Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for measuring the quality of video (e.g., television) signals. In particular, the methods and apparatus of the present invention allow for the measurement of various quality parameters of analog or digital video signals at a set-top terminal 10 or similar device, without the need for external test equipment. A video signal 14, which contains a test signal, is received at a decoder 20. The video signal 14 is decoded and temporarily stored in memory 40. A processor 30 associated with the decoder 20 and the memory 40 analyzes the test signal and calculates a quality parameter for the received video signal 14 based on the test signal. The quality measurements can also be accessed remotely and downloaded, for example, by a cable television provider at a cable television headend. The video quality measurement may include various indicators of end-to-end system performance, including the performance of the set-top terminal 10 or similar device.

Abstract: In order to so improve an inductive sensor comprising at least one sensor coil in the form of a structured, conductive layer of a carrier board, and an evaluation circuit comprising a printed circuit board with conductor tracks provided thereon and being connected to the sensor coil, that it is manufacturable as cost-efficiently as possible, it is proposed that the carrier board carrying the sensor coil be mechanically rigidly and electrically connected to the printed circuit board by at least two soldered joints.

Abstract: A statistical multiplexer for coding and multiplexing multiple channels of digital television data, or multiple panels of HDTV digital television data. A bit rate need parameter is determined for each encoder in a stat mux group by scaling the complexities of previous pictures of the same and different picture types. Scaling factors based on an activity level, motion estimation score, and number of pictures of a certain type in a GOP, may be used. Moreover, the scaling factors may be bounded based on a linear or non-linear operator to prevent large variations in the factors. An encoding bit rate is allocated to each channel based on its need parameter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting scene changes between successive fields in a digital television signal. I-frames, which start new GOPs, are aligned with scene changes. In a preprocessing stage (205, 210), the change in the sum of pixel differences between consecutive odd fields, or consecutive even fields, is calculated for every consecutive input field. A scene change is detected when a large positive value in the change of sum is followed by a large negative value therein. A decision of which picture type to use is not made until a final encoding stage (225, 235). I-frames can be inhibited when an encoder buffer level is too high. A counter resets the scene change indication to avoid a perpetual scene change state for transitions from still to motion. In film mode, the MPEG-recommended frame-based encoding is deactivated when a scene change occurred on a field boundary (e.g., when there is no redundant field in the picture).

Abstract: A system for providing an accurate time reference for multiple input and output digital video signals of a transcoder that is particularly suited for use with MPEG data. The multiple streams are synchronized with a single master system time clock at the transcoder. Timing data from the master clock is compared to timing data from packets that are input to the transcoder to determine an offset. In particular, timing data, such as a program clock reference (PCR) field, is recovered from packets of different channels that are input to the transcoder. For each channel, timing data is then provided for packets that are output from the transcoder based on the offset and timing data of the master clock at the respective output times. In particular, the adjusted timing data is determined as a sum of the offset and an associated hardware error, less a delay (PcrSysDly) associated with the transcoder, which includes a lookahead delay and a buffer delay.

Abstract: A Kirschner wire 10 for use in endoscopic surgery is provided, as well as methods and apparatus for installing and removing Kirschner wire 10. Kirschner wire 10 has a holding device 20 for ease of insertion and removal. Kirschner wire 10 is sufficiently short so as not to protrude from the working channel of the endoscope. Insertion instrument 30 has a receptacle 40 which for engagement with holding device 20 of Kirschner wire 10. A targeting ring 46 on insertion instrument 30 enables placement of Kirschner wire 10 under x-ray supervision. Removal device 60 has a wire body 62 with a receptacle 64 located at a distal end thereof for engagement with holding device 20 of Kirschner wire 10. Kirschner wire 10 may be adapted for use in marking a point of entry for a cannulated bone screw or as a point of orientation for an endoscopic procedure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing abstraction layers in the hierarchical structure of a set-top terminal to enable the set-top's firmware to be compatible with different operating systems. An operating system (OS) kernel interface is provided using a first OS abstraction layer that is OS-independent, and a second abstraction layer that is OS-dependent. The interface enables the terminal's firmware to access the kernel's set of functions independently of the OS. The abstraction layers provide an interface for kernel functions for the following kernel constructs: Timers, Threads, Memory, Synchronization and Messaging. The invention benefits terminal manufacturers and developers as well as network operators by allowing set-top firmware to run without modifications due to a change in the set-top's OS.

Abstract: In order to optimize the handling of a rotating surgical tool for producing a depression in bone material, provision is made for an ultrasonic transducer which is capable of emitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to be arranged in the tool, and for the ultrasonic transducer to be connectable to an ultrasonic generator and to a receiver which generates signals in dependence upon the strength of the ultrasonic radiation received by the ultrasonic transducer and upon the length of time between the emission of ultrasonic radiation and the reception of reflected ultrasonic radiation, which are a measure of the condition of the bone material in the direction of emission.

