Showing papers on "Data acquisition published in 2002"

Digital detection and fuzzy classification of partial discharge signals

Abstract: This paper deals with digital acquisition, classification and analysis of the stochastic features of random pulse signals generated by partial discharge (PD) phenomena. Focus is made on a new measuring system for the digital acquisition of PD-pulse signals, which operates at a sampling rate high enough to avoid the frequency aliasing, but that provides an amount of PD pulses which enables PD stochastic analysis. A separation and classification method, based on a fuzzy classifier, is developed for the analysis of the acquired PD-pulse shape signals. The result of the fuzzy classification is a cluster of signals homogeneous in terms of stochastic features of PD pulses. The classification efficiency is evaluated resorting to the PD-pulse height and phase distributions analysis. The instrumentation, and the associated classification methodology, are applied to measure and analyze PD data recorded for mica-insulated stator bars and coils, where typical defects, occurring during normal operations, were simulated. It is shown that the proposed procedure enables PD-source identification to solve the identification problems which arise, in particular, when different sources of PD are simultaneously active. In addition fuzzy classification provides an efficient noise-rejection tool.

Method and system for livestock data collection and management

Abstract: An efficient method and apparatus for livestock data collection and management is described to provide quality assurance source verification data and performance tracking for individual animals throughout the production cycle. Individual animal data is efficiently collected, transferred, and shared in a transactional, event-oriented, row-oriented structure with few columns without need for creating relational structures. The BeefLink™ software includes components for data collection and real-time data lookup components; share, switch, route, and interface components; extract, transform, and load components; and report and analyze data components. Embodiments include data acquisition from multiple RFID reader locations; a web-based information system for a beef marketing alliance; value-based procurement, and supply chain management.

The mechatronics handbook

Abstract: Overview of Mechatronics. Physical System Modeling. Sensors and Actuators. Sensors. Actuators. Systems and Controls. Signals and Systems in Mechatronics. Computers and Logic Systems. Software and Data Acquisition.

Auto diagnostic method and device

Abstract: According to the present invention, a vehicle monitoring and maintenance device capable of being connected to a diagnostic port of a vehicle is provided. The monitoring and maintenance device comprises a hand holdable, data acquisition and transfer device. The data acquisition and transfer device includes a first data link connectable to a diagnostic port of a vehicle for retrieving diagnostic data from the vehicle; and a second data link connectable to a global computer network communicable device. The data acquisition and transfer device also includes a processor and memory unit capable of retrieving unprocessed diagnostic data containing error codes from the vehicle via the first data link, storing unprocessed diagnostic data for a limited time, and transferring the unprocessed data to the global computer network communicable device, to the second data link. The hand holdable data acquisition and transfer device lacks sufficient data processing capability to fully process the unprocessed diagnostic data into human useable diagnostic information.

Portable data acquisition and management system and associated device and method

Abstract: A system for manipulating data is provided. Such a system comprises a host system, a discrete portable data acquisition device for collecting the data, at least one of a wireless wide area network (WWAN) data radio, a wireless local area network (WLAN) data radio, and a wireless personal area network (WPAN) data radio operably engaged with the portable data acquisition device and configured to at least one of transmit the data to the host system, communicate with a peripheral device, and receive data, and a memory operably engaged with the portable data acquisition device for storing the data, the memory comprising a FLASH memory module, a DRAM memory module, and an NVDRAM memory module. Associated systems, devices, and methods are also provided.

A broad-application microchannel-plate detector system for advanced particle or photon detection tasks: large area imaging, precise multi-hit timing information and high detection rate

Abstract: New applications for single particle and photon detection in many fields require both large area imaging performance and precise time information on each detected particle. Moreover, a very high data acquisition rate is desirable for most applications and eventually the detection and imaging of more than one particle arriving within a microsecond is required. Commercial CCD systems lack the timing information whereas other electronic microchannel plate (MCP) read-out schemes usually suffer from a low acquisition rate and complicated and sometimes costly read-out electronics. We have designed and tested a complete imaging system consisting of an MCP position readout with helical wire delaylines, single-unit amplifier box and PC-controlled time-to-digital converter (TDC) readout. The system is very flexible and can detect and analyse position and timing information at single particle rates beyond 1 MHz. Alternatively, multihit events can be collected and analysed at about 20 kHz rate. We discuss the advantages and applications of this technique and then focus on the detector’s ability to detect and analyse multiple hits. r 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

On-site analysis system with central processor and method of analyzing

Abstract: A method of analysis, analysis system, program product, apparatus, and method of supplying analysis of value incorporating the use of at least one data acquisition device, a central processor, and a communication link that is connectable between the data acquisition device and the central processor. The central processor is loaded with multivariate calibration models developed for predicting values for various properties of interest, wherein the calibration models are capable of compensating for variations in an effectively comprehensive set of measurement conditions and secondary material characteristics. As so configured, the calibration models can compensate for instrument variance without instrument-specific calibration transfer. Measurement results generated by the central processor can be transmitted to an output device of a user interface.

