General Electric Company

Globalspec, Inc.

John L Schneiter

Piero Patrone Bonissone

Angel L Ortiz, Jr

Paul Kenneth Houpt

Yu-To Chen

Pratap Shankar Khedkar

Vivek Venugopal Badami

Nelson R Corby, Jr

Glen William Brooksby

Steven Jeffrey Gordon

Joseph Benjamin Ross

Van-Duc Nguyen

George Charles Goodman

Donald Wagner Hamilton

Victor Nzomigni

Walter V Dixon

Faycal Benayad-Cherif

Mark Richard Gaulin

Peter J Campo

Thomas Arthur Brownell

Andrea M Schneiter

Thomas Watkins Lloyd, Jr

In a distributed computer system, such as the World Wide Web portion of the Internet, a first computer requests to a second computer remote from the first computer to search information of at least one entity. The first computer indicates to a search agent associated with the second computer at least one search criterion for the search. The search agent accesses at least one database remote from the first and second computers that stores information of a number of entities, including the at least one entity. The at least one entity is less than all of the plurality of entities with information in the at least one database. A search based on the at least one search criterion is performed by the search agent only on the portion of the database related to the at least one entity. In one embodiment, the first computer is associated with a buyer, the second computer allows access to a Web site of a merchant offering goods and/or services for sale, and the portion of the database relevant to the merchant stores an electronic catalog of the goods and/or services of the merchant.

Database search in distributed computer system on portion of remote database

A non-contact imaging apparatus for examining an object having complex surfaces or shape deformations. The imaging apparatus includes at least one imaging device for obtaining a scanned image of the exterior surfaces of the object being examined. A predetermined reference image) of an ideal model for the object is stored in a memory. An image register is coupled to the imaging device and to the memory containing the reference image of the ideal model for the object. A transformation estimator compares the scanned image to the reference image and provides a transform which maps the scanned image to the reference image and provides a set of registered object data points. One or more filter modules process the registered object data points with a priori information to reduce noise and to further enhance the accuracy and precision of the registration. A gauge estimator is coupled to the filter module. The gauge estimator utilizes the processed and registered object data to determine deformation parameters of the object, which are then displayed to an operator as gauging information.

Non-contact measurement method and apparatus

An automatic train handling controller. In one embodiment, there is disclosed a system and method for tracking a velocity profile in a rail-based transportation system. A fuzzy logic controller is used to ensure that a train simulator complies to the velocity profile over a specified track profile while providing a smooth ride. A safety constraint enforcer is used to minimize sudden slack movements by ensuring that the control action provided by the fuzzy logic controller is kept in compliance with a set of predetermined safety constraints. In a second embodiment, there is an automatic train handling controller that smoothly manages the slack of the couplers while keeping the train within prescribed speed limits over a varying terrain.

Automatic train handling controller

In this invention there is disclosed a system and method for generating a fuel-optimal reference velocity profile for a rail-based transportation handling controller. The fuel-optimal reference velocity profile is used to reduce the amount of fuel consumption. The fuel-optimal reference velocity profile is generated to take into account the speed that a train must travel at in order to satisfy a given schedule, speed constraints that will minimize fuel consumption, and recommended speeds that will prevent train breaks, derailments, cargo damage and violation of safety rules. In this invention, the fuel-optimal reference velocity profile is generated by using a genetic algorithm.

System and method for generating a fuel-optimal reference velocity profile for a rail-based transportation handling controller

An ultrasonic ranging system for providing a distance to a subject signal for use in positioning a movable imaging element support structure with respect to a subject of examination includes a collar assembly disposed around a portion of the imaging element structure disposed towards an imaging region; a plurality of ultrasonic transducers disposed in a sensing pattern around the collar assembly; and an ultrasonic ranging processing unit coupled to the transducers to control processing of ultrasonic ranging signals from the transducers. The transducers are typically disposed in one or more rows on the surface around the circumference of the collar assembly such that the lobes of ultrasonic signals generated provide a desired ranging field.

Ultrasonic ranging system for radiation imager position control

A calibration device for a laser ranging system includes an interferometer assembly and a beam path magnifier assembly which is optically coupled to the interferometer assembly to receive a calibration beam therefrom and to the laser ranging system to receive a laser ranging beam therefrom. The calibration beam and the laser ranging beam enter the beam path magnifier assembly such that they pass along equidistant paths and so that the calibration beam is detected by the interferometer assembly to provide a precise measurement of the distance the calibration beam traveled and the laser ranging beam is detected by the laser ranging system to provide a measurement of the distance traveled by the laser ranging beam along the calibration optical path. Comparison of the two readings provides calibration data for the laser ranging system. The beam path multiplier assembly includes means for varying a folded calibration optical path length to provide a range of calibration beam path lengths. The means for varying the folded calibration optical path length include displaceable optical components disposed such that the folded calibration optical path length is determined by more than two reflections within the beam path magnifier assembly.

