulting virtual 3D space, which greatly simplifies the addition of computer-generated graphics, animation and other special effects in cinemagraphic post-processing.

An improved moisture management system for installation over doors and windows in buildings that included exterior, stucco-covered, curtain walls comprising an integrally formed, three sided, elongated track including a base, an upright front wall that includes at its base weep holes for the removal of entrained moisture as well as a longitudinal forward extending finish stop above the weep holes, and an upright rear wall at opposing elongated edges of the base, and, extending angularly downward from the outside of the base, and integrally formed therewith, a drip plate that permits ready drainage of water exiting the moisture management system through the weep holes in the upright front wall. Preferably, elongated striations in the front faces of both the front and rear upright walls as well as holes in the upright front wall above the finish stop provide improved adherence of sealants and adhesives used in the installation process.

A communication apparatus that shares precise return channel uplink timing information includes a common symbol timing reference and one or more control stations that each transmit independent asynchronous DVB data streams which evenly share the common symbol timing. The control stations each include respective delay trackers to determine broadcast transmission delays associated with the particular control station and transmission path. Each broadcast data stream includes the same non real-time frame marker and a transmission delay message particular to the respective control station. A remote receiver receives one of the broadcast streams and timestamps the non real-time frame marker with a local time of receipt. A timing recovery circuit determines an upcoming return channel frame start time by adjusting the local time of receipt by the particular broadcast transmission delay and a unique receiver offset time. A local transmitter subsequently uplinks a TDMA message in a predetermined time-slot after the return channel frame start time. The method for transmitting a frame synchronized message includes receiving a non real-time frame reference marker in a receiver, timestamping the received frame reference marker with a reception time, and subsequently receiving a control node timing differential at the receiver. The local reception time of the non real-time frame marker is corrected to determine the proper return channel frame transmit start time by applying the control node timing differential and the local offset time. Users then uplink a message during an assigned period after the return channel frame transmit start time.

Described herein are apparatuses, systems and methods for configuring and managing the combination of strings of photovoltaic energy generators to improve the energy production performance of such generators. The strings of photovoltaic energy generators are connected to terminals in a combiner box having receptacles for receiving removable modular units of various types. Removable modular units with measurement capabilities are used in the combiner boxes to measure the direct current input provided by the strings; and in light of the measurements, the removable modular units can be selectively downgraded to simpler units that do not have measurement capabilities to reduce cost, and / or selectively upgraded to more sophisticated units that can adjust the output of the respective strings, such as upconverting the output voltage of the respective strings, to improve the performance of the strings.

A method for controlling an in-flight entertainment (IFE) system using network protocols, such as TCP / IP, HTTP, or FTP. Control of a plurality of functions, including in-seat and broadcast audio and video, overhead reading light control, and flight attendant call, are implemented using a network client, a network server, and a network server program, each communicating with network protocols. The network client may be visible or invisible to a user of the in-flight entertainment system, depending on whether a web browser or a virtual web browser is used as a network client. The software for each line replaceable unit (LRU) may be designed, redesigned, or tested independently from other components within the IFE system. Particular functions of the IFE system can be made available only to particular parts of the IFE system, allowing different levels of access to the IFE system for different passenger classes.

The present invention relates to devices and methods for the measurement and / or for the specification of the perceptual intensity of a visual image, or the perceptual distance between a pair of images. Grayscale test and reference images are processed to produce test and reference luminance images. A luminance filter function is convolved with the reference luminance image to produce a local mean luminance reference image. Test and reference contrast images are produced from the local mean luminance reference image and the test and reference luminance images respectively, followed by application of a contrast sensitivity filter. The resulting images are combined according to mathematical prescriptions to produce a Just Noticeable Difference, JND value, indicative of a Spatial Standard Observer, SSO. Some embodiments include masking functions, window functions, special treatment for images lying on or near borders and pre-processing of test images.

A method for transferring a digital payment order from a first terminal device to a second terminal device, and for saving the payment order on a payment order server. A payment order request is sent from the first terminal device to the payment order server and, in response, the requested payment order is sent from the payment order server to the first terminal device. The payment order is thereafter transmitted from the first terminal device to the second terminal device, and the payment order is then transferred from the second terminal device to the payment order server to be honored. A message confirming the honoring of the payment order is sent to the second terminal device.

