1097results about How to "Optimization range" patented technology

Embodiments of the invention are concerned with scheduling resources to perform tasks requiring a plurality of capabilities or capabilities and capacities, and has particular application to highly changeable or uncertain environments in which the status and the composition of tasks and/or resources changes frequently. Embodiments provide a method for use in a scheduling process for scheduling allocation of resources to a task, each resource having a plurality of attributes, wherein the task has one or more operational constraints including a required plurality of capabilities, and a performance condition associated therewith. The method comprises: receiving data indicative of a change to the status of the scheduling process; in response to receipt of the status data, reviewing the attributes of individual resources so as to identify combinations of resources able to collectively satisfy said capability requirements of the task; evaluating each identified combination of resources in accordance with a performance algorithm so as to identify an associated performance cost; selecting a combination of resources whose identified performance cost meets the performance condition; and scheduling said task on the basis of said selected combination of resources. In embodiments of this aspect of the invention, changes to resource configurations are effected as part of the scheduling process. These changes can be made dynamically, in response to the occurrence of events that have a bearing on the scheduling process, and involve aggregating resources together so as to create, essentially, a new resource pool from which selection can be made.

The present invention relates to a wireless transmitter comprising a transmitter radio unit working a wireless transmitter comprising a transmitter radio unit working in the millimeter wave frequency band using a directional antenna and a bidirectional radio unit working in a frequency range different from said transmitter radio unit and using an omnidirectional antenna. The invention further relates to a wireless receiver and a wireless relay.

New low-cost CO₂ sorbents are provided that can be used in large-scale gas-solid processes. A new method is provided for making these sorbents that involves treating substrates with an amine and/or an ether so that the amine and/or ether comprise at least 50 wt. percent of the sorbent. The sorbent acts by capturing compounds contained in gaseous fluids via chemisorption and/or physisorption between the unit layers of the substrate's lattice where the polar amine liquids and solids and/or polar ether liquids and solids are located. The method eliminates the need for high surface area supports and polymeric materials for the preparation of CO₂ capture systems, and provides sorbents with absorption capabilities that are independent of the sorbents' surface areas. The sorbents can be regenerated by heating at temperatures in excess of 35° C.

A system and method for real-time multi-view (i.e. not just frontal view) face detection. The system and method uses a sequence of detectors of increasing complexity and face/non-face discriminating thresholds to quickly discard non-faces at the earliest stage possible, thus saving much computation compared to prior art systems. The detector-pyramid architecture for multi-view face detection uses a coarse-to-fine and simple-to-complex scheme. This architecture solves the problem of lengthy processing that precludes real-time face detection effectively and efficiently by discarding most of non-face sub-windows using the simplest possible features at the earliest possible stage. This leads to the first real-time multi-view face detection system which has the accuracy almost as good as the state-of-the-art system yet 270 times faster, allowing real-time performance.

In a wireless LAN (WLAN) a method and system for dynamically assigning a configuration identity to a device being connected to the WLAN is provided. An access point (AP) or other device is plugged into a switch port of an Ethernet switch, and discovers its location and the location of a WLAN management module. The device can then request its configuration identity from the WLAN management module by providing its switch and/or port location. When a device in the WLAN needs to be replaced, the method and system enable dynamic assignment of configuration identity for the new device, to ensure that the configuration and identity of the new device matches that of the device it is replacing.

Signal detection and recognition employees coordinated illumination and capture of images under to facilitate extraction of a signal of interest. Pulsed illumination of different colors facilitates extraction of signals from color channels, as well as improved signal to noise ratio by combining signals of different color channels. The successive pulsing of different color illumination appears white to the user, yet facilitates signal detection, even for lower cost monochrome sensors, as in barcode scanning and other automatic identification equipment.

A system and method for encoding and decoding information by use of radio frequency antennas. The system includes one or more interrogator devices and RFID data tags. The RFID data tags include a plurality of antenna elements which are formed on a substrate or directly on an object. The antenna elements are oriented and have dimensions to provide polarization and phase information, whereby this information represents the encoded information on the RFID tag. The interrogator device scans an area and uses radar imaging technology to create an image of a scanned area. The device receives re-radiated RF signals from the antenna elements on the data tags, whereby the data tags are preferably represented on the image. The re-radiated RF signals preferably include polarization and phase information of each antenna element, whereby the information is utilized using radar signal imaging algorithms to decode the information on the RF data tag.

An electric arc welding system for creating an AC welding arc between an electrode and a workpiece wherein the system comprises a first controller for a first power supply to cause the first power supply to create an AC current between the electrode and workpiece by generating a switch signal or command with polarity reversing switching points in the first controller, with the first controller operated at first welding parameters in response to first power supply specific parameter signals to the first controller. The system has at least one slave controller for operating a slave power supply to create an AC current between the electrode and workpiece by reversing polarity of the AC current at switching points where the slave controller is operated at second welding parameters in response to second power supply specific parameter signals to the slave controller. An information network connected to the first controller and the slave controller and containing digital first and second power supply specific parameter signals for the first controller and the slave controller and a digital interface connects the first controller with the slave controller to control the switching points of said second power supply by the switch signal or command from the first controller.

