4801 results about "Reference plane" patented technology

Orientation device for surgical use includes a frame and a level device attached to the frame. The feature may be oriented with a reference such as the Antero Superior Iliac Spine, the acetabulum or the operating table to position the pelvis or the device. The level device is adapted to define a reference plane. The device thus allows precise orientation with respect to the pelvis through use of a reference plane.

A method of fabricating a nitride semiconductor laser comprises preparing a substrate having a plurality of marker structures and a crystalline mass made of a hexagonal gallium nitride semiconductor. The primary and back surfaces of the substrate intersect with a predetermined axis extending in the direction of a c-axis of the hexagonal gallium nitride semiconductor. Each marker structure extends along a reference plane defined by the c-axis and an m-axis of the hexagonal gallium nitride semiconductor. The method comprises cutting the substrate along a cutting plane to form a wafer of hexagonal gallium nitride semiconductor, and the cutting plane intersects with the plurality of the marker structures. The wafer has a plurality of first markers, each of which extends from the primary surface to the back surface of the wafer, and each of the first markers comprises part of each of the marker structures. The primary surface of the wafer is semipolar or nonpolar. The method comprises growing a number of gallium nitride based semiconductor layers for a semiconductor laser. The method comprises cleaving the substrate product at a cleavage plane of the hexagonal gallium nitride semiconductor, after forming a substrate product in an electrode forming step.

The present invention is a laser ranging device that incorporates an internal tilt sensor, an internal temperature sensor, and an internal pressure sensor. The tilt sensor is used to measure the target's vertical angle relative to the horizontal reference plane. Digital signal processing circuitry controls the firing of the laser pulse, calculation of time-of-flight range, measurement of the vertical angle of the tilt sensor, measurement of ambient temperature and storage of tilt sensor and temperature sensor calibration data. The digital signal processing circuitry then provides the user temperature corrected ballistic ranging information, including horizontal range. Additionally, an automatic gain control system minimizes the effects of target to target variance in reflectivity and its associated errors. It is also an object of this invention to electronically minimize errors in the measurement of a vertical angle caused by housing vibration and by temperature variance errors.

A bus system is disclosed for use with switching devices, such as power electronic devices. The system includes generally parallel bus elements that define electrical reference planes, such as for a dc bus. The bus elements are separated from one another by insulative layers, with additional insulative layers being available for separating the system from other circuit components. Portions of the bus elements are extended or exposed to permit connection to the circuit elements, including packaged switching circuits and energy storage or filtering circuits. The bus system may be conformed to a variety of geometric configurations, and substantially reduces parasitic inductance and total loop inductance in the resulting circuitry.

A method for interactively defining a virtual-world space based on real-world objects in a real-world space is disclosed. In one operation, one or more real-world objects in the real-world space is captured to define the virtual-world space. In another operation, one of the real-world objects is identified, the identified object is to be characterized into a virtual-world object. In yet another operation, a user is prompted for user identification of one or more object locations to enable extraction of parameters for real-world object, and the object locations are identified relative to an identifiable reference plane in the real-world space. In another operation, the extracted parameters of the real-world object may be stored in memory. The virtual-world object can then be generated in the virtual world space from the stored extracted parameters of the real-world object.

An apparatus and method for tracking the location of one or more assets, comprising an integrated system that identifies an asset, determines the time the asset is acquired by a conveying vehicle, determines the position, elevation and orientation of the asset at the moment it is acquired, determines the time the asset is deposited by the conveying vehicle, and determines the position, elevation and orientation of the asset at the time the asset is deposited, each position, elevation and orientation being relative to a reference plane. Mobile subsystems, each on a conveying vehicle, identify the location and orientation of that conveying vehicle using an optical position sensor unit viewing an array of optical position markers, determine the identity of the asset from a label, confirm acquisition of the asset, determine the elevation of the asset relative to the reference plane and communicate the tracking information to a fixed-base subsystem.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to mounting electronics and optical systems in head-worn see-through computer displays. In embodiments, a head worn computer includes an optical chassis with a rigid open box structure configured to provide a stable optical mounting reference plane and a plurality of image source reference planes. The head worn computer further includes a first image source mounted on one of the image source reference planes to project first image light through a first hole in the optical mounting reference plane and a second image source mounted on a second of the image source reference planes and configured to project second image light through a second hole in the optical mounting reference plane. An outer frame holds the optical chassis such that, when worn by a user, the first and second image light is aligned with the eyes of the user.