This is a method to carry out safe transactions using programmable mobile telephones. The use of programmable handsets—for example with Java technology—, to which an application is downloaded (e.g. Java application) allows people to carry out safe transactions. The application allows the buyer / seller to carry out the transaction, including the verification, with just one connection. The data that was sent is then encrypted and transmitted via GPRS or any other data transmission protocol, to a transactions server, where the transactions are verified and authorised. The security of the process is provided mainly by the use of up to five non related identification elements, including an access key unique for each user, stored in the mobile handset.

A fulfillment bridge orchestrates various types of fulfillment that fall generally into three categories of fulfillment: CSB platform based automated provisioning; external automated provisioning; and manual workflow provisioning. External automated provisioning is implemented through fulfillment agents. The fulfillment agents can implements self-registration for allowing the fulfillment bridge to understand the capabilities of the fulfillment agent. Examples of such capabilities include, but are not limited to, supported actions and input / output parameters. Adapters of the fulfillment bridge interface with the fulfillment agents and fulfillment scripts that are independently operated with respect to the CSB platform can be use to interface with the fulfillment adapters.

A covered vascular filter can be placed in a blood vessel, for the purpose of intercepting thrombus. The filter may be introduced to a desired site for medical treatment through a catheter which defines a lumen or passage and a distal port or opening. The filter tends to resiliently expand from a compressed shape when it is inside the catheter lumen, to an expanded shape when the filter is pushed from the catheter lumen. A cover or sleeve over those portions of the filter that would otherwise contact the vessel wall tends to reduce pressure on the vessel wall. The sleeve also tends to resist growth of the vessel wall among the elements of the filter, called endothelialization. In other words, the sleeve resists incorporation of the filter elements into the vessel wall, enabling the filter to be retrievable for a longer time. The various features of the present invention may be used singly or in any combination, as desired in a particular vascular filter.

A system and method for determining settings or parameters for a welding-type power source are provided. By presenting an operator with an interface that is positioned along the path of a weld cable and configured to input weld characteristics, an operator is not required to determine electrical parameters for setting a welding-type power source output at the power source. The interface is presented to the operator at a remote welding-type device, such as a wire feeder, a weld robot, a torch, or the like. From the operator-specified weld characteristics, the system and method determine appropriate settings for the power source. In some embodiments, the system and method may automatically set the power source accordingly.

Techniques for automatically installing an application on a device on a network include sending, to a server, data indicating device resources on the device. The device requests a database application from the server. The device downloads from the server an initial customized value for a configuration parameter based on the device resources and the database application. The device also downloads the database application. The device installs the database application with the initial customized value for the configuration parameter.

This invention deals with an advanced Real-time Grid Monitoring System (RTGMS) suitable for both single-phase and three-phase electric power systems. This invention provides an essential signal processing block to be used as a part of complex systems either focused on supervising and diagnosing power systems or devoted to control power processors interacting with the grid. This invention is based on a new algorithm very suitable for real-time characterization of the grid variables under distorted and unbalanced grid conditions. The main characteristic of this invention is the usage of a frequency-locked loop, based on detecting the grid frequency, for synchronizing to the grid variables. It results in a very robust system response in relation to existing technique based on the phase-angle detection since grid frequency is much more stable variable than the grid voltage / current phase-angle, mainly during grid faults. Moreover, the algorithm supporting this invention is very efficient and can be implemented in regular industrial microprocessors. These features make the RTGMS object of this invention ideal to be applied in the control of distributed generation systems (DGS), flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS), power quality conditioners (PQC) and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). In all these systems, the fast and precise real time detection of the voltage and / or current sequence components under grid fault conditions is a crucial matter.

A linear power controller system may be implemented that includes locked-rotor protection circuitry that is primarily assembled using analog circuit components. The locked rotor protection circuitry may be part of a power module in the system. The power module may be a switched power source that includes temperature circuit. A control loop may be established in the system to maintain the voltage across a motor that is driver by the power module. Circuitry for establishing a close loop with a motor may be positioned in a control head in the system or in a power module in the system. Temperature protection circuitry may be integrated into a current source in the power module to provide automatic thermal shutdown of the current source. The linear power module may specifically include analog circuitry that is arranged to establish a control loop with the motor.