Laser ranging system calibration device

A precision non-contact measurement system for determining the diameter of a curved workpiece includes a non-contact range sensor that is disposed along an orthogonal axial path with respect to the axis of rotation of a precision rotary device on which the workpiece to be measured is mounted so as to determine a radius value of the workpiece disposed along the orthogonal path, and a workpiece measurement processor coupled to receive signals from the range sensor and the precision rotary device so as to correlate a plurality of rotational positions of the workpiece with corresponding respective radius values sensed by the range sensor so as to determine the shape and an integrated diameter of the workpiece, that is a diameter measurement determined from rotation of the workpiece through a selected arc of rotation, typically 360.degree.. The non-contact range sensors typically comprise optical sensors such as laser range sensors and light-emitting-diode (LED) type sensors. The precision rotary device commonly comprises a platen on which the workpiece is disposed and a signal generator for generating a signal corresponding to the rotation position of the workpiece throughout 360.degree. of rotation.

Precision non-contact measurement system for curved workpieces

A device for measuring the color of a sample is provided comprising: a camera for transforming received light into electrical signals providing color information, the camera being positioned with respect to the sample to receive at least a portion of any light reflected by the sample; and a signal processor, coupled to the camera, for processing electrical signals produced by the camera to obtain the color information about the sample embedded in the signals.

Imaging color sensor

A system for measuring fluid flow through a plurality of holes in a part, such as an engine combustor part, comprises a hood, including a leak-resistant seal, the seal being capable of receiving or engaging an inner or outer side of the wall of the part; a pump or variable pressure blower coupled to the hood by a fluid flow line; a pressure sensor to measure pressure inside the hood; a controller coupled to the pump or blower to establish a predetermined pressure inside the hood in response to the pressure sensor, and a flow sensor in the fluid flow line to measure the fluid flow rate through the fluid flow line.

Fluid flow measuring system

An apparatus for a variable depth triangulation ranging system, the ranging system including means for emitting a light beam, means for focusing an emitted light beam on an object, and light sensitive means. The present apparatus includes motorized zoom/focus lens means for imaging reflected light onto said light sensitive means, a distance between the zoom lens means and the light sensitive means being substantially fixed when in an operative condition, the light sensitive means being rotatable relative to said zoom lens means, and means for adjustably positioning the light sensitive means and the zoom lens means such that an emitted light beam, a plane axis through the zoom lens means, and an image line through the light sensitive means all intersect at approximately a common point and satisfy the Scheimpflug condition.

Zoom lens for a variable depth range camera

A focus spot size controller for a variable depth triangulation ranging system, the ranging system including apparatus for emitting light beam to be focused onto an object, light sensitive apparatus, lens apparatus for imaging reflected light onto said light sensitive apparatus, and apparatus for calculating system geometry and range from signals received from the light sensitive apparatus. The present invention includes a focus spot size controller for receiving the light beam from the light beam emitting apparatus and for focusing the light beam into a focused spot on an object, the controller positioning the focused spot axially to achieve sufficient focus spot size for imaging.

Focus spot size controller for a variable depth range camera

A laser materials processing apparatus including means for optically and acoustically monitoring the processing and generating a processing signal representative of the processing, means for interpreting the processing signal and generating an interpreted output, and means for controlling the materials processing based upon the interpreted output and by generating a control signal applied to a laser materials processing component.

Method and apparatus for optically/acoustically monitoring laser

An apparatus for a variable depth triangulation ranging system, the ranging system including means for emitting a light beam, means for focusing an emitted light beam on an object, and lens means for imaging reflected light onto an input end of said apparatus. The present apparatus includes an optical fiber bundle, the bundle including an input end and an output end, the bundle input end being disposed so as to intercept transmissions from said lens means, means for scanning, in a time-based manner, the bundle output end, the scanning means being configured to generate a time-based signal indicative of a light signals present at the bundle ouput end, and means for calculating system geometry and range from the time-based signal.

Optical fiber based sensor for a variable depth range camera

A laser materials processing apparatus including means for optically monitoring the processing and generating a processing signal representative of the processing, means for interpreting the processing signal and generating an interpreted output, and means for controlling the materials processing based upon the interpreted output and by generating a control signal applied to a laser materials processing component.

Method and apparatus for optically monitoring laser materials processing

A variable depth triangulation ranging system is reconfigurable in real time in the sense that any two of the three performance measures, standoff distance, depth of field, and range resolution at a point within the depth of field, are selected by the user and the system geometrically reconfigures itself to provide the requested performance. The system is composed of a light beam emitting component such as a laser, a linear photodetector, and an imaging lens component. Any of these components has a fixed location and the other two are movable and positioned so that the Scheimpflug condition to guarantee blur-free imaging of reflected target returns is satisfied; the laser beam, a plane axis through the imaging lens component, and an image line through the photodetector all intersect at a common point. A scanner assembly is added to scan the laser beam along a line and over an area.

Growing community of inventors

Latham, NY, United States of America

John L Schneiter