Abstract:
An exciter for use with a shaft speed magnetic pickup includes a strip of flexible, stretchable, sheet material having a plurality of magnetic elements attached to it that are uniformly spaced along the strip, enabling the magnetic elements to be attached to the exterior of various diameter rotatable shafts by stretching and fastening the strip about the circumference of the shaft close to the magnetic pickup which generates an electrical pulse signal whenever a magnetic element passes by it. The pulse signal is processed to produce a readout of shaft speed. Two magnetic pickups circumferentially spaced about the shaft closer than the circumferential spacing of the magnetic elements are used to provide signals that can be processed to indicate shaft direction of rotation as well as shaft speed.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the invention provide an interface for simultaneously inputting multiple data parameters for a software application. Generally, a single user input made using the input interface results in multiple data parameters being received by the application. In one embodiment, the input interface may be defined with a plurality of dimensional nodes, where each dimensional node corresponds to a dimension of input that may be specified for the software application using the input interface.
Abstract:
There is provided a method of automatically identifying and characterizing spectral peaks of a spectrum generated by an analytical apparatus and reporting information relating to the spectral peaks to a user, comprising the steps of receiving the spectrum generated by the analytical apparatus; automatically subtracting a baseline from the spectrum so as to generate a baseline-corrected spectrum; automatically detecting and characterizing the spectral peaks in the baseline-corrected spectrum; and reporting at least one item of information relating to each detected and characterized spectral peak to a user. In embodiments, baseline model curve parameters or peak model curve parameters are neither input by nor exposed to the user prior to the reporting step.
Abstract:
Methods are disclosed for automatically analyzing a chromatography/mass spectrometry spectrum characterized by at least a time-related variable, a mass-related variable and an ion-abundance-related variable, comprising the steps of: receiving a portion of the spectrum from a chromatography/mass spectrometry apparatus while the chromatography/mass spectrometry apparatus is concurrently generating another portion of the spectrum; automatically subtracting a baseline from the portion of the spectrum so as to generate a baseline-corrected spectrum portion; automatically determining if at least one spectral peak occurs in the baseline-corrected spectrum portion; and reporting information relating at least to the number of peaks automatically determined in the portion of the chromatography/mass spectrometry spectrum.
Abstract:
The present invention provides nucleic acids, as well as vectors, cells, and plants (including plant parts, seeds, and embryos) containing the nucleic acids. In particular, molecular tools are provided in the form of nucleic acids that encode reverse transcriptases. The invention also features methods for manipulating such nucleic acids. In addition, the invention features methods to introduce nucleic acids containing retroelements or retroelement sequences into cells.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for communicating fixed-length data packets through an intermediate computer network. The method comprises receiving a data packet characterized by a fixed-length packet format, and constructing a remnant packet characterized by the fixed-length packet format, which includes inserting at least a portion of the data packet routing information in the data field of the remnant packet. The method also comprises communicating the remnant packet, receiving the remnant packet and constructing a reconstructed data packet, which includes Inserting data packet routing information obtained from the remnant packet in the address field of the reconstructed packet. The apparatus comprises a communication network node comprising a receiver, transmitter, computer memory and processor for performing the foregoing method steps.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for arbitration among the inputs of a crossbar cell switch. The input cells of the crossbar cell switch are stored at their respective input ports in input queues prior to switching. The first cell of each input queue is known as the Head of Line (HoL) cell. For each set of HoL cells that may be directed to a specific output port, the HoL cell with the largest input port queue size is assigned to be switched during the current switching epoch. The method and apparatus for arbitration allows the crossbar cell switch to operate with smaller input queues, increasing the throughput of the switch and minimizing both the transit delay for the data cells through the switch and the buffer size needed to accommodate input queues.
Abstract:
A method of calibrating a scanning system comprising a machine and a measuring probe, includes the steps of error mapping the system statically and qualifying the stylus tip so that the system will provide accurate measurements, determining the positions of a number of datum points on the surface of an artefact with the probe stylus in contact with the workpiece and at zero deflection normal to the surface, scanning the surface through the datum points at a nominal stylus deflection and at the maximum speed which provides repeatable position measurements to make a second determination of the positions of the datum points, determining the errors attributable to the scanning process by subtracting the positions obtained in the first and second determinations, and storing the error values for correction of subsequent measurements of similar artefacts.
Abstract:
An analogue probe having a stylus with a spherical tip of radius (r) is calibrated using a sphere of known radius (R) mounted on a machine. The stylus tip is driven into the sphere from a plurality of directions (at least 9), each nominally normal to the sphere surface, until the stylus has deflected a predetermined amount. The machine movement is then reversed, and probe (a,b,c) deflection outputs are recorded simultaneously with machine (X,Y,Z) axis positions until the stylus tip leaves the surface. The readings are extrapolated to obtain the (X,Y,Z) readings when the probe radial deflection is zero. The value of (R+r) is determined from these readings along with the position of the sphere center giving a value with zero probe errors. Values of (R+r) are also determined using a pre-selected radial deflection for each of the directions, by converting probe (a,b,c) outputs at that deflection to incremental machine (X,Y,Z) axis values using a trial probe transformation matrix. The differences in (R+r) values from the value obtained by extrapolation are noted as an error in each case, and the trial probe matrix is then optimized until the errors are minimized using the transformation obtained by the calibration, the probe can be error mapped.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to distributed ATM switches for use within an ATM network including processing satellite links. The functionality of the distributed ATM switch is preferably performed at three distinct locations. The first location is at a user earth terminal configured to perform at least one user plane function. The second location is at a network operations center configured to perform at least one control plane function. Finally, the remaining ATM switch functionality is performed within the payload of a processing satellite.