A method and apparatus for the evaluation of sleep disorders is disclosed. Two sensors are used to diagnose and usefully characterize abnormal sleep breathing, a sensor of tracheal vibration, and a sensor of axial body position. The two sensors are attached to the patient in locations substantially adjacent to one another. In a preferred embodiment, these two sensors can be physically combined into a single unit, thereby increasing further the simplicity and reliability of attaching the sensors to the patient. The unit is applied to a patient near a tracheal segment, preferably at a suprasternal notch location. The position sensor has two axes of sensitivity that are at angles to each other so that the sensor may determine which of four positions it is in relative to gravity. When attached to the patient, the sensor is oriented so that it may be determined whether the patient is oriented in a supine, prone, left lateral decubitus, or right lateral decubitus position. Data are recorded from both sensors concurrently, preferably over a period of time of several hours, and stored in a recording device, preferably containing a non-volatile memory, so that the data may be reviewed later for diagnosis and characterization.

A stream of process liquid is treated while flowing through in a horizontally elongated chamber having an open top. Longitudinally elongated electrode blades are aligned with the longitudinal dimension of the chamber. An overhead disbursement chamber supplies a sweeping air stream over the open top of the chamber for removing foam and gas reaction by-products. The electrode blades are separated and held at a desired spacing by small portable guides located below and above the blades.

The invention provides an antenna structure and a communication terminal. The antenna structure comprises a first antenna radiator, a second antenna radiator, a matching network, a frequency selectionnetwork and a signal source; the first antenna radiator and the second antenna radiator are coupled through a gap, the end, far away from the gap, of the first antenna radiator is grounded, a feed point is arranged on the first antenna radiator, and the end, far away from the gap, of the second antenna radiator is grounded; the first end of the matching network is connected with the feed point, and the second end of the matching network is connected with the first end of a signal source; the first end of a frequency selection network is connected with the first position of the second antennaradiator, and the second end of the frequency selection network is grounded; the second end of the signal source is grounded. The antenna structure is used for simultaneously generating a first resonance, a second resonance, a third resonance and a fourth resonance. One gap can excite to generate four resonances, more antenna frequency bands can be achieved by one broken gap, the number of brokengaps can be reduced, and meanwhile, the appearance simplicity and the structural strength of the whole machine are improved.

The architecture of a multimedia customer care center (100) is divided into three separate application layers: a contact layer (104), a communications layer (106) and a business layer (108). The contact layer comprises media-specific handlers (200–212) that manage their media-specific resources, connect customer contacts to resources (220) and report events, including status to the communications layer. The communication includes media-independent software (106) that manages shared resources, that tracks, accumulates, and reports events reported by the contact layer, and that directs handling of events by the contact layer according to business information. The business layer includes software (108) that provides an interface to the customer contact center for the business that is served by the center. It manages business services by supplying business information that defines the services and business goals to the communications layer, and generates reports from information accumulated by the communications layer. It effects scheduling and adherence tracking of resources. It also provides workflow control capability or interfaces to pre-existing workflow systems.

A powered dispenser for dispensing individual sheet segments from a continuous roll of sheet material provided with spaced tear lines comprises a powered feed mechanism, a releasable, powered drive mechanism, a powered transfer mechanism, a pair of web sensing sensors, a capacitive sensing system providing automatic sensitivity adjustment, and control circuitry. A dual power supply system provides a mechanical lock-out functionality, and the control system is protected from electrostatic build-up on the surface of the feed roller. The web sensor, and an antenna plate of the capacitive sensing system, are provided on respective printed circuit boards mounted in overlying relation. Utilizing signals received from the pair of web sensors and the capacitive sensing system, the control circuitry senses the presence of a user to activate the powered drive mechanism, and prevents further dispensing of the sheet material until a previously dispensed segment is separated from the roll. The web sensors detection of a leading edge of the sheet material initiates a predetermined interval of sheet material advancement providing a proper placement of successive tear lines. Various approaches may be utilized to accommodate inadvertent sheet “tabbing” scenarios. The web sensors, together with the control circuitry, are also used to detect the depletion, or absence, of a working roll of sheet material, whereupon the control circuitry controls the powered transfer mechanism to automatically transfer the web feed supply from a depleted working roll to a reserve roll. The powered transfer mechanism may include a motor driven transfer bar, or provide motor driven release of a spring biased transfer bar. Another arrangement allows for ready release of a roll core, and drop of the same into an open dispenser cover for removal.

