251results about How to "Maximize efficiency" patented technology

An agricultural robot system and method of harvesting, pruning, culling, weeding, measuring and managing of agricultural crops. Uses autonomous and semi-autonomous robot(s) comprising machine-vision using cameras that identify and locate the fruit on each tree, points on a vine to prune, etc., or may be utilized in measuring agricultural parameters or aid in managing agricultural resources. The cameras may be coupled with an arm or other implement to allow views from inside the plant when performing the desired agricultural function. A robot moves through a field first to “map” the plant locations, number and size of fruit and approximate positions of fruit or map the cordons and canes of grape vines. Once the map is complete, a robot or server can create an action plan that a robot may implement. An action plan may comprise operations and data specifying the agricultural function to perform.

A command pattern recognition system based on a virtual keyboard layout combines pattern recognition with a virtual, graphical, or on-screen keyboard to provide a command control method with relative ease of use. The system allows the user conveniently issue commands on pen-based computing or communication devices. The system supports a very large set of commands, including practically all commands needed for any application. By utilizing shortcut definitions it can work with any existing software without any modification. In addition, the system utilizes various techniques to achieve reliable recognition of a very large gesture vocabulary. Further, the system provides feedback and display methods to help the user effectively use and learn command gestures for commands.

A data-driven, hierarchical information search and navigation system and method enable search and navigation of sets of documents or other materials by certain common attributes that characterize the materials. The invention includes several aspects of a data-driven, hierarchical search and navigation system that employs this search and navigation mode. The search and navigation system of the present invention includes features of an navigation interface, a search interface, a knowledge base and a taxonomy definition process and a classification process for generating the knowledge base, a graph-based navigable data structure and method for generating the data structure, World Wide Web-based applications of the system, and methods of implementing the system. Users are able to search or browse a particular collection of documents by selecting desired values for the attributes or by searching the attribute-value pairs. A data-driven, hierarchical information search and navigation system and method enable this navigation mode by associating terms with the materials, defining a set of hierarchical relationships among the terms, providing a guided navigation mechanism based on the relationship between the terms, and providing a search mechanism that can respond to free-text queries with single-term or multi-term interpretations. In another aspect of the invention, implementations of the invention may be scalable through parallel or distributed computation.

An inductive power systems transfers energy by inductively coupling a source coil on a power source to a receiver coil on a power portion of a power adapter. The source current is received in the power adapter and converted to direct current for transmission to a computer system. Wireless communication between a power source and the power adapter is provided. A wireless communication arrangement provides for authentication of devices that are allowed by a source to be powered.

Processes and apparatus for the treatment of product streams from mineral processing operations, including the treatment of tailings which result from oil sand processing operations. The processes and apparatus relate to the recovery of a diluent solvent from bitumen froth tailings and to the thickening of tailings from a bitumen froth stream and a middlings stream resulting from an oil sand extraction process. In one aspect the processes and apparatus relate particularly to the recycling of product streams to maximize process efficiencies. In a second aspect the processes and apparatus relate particularly to the thickening of tailings to produce an underflow component, a clarified overflow component and an unclarified overflow component.

A catheter for use in a patient's heart, especially for mapping a tubular region of the heart, has a catheter body, a deflectable intermediate section and a distal a mapping assembly that has a generally circular portion adapted to sit on or in a tubular region of the heart. A control handle of the catheter allows for single-handed manipulation of various control mechanisms that can deflect the intermediate section and contract the mapping assembly by means of a deflection control assembly and a linear control assembly. The deflection control assembly has a deflection arm and a rocker member. The linear control assembly has a linear control member, an inner rotational member and a cam. A pair of puller members are responsive to the deflection control assembly to bi-directionally deflect the intermediate section. A third puller member is responsive to the linear control assembly to contract the generally circular portion of the mapping assembly.

