Other

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Accusoft Corporation

John Matthew Reynolds

Joseph M Wurts

Eric P Young

Eric D Knutson

Danny Gast

Mathew Curran

Brian Keith Hershberger

Michael Archambault

John M Daly

Methods and apparatus for training neural networks to identify information table partitions are described. Also described are methods and apparatus of using a trained neural network to process an image and provide partition information in an easy to use format. The format of the partition information is one which is simple to interpret, easy to communicate and uses values which facilitate successful training and recognition of partitions in tables whether the partitions be implicitly defined by data arrangement or explicitly define using lines. An image is treated as including a predetermined number of row and column portions. The neural network generates for each predetermined portion a partition present indicator value and a partition location value. The partition present value in some embodiments is a value in the range of 0 to 1 and the partition location value in some embodiments is a value in the range of &#x2212;1 to +1.

Methods and apparatus for detecting partitions in tables and using partition information

Various features relate to processing a scanned image to facilitate accurate locator pattern identification and/or detection of the corner locations of the locator pattern. In some embodiments to facilitate the identification of corner points the scanned image is processed to reduce the effect of noise and/or other damage on the subsequent location identification process. Individual white pixels which have black pixels on four sides are converted to black as part of the processing while multiple white pixels adjacent each other are left unaltered. In some embodiments processing does not alter the color of black pixels. Corner points of the locator pattern are identified through additional processing and identification of line segments satisfying an expected black, white, black, white, black segment portion ratio.

Methods and apparatus for improving QR code locator detectability and/or finding the corners of a locator pattern

Methods and apparatus for efficiently computing vertical run length values corresponding to an image and/or identifying image patterns, e.g., bar codes and QR codes, where binary image data is stored sequentially in memory, e.g., according to a horizontal row by row basis, are described. A set of detected pixel value change location information is initialized for each column of the image and is updated as processing occurs, e.g., recording row numbers in which a pixel value change was detected between the current row and the previous row. Scanning horizontally across each row, the bitmap is processed in a horizontal fashion, the same way bitmap pixels are laid out in memory. In accordance with a feature of various embodiments of the current invention, the order of bitmap accesses is such that the spatial locality of the code is vastly improved, and the cache performance increases in comparison to a traditional approach.

Methods and apparatus for efficiently determining run lengths and identifying patterns

Methods and apparatus for efficiently locating QR code finder patterns and/or code QR alignment patterns in an image are described.

Methods and apparatus for locating target patterns in an image

A punching bag system is provided for determining the position of a punching bag. A punching bag is suspended by a coupling from a stand which permits the punching bag to travel between an up position where it is in contact with a contact area on the stand, and a down position where it is free from contact with the stand. Light-emitting devices and light-receiving devices are radially positioned on the stand between the coupling and the contact area. Light is emitted from the light-emitting devices and reflected into the light-receiving devices when the punching bag is in the up position. The light-receiving devices generate an output proportional to the amount of light received therein which is analyzed to determine if the punching bag is in the up position. A metric is determined based in part on the determined position and is presented by an output device.

Systems for determining the position of a punching bag

A catapult for launching an aircraft is disclosed including a rail assembly having first and second ends. A support structure is provided for supporting the rail assembly above the ground at various upward angles. A container having an open end is releasably mounted on the first end of the rail assembly, the container for mounting the aircraft therein with a portion of the front end of the aircraft extending out of the open end. A device is provided for extracting the aircraft from the container and moving it from the first end to the second end of the rail assembly and release it when reaching the second end.

Miniature aircraft catapult

A parachute system for a miniature aircraft having a storable parachute mounted on an upper surface of the aircraft. The system includes a canopy having a stored condition and an expanded condition. A plurality of suspension lines have first ends connected to the periphery of the canopy and second ends connected to an elastic member. First and second risers are connected by their first ends to the upper surface of the aircraft between the front end and center of gravity on either side of the longitudinal axis and by their second ends to the elastic member. A restraint system releasably restrains the parachute in the stored condition on the top surface of the aircraft; and a release system coupled to the restraint system releases the parachute upon command such that aerodynamic forces will cause the parachute to open.

Parachute assembly for a miniature aircraft

A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft is disclosed that includes a support structure having a motor mounted vertically thereto, with the motor having a propeller for rotation in a horizontal plane. A power supply for the motor is mounted to the support structure below the motor and electrical coupled thereto. A plurality of fins are attached by their first end to the power and extending radially outward therefrom. Vertical posts have there first ends attached to the second end of the fins and extend upward to the plane of rotation of the propeller. A ring is mounted horizontally to the second ends of the plurality of vertical posts surrounding the propeller. The torque produced by the drag of fins as the aircraft rotates in the opposite direction reacting the torque of the propeller equal to the torque of the propeller necessary to achieve hover. The rotational inertia of aircraft is made equal to the rotational inertia of the propeller.

Miniature vertical takeoff and landing aircraft

A payload dispensing system for an aircraft is disclosed that includes a housing mounted to the aircraft. A hollow shaft is mounted to the housing having an open first end and a closed off second end with a hole therethrough. The payload includes an aperture having a first end on an external surface thereof and a second end in the interior therein. A wire cable releasably secures the payload to the housing such that the hollow shaft extends into the aperture of the payload. A compression spring is mounted at least partially within the hollow shaft, having a first end in contact with the second end of the hollow shaft and a second end in contact with the second end of the aperture within the payload, the spring having a compressed position when the hollow shaft is within the aperture in the payload and asserts a force tending to separate the payload from the aircraft. A cable cutter is used to cut the cable to release the payload from the housing, such that the spring forces the payload away from the aircraft and the hollow shaft guides the payload during separation.

Playload dispensing system

Toy aircraft

It has been found that arginine serves to increase the receptivity of cells to lymphokines such as interleukin-2 and interferon. An improved method for treating a mammal with one or more lymphokines is disclosed wherein said improvement comprises administering said one or more lymphokines to said mammal in combination with an amount of arginine effective to increase the receptivity of cells of said mammal to said one or more lymphokines.

Growing community of inventors

Kirkwood, MO, United States of America

John Matthew Reynolds