An antenna is provided comprising a pair of driven elements and a pair of passive elements. The driven elements are disposed on opposite sides of a reference plane, and the passive elements are also disposed on opposite sides of the reference plane. One or both passive elements may be provided in a different plane than the driven elements. By varying placement of the passive elements the antenna radiation pattern can be altered. An antenna array is also provided, comprising two or more oppositely directed directional antennas at least one of which is as described above. The passive elements of the antennas can be adjusted for a desired coverage pattern of the array, such as an azimuthal omnidirectional pattern, for example through simulation. The antenna or array may be embodied on a printed circuit board.

A drill pipe having a box end having a tapered thread, and an internal shoulder and an external face for engagement with a drill pipe pin end having a tapered mating thread, and an external shoulder and an external face adapted for data acquisition or transmission. The relative dimensions of the box and pin ends are precisely controlled so that when the tool joint is made up, a repeatable reference plane is established for transmitting power and tuning downhole sensors, transducers, and means for sending and receiving data along the drill string. When the power or data acquisition and transmission means are located in the tool joint, the dimensions of the tool joint are further proportioned to compensate for the loss of cross-sectional area in order maintain the joints ability to sustain nominal makeup torque.

Retractor for insertion in an incision of a patient includes a frame defining a central opening and a reference plane, and at least one blade disposed within the central opening The blade operatively coupled to the frame by a support structure for movement in a first direction generally laterally with the reference plane between an unretracted position and a retracted position, a second direction at an angle extending through and relative to the reference plane for adjustment of the blade depth, and a third direction rotationally relative to the reference plane Additionally, the frame includes a track in mating relationship with the support structure for sliding movement therebetween in a defined relationship relative to the reference plane. Retractor assembly includes the retractor as previously described, in combination with an adjustment tool or an insertion tool.

A smart antenna system includes a plurality of antennas, a plurality of Transmit—Receive Modules (TRMs) coupled respectively to the plurality of antennas, and a beam steering module coupled to the plurality of TRMs and providing radiation beam steering for the plurality of TRMs. The beam steering module includes a pilot generator for generating a pilot signal and providing it to the TRMs to calibrate a receive (RX) reference plane. The pilot signal is injected at a first location before the receiver section into the RX path, and the pilot signal is sampled at a second location after the receiver section. The TRMs and the beam steering module can also be used to calibrate a transmit (TX) reference plane by sampling output signals from the TRMs. The output signals have a pilot signal component, and are sampled at the first location in the TX path after the transmitter section.

A COC DRAM including a plurality of stacked DRAM chips is mounted on a motherboard by using an interposer. The interposer includes a Si unit and a PCB. The Si unit includes a Si substrate and an insulating-layer unit in which wiring is installed. The PCB includes a reference plane for the wiring in the Si unit. The wiring topology between a chip set and the COC DRAM is the same for every signal. Accordingly, a memory system enabling a high-speed operation, low power consumption, and large capacity is provided.

A system and method for detecting and measuring changes in angular position with respect to a reference plane is useful in surgical procedures for orienting various instruments, prosthesis, and implants with respect to anatomical landmarks. One embodiment of the device uses dual orientation devices of a type capable of measuring angular position changes from a reference position. One such device provides information as to changes in position of an anatomical landmark relative to a reference position. The second device provides information as to changes in position of a surgical instrument and / or prosthesis relative to the reference position.

An object of the present invention is to provide a description method for efficiently representing contents of motion picture with a small data volume. The organization of the present invention (1) represents a trajectory of how each object has moved over time by using reference plane representing position information of each object, (2) sets a description unit based on a type of action of each object by using changes in shape of each object, (3) has actions of each object represented as each behavioral section, and (4) comprises a description facility capable of reading and interpreting definition of an object dependent on video contents, definition of classes of actions, and definition of interpretation of a scene by interaction of plural objects.

A device for detecting and measuring a change in angular position with respect to a reference plane is useful in surgical procedures for orienting various instruments, prosthesis, and implants with respect to anatomical landmarks. One embodiment of the device uses three orthogonal rate sensors, along with integrators and averagers, to determine angular position changes using rate of change information. A display provides position changes from a reference position. Various alignment guides are useful with surgical instruments to obtain a reference plane.

An apparatus for generating an overview image of a plurality of images comprises a storage unit and an image processor. The storage unit stores a plurality of processed images of the overview image and is able to provide the overview image containing the plurality of processed images at their assigned positions for displaying. The image processor determines feature points of a new image and compares the determined feature points of the new image with feature points of a stored processed image to identify common feature points and to obtain 3-dimensional positions of the common feature points. Further, the image processor determines common feature points located within a predefined maximum distance of relevance to a reference plane based on the 3-dimensional positions of the common feature points to identify relevant common feature points. Further, the image processor processes the new image by assigning the new image to a position in the overview image based on a comparison of an image information of each relevant common feature point of the new image with an image information of each corresponding relevant common feature point of the stored processed image without considering common feature points located beyond the predefined maximum distance of relevance to the reference plane.