Embodiments of the invention may include a sensor system and a method used to track the behaviors of targets in an area under surveillance. The invention may include a sensor array located in the area that is capable of sending messages to a user when behavior of a tracked target is determined to be anomalous. In making the determination of anomalous behavior, the sensor system and method may generate and continuously refine a pattern of life model that may examine, for example, the paths a target may take within the sensor array and the end points of the paths taken. The sensor system and method may also incorporate any user defined conditions for anomalous behavior.

Methods for carrying out high temperature reactions such as biomass pyrolysis or gasification using solar energy. The biomass particles are rapidly heated in a solar thermal entrainment reactor. The residence time of the particles in the reactor can be 5 seconds or less. The biomass particles may be directly or indirectly heated depending on the reactor design. Metal oxide particles can be fed into the reactor concurrently with the biomass particles, allowing carbothermic reduction of the metal oxide particles by biomass pyrolysis products. The reduced metal oxide particles can be reacted with steam to produce hydrogen in a subsequent process step.

A birefringent interferometer system is described which uses nematic liquid crystal cells to produce variable optical path differences (OPD) between light of different polarization states that are interfered at a polarizing analyzer. Fixed retarders may also be incorporated to extend the range of OPD. The interferometer provides wide field-of-view, continuously variable path difference over a large range, and an on-board monitor of OPD for ensuring accurate settings of path difference, and hence, an accurate wavelength scale in the spectra produced by the apparatus. The system can further incorporate additional polarizing optics so it responds equally well to light of any incident polarization state without loss of efficiency.

A collision detection and path prediction system (10) adapted for use with a traveling host vehicle (12) having an operator, includes a locator device (20) configured to determine the current position coordinates, and pluralities of trail and immediate dynamic path coordinates of the vehicle (12) and a communicatively coupled traveling remote vehicle (16). The system further includes a preferred controller (36) configured to predict a collision between the two vehicles (12,16) from the coordinates, and determine a plurality of projected path coordinates for the host vehicle (12) relative to the remote vehicle (16) trail coordinates.

An apparatus and method for providing electrical energy to an electrical device by deriving the electrical energy from motion of the device. In one embodiment, the inventive apparatus includes a novel kinetic electrical power generator (KEPG) consisting of an inventive oscillating weight having an internal cavity with a freely movable acceleration element disposed therein, resulting in improved acceleration and oscillation capabilities and lower motion threshold for the weight, a system for converting the weight's oscillating motion into rotational motion, and an electromechanical transducer system for generating electrical energy from the rotational motion. The novel KEPG includes components for modifying the electrical energy for storing and/or feeding the modified electrical energy to the electrical device. Optional components may be included for using the modified electrical energy to recharge one or more rechargeable batteries used in an electric device. Alternate advantageous embodiments of the inventive apparatus include, but are not limited to: a KEPG with multiple inventive oscillating weights to increase velocity and frequency of desirable rotational motion, and a KEPG system utilizing multiple electrically coupled KEPG sub-systems.

Electric aircraft, including in-flight rechargeable electric aircraft, and methods of operating electric aircraft, including methods for recharging electric aircraft in-flight, through the use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) packs flying independent of and in proximity to the electric aircraft.

A resonator device includes a piezoelectric resonator having a detuning layer sequence arranged on the piezoelectric resonator. The detuning layer sequence includes at least a first layer having a high acoustic impedance and a second layer having a low acoustic impedance.

A method of terrain mapping and/or obstacle detection for aircraft, comprising: (a) transmitting a non-scanning beam that illuminates the terrain and/or obstacles; (b) receiving a Doppler shifted signal that is Doppler frequency shifted by an amount dependent on an angle between a line of flight of the aircraft and scatterers that reflect the transmitted beam; (c) determining the angle from the Doppler frequency; (d) determining the range of at least some of said scatterers; and (e) determining the azimuth and elevation of the scatterers.

An exercise device having many advantageous features is described, including the ability to provide a variety of different accessory grips to the user, and the ability to easily mount the device to a wall. One exercise device described is an inelastic resistance device having integral hand grips. The accessory grips are removably attachable to the integral grip of an exercising device, and provide for gripping by the hands, foot or other body parts. The selection of a specific accessory grip allows the user to exercise by specific body parts and provides for a greater number of possible exercises. Accessory grips are attachable to the integral grips, greatly adding to the flexibility of the device. In addition, a novel hand grip is described having a plurality of cords that can be selected for gripping, and a bracket for mounting a door jamb mountable exercise device to a wall is described.