A distributed parallel computing system actively takes advantage of problem partitioning to balance the computing load among computing resources continually during processing. Variable problem partitions (VPPs) are initially defined as groups of original problem cells (OPCs). VPPs may be redefined and redistributed during execution, if necessary, to optimize performance based on the actual computing agent parameters and costs observed or reported through self-tests. For example, a good rule for efficient execution of a computing problem may be that the time required to perform a computation sequence (iteration) of all OPCs in a VPP should be comparable to the time required to share results via edge OPCs at the VPP collection perimeters. The rules that yield cost-efficient execution may be saved and re-used to generate initial partitionings for subsequent computing problem execution runs.

The present invention is directed to the use of mobile sensors to collect temperature information used to control, inter alia, rail vehicle speed, acceleration, or scheduling.

The present invention provides a photovoltaic device having an active face, an active area on the active face and an operating wavelength range; and a cover element attached to the photovoltaic device and disposed over the active area of the active face of the photovoltaic element, the cover element having an opacity of at least about 25%. The present invention also provides photovoltaic systems, arrays, roofs and methods using such photovoltaic devices. In one embodiment of the invention, the photovoltaic device is a photovoltaic roofing element in which a photovoltaic element is integrated with a roofing substrate.

A method for managing inventory within a supply chain. The method is performed by providing forecasts of demand for items distributed within the supply chain, using the forecasts to establish base stocking levels and reorder points within the supply chain, and using the established base stocking levels and reorder points to position items within the supply chain so as to maximize efficiency and profitability when responding to an order for an item.

A garbage collector that performs collection incrementally in accordance with the train algorithm employs remembered sets to keep track of locations where references to objects in respective car sections were written. The remembered sets are implemented as multi-level hash tables. The entries in the top-level hash table are pointers to constituent hash tables in which entries representing the reference locations are placed. When a constituent hash table becomes full, the collector thins it by allocating a new constituent table, transferring some of the previously full table's entries to the new table, and dividing further reference-location-representing entries among them in accordance with a hash function having an expanded range.

A wireless power receiver receives electrical power via electromagnetic field coupling from a wireless power transmitter. During communication time periods, the power receiver alters the electromagnetic field in a manner that the power transmitter can detect as a string of logic bits in a communication bit stream for sending data to the power transmitter. During pause time periods when data is not being sent to the power transmitter, the power receiver alters the electromagnetic field in a manner that the power transmitter does not detect as a string of logic bits (e.g. at a rate outside a communication frequency band). In some embodiments, a ripple is reduced in a voltage produced by the wireless power receiver from the electromagnetic field during the communication and pause time periods.

The present disclosure describes a dynamic queueing and management system. The system utilizes the desired completion time in determining where to place new orders into the queue of orders to be fulfilled. If the desired completion time changes, the position of the corresponding order is adjusted within the queue. In some embodiments, the desired completion time is determined based on the location of the customer, either within the store or en route to the store. The queueing and management system may also separate the order input function from the order fulfillment and delivery functions. This may optimize each part of the process and allow faster service.

An adaptive analog-to-digital converter (ADC) system (100) includes an automatic gain control (AGC) controller (101) for receiving both in-band and out-of-band signals from a radio frequency (RF) receiver and producing an AGC control signal therefrom. A digital signal processor (DSP) (103) is then used for interpreting the AGC control signal and providing an adjustment signal to an ADC (105). The ADC (105) uses the adjustment signal to dynamically control efficiency of the ADC system 100 by adjusting bit resolution, reference capacitance and bias based upon the RF signal received and desired protocol requirements presented to the AGC controller (101).

An electric generator includes multiple coil sections and switches connected to the multiple coil sections for selectively interconnecting the coil sections in series, or in parallel, or in a series-parallel configuration across first and second power terminals for producing a controlled AC voltage across these power terminals. The electric generator, with its multiple coils and interconnecting switches permitting reconfiguration of the coils, enables systems subjected to widely varying conditions and forces, such as a wave energy converter (WEC), to be operated with increased efficiency. The generator may also include multiple windings which can be selectively interconnected into a wye or a delta configuration to also control the output voltage produced by the generator and increase the efficiency of the power conversion system, particularly at low values of voltage.

Circuitry, which includes a direct current (DC)-DC converter having a first switching power supply is disclosed. The first switching power supply includes a first switching converter, an energy storage element, a first inductive element, which is coupled between the first switching converter and the energy storage element, and a first snubber circuit, which is coupled across the first inductive element. The first switching power supply receives and converts a DC power supply signal to provide a first switching power supply output signal based on a setpoint.

