Abstract: For reducing a peak value in single-carrier modulated or multi-carrier modulated digital transmitter signals, the peak value is first determined from a plurality of transmitter symbols contained in the digital signal. If a predetermined value is exceeded, a replacement symbol is generated which replaces a predetermined transmitter symbol. The replacement symbol is so chosen that it lowers the peak value and is convertible into the original transmitter symbol without error using a coding which was used to create the transmitter symbols.

Abstract: A voice messaging system. The voice messaging system includes a set of geographically distributed devices in which voice messages are stored and logic that causes voice messages to be stored in respective devices in the set of devices from which messages can be efficiently retrieved. The logic may cause voice messages to be stored in a device from the set of devices closest to a location from which the user has retrieved messages. A voice message system comprising logic that receives and stores messages from callers for respective users and logic that selects and plays a message not left by a caller to a user. The message is selected based on information about the user, and the message not left by a caller may comprise an advertisement. A method of storing messages in a voice messaging system that has a plurality of voice mail boxes associated with a plurality of subscribers.

Abstract: A method and system for treating body structures or tissue allows treatment by any of ablation, coating, expansion, plumping, shaping, and shrinking. Treatment sitesinclude any of a sphincter, sinus or orifice. During treatment, electrodes emerge from apertures in a balloon. The balloon with liquid from a circulating bath cools tissue in direct contact with electrodes and immediately adjacent, so that discrete regions are treated, with minimal damage to adjacent structures. Sensors, coupled to electrodes, measure treatment properties such as: temperature, impedance and nervous activity. Measurements are used for: diagnostic assessment, determining treatment parameters, providing nervous stimulation and/or blocking, and feedback for controlling energy delivery. The catheter includes an optical path that can be coupled to external viewing apparatus. Endoscopic methods, including fluoroscopic, fiber optic, or radioscopy allow examining tissue and determining position of electrodes.

Abstract: A centralized full-service research bureau and test center method and apparatus is provided, which assists a customer, typically a Web product manager, in designing a usability test for typical tasks faced by a visitor to the customer's site. The centralized full-service research bureau and test center method and apparatus provides proprietary software to administer the usability test to a pre-qualified pool of testers meeting desired demographic constraints. The usability test measures not only the visitor's success in achieving objectives, but also prompts a tester for context-specific feedback ranging from aesthetics to behavior. Statistics are aggregated across the testing population and presented not just as data, but with recommended actions backed up by analysis.

Abstract: A method for classifying live subjects according to optical thickness of the skin is based on noninvasive, near-infrared reflectance measurements on skin tissue. An indicator of skin optical thickness is derived through analysis of the water, fat, and protein marker bands in the near infrared spectrum. The skin thickness indicator may then be used to evaluate the suitability of the subject for calibration on a standardized set of optical probes. The optical probes in the standardized set are designed to cover a range of penetration depths by varying the distance distribution between illuminator and detector fibers on each probe tip.

Abstract: The invention is an electronic, voice-controlled musical instrument. It is in essence an electronic kazoo. The player hums into the mouthpiece, and the device imitates the sound of a musical instrument whose pitch and volume change in response to the player's voice. The player is given the impression of playing the actual instrument and controlling it intimately with the fine nuances of his voice. The instrument can in principle be any music-producing sound source: a trumpet, trombone, clarinet, flute, piano, electric guitar, voice, whistle, even a chorus of voices, i.e. virtually any source of sound. In its simplest configuration, the instrument resembles a kind of horn. However, the shape and appearance of the instrument can be fashioned by the manufacture to match the sound of any traditional instrument, if desired; or its shape can be completely novel.

Abstract: A method for ciphering multimedia includes the entering of an ciphering index in a definition data block of the multimedia data, this index pointing to an ciphering algorithm which is to be used. In response to the ciphering index in the definition data block one of a plurality of ciphering algorithms is selected. The multimedia data are ciphered using the selected ciphering algorithm. Various additional entries in the definition data block which is assigned to the multimedia data permit the clearing or enabling of a deciphering device, rapid access to a database of ciphered multimedia data and a customer- and data-specific use of the multimedia data while taking copyright aspects into account.

Abstract: The smart Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) electronic mail system utilizes an intelligent decision algorithm to decide if an addressee is HTML capable or if plain text is required. The user specifies if certain e-mail domains, newsgroups, and individual e-mail addresses are HTML-capable or require plain text e-mail or the invention will query directory servers such as Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) servers as to the HTML capabilities of an e-mail client. The user composes an HTML e-mail document, indicating the addressees in the “to” field and selects the “send” command, the invention examines the document and, if the addressee is known to be HTML-capable, the document is transmitted as is.

Abstract: A method of aligning the end of an array of optical fibers 27, such as ribbon fiber, with waveguides 33 in an optical device 31, such as an active semiconductor optical device. The ends of the optical fibers 27 are mounted in grooves 25 in a grooved surface 23 of a first block 21 of a fiber block assembly 20. A second block 22 is mounted to the grooved surface 23 of the first block 21 with the fibers 27 mounted between the blocks 21, 22. The grooved surface 23 of the first block 21 extends beyond the second block 22 to form guide surfaces 30. The optical device 31 is supported on a support surface 36 of a bench 32 having guide surfaces 37 extending from the support surface 36.

Abstract: A view morphing algorithm is applied to synchronous collections of video images from at least two video imaging devices, and interpolating between the images, creates a composite image view of the local participant. This composite image approximates what might be seen from a point between the video imaging devices, presenting the image to other video session participants.

Abstract: Systems and methods for locating and identifying structures beneath a surface of the earth by processing and transforming a signal transmitted from a horizontal borehole at a specific depth from a surface of the earth into a representation of underground structures.

