Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for upgrading firmware in an embedded system, without impacting the system. More specifically, the present invention enables an embedded system to be upgraded without any system downtime, by providing two application areas in non-volatile programmable read only memory. A processor can boot up and run from either application area. A fixed vector table is provided, which, in cooperation with a software vector table, enables the processor to maintain proper interrupt vector addresses while being able to run from either application area. Upgraded firmware can be loaded into one application area while the system is running from the other application area. Resetting the processor allows the system to run the upgraded version of firmware.

Abstract: A system for security and authorization processing in digital terminals. The processing load of a security processor (250) at the terminal (150) is reduced by configuring a multiple applications manager (MAM) (240) to determine if frequently-transmitted application data should be downloaded. The security processor is used by the MAM to build a local virtual application table (260) that indicates which applications are authorized for downloading. The security processor configures the terminal with an authorization state so that it knows which applications it is authorized to download, i.e., the applications (316′, 334′, 376′) whose required authorization state correlate with the terminal's configured authorization state. The security processor is accessed when the terminals authorization state changes, or when a required authorization state of an application changes. These events are typically relatively infrequent.

Abstract: The present invention intends to realize a non-washing rice presenting a good taste by performing the pressure rice washing under the most appropriate conditions in correspondence to the polished rice to be washed.

Abstract: In order to improve a position measuring system comprising a transmitter and a sensor which comprises at least one inductive element, to which the transmitter is coupled electromagnetically, wherein sensor and transmitter can be positioned relative to one another and the at least one inductive element is arranged on a support so as to be areally extended, such that a great number of possibilities for its use result it is suggested that the support with the at least one inductive element be designed to be as least partially flexible.

Abstract: A control system for a continuous flow rotary blood pump is provided. A normal operating range of the blood pump is established. The normal operating range may comprise a normal pump flow range and a normal pressure head range. A target rotational speed of the pump is set in accordance with the normal operating range. A current operating condition of the blood pump is determined. The current operating condition may comprise a current pump flow, a current pressure head, and a current rotational speed of the pump. The current operating condition is compared with the normal operating range. An appropriate control algorithm is selected from a plurality of available control algorithms based on the comparison. The target rotational speed of the pump is adjusted using the selected control algorithm to maintain or recover the normal operating range.

Abstract: In order to provide a process for the production of a component consisting of a fiber reinforced material, with which liquid resin is supplied to a semifinished fiber article by way of application by vacuum pressure, it is provided for a heat curing resin to be used as resin and for application by vacuum pressure and temperature to be controlled such that in relation to the liquid resin the boiling point curve of the resin is not exceeded.

Abstract: In a suture anchor system for joining pieces of tissue, in particular, for repairing meniscal tears, comprising at least two arrow-shaped or pin-shaped anchor implants joined to one another by a flexible suture fastened to the anchor implants, in order to facilitate installation of the anchor implants, it is proposed that at least one of the anchor implants have a continuous longitudinal passageway for receiving a longitudinally displaceable core, that a suture guide for receiving a suture common to all anchor implants for longitudinal displacement in the suture guide be disposed on this anchor implant, that a clamping device for securing the suture in the suture guide be associated with the suture guide, and that the clamping device be inactive so long as the core is located inside the longitudinal passageway and only become active when the core is pulled out of the longitudinal passageway. An instrument for inserting such anchor implants is also described.

Abstract: An atomizer spray plate is provided for discharging fuel oil. The spray plate has a cylindrical rear portion and a conical front portion. A frusto-conical whirl chamber extends from the rear portion to the front portion with a decreasing radius. The rear portion includes a number of whirl slots extending radially inward from an outboard region of the rear portion to the whirl chamber to provide the fuel oil with rotational energy. A discharge slot is provided in the front portion of the spray plate for receiving fuel oil from the whirl chamber with rotational energy. The discharge slot includes a cylindrical through-hole with a diameter d, and at least three lobes (slots) equally spaced about the through-hole and oriented in a radial direction, each lobe having a semi-circular cross-section with radius r and extending approximately perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the through-hole.

Abstract: In order to improve a machine tool comprising a tool carrier with a tool carrier head which is mounted for rotation about an axis and has a support member with a plurality of tool receiving means, into which drivable tool units can be inserted such that gear wheels for driving all the tool units insertable into the tool receiving means are arranged and can be moved in an interior of the support member on an orbital path extending around the axis, in such a manner that some of the tool units can be driven selectively, it is suggested that a drive wheel be rotatable about a drive axis which is arranged non-coaxially in relation to the axis, that teeth of the drive wheel move on a flight path which extends such that in a drive section of the orbital path the distances between this and the flight path have the lowest values and are greater in all the other sections of the orbital path and that the teeth be in drive engagement with a gear wheel located in the drive section and extend without contact in relation to

Abstract: A method and system are provided for impulse purchasing of services over a communication network, such as a cable or satellite television network. Such services can include games or information accompanying television programming, home-shopping, e-mail services, streaming media and the like. Security is provided through entitlements generated by the access controller 14 and entitlement tokens generated by a secure processor. The secure processor is located at a subscriber terminal 16 through which a subscriber orders and obtains the services. A token is generated when the subscriber either selects the service, if pre-authorized, or when the service is purchased on impulse. The token is secure and signed, and may be used by a policy/proxy server 18 subtending to the Network Operator's ISP and associated services to further facilitate offering these services to the subscribers.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved system and method for encoding digital images within frames for digital television transmission. Every anchor frame in a first pass encoder is encoded as a P-frame. Groups of macroblocks, such as slices in the P-frame, are alternately encoded as I-slices and P-slices. This allows both I and P encoding complexity to be computed in a single pass, without having to encode the same frame twice. Accordingly, the I-frame decision can be made at a second pass encoder instead of at the first pass encoder, thus taking advantage of a look-ahead pipeline architecture to more effectively align the I-frames with scene changes.