A 3-D resistivity investigation of a contaminated site at Lernacken, Sweden

Abstract: A contaminated site at Lernacken in southern Sweden, formerly used for sludge disposal, was investigated using a 3-D resistivity imaging technique. The data acquisition was carried out using a roll-along technique for 3-D data acquisition that allows using standard multielectrode equipment designed for engineering and environmental applications. The technique allows for the measurement of large true 3-D resistivity data sets, and data were measured using two perpendicular electrode-orientation directions with only one layout of the cables. The data were plotted as two sets of pseudo depth slices using the two electrode orientation directions, which resulted in markedly different plots. The complete data set was inverted to form a resistivity-depth model of the ground using a 3-D least-squares smoothness constrained inversion technique. The results obtained were compared to other geophysical and background data, and a good agreement was found. The results show that the 3-D roll-along technique in combination with 3-D inversion can be highly useful for engineering and environmental applications. However, multichannel measurement equipment is necessary to speed up the data acquisition process for routine application.

Data Acquisition in PET Imaging

Abstract: Data acquisition is substantially different in PET than it is in planar nuclear medicine and SPECT. There is an entirely different set of definitions and considerations. The objective of this paper is to provide the reader with the terminology and understanding of how PET data are acquired and organized as well as the issues involved in choosing one approach over another. Sinograms and projection views will be presented as methods of storing and viewing raw PET data. Different approaches to increase axial sampling while maintaining a sufficient number of counts for each reconstructed slice are discussed, as well as the use of sinogram compression or "mashing" to reduce the storage requirements of raw PET data. The differences between 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) PET and how storage of raw 3D data may differ from that of 2D data are described. The concept of "Michelograms" as a means of displaying the nature of the axial sampling in both 2D and 3D PET is discussed. After reading this paper, the reader will be able to describe 2 methods used to store and display raw PET data and compare them with methods used in SPECT. The reader will be able to define the terms "span" and "maximum ring difference" and describe how they relate to the axial sampling in 2D and 3D PET. The reader will also be able to list 3 ways in which 3D PET differs from 2D PET.

Method and apparatus for medical intervention procedure planning

Abstract: An imaging system for use in medical intervention procedure planning includes a medical scanner system for generating a volume of cardiac image data, a data acquisition system for acquiring the volume of cardiac image data, an image generation system for generating a viewable image from the volume of cardiac image data, a database for storing information from the data acquisition and image generation systems, an operator interface system for managing the medical scanner system, the data acquisition system, the image generation system, and the database, and a post-processing system for analyzing the volume of cardiac image data, displaying the viewable image and being responsive to the operator interface system. The operator interface system includes instructions for using the volume of cardiac image data and the viewable image for bi-ventricular pacing planning, atrial fibrillation procedure planning, or atrial flutter procedure planning.

Reconstructing surfaces by volumetric regularization using radial basis functions

Abstract: We present a new method of surface reconstruction that generates smooth and seamless models from sparse, noisy, nonuniform, and low resolution range data. Data acquisition techniques from computer vision, such as stereo range images and space carving, produce 3D point sets that are imprecise and nonuniform when compared to laser or optical range scanners. Traditional reconstruction algorithms designed for dense and precise data do not produce smooth reconstructions when applied to vision-based data sets. Our method constructs a 3D implicit surface, formulated as a sum of weighted radial basis functions. We achieve three primary advantages over existing algorithms: (1) the implicit functions we construct estimate the surface well in regions where there is little data, (2) the reconstructed surface is insensitive to noise in data acquisition because we can allow the surface to approximate, rather than exactly interpolate, the data, and (3) the reconstructed surface is locally detailed, yet globally smooth, because we use radial basis functions that achieve multiple orders of smoothness.

