Abstract: A modular system for constructing an atmospheric pressure plasma source. A plasma torch module may be constructed by reassembling the structural components of two (2) different models of spark plugs. Each module can produce a plasma torch having a radius of about 1 cm or more, a height of about 6 cm, and a peak density exceeding 1013 cm−3. A set of modules, each connected in series, may be used with a ballasting capacitor such that an array can be operated while sharing a common power supply to produce a plasma having a relatively large volume and a relatively high density. A system having a number of plasma torch modules may be used in applications for absorbing radiation, reducing air drag and igniting fuel.

Abstract: Solving a quadratic programming problem involved in training support vector machines by sweeping through a set of training examples, solving small sub-problems of the quadratic programming problem. Each of these sub-problems has an analytic solution, which is faster that the numerical quadratic programming solutions used in the prior art. In one embodiment, training examples with non-optimal Lagrange multipliers are adjusted, one at a time, until all are optimal (e.g. until all examples fulfill the Kuhn-Tucker conditions). In another embodiment, training examples with non-optimal Lagrange multipliers are paired and then adjusted, until all are optimal.

Abstract: An automatic focus adjusting apparatus includes an image move-amount detecting section, an image position predicting section and a control section. The image move-amount detecting section detects, for each of a pair of images of a subject divided in a predetermined direction, image positions of the subject in an image-divided direction and in a direction approximately orthogonal with this image-divided direction respectively on photoelectric conversion elements at mutually different first and second times respectively, and obtains move amounts of the images of the subject in the image-divided direction based on a result of this detection. The image position predicting section predicts an image position of the subject in an image-divided direction at a third time different from the first and second times, based on an output from the image move-amount detecting section.

Abstract: There is provided a camera with an automatic focusing device having hybrid AF unit capable of always performing a reliable automatic focusing operation on a moving object to provide a more preferable photographic result. The camera includes first distance measuring unit 4 having at least a pair of light receiving sensors, for measuring the distance of an object by receiving a beam of light from the object, second distance measuring unit 3 having light projecting unit for projecting a beam of light upon the object and light receiving unit for receiving a beam of light reflected therefrom, for measuring the distance of the object by projecting a beam of light upon the object with the light projecting unit and by receiving a beam of light reflected therefrom with the light receiving unit and distance measuring method selecting unit 2 for selecting either the first distance measuring unit or the second distance measuring unit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a telephone communication system incorporating pager features are described. In accordance with the present invention, when a call to a system subscriber is received, the subscriber is contacted by the telephone switch which receives the call via the use of a pager message, e.g., using a conventional pager system. If the subscriber has a pager module of the present invention, which receives the pager message directed to the subscriber inserted into an enhanced telephone of the present invention, the pager module will automatically initiate a call to the switch where the waiting call is being held or “parked”. The automatically placed call will result in a connection between the switch and called party being established over conventional telephone lines. The connection with the switch is thus established automatically in a manner that is transparent to the subscriber.

Abstract: A graphical user interface in which object thumbnails, as scaled images, are rendered on a two-dimensional wall or screen, and which exploits spatial memory. The objects may be moved, continuously, on the surface with a two-dimensional input device. Pop-up title bars may be rendered over active objects. Intelligent help may be provided to the user, as visual indicators, based on proximity clustering or based on matching algorithms.

Abstract: A channel interface unit for interconnecting a two-wire transmission path which transmits analog signals and a digital signal transmission path. The channel interface unit includes a digital interface unit coupled with the digital signal transmission path and producing digital signals based on digital signals received from the digital signal transmission path, a converter for converting the digital signals to analog signals, a filter for removing noise, produced by the converter, from the analog signals, a driver, coupled with the two-wire transmission path, for amplifying the filtered analog signals, and a power supply for providing regulated voltage to the driver.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a holographic process including a stage consisting in producing the hologram of a point P thank to an optical device including a crystal (131) and two polarizers (132,135) placed respectively before and after the crystal (131), characterized by the fact that it includes in addition the stages consisting in: 1) separating the answers of the optical system corresponding to two different polarizations and 2) combining both these answers in order to obtain a signal which depends only on the distance between the point P ant the optical device. The invention concerns also a device which allows the implementation or this process.

Abstract: Sixty-four regions are established on an image sensed picture from a video camera, where evaluating value r.sub.ij, b.sub.ij, and y.sub.ij is obtained by averaging color difference signals R-Y and B-Y and luminance signal Y obtained from an image sensing signal for over 1 field period for each region. When the apparatus determines that the difference in the evaluating values between two adjacent regions do not exceed a predetermined value, that is, when that continuing regions have the same color, the weighing amount of the color evaluating values of a corresponding region is adjusted to limit its effect upon the gain control signals used to adjust the gain of the color signal amplifiers. As a result, the effect of objects of the same color towards white balance adjustment is reduced.

Abstract: Base station equipment of a digital mobile communication system includes a digital audio signal processing apparatus provided for each message channel for low bit rate coding and decoding a digital audio signal. Each digital audio signal processing apparatus includes a plurality of memories that store a plurality of low bit rate coding/decoding programs differing from each other to comply with different low bit rate coding/decoding methods. A system control circuit determines the low bit rate coding/decoding method of an applied digital signal for controlling a selector to select a memory that stores corresponding low bit rate coding/decoding program. As a result, the digital audio signal processing apparatus performs digital to digital conversion of the applied digital signal according to the low bit rate coding/decoding program stored in the selected memory.

Abstract: A deformable, inexpensive crucible for use with a dynamic thermo-mechanical physical test or simulating system, specifically for holding a self-resistively heated specimen (250) at liquid temperatures and particularly, though not exclusively, one suited for use in simulating thin-strip continuous casting processes. The crucible is formed of a thermally and electrically insulating material (222) which surrounds, e.g., the bottom and two opposing and sides of the specimen perpendicular to the direction of the force used for compression and which, in turn, is held within a thin, readily deformable, e.g., U-shaped shell (210) with an upwardly facing open portion. The shell is appropriately sized with a length and height less than that of insulating material such that, when properly positioned over the material, the shell will not contact the specimen and hence remain insulated from the heating current flowing therethrough and thus will not exhibit any self-resistive heating.