Documents and other items can be delivered electronically from sender to recipient with a level of trustedness approaching or exceeding that provided by a personal document courier. A trusted electronic go-between can validate, witness and/or archive transactions while, in some cases, actively participating in or directing the transaction. Printed or imaged documents can be marked using handwritten signature images, seal images, electronic fingerprinting, watermarking, and/or steganography. Electronic commercial transactions and transmissions take place in a reliable, “trusted” virtual distribution environment that provides significant efficiency and cost savings benefits to users in addition to providing an extremely high degree of confidence and trustedness. The systems and techniques have many uses including but not limited to secure document delivery, execution of legal documents, and electronic data interchange (EDI).

Trusted and secure techniques, systems and methods for item delivery and execution

The invention provides a method for providing human input to a computer which allows a user to interact with a display connected to the computer. The method includes the steps of placing a first target on a first portion of the user's body, using an electro-optical sensing means, sensing data related to the location of the first target and data related to the location of a second portion of the user's body, the first and second portions of the user's body being movable relative to each other, providing an output of the electro-optical sensing means to the input of the computer, determining the location of the first target and the location of the second portion of the user's body, and varying the output of the computer to the display based upon the determined locations for contemporaneous viewing by the user.

Method for providing human input to a computer

Disclosed are new methods and apparatus particularly suited for applications in a vehicle, to provide a wide range of information, and the safe input of data to a computer controlling the vehicle subsystems or “Telematic” communication using for example GM's “ONSTAR” or cellular based data sources. Preferred embodiments utilize new programmable forms of tactile touch screens and displays employing tactile physical selection or adjustment means which utilize direct optical data input. A revolutionary form of dashboard or instrument panel results which is stylistically attractive, lower in cost, customizable by the user, programmable in both the tactile and visual sense, and with the potential of enhancing interior safety and vehicle operation. Non-automotive applications of the invention are also disclosed, for example means for general computer input using touch screens and home automation systems.

Programmable tactile touch screen displays and man-machine interfaces for improved vehicle instrumentation and telematics

PURPOSE: To develop a superconducting magnetic resonance (MR) imager that provides direct access to the patient and permits interactive MR-guided interventional procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 0.5-T superconducting magnet that allows a region of vertical access to the patient was designed and constructed. This magnet was integrated with newly designed shielded gradient coils, flexible surface coils, and nonmagnetic displays and with position-monitoring probes and device-tracking instrumentation. RESULTS: The magnet homogeneity was 12.3 ppm, and the gradient field was linear to within 1% over an imaging region 30 cm in diameter. The signal-to-noise ratio was 10% higher than in a comparable 0.5-T superconducting imager. Images were obtained in several anatomic regions with use of routine pulse sequences. Interactive image plane selection and near real-time imaging, with use of fast gradient-recalled echo sequences, were demonstrated at a rate of one image every 1.5 seconds. CONCLUSION: MR-guided interv...

Superconducting open-configuration MR imaging system for image-guided therapy.

Disclosed are methods and apparatus, which enable the reconfigurable control of vehicles, homes, computers and other applications. Physical controls and virtual displayed controls on single and multipoint touch screens are used, separately or in combination to enable higher visibility and understanding of control information and easier operation of controls, particularly useful in stressful situations. Some embodiments use optical sensors and rear projection of displayed embodiments, and are advantageous where curved screens are desired such as in a car.

Control systems employing novel physical controls and touch screens

A method of electroslag refining of metal is taught. The method starts with the introduction of unrefined metal into an electroslag refining process in which the unrefined metal is first melted at the upper surface of the refining slag. The molten metal in the form if droplets is refined as it passes through the molten slag. The refined metal droplets are collected in a cold hearth apparatus having a skull of refined metal formed on the surface of the cold hearth and protecting the cold hearth from the leaching action of the refined molten metal. A cold finger bottom pour spout is formed at the bottom of the cold hearth to permit dispensing of molten refined metal from the cold hearth. The rate of flow of molten metal through the cold finger apparatus is controlled by controlling the rate of melting of the unrefined metal; by controlling the hydrostatic head of molten metal and salt above the bottom pour cold finger orifice; by controlling the rate of induction heat supplied to the metal within the cold finger apparatus; by controlling the rate of heat removal from the metal within the cold finger apparatus through the cold finger apparatus itself and through adjacent gas cooling means; and by applying force to slow down and/or interrupt the flow of metal through the cold finger apparatus.