Abstract: In order to provide a position measuring system, comprising a transmitter, a sensor with an inductive element to which the transmitter is coupled electromagnetically and an evaluating unit, wherein the sensor and the transmitter are adapted to be positioned relative to one another, whereby said position measuring system will be of simple construction and can thus be manufactured economically while being employable universally, provision is made for the inductive element to be coupled to an oscillator which is affected by the Q factor and/or the effective inductance of the inductive element, for the Q factor and/or the effective inductance of the inductive element to be determined by the size of an effective sensor region to which the transmitter is coupled, and/or by the size of an effective transmitter region which is coupled to an effective sensor region, and for the sensor and/or the transmitter to be formed in such a manner that the size of the effective sensor region to which the transmitter is coupled,

Abstract: In order to improve the quality of the drilling process in a surgical drilling apparatus for perforating the cranium including a drill plate which can be placed upon the cranium and a drill which is guided in the drill plate, it is proposed that the drill be accommodated in a mounting which is rotatably mounted on the drill plate, said drill being displaceable along the rotational axis and being accommodated so as to be non-rotatable relative to said mounting, and in that the drill be displaceable towards the mounting against the effect of a spring.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for securing a bone screw 20 to a clamping element 30 of an osteosynthesis holding system 5 is provided. The bone screw 20 has a circumferential groove 25 located on a top portion of the screw 20 below a screw head 22. Snap catches 35 protrude from a bone-contacting surface 38 of the clamping element 30 and interlock with the groove 25 in the screw 20 when the screw 20 is inserted into the clamping element 30 (e.g., when the screw is screwed into a bone segment through a hole in the clamping element). A removal device 90 is provided for removing the screw 20, as a greater axial force is required to overcome the locking mechanism than is needed to engage the locking mechanism. A method for revision (removal) of the screw 20 from the locking mechanism is also provided.

Abstract: In order to improve a clamping and spreading device for the relative movement of two workpieces which have surfaces lying essentially parallel to a common plane, comprising a first holder, to which the first workpiece can be fixed, and a second holder, to which the second workpiece can be fixed, wherein the two holders are movable relative to one another, in such a manner that this can be used in a simple manner comfortable for the operator it is provided for the first holder and the second holder to be connected to one another via a guiding device so as to be displaceable and for the guiding device to comprise an actuating element which is mounted not only on the first holder so as to be movable but is also mounted on the second holder so as to be movable and via which a relative movement of the two holders can be actuated.

Abstract: In order to provide a wind stop device for a passenger vehicle with a roll bar, comprising surface elements of the wind stop device and a supporting device for the surface elements of the wind stop device which can be secured on the roll bar, which can be assembled in a simple manner and quickly it is suggested that the supporting device be provided with at least two holding brackets arranged in spaced relationship, wherein the holding brackets are arranged and designed such that they can be abutted on respective bar sections of the roll bar for securing the supporting device on the roll bar.

Abstract: A cutting machine includes an anvil roller rotatable on a machine frame about an axis of rotation. The anvil roller has an anvil surface. A cutting tool is mounted on the machine frame for rotation about an axis of rotation, with a cutter interacting with the anvil surface and with supporting rings which are held on the cutting tool and support it relative to the anvil roller with their supporting ring surfaces and/or vice versa. The quality of the cutting effect can be maintained even when the cutter becomes worn, by enabling the diameter of the supporting ring surface of each supporting ring to be adjustable by radial expansion and contraction.

Abstract: A direct quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modulator provides amplitude and phase pre-equalization to reduce complexity and cost. In-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) QAM signal components are provided from an analog modulator. A radio-frequency (RF) driver provides a RF signal with the QAM components. A monitoring device monitors phase and amplitude errors in the RF signal, and provides a feedback signal to a digital complex phase and amplitude equalizer embedded in a digital Nyquist filter. The equalizer uses the feedback signal to provide a pre-equalizing signal to a digital-to-analog converter, which provides a corresponding analog equalizing signal. This signal is, in turn, low-pass filtered and fed back to the analog I/Q modulator to equalize the phase and amplitude of the I and Q components there. The invention is particularly suitable for generating 64/256-QAM signals in the 50 MHz-880 MHz range without an Intermediate Frequency (IF) stage and double-conversion, and may be used, e.g.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating the position of an object within a volume. The system uses the time difference of arrival of signals at a plurality of receivers to establish the position of an object, using only the substantially multipath free portion of the received signal for analysis purposes. A prior model of the object and/or volume is used to assist the location determination process.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric fan, in particular, for motor vehicles, comprising an electric drive motor, a fan wheel coupled with the drive motor, and an electronic control unit for controlling the motor. In order to make the electric fan structurally more simple and more cost-effective to assemble, it is proposed that the drive motor and the control unit be arranged in a common housing, and that the housing have air vents for passage of a flow of cooling air generatable by the fan wheel, and a heat sink of the control unit be arranged at at least one air vent.

Abstract: In order to improve a refrigerant compressor comprising an overall casing, an electric motor disposed in the overall casing with a stator and a rotor which is mounted on a drive shaft, and also a screw compressor disposed in the overall casing, one compressor screw of which is mounted on the drive shaft, which is rotatably mounted in the overall casing by a first radial bearing between the rotor and the compressor screw and a second radial bearing disposed on a side of the compressor screw lying opposite the first radial bearing, in such a way that the risk of the stator being touched by the rotor no longer occurs, it is proposed that the drive shaft is mounted in the overall casing by a third radial bearing which is disposed on a side of the rotor lying opposite the first radial bearing, and that a drive portion of the drive shaft which extends between the first radial bearing and the third radial bearing is formed in such a way as to compensate for alignment errors between the three radial bearings.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved machine tool, comprising a machine frame, a support arranged on the machine frame and having a first receiving means for the workpiece or the tool. A cross slide system is arranged on the machine frame and has a second receiving means for the tool or the workpiece which can be moved by the cross slide system in a movement zone of a cross slide movement surface. The cross slide system may comprise two slide elements, one of which is supported on the machine frame and the other bears the second receiving means, such that the slide elements are guided so as to be movable on one another by a single two-dimensional guide means which is movable in the direction of both cross slide movement axes. The guide means determines the precision of the guidance of the second receiving means parallel to the cross slide movement surface.