Abstract: In order to improve a laser amplifying system comprising a plate-like solid-state body which has two oppositely located flat sides and comprises a laser-active medium, a cooling member with a support surface which is arranged so as to face one of the flat sides of the solid-state body and with which this flat side is thermally coupled for the discharge of heat, in such a manner that an optimum coupling takes place it is suggested that the flat side of the solid-state body be coupled mechanically and thermally to the support surface by an adhesive layer which is produced from an adhesive which passes from a liquid state into a solid, cross-linked state essentially invariant in volume and that the adhesive layer have an active adhesive layer area with a heat resistance of less than 10 K×mm2/W.

Abstract: To provide a code carrier device for mounting on a material flow object, with a code carrier, which comprises a memory for storing an individual identification and a transmitter device for transmitting the identification, so that the identification can be contactlessly read by a receiver when the transmitter device and receiver are in a specific relative positional range in relation to each other, with which code carrier device the identification can be read in a simple way, it is proposed that the transmitter device has a first transmitting face and at least a second transmitting face, being transversely thereto, by means of which the identification can in each case be read, the readability being determined by the relative position between a receiver and a transmitting area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing an interior fitment for motor vehicles, the interior fitment having on its facing side a wood molding which is provided with a coating. In order to impart a substantially natural impression to the interior fitment, the invention proposes applying to the wood molding a coating material based on vegetable-oil-modified resins and natural vegetable oils, with the addition to the coating material of ceramic microparticles. Likewise proposed is an interior fitment produced preferably by this method.

Abstract: A system for embedding auxiliary digital information (Di) into an existing primary digitally encoded signal (Xn) to form an unobjectionable composite digital signal (Cn). Auxiliary data bits (Di) modulate a pseudo-random (e.g., PN) sequence (125) to provide an auxiliary data sequence (160) that is used to modify the Least Perceptually Significant Bits (LPSBs) (180) of successive multi-bit samples (120) of the primary signal. In a cross-term compensation embodiment (300, 400, 1000), a correlation (V) between the PN sequence and the sample bits is determined, and compared to the auxiliary data bits (Di) to determine whether there is a desired correspondence. The LPSBs in the samples are toggled (360), if necessary, to provide the desired correspondence. The selection of LPSBs to modify accounts for a desired noise level of the auxiliary data (Di) in the primary signal (Xn).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing the artifacts associated with still frame display and video capture of interlaced video are provided. Tuner 100 receives an interlaced video signal having an image frame with first and second fields. Motion detector 55 detects whether motion is present between the first and second fields. Memory 40 stores one or both of the fields for processing when motion is detected. Processor 30 processes the stored field(s) to provide an image frame with reduced artifacts. Various processing techniques are provided to generate the image frame from the stored field(s), without duplicating the stored field for use as the other field. Memory 40 stores the image frame. If motion is not detected, the first and second fields are both stored to provide the image frame. The stored image frame can then be continuously displayed to provide still frame display, or can be captured for subsequent use.

Abstract: In order to achieve as reliable a safety functioning as possible with as simple a construction as possible in the case of a trailer coupling for motor vehicles, comprising a bearing part arranged so as to be fixed on the vehicle, a ball neck which can be moved in relation to the bearing part between an operative position and a rest position and is mounted so as to be rotatable, a ball neck fixing means with form locking elements which can be transferred by way of relative movement from a fixing position into a release position and vice versa, and a mechanical positioning device, with which the relative movement of the form locking elements can be brought about for reaching the fixing position and the release position, it is suggested that form locking elements be arranged on the bearing part and form locking elements be arranged on the bearing head, that the bearing head be movable relative to the bearing part in a direction transverse to a pivoting direction in order to move the form locking elements between

Abstract: To improve a diode laser device comprising at least one laser diode, a power supply for the laser diode, a cooling device including a heat sink with the laser diode disposed thereon, and a coolant supply allowing a coolant to flow through the heat sink, so that simple monitoring of its operation is possible without interfering with use of the diode laser device, it is proposed that an operation monitoring device be provided, and that the operation monitoring device detect a quantity representing the electric current flowing through the laser diode and a quantity representing the temperature of the coolant exiting from the heat sink and determine from these an operational quantity representing operation of the diode laser device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tuning tool for a stringed instrument and methods for tuning a stringed instrument. The tuning tool comprises a knob and a recess in the knob adapted to accept a tuning peg of the stringed instrument. The knob provides increased leverage for tuning the stringed instrument. The recess enables the tuning tool to be temporarily fitted over the tuning peg.