Method and apparatus for flow control in electroslag refining process

A melt guide is provided for enclosing a bottom of an electroslag refining crucible containing a melt of electroslag refined metal. A base plate is sized to have a perimeter to engage the crucible bottom for attachment thereto. The base plate includes an upper surface for defining with the crucible a reservoir for receiving the melt, and a lower surface spaced therebelow. A central drain extends through the base plate for draining by gravity the melt from the reservoir. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart slots extend radially outwardly from the drain toward the base plate perimeter and extend vertically through the base plate. Induction heating coils are mounted below the base plate lower surface for heating the melt through the slots. The base plate may take various forms including a flat plate, with or without a cooperating and removable insert.

Electroslag apparatus and guide

A method of electroslag refining of metal is taught. The method includes the introduction of unrefined metal into an electroslag refining process in which the unrefined metal is first melted at the upper surface of the refining slag. The molten metal is refined as it passes through the molten slag. The refined metal is collected in a cold hearth apparatus having a skull of refined metal formed on the surface of the cold hearth for protecting the cold hearth from the leaching action of the refined molten metal. A cold finger bottom pour spout is formed at the bottom of the cold hearth to permit dispensing of molten refined metal from the cold hearth. The flow rate of molten metal through the cold finger apparatus is controlled by coordinating, among other parameters: the rate of melting of the unrefined metal; the hydrostatic head of molten metal and slag above the bottom pour cold finger orifice; the rate of induction heat supplied to the metal within the cold finger apparatus; the rate of heat removal from the metal within the cold finger apparatus through the cold finger apparatus itself and through adjacent gas cooling means; and by applying electromagnetic force to selectively speed up, slow down and/or interrupt the flow of metal through the cold finger apparatus via an electromagnetic orifice, preferably utilizing a processor, such as a computer.

Methods for flow control in electroslag refining process

A method for the recycling of overspray powder during spray forming is provided. The method involves providing a refining vessel to contain an electroslag refining layer floating on a layer of molten refined metal. An ingot of unrefined metal is lowered into the vessel into contact with the molten electroslag layer. A current is passed through the slag layer to the ingot to cause surface melting at the interface between the ingot and the electroslag layer. As the ingot is surface melted at its point of contact with the slag, droplets of the unrefined metal are formed and these droplets pass down through the slag and are collected in a body of molten refined metal beneath the slag. The refined metal is held within a cold hearth. At the bottom of the cold hearth, a cold finger orifice permits the withdrawal of refined metal from the cold hearth apparatus. The refined metal passes from the cold finger orifice as a stream. The stream is atomized for spray forming into a preform article on a spray collection station having a solid receiving surface for receiving the atomized metal thereon to form the preform article. The powder produced during the atomization which was not deposited on the solid receiving surface of the spray collection station is recycled onto the top of the molten slag in the electroslag refining station.

Methods of recycling oversray powder during spray forming

Method for joining wires using low resistivity joints is provided. More specifically, methods of joining one or more wires having superconductive filaments, such as magnesium diboride filaments, are provided. The wires are joined by a low resistivity joint to form wires of a desired length for applications, such in medical imaging applications.

Robert John Zabala

Papers

Method and apparatus for flow control in electroslag refining process

Electroslag apparatus and guide

Methods for flow control in electroslag refining process

Methods of recycling oversray powder during spray forming

Low resistivity joints for joining wires and methods for making the same