An apparatus and method for generating ions from an aerosol and transferring the ions into a mass analyzer. In the apparatus and method, an aerosol beam is generated, the aerosol beam is directed to a spatial volume outside the mass analyzer, particles in the aerosol beam are ionized to produce the ions, and the ions are collected into the mass analyzer. As such the apparatus includes respectively an aerosol beam generator, an ion source generator, and an ion collector.

A power supply system between a power supply and an electrical load uses a plurality of battery modules which may be different in configuration from one another. The system assesses one or more state variables for each battery module to indicate a health status of the battery module. The variable indicative of the health status typically includes: i) a residual ability of the battery module to accept electric charge, ii) a residual capacity of the battery module to hold electric charge, iii) an internal resistance of the battery module, iv) a conductance of the battery module, v) a capacitance of the battery module, vi) a rate of charge of the battery module, vii) a rate of discharge of the battery module under load, or viii) a rate of self-discharge of the battery module. The system then generates unique charging and discharging criteria for each battery module which is specifically derived from the health status of the battery module.

Novel prosthetic teeth constructed using moldable, micro-filled composite resin, and a novel method for making and bonding the same onto implants in a patient's mouth. The teeth are prepared and seated in the patient's mouth using materials and methods that are known and widely available. The present invention may be applied to any situation in which one or more replacement teeth are required, including full-arch replacement for upper and/or lower teeth.

A method of providing physics data within a game program or simulation using a hardware-based physics processing unit having unique architecture designed to efficiently calculate physics related data.

Several methods are disclosed for the generation of coherent short-wavelength electromagnetic radiation through optical nonlinear frequency mixing means. The invention involves several stages of efficient nonlinear frequency conversion to shift the output of high-power infra-red fiber-lasers into the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV). The described laser source architecture is designed around non-critically phase-matched (NCPM) sum-frequency mixing (SFM) interactions in the nonlinear crystal CLBO. The NCPM interaction is an optimum condition for bulk frequency conversion of cw radiation because it allows tight focusing of the input laser radiation without Poynting vector walk-off, thereby increasing the non-linear drive significantly. The sub-200-nm output wave is generated from SFM of a long-wave IR laser field and a short-wave UV laser field. The long-wave laser beam may be derived directly from a rare-earth-doped fiber laser, whereas the short-wavelength UV beam is provided as the fourth frequency harmonic of a second rare-earth-doped fiber laser system.

Modular program code is comprised of software blocks and software elements. Software modules self-configure to solve computer network problems. Software modules are applied to the organization and management of data objects in databases and in computer networks. The modular program code components self-assemble to solve problems in computer networks in real time using metaheuristics and modeling.

A backlight assembly includes a light guide plate guiding light, one or more light sources disposed on a side of the light guide plate and generating and providing the light to the light guide plate, a housing including a bottom portion and sidewall portions which each extend from the bottom portion, and accommodating the light guide plate and the light sources, and a light source cover. The light source cover includes a flat portion which contacts a top surface of the light guide plate, a height-adjusting portion which extends upward or downward from the flat portion to form a stepped shape and has the light sources installed thereunder, and fixing portions which extend from the height-adjusting portion and are fixed to a corresponding one of the sidewall portions. A centerline of the light sources is aligned with a centerline of the light guide plate.

The present invention discloses a method and a system for computer graphics animation, and in particular a method and a system for intelligent scalable animation with intelligent parallel processing engine and intelligent animation engine. The present invention provides a novel client-server architecture for scalable computer animation particularly adapted to computer animation. The animation tasks are identified as those that scale well and those that do not, and scalable animation tasks are sent to servers while non-scalable tasks are sent to the client. For computing animation tasks at the servers, the present invention provides a novel, intelligent parallel processing distribution engine that distributes the scalable animation tasks among several servers highly efficiently. Furthermore, the present invention provides intelligent animation engine at the scalable animation servers, incorporating intelligent animation algorithms, including AI methodologies such as neural net, genetic algorithm, and optical flow analysis. Scalable client-server animation incorporating AI methodologies is novel.

