Depth from Refraction Using a Transparent Medium with Unknown Pose and Refractive Index

In this paper, we introduce a novel method for depth acquisition based on refraction of light. A scene is captured directly by a camera and by placing a transparent medium between the scene and the camera. A depth map of the scene is then recovered from the displacements of scene points in the images. Unlike other existing depth from refraction methods, our method does not require prior knowledge of the pose and refractive index of the transparent medium, but instead can recover them directly from the input images. By analyzing the displacements of corresponding scene points in the images, we derive closed form solutions for recovering the pose of the transparent medium and develop an iterative method for estimating the refractive index of the medium. Experimental results on both synthetic and real-world data are presented, which demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Optimization of optical design for developing an LED lens module

In this study, a procedure for optimization of an LED lens module design based on 3 LED light sources was divided into two phases. For preliminary optimization of the dimensions of the LED lens module in Stage I, an optical analysis with orthogonal arrays and TracePro (an optical design package) combined with analysis of variance was conducted to investigate relationships between the multiple optical quality characteristics (viewing angle and average illuminance) and dimension parameters and find the initial optimal parameter combination of the LED lens module. In Stage II, the initial optimal parameter combination determined in Stage I was employed to develop an orthogonal array L₂₅(5⁶) for optical simulation. The experimental data of the orthogonal array were used to train and test the back-propagation neural network to develop an optical quality predictor, which was integrated into the genetic algorithms and the particle swarm optimization in order to find the optimal parameter combination that conformed to optical quality. From the experimental results, the proposed optimization procedure contributes to a precise viewing angle to achieve the goal of optical quality and improved the average illuminance in development of the product. The procedure to optimize the optical design developed in this study can be applied to design all types of LED lens modules and improve the optical design and technology of the LED lens industry.     

Analysis of an in-plane micro-generator with various microcoil shapes

This study presents an analysis of an in-plane micro-generator with various microcoil shapes and multiple aspects of coupling, and reports the fabrication of a prototype micro-generator. It is important to establish analytical solutions for the micro-generator to predict the induced voltage. These analytical solutions can be used to estimate the micro-generator power to reduce the experimental time and the cost. Understanding the physical meanings of the variables can optimize the structure of the micro-electromagnetic generator. This model considers electromagnetism, kinematics, and geometry. The proposed in-plane rotary electromagnetic micro-generator was fabricated using low-temperature co-fired ceramic technology to co-fire the silver microcoils on the ceramic substrate with different shaped coils (e.g., square-shaped, circle-shaped and sector-shaped) both with the printing linewidth and 100 μm spacing of these microcoils. A planar permanent magnet with an outer diameter of 9 mm and a thickness of 700 μm was sintered by Nd/Fe/B. Its residual induction is 1.4 T. The experimental data in this study can be compared with analytical solutions. Analytical results show that the micro-generator with a sector-shaped microcoil generates a maximum effective value of 218.127 mV induced voltage at 1395.34 rad/s. Experimental measurements show a close agreement with these analytical solutions.     

Supply chain management with lean production and RFID application: A case study

This study applies lean production and radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of supply chain management. In this study, a three-tier spare parts supply chain with inefficient transportation, storage and retrieval operations is investigated. Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is used to draw current state mapping and future state mapping (with lean production and RFID) with material, information, and time flows. Preliminary experiments showed that the total operation time can be saved by 81% from current stage to future stage with the integration of RFID and lean. Moreover, the saving in total operation time can be enhanced to 89% with cross docking. In addition, utilizing RFID technology, the cost of labors can be significantly reduced while maintaining current service capacity at the members in the studied supply chain. Return-on-investment (ROI) analysis shows that the proposed method is both effective and feasible.     

Electronic word of mouth analysis for service experience

Since eWOM provides a rich source of objective information about products or services, it has become one of the major ways in which consumers collect information about items they are interested in buying. However, the problem of eWOM overload makes it difficult to effectively collect this information, and may have adverse effects on their actual purchase behavior. eWOM content is characterized by unstructured text formats, oversimplified expressions, and newly coined phrases (textspeak), and these all contribute to the challenges that arise when analyzing eWOM. This study thus proposes an eWOM analysis method for analyzing eWOM, which may lead to a more effective method for analyzing eWOM content, extracting both positive and negative appraisals, and help consumers in their decision making. At the same time, the method proposed in this study can also be utilized as a tool to assist companies in better understanding product or service appraisals, thus translating these opinions into business intelligence and as the basis for product/service improvements.     

A comprehensive model of the effects of online store image on purchase intention in an e-commerce environment

The aim of this study is to identify structural relationships between aspects of online store image and purchase intention. Responses from 211 website visitors were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the research hypotheses. The results demonstrated that enjoyment and familiarity are predictors of ease-of-use and settlement performance, respectively. Settlement performance and usefulness are positively related to purchase intention. The results provide some suggestions for online store owners to help them arrange budget priorities for website design. Moreover, it is important to manage image familiarity for an online store through image-enhancing techniques, such as advertising and publicity.     

Multiparty quantum remote control

This paper proposes a multiparty quantum remote control protocol, which allows several controllers to perform various remote operations independently on a target state based on a shared entanglement of Greenberger–Home–Zeilinger state.     

MULTIVARIABLE FUZZY PID CONTROL SYSTEM FOR DEAERATOR'S AND CONDENSER'S LEVELS IN A THERMAL POWERUNIT

With the aim of reforming the control system of the levels of deaerator and condenser of a 200 MW thermal power unit, a multivariable fuzzy PID control system was proposed and has been used to practice. The novel control system has worked well since it was put into operation in March 1997.     

新型混合型限流断路器分析及试验

研究了一种基于高速斥力开关的交直流两用混合型限流断路器方案,该限流断路器在限流过程中先经过一个强迫换流过程,使得触头分离时高速斥力开关上电流减小到较小值,触头分离后再经历一个自然零电压换流过程,将斥力开关电流换流到二极管支路上.重点对限流断路器换流过程进行了理论分析及仿真,分析了其可能出现的4种分断情况.研制了400V/500A限流断路器样机,并进行了不同短路电流上升率的限流试验,验证了理论分析的正确性.     

Optimal and self‐tuning weighted measurement fusion Kalman filters and their asymptotic global optimality

For the multisensor linear discrete time‐invariant stochastic systems with unknown noise variances, using the correlation method, the information fusion noise variance estimators with consistency are given by taking the average of the local noise variance estimators. Substituting them into two optimal weighted measurement fusion steady‐state Kalman filters, two new self‐tuning weighted measurement fusion Kalman filters with a self‐tuning Riccati equation are presented. By the dynamic variance error system analysis (DVESA) method, it is rigorously proved that the self‐tuning Riccati equation converges to the steady‐state optimal Riccati equation. Further, by the dynamic error system analysis (DESA) method, it is proved that the steady‐state optimal and self‐tuning Kalman fusers converge to the global optimal centralized Kalman fuser, so that they have the asymptotic global optimality. Compared with the centralized Kalman fuser, they can significantly reduce the computational burden. A simulation example for the target tracking systems shows their effectiveness. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.