Methods for measuring height and planimetry discrepancies in airborne laserscanner data

Abstract: tems is limited by the laser power and receiver sensitivity. Airborne laserscanning (or lidar) has become a very important Together with a narrow opening angle for minimizing occlutechnique for the acquisition of digital terrain model data. sions, this results in laserscanner datasets consisting of many Beyond this, the technique is increasingly being used for the parallel strips with a width of several hundred meters in most acquisition of point clouds for 3D modeling of a wide range of cases. objects, such as buildings, vegetation, or electrical power lines. Over the last few years, airborne laserscanning has gained As an active technique, airborne laserscanning offers a high a lot of attention and has become a leading technique for the reliability even over terrain with poor image contrast. The acquisition of digital terrain model data. Its advantages are its precision of the technique is often specified to be on the order fast and efficient manner of data acquisition as well as its high of one to two decimeters. By reason of its primary use in digital reliability and precision potential. Since the early nineties, airterrain modeling, examinations of the precision potential of borne laserscanninghas been usedfor special taskssuch as,for airborne laserscanning have so far been concentrated on the example, beach erosion monitoring. Meanwhile, it is replacing height precision. With the use of the technique for general 3D conventional stereo-imaging-based photogrammetric techreconstruction tasks and the increasing resolution of niques andis acceptedas a generaltool for digitalterrain model laserscanner systems, the planimetric precision of data acquisition. The Netherlands were the first country to laserscanner point clouds becomes an important issue. generate a nationwide digital terrain model purely based on In addition to errors in the laser distance meter and the laserscanner data (e.g., Wouters and Bollweg, 1998). deflecting mirror system, the error budget of airborne While early systems offered data rates on the order of 2 to 7 laserscanning instruments is strongly influenced by the GPS/ kHz (i.e., 2000 to 7000 3D surface points per second), modern INS systems used for sensor pose (position and orientation) systems come with data rates of 25 up to 83 kHz. This gain in determination. Errors of these systems often lead to the temporal resolution has not only increased the efficiency of deformation of laserscanner data strips and may become data acquisition, but has also opened a whole range of new evident as discrepancies in the overlap region between application fields to airborne laserscanning. It broadens the neighboring strips in a block of laserscanner data. The paper scope of the technique beyond the pure acquisition of digital presents least-squares matching implemented on a TIN terrain models to a more general tool for the acquisition of point structure as a general tool for the determination of laser- clouds for 3D modeling of a wide range of objects. High resoluscanner strip discrepancies in all three coordinate directions, tion laserscanner data have proven to be a valuable source for using both height and reflectance data. Practical problems of the automatic generation of 3D building models (Haala and applying matching techniques to 2.5D laserscanner point Brenner, 1997; Maas and Vosselman, 1999). Further examples clouds are discussed and solved, and the success of the of new application fields are the determination of forest stand technique is shown on the basis of several datasets. Applying parameters and corridor mapping. least-squares matching techniques to dense laserscanner data in a TIN structure, strip discrepancies can be determined with The precision potential of the technique is often specified as 1 to 2 decimeters. Due to the primary application field in the centimeter precision for the height coordinate and decimeter precision for the planimetric coordinates.

Method and apparatus to support remote and automatically initiated data loading and data acquisition of airborne computers using a wireless spread spectrum aircraft data services link

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention provides automated electronic switching and control for data uploading of software in the form of operational programs, operational configuration or databases, collection of S/W configuration information from the various loadable avionics (but not limited to avionics) subsystems and download data between those subsystems and the ARINC 615-3 or 615A data load applications. The data load applications can be resident in existing ARINC 615 Airborne, Portable or PC-based data loaders or an optional ARINC 763 type on-aircraft Network Server System. The invention's real-time Linux based platform is also capable of hosting any data load application. The switch interface unit can be either manually controlled as a standalone replacement for existing rotary switches installed on Boeing aircraft, or remotely controlled when integrated into an ARINC 763 type Network Server System such as the Aircraft Data Services ink (ADSL). The switch interface unit functions as the aircraft system selector in the Data Load/Configuration system. The invention is line replaceable, and has many advantages over the existing manual rotary switch. The unit's design meets and exceeds the current data load interfacing requirements for avionics equipment.