Disclosed is a power regulator for providing precisely regulated power to a microelectronic device such as a microprocessor. Improved power regulation is accomplished by optimizing the power efficiency of the power regulator. In particular, in a multiphase system, the number of active phases is increased or decreased to achieve optimum power efficiency. The multiphase voltage regulator adapts the operating mode to maximize efficiency as the load current demand of the load device changes by adjusting the number of active phases to maximize efficiency. The total value of current provided by the regulator and the total number of active phases is determined, the total number of active phases is compared with the number of active phases required to provide the total value of current at maximum efficiency; and the number of active phases is adjusted to provide the total value of current at maximum efficiency.

A current sense circuit senses the current at each phase, a summing circuit coupled to the output of the current sense circuit provides the total current value of all the measured phases, a circuit coupled to the output of the summing circuit provides the time averaged total current value to a threshold detecting circuit that determines the number of phases at which the voltage regulator should be operating for maximum efficiency, and a circuit for comparing the number of phases that are operating to the number of phases at which the voltage regulator should be operating adjusts the number of active phases to the number of phases at which the voltage regulator should be operating for maximum efficiency.

Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) reforming converts carbonaceous compounds into a fuel for use in generating electrical power. Energy rich hydrocarbon fuels, such as coal, marine diesel, oils, and hydrocarbon wastes are employed as a feedstock for the ICP, which transforms the feedstock into a fuel that can be used by fuel cells and gas turbines for the production of electricity. The overall efficiency of an ICP-based electrical power system can be increased by providing partial oxidation within the reaction vessel. The partial oxidation conditions consume a small amount of the reformed fuel gas, thereby liberating sufficient thermal energy to reduce the electrical power requirements of the ICP to maintain desired reactor temperatures, and providing an increase in the overall net electrical power production. The integrated power production system can also adjust to meet an increased requirement for process heat and steam by balancing the effect of partial oxidation.

A singlet telescope is provided for reshaping the laser beam to a larger or smaller diameter while maintaining the inherent quality of the beam. Applications for the singlet telescope include intercavity expansion to accommodate the damage thresh-old of various components, expansion of beams to match the size of different wavelengths for final collimation, and shrinking of beams to provide high irradiance for nonlinear processes such as optical parametric oscillation and frequency doubling, with the above applications usually requiring low power magnification or demagnification. Problems involving the utilization of these telescopes over wide temperature ranges and ghost reflections in which a light is reflected back to a pumping laser are minimized with the singlet construction, with the ghost reflections potentially creating damage of components including self-damage or breakdown of air, as well as damage to a Q-switched resonator which causes pre-lasing.

Method for characterizing subterranean formation is described. One method includes: placing a subterranean fluid into a well extending into at least a portion of the subterranean formation to induce one or more fractures; measuring pressure response via one or more pressure sensors installed in the subterranean formation; and determining a physical feature of the one or more fractures.

A protector for smartphones includes a cover located on the entire front face of a smartphone and constructed to have the same width as an LCD screen of the smartphone, the cover having through holes for exposing touch buttons and a speaker of the smartphone to the outside; and a main body made of a soft synthetic resin with flexibility, the main body having a space for accommodating the back of the smartphone, a retaining portion for fastening an outer edge of the cover located on the front face of the smartphone, and a through hole formed on a rear face thereof for exposing a camera of the smartphone to the outside.

The priority sequence in a control of adjusting the drive power with respect to a vehicle drive power request is set in the sequence of: (1) an engine output increase, (2) a motor output increase, and (3) a gear speed change in a gear ratio increasing direction. More specifically, a gear speed of a least gear ratio is selected within such a range that an engine revolution speed higher than or equal to a predetermined lower limit revolution speed is attainable. A requested drive power is achieved singly by an engine output with the gear speed selected. When the requested drive power is not achievable singly by the engine output, the requested drive power is achieved by the engine output and a motor output. When the requested drive power is not achievable by the engine output and the motor output, the gear speed is changed in a gear ratio increasing direction.