A catheter procedure system includes a base and a robotic mechanism having a longitudinal axis and being movable relative to the base along the longitudinal axis. The robotic mechanism includes a robotic drive base including at least one drive mechanism, a cassette operatively secured to the robotic drive base, a rigid guide coupled to the cassette and fixed relative to the robotic mechanism and a flexible track having a distal end, a proximal end and a plurality of reflective sections. At least a portion of the flexible track is disposed within the rigid guide. The robotic mechanism also includes a position detector mounted to the robotic drive base and positioned beneath the flexible track. The position detector is configured to detect light reflected off of the reflective sections of the flexible track and to determine the position of the distal end of the flexible track based on the detected reflected light.

An illumination apparatus for reducing speckle effect in light reflected off an illumination target includes a laser; a linear diffuser positioned in an optical path between an illumination target and the laser to diffuse collimated laser light in a planar fan of diffused light that spreads in one dimension across at least a portion of the illumination target; and a beam deflector to direct the collimated laser light incident on the beam deflector to sweep across different locations on the linear diffuser within an exposure time for illumination of the illumination target by the diffused light. The different locations span a distance across the linear diffuser that provides sufficient uncorrelated speckle patterns, at an image sensor, in light reflected from an intersection of the planar fan of light with the illumination target to add incoherently when imaged by the image sensor within the exposure time.

An illumination apparatus for reducing speckle effect in light reflected off an illumination target includes a laser; a linear diffuser positioned in an optical path between an illumination target and the laser to diffuse collimated laser light in a planar fan of diffused light that spreads in one dimension across at least a portion of the illumination target; and a beam deflector to direct the collimated laser light incident on the beam deflector to sweep across different locations on the linear diffuser within an exposure time for illumination of the illumination target by the diffused light. The different locations span a distance across the linear diffuser that provides sufficient uncorrelated speckle patterns, at an image sensor, in light reflected from an intersection of the planar fan of light with the illumination target to add incoherently when imaged by the image sensor within the exposure time.

An apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes an imaging device; a stage movable relative to the imaging device; an isolation plate provided between the imaging device and the stage, including a horizontal glass plate; and a plurality of interferometers in electronic communication with a processor. The plurality of interferometers include three interferometers disposed on the imaging device, configured to direct a first beam set in a first direction toward the horizontal glass plate; and three interferometers disposed on the stage, configured to direct a second beam set in a second direction toward the horizontal glass plate, the second direction being opposite to the first direction. The processor is configured to measure distances between the imaging device and the isolation plate and distances between the stage and the isolation plate based on the first beam set and the second beam set reflected from the horizontal glass plate.

Techniques, systems, and articles are described for preparing electrical cables for connections to a power grid. In one example, a system includes a handheld cable preparation device configured to cut one or more layers of an electrical cable and a computing device configured to control the cable preparation device to cut the one or more layers of the electrical cable.

Techniques, systems, and articles are described for preparing electrical cables for connections to a power grid. In one example, a system includes a handheld cable preparation device configured to cut one or more layers of an electrical cable and a computing device configured to control the cable preparation device to cut the one or more layers of the electrical cable.

According to one embodiment, a position observation system includes a sensor and a processor. The sensor is arranged to face a first opening of a through hole included in a first target object. The sensor projects a light beam for scanning the through hole and receives reflection light of the light beam from a second target object that is to be inserted through a second opening of the through hole into the through hole. The processor including hardware. The processor generates an image based on the reflection light received by the sensor, and displays the image on a display device.

A method for measuring a position of a fluorophore includes configuring a set of compact light distributions, the set having at least one member, each light distribution characterized by a center, so that there is substantially zero intensity at the center of the set of compact light distributions. The method additionally includes moving the set of compact light distributions in relation to a set of hypothesized positions of the fluorophore, detecting, in a plurality of locations corresponding to the hypothesized set of positions, a set of images; and estimating the position of the fluorophore, by determining from the set of images a set of parameters describing the position of the fluorophore using an inverse problem method.

A method for measuring a position of a fluorophore includes configuring a set of compact light distributions, the set having at least one member, each light distribution characterized by a center, so that there is substantially zero intensity at the center of the set of compact light distributions. The method additionally includes moving the set of compact light distributions in relation to a set of hypothesized positions of the fluorophore, detecting, in a plurality of locations corresponding to the hypothesized set of positions, a set of images; and estimating the position of the fluorophore, by determining from the set of images a set of parameters describing the position of the fluorophore using an inverse problem method.

Systems, devices, and methods for providing a sheet product dispenser with automated product level tracking functionality are provided herein. Various product level sensors are disclosed herein including a product level sensor configured to emit a signal toward an outer circumference of a sheet product roll on a spindle extending along a longitudinal axis and to receive a reflected signal. The product level sensor is positioned a radial distance away from the spindle and aimed to emit the signal in a direction that is not parallel and not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The product level sensor detects a parameter of the reflected signal corresponding to the distance between the product level sensor and the sheet product roll. Other example embodiments include mechanical product level sensors. Various communication protocols may be employed to limit transmission of data to conserve battery life while still maintaining desired communication functionality.