Proposed is a method, implemented in software, for estimating fault state of an apparatus outfitted with sensors. At each execution period the method processes sensor data from the apparatus to obtain a set of parity parameters, which are further used for estimating fault state. The estimation method formulates a convex optimization problem for each fault hypothesis and employs a convex solver to compute fault parameter estimates and fault likelihoods for each fault hypothesis. The highest likelihoods and corresponding parameter estimates are transmitted to a display device or an automated decision and control system. The obtained accurate estimate of fault state can be used to improve safety, performance, or maintenance processes for the apparatus.

The invention discloses a micro instrument terminal based on module joints and used for a minimally invasive surgery robot. The micro instrument terminal comprises a rotary module of a first four-bar mechanism consisting of a module top end part, a module bottom end part, a lower support and first left and right connection pieces, and a rotary module of a second four-bar mechanism consisting of amodule top end part, a rotary connection shaft, an upper support and second left and right connection pieces; two ends of a first steel wire rope are connected with the top surfaces of the module topend parts, and the other two ends of the first steel wire rope are sequentially connected with a first rotary actuating device through the module bottom end part; two ends of a second steel wire ropeare connected with a rotary connecting shaft, and the other two ends of the second steel wire rope are sequentially connected with the first rotary actuating device through the module top end parts and the module bottom end part; and the upper part of the rotary connecting shaft is inserted into the central hole of a rotary rod and is in clearance and running fit with the rotary rod, and the rotary rod is connected with a surgery apparatus. Complex surgery can be more flexibly completed by adopting the device.

A drink mix dispenser includes a reservoir for drink mix and a stopper for the reservoir, all incorporated into a bottle cap. The stopper and reservoir are relatively moveable within the bottle cap, which is in turn secured to a bottle. By simple manipulations like twisting the cap onto a bottle or pushing / pulling a cap attachment, the stopper reveals an aperture within the reservoir for drink mix to be dispensed from. The all inclusive bottle caps may be provided separately from or in combination with reusable drink containers, saving storage space and creating far reduced container waste.

Systems and methods for remotely causing a request for authorization to charge a card, that is otherwise active, to be denied. In one embodiment, an access controller receives a call from a card holder and analyzes ANI and DNIS data received during call setup for the call to select a card account and an action (e.g., turn account OFF) to be taken with respect to the card account. The access controller formulates and sends a message to an account authorization processing system to cause the account authorization processing system to thereafter deny requests for authorization to charge the card account. A subsequent call to the access controller from the same caller (i.e., a same ANI) will reverse account closure and allow card authorization to proceed. Feedback, in the form of an Instant Message (IM), email, or audible signal (busy, ringing) when making the call, may be provided to indicate the success of a change to the state of the account. Embodiments that do not rely on PSTN infrastructure are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a safety cartridge for a medical filter which can be inserted through a percutaneous access point, via a catheter or introducer, and placed in a blood vessel or other body passage. Filters may have features which are not longitudinally symmetrical, such as anchors or barbs which angle toward one end, or a retrieval hook at only one end. Depending on the physician's selection of the access point, the filter may be introduced to a desired site for treatment from opposing directions. However, it is desirable to introduce the filter with the desired alignment (inserting the desired end in first) regardless of where the selected access point is, and accordingly regardless of which direction of approach to the desired site. As a result, it is desirable to provide a safety cartridge. Cartridges hold filters in an initial compressed shape during storage and insertion into the patient. A safety cartridge may have labels and / or indicators corresponding to which approach direction is selected, showing which end of the cartridge, and so which end of the filter inside the cartridge, to insert first into a catheter or introducer. A safety cartridge may have uniquely shaped first and second ends, which match insertion port(s) on a catheter or introducer which correspond to the selected approach direction. Accordingly, the safety cartridge assists proper orientation of the filter during delivery and treatment.