Real-time data acquisition and storage network

Abstract: A real-time data acquisition and storage network (20) for real-time acquisition and storage of analog and digital data from one or multiple network-connected data sources (22) to one or multiple network-connected storage devices (24) during a data recording session, and precise reconstruction of the acquired data from one or multiple of the network-connected storage devices (24) during a playback session. The data sources (24) are connected to the network (20) through one or multiple real-time data acquisition network ('R-T DAN') modules (28) which form one or multiple network-connected data acquisition nodes on the network (20). Each storage device (24) forms a network-connected storage node on the network (20) so that data acquired at any data acquisition node may be applied to the network (20) and stored at any storage node during a data recording session. The stored data may be retrieved from the storage nodes through the network (20) and routed to the data acquisition nodes for reconstruction of the data during a playback session.

Seismic data acquisition system using acquisition stations set on the sea bottom

Abstract: The invention is a system designed for acquisition of seismic data by means of acquisition stations set on water bottom of a water body. The system comprises acquisition stations (DSAU) combining a streamlined boom suited to penetrate the bottom and thus couple seismic receivers with the underlying formation, a sealed body for electronic data acquisition and communication modules. These acquisition stations (DSAU) are placed in the water and drop to the bottom under the effect of gravity. Relay buoys (RCB) are positioned at the surface, each with a GPS positioning module, a radio link with a central station (CCRU), on a ship for example, and modules providing acoustic communication with bottom acquisition stations (DSAU), which are used to determine the position of the stations in relation to the relay buoys and to exchange control data and seismic data (good running order data or possibly seismic traces acquired if the conditions lend themselves thereto) to provide seismic prospecting or monitoring of an underground formation.

Online monitoring system and method for a short-circuiting gas metal arc welding process

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a useful online monitoring system and method of user thereof for monitoring a welding process to determine weld quality, weld process stability, and weld geometry for each weld formed during a welding process. More particularly, the online monitoring system has a computer having a graphical user interface (GUI); at least one welding machine; a communication interface for interfacing communication between the at least one welding machine and the computer; a data acquisition system for acquiring welding signal data, the data acquisition system having an associated memory means; a quality management database for managing and storing acquired welding signal data; and a statistical signal processing system in communication with the data acquisition system for processing welding signal data stored in the data acquisition system associated memory means, and in further communication with the communication interface for communicating processed welding signal data to the GUI.

Fast, Resolution-Consistent Spatial Prediction of Global Processes From Satellite Data

Abstract: Polar orbiting satellites remotely sense the earth and its atmosphere, producing datasets that give daily global coverage. For any given day, the data are many and measured at spatially irregular locations. Our goal in this article is to predict values that are spatially regular at different resolutions; such values are often used as input to general circulation models (GCMs) and the like. Not only do we wish to predict optimally, but because data acquisition is relentless, our algorithm must also process the data very rapidly. This article applies a multiresolution autoregressive tree-structured model, and presents a new statistical prediction methodology that is resolution consistent (i.e., preserves “mass balance” across resolutions) and computes spatial predictions and prediction (co)variances extremely fast. Data from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) instrument, on the Nimbus-7 satellite, are used for illustration.

Remote data acquisition and transmission system and method

Abstract: A remote data acquisition and transmission system and method are disclosed. A plurality of application controllers are interfaced with remote equipment from which operation data is acquired by the application controllers. The application controllers communicate with an application host via a local area network, and the application host can communicate with a network operations center using a wide area network interface. In one embodiment, each application controller interfaces with remote equipment that comprises a vending machine.

A review on MR vascular image processing algorithms: acquisition and prefiltering: part I

Abstract: Vascular segmentation has recently been given much attention. This review paper has two parts. Part I focuses on the physics of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) generation and prefiltering techniques applied to MRA data sets. Part II of the review focuses on the vessel segmentation algorithms. The first section of this paper introduces the five different sets of receive coils used with the MRI system for magnetic resonance angiography data acquisition. This section then presents the five different types of the most popular data acquisition tech- niques: time-of-flight (TOF), phase-contrast, contrast-enhanced, black-blood, -weighted, and -weighted, along with their pros and cons. Section II of this paper focuses on prefiltering algorithms for MRA data sets. This is necessary for removing the background nonvascular structures in the MRA data sets. Finally, the paper concludes with a clinical discussion on the challenges and the future of the data acquisition and the automated filtering algorithms. Index Terms—Black-blood angiography (BBA), contrast-en- hanced MRA, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), maximum intensity projection (MIP), MRA, prefiltering, phase-contrast MRA, scale-space, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), time-of-flight (TOF), vasculature.