A system and method for detecting and measuring changes in angular position with respect to a reference plane is useful in surgical procedures for orienting various instruments, prosthesis, and implants with respect to anatomical landmarks. One embodiment of the device uses dual orientation devices of a type capable of measuring angular position changes from a reference position. One such device provides information as to changes in position of an anatomical landmark relative to a reference position. The second device provides information as to changes in position of a surgical instrument and / or prosthesis relative to the reference position.

A device for detecting and measuring a change in angular position with respect to a reference plane is useful in surgical procedures for orienting various instruments, prosthesis, and implants with respect to anatomical landmarks. One embodiment of the device uses three orthogonal rate sensors, along with integrators and averagers, to determine angular position changes using rate of change information. A display provides position changes from a reference position. Various alignment guides are useful with surgical instruments to obtain a reference plane.

A diagnostic ultrasound system is provided for automatically displaying multiple planes from a 3-D ultrasound data set. The system comprises a user interface for designating a reference plane, wherein the user interface provides a safe view position option and a restore reference plane option. A processor module maps the reference plane into a 3D ultrasound data set and automatically calculates image planes based on the reference plane for a current view position and a prior view position. A display is provided to selectively display the image planes associated with the current and prior reference planes. Memory stores the prior reference plane in response to selection of the save reference plane option, while the display switches from display of the current reference plane to restore the prior reference plane in response to selection of the restore reference plane option. Optionally, the memory may store coordinates in connection with the current and prior reference planes.

A system and method for determining tibial rotation is disclosed. The system includes a first fiducial, a second fiducial, a position and orientation sensor, a computer, and a monitor. The first fiducial is connected to a first part, and the second fiducial is connected to a second part. The position and orientation sensor tracks the first fiducial and the second fiducial. The computer has a memory, a processor, and an input / output device. The input / output device receives data from the position and orientation sensor. The processor processes the data to identify a first axis of the first part and a second axis of the second part. The processor constructs a reference plane through the second axis and orthogonal to the first axis. The monitor is connected to the input / output device and displays a rendering of the reference plane.

The present invention consists of a technique and device for measuring the thickness variation and shape of wafers or other polished opaque plates. A combination of two improved phase-shifting Fizeau interferometers is used to simultaneously measure the single-sided distance maps between each side of the wafer and the corresponding reference flat, with the thickness variation and shape being calculated from these data. Provisions are made to determine and eliminate the shape and tilt of the reference surfaces, and also to facilitate the correct overlay of the two single-sided measurements for the calculation of thickness variation and shape.

A biometrics system captures and processes a handprint image using a structured light illumination to create a 2D representation equivalent of a rolled inked handprint. The biometrics system includes an enclosure with a scan volume for placement of the hand. A reference plane with a backdrop pattern forms one side of the scan volume. The backdrop pattern is preferably a random noise pattern and the coordinates of the backdrop pattern are predetermined at system provisioning. The biometrics system further includes at least one projection unit for projecting a structured light pattern onto a hand positioned in the scan volume on or in front of the backdrop pattern and at least two cameras for capturing a plurality of images of the hand, wherein each of the plurality of images includes at least a portion of the hand and the backdrop pattern. A processing unit calculates 3D coordinates of the hand from the plurality of images using the predetermined coordinates of the backdrop pattern to align the plurality of images and mapping the 3D coordinates to a 2D flat surface to create a 2D representation equivalent of a rolled inked handprint. The processing unit can also adjust calibration parameters for each hand scan from calculating coordinates of the portion of backdrop pattern in the at least one image and comparing with the predetermined coordinates of the backdrop pattern.

An apparatus for aligning a sighting device mounted on a firearm. The apparatus has a first indicating device adapted to be positioned on a surface of the firearm to determine a rotational position of the firearm relative to a reference plane and a second indicating device adapted to be positioned on a surface of the sighting device to determine a rotational position of the sighting device relative to the reference plane.

An assembly (40) allowing retraction of soft tissue away from a reference plane; the assembly including at least one retracting element (51) each comprising a distal end having a formation allowing anchorage of the at least one retracting element (51). The assembly also includes a proximal end (50) of the at least one retracting element capable of movement through at least one degree of freedom relative to said anchorage.