Abstract: The optimum reproduction of high-contrast motifs in digital imaging technology is limited owing to the limited dynamic range of present-day image sensors. The reproduction of high-contrast motifs is intended to be improved using active pixel image sensors. The sensitivity of the sensor pixels is adapted, controlled in an analogous manner to the blurred brightness distribution in the motif, to ensure that the dark and bright image regions of the motif are also reproduced, well illuminated, without any loss of detailed contrast. This results in a particularly natural and balanced image impression. This method may be used in numerous fields for digital image processing.

Abstract: The invention provides basic 1-to-1 character case mapping information for Unicode characters while using only small amount of memory and at a reasonable speed. The presently preferred embodiment of the invention provides a technique that encodes the case mapping into a sequential list of <Minimum, Size, Gap, Offset> quadruple. Every quadruple represents a range of characters. The Minimum and Size values represent the boundary of the range. The Gap represents which characters in the range have the valid mapping. Thus, if the character Minimum is a multiple of the Gap, then the character has a mapping in the quadruple. Otherwise, the character does not have a mapping. If the character has a mapping, then the mapped value is the character plus the Offset.

Abstract: The invention comprises a structured light projector, a video camera, and an image processor, for achieving perspective corrected images that enhance eye-contact during teleconferencing. A structured light projector is offset in one direction from the monitor center, and illuminates a local participant with a structured light pattern. The image of the local participant, illuminated by both ambient and structured light, is captured by the video camera, also offset from the monitor center, preferably in the direction opposite the structured light projector. By considering the distortion of the structured light observed from the position of the video camera and the position of the structured light projector and video camera relative to the monitor center, an image processor creates an image of the local participant as viewed from a perspective that, when viewed by the remote participant, provides a sense of eye contact with the local participant.

Abstract: An ESD protection device for an integrated circuit, which is integrated in a semiconductor substrate of the integrated circuit, has a heavily doped p-region provided with a first connection electrode, a heavily doped n-region provided with a second connection electrode, a lightly doped p-region bordering on the heavily doped p-region, and a lightly doped n-region bordering on the heavily doped n-region and the lightly doped p-region in such a way that the lightly doped regions are arranged at least between the heavily doped regions. The distance which exists between the lightly doped p-region and the heavily doped n-region and which is determined by the lightly doped n-region is dimensioned in such a way that the depletion zone in the lightly doped n-region, which becomes larger as the blocking voltage applied to the connection electrodes increases, reaches the heavily doped n-region before the breakthrough voltage between the lightly doped n-region and the lightly doped p-region has been reached.

Abstract: A variable valve comprising a first cylinder having a first aperture and a second cylinder having a second aperture. The first cylinder moves between a first position and a second position. Preferably, the second cylinder moves in cooperation with the first cylinder such that the first aperture and the second aperture form a variable sized opening when the first cylinder moves from the first position toward the second position. The first aperture and the second aperture preferably rotate. The variable sized opening is preferably in a closed position when in the first position. The valve comprises a block body including a passage for allowing air to pass. therethrough. The first cylinder and the second cylinder are coupled to the block body and configured in a predetermined position such that the variable sized opening is in communication with the passage. The valve also includes an axle for driving the first cylinder and the second cylinder.

Abstract: The invention provides a mosaic decal probe, in which a mosaic of probe chips is assembled into a thin membrane that is suspended in a ring which is made of a material that has a TCE matching that of silicon. The membrane is mounted on the ring in tension, such as it stays in tension throughout a functional temperature range. In this way, the membrane exhibits a functional TCE matching that of the ring. The probe chip preferably has spring contacts on both sides. Apertures are cut in the membrane to allow the spring contacts on one side of the membrane to protrude through the membrane and contact the printed wiring board. The spring contacts which contact the printed wiring board are allowed to slide during temperature excursions, thereby decoupling the TCE mismatch between the probe chip and the printed wiring board. Two preferred embodiments are currently contemplated. A first embodiment of the invention uses a low-count mosaic comprised of few probe chips, for example four probe chips.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for estimating and removing spectral interference improve precision and robustness of non-invasive analyte measurement using Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. The estimation of spectral interference is accomplished, either through multivariate modeling or discrete factor analysis, using a calibration set of samples in which the interference is orthogonal to the analyte signal of interest, or where the shape of the interference is known. Each of the methods results in a multivariate model in which the spectral interference is estimated for a new sample and removed by vector subtraction. Independent models based on classes of sample variability are used to collapse spectral interference and determine more accurately which model is best equipped to estimate the signal of interference in the new sample. Principal components analysis and other commonly known analytical techniques can be used to determine class membership.

Abstract: The methods of the invention can be used with image data divided into domain blocks. A predetermined search pattern of range blocks centered on a domain block is defined for use in the methods. The first method includes a step of generating at least one error descriptor data based on domain block data and range block data. The error descriptor data can be derived by scaling the range blocks to the pixel size of a domain block, and subtracting the means of the range blocks and domain block from each pixel thereof. The mean-adjusted, scaled pixel intensity levels of the scaled range blocks are subtracted from mean-adjusted pixel intensity levels of the domain block to produce difference data. The absolute value of the difference data is taken and the positive difference data are summed to produce summed error data for each range block. The summed error data is used to derive at least one error descriptor data for the image.

Abstract: A power MOS element includes a drift region with a doping of a first doping type, a channel region with a doping of a second doping type which is complementary to said first doping type and which borders on said channel region and said drift region, and a source region with a doping of said first doping type, said source region bordering on said channel region. Furthermore, said power MOS element includes a plurality of basically parallel gate trenches which extend to said drift region and which comprise an electrically conductive material which is insulated from the transistor region by an insulator. The individual gate trenches are connected by a connecting gate trench, a gate contact only being connected in an electrically conductive way to the active gate trenches via contact holes in said connecting gate trench.