Real-time tissue characterization on the basis of in vivo Raman spectra

Abstract: The application of in vivo Raman spectroscopy for clinical diagnosis demands dedicated software that can perform the necessary signal processing and subsequent (multivariate) data analysis, enabling clinically relevant parameters to be extracted and made available in real time. Here we describe the design and implementation of a software package that allows for real-time signal processing and data analysis of Raman spectra. The design is based on automatic data exchange between Grams, a spectroscopic data acquisition and analysis program, and Matlab, a program designed for array-based calculations. The data analysis software has a modular design providing great flexibility in developing custom data analysis routines for different applications. The implementation is illustrated by a computationally demanding application for the classification of skin spectra using principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Theoretical framework for a dynamic cone-beam reconstruction algorithm based on a dynamic particle model.

Abstract: Dynamic cone-beam reconstruction algorithms are required to reconstruct three-dimensional (3D) image sequences on dynamic 3D CT combining multi-row two-dimensional (2D) detectors and sub-second scanners. The speed-up of the rotating gantry allows one to improve the temporal resolution of the image sequence, but at the same time, it implies increase in the dose delivered during a given time period to keep constant the signal-to-noise ratio associated with each frame. The alternative solution proposed in this paper is to process data acquisition on several half-turns in order to reduce the dose delivered per rotation with the same signal-to-noise ratio. In order to compensate for time evolution and motion artefacts, we propose to use a dynamic particle model to describe the object evolution during the scan. In this article, we first introduce the dynamic particle model and the dynamic CT acquisition model. Then, we explain the principle of the proposed dynamic cone-beam reconstruction algorithm. Lastly, we present preliminary results on simulated data.

Automated high-throughput electron tomography by pre-calibration of image shifts.

Abstract: Electron tomography is a versatile method for obtaining three-dimensional (3D) images with transmission electron microscopy. The technique is suitable to investigate cell organelles and tissue sections (100-500 nm thick) with 4-20 nm resolution. 3D reconstructions are obtained by processing a series of images acquired with the samples tilted over different angles. While tilting the sample, image shifts and defocus changes of several microm can occur. The current generation of automated acquisition software detects and corrects for these changes with a procedure that incorporates switching the electron optical magnification. We developed a novel method for data collection based on the measurement of shifts prior to data acquisition, which results in a five-fold increase in speed, enabling the acquisition of 151 images in less than 20 min. The method will enhance the quality of a tilt series by minimizing the amount of required focus-change compensation by aligning the optical axis to the tilt axis of the specimen stage. The alignment is achieved by invoking an amount of image shift as deduced from the mathematical model describing the effect of specimen tilt. As examples for application in biological and materials sciences 3D reconstructions of a mitochondrion and a zeolite crystal are presented.

Medical data operating model development system and method

Abstract: A technique is provided for developing a model of medical conditions and situations from medical data. The data is accessed from an integrated knowledge base or from resources of both clinical and non-clinical nature. The data is analyzed to establish relationships between the data, and a computer-assisted data operating algorithm is modified based upon the identified relationship. The algorithm may include a wide range of functions, such as feature detection, diagnosis, data acquisition, data processing, and so forth.

On active learning for data acquisition

Abstract: Many applications are characterized by having naturally incomplete data on customers - where data on only some fixed set of local variables is gathered However, having a more complete picture can help build better models. The naive solution to this problem - acquiring complete data for all customers s often impractical due to the costs of doing so. A possible alternative is to acquire complete data for "some" customers and to use this to improve the models built. The data acquisition problem is determining how many, and which, customers to acquire additional data from. In this paper we suggest using active learning based approaches for the data acquisition problem. In particular, we present initial methods for data acquisition and evaluate these methods experimentally on web usage data and UCI datasets. Results show that the methods perform well and indicate that active learning based methods for data acquisition can be a promising area for data mining research.

Eddy current sensing arrays and system

Abstract: An apparatus that measures electrical impedance. The apparatus includes a signal generator controlled by a master microcontroller, a plurality of data acquisition channels, each channel containing a microcontroller, a host computer that processes and stores measured values, and a communication line between the host computer and the master microcontroller.

Lightning detection and data acquisition system

Abstract: A lightning detection and data acquisition system. A plurality of remote programmable sensor is utilized to detect cloud to ground and IC lightning strikes. Analog representations of the lightning strikes are converted to digital signals. The digital signals are classified according to user changeable criteria. The classified digital signals are compressed and optionally decimated. The compressed information is transmitted to a central location where it is decompressed and used to correlate the location, magnitude, and travel path of the detected lightning strikes.