Abstract: A method of determining the position of a rotor of a permanent-magnet motor. The method includes sequentially exciting and freewheeling a winding of the motor. The winding is freewheeled for a freewheel period in response to current in the winding exceeding a current limit. The method also includes measuring a parameter that corresponds to either the magnitude of current in the winding at the end of the freewheel period or the interval between the start or end of the freewheel period and the time at which current in the winding exceeds the current limit. The measured parameter is then compared against a threshold and the rotor is determined to be at a predetermined position when the measured parameter is less than or greater than the threshold.

Abstract: A method of controlling a brushless permanent-magnet motor. The method includes generating a first signal having a voltage that is proportional to a voltage across a winding of the motor, and generating a second signal having a voltage that is proportional to a current in the winding. The second signal is then differentiated to generate a third signal, and the voltages of the first signal and the third signal are compared. An output signal is generated in response to the comparison, the output signal having an edge whenever the voltages of the first signal and the third signal correspond. The winding is then commutated at times relative to the edges in the output signal. Additionally, a control system that implements the method, and a motor system that incorporates the control system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of diagnosing, monitoring, and assessing treatment effects for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases and disorders, such as Alzheimer's Disease, early in the course of clinical disease or prior to the onset of brain damage and clinical symptoms. Methods of measuring the in vivo metabolism of biomolecules produced in the CNS in a subject are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of diagnosing, monitoring, and assessing treatment effects for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases and disorders, such as Alzheimer's Disease, early in the course of clinical disease or prior to the onset of brain damage and clinical symptoms. Methods of measuring the in vivo metabolism of biomolecules produced in the CNS in a subject are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of diagnosing, monitoring, and assessing treatment effects for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases and disorders, such as Alzheimer's Disease, early in the course of clinical disease or prior to the onset of brain damage and clinical symptoms. Methods of measuring the in vivo metabolism of biomolecules produced in the CNS in a subject are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of diagnosing, monitoring, and assessing treatment effects for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases and disorders, such as Alzheimer's Disease, early in the course of clinical disease or prior to the onset of brain damage and clinical symptoms. Methods of measuring the in vivo metabolism of biomolecules produced in the CNS in a subject are provided.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for simply and intuitively establishing and using a communication link with another user. Various embodiments of the present invention allow one or more non-technically oriented users to also easily set up for, and engage easily in a video call. In an embodiment, a communication application used over a network (e.g., the Internet) is seamlessly downloaded onto a user's machine if necessary. The user is provided with an account which has already been created/registered with the application. In addition, the user's account is linked to at least one other account, and information for each account is populated into the buddy-list or contact information for the other account. Providing of already created/registered accounts, and the linking of various accounts, permits easy and seamless communication between users. In one embodiment, cards are used to provide the user with information regarding the pre-registered accounts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying, or morphing, a video image. A video feed is received which include an image of a person's face. A number of facial features are detected from the video feed. One or more of those facial features are selected and modified, with the modification being applied to the video feed to produce a morphed image. For example, the morphing can produce fun effects such as oversized or too small eyes, lips, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of diagnosing, monitoring, and assessing treatment effects for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases and disorders, such as Alzheimer's Disease, early in the course of clinical disease or prior to the onset of brain damage and clinical symptoms. Methods of measuring the in vivo metabolism of biomolecules produced in the CNS in a subject are provided.

Abstract: A multimedia data processing system and method which transparently processes video and/or audio streams in real-time. The operation of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention does not require any intervention from, or involvement of, either the producer of the video and/or audio stream, or the client application. With such a transparent solution, video and/or audio streams can be processed seamlessly, and completely independently of the specific client application that the user chooses to use. In one embodiment, the invention uses an external service to monitor new processes and add code to these processes. The invention inserts into the system by hot-patching the software in memory and by only looking at select service calls.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying, or morphing, a video image. A video feed is received which include an image of a person's face. A number of facial features are detected from the video feed. One or more of those facial features are selected and modified, with the modification being applied to the video feed to produce a morphed image. For example, the morphing can produce fun effects such as oversized or too small eyes, lips, etc.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying, or morphing, a video image. A video feed is received which include an image of a person's face. A number of facial features are detected from the video feed. One or more of those facial features are selected and modified, with the modification being applied to the video feed to produce a morphed image. For example, the morphing can produce fun effects such as oversized or too small eyes, lips, etc.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying, or morphing, a video image. A video feed is received which include an image of a person's face. A number of facial features are detected from the video feed. One or more of those facial features are selected and modified, with the modification being applied to the video feed to produce a morphed image. For example, the morphing can produce fun effects such as oversized or too small eyes, lips, etc.

Abstract: A multimedia data processing system and method which transparently processes video and/or audio streams in real-time. The operation of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention does not require any intervention from, or involvement of, either the producer of the video and/or audio stream, or the client application. With such a transparent solution, video and/or audio streams can be processed seamlessly, and completely independently of the specific client application that the user chooses to use. Thus a system in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention can be used with any client application of the user's choice. This allows the creation of a large number of video and/or audio effects and/or improvements to the benefit of the end-user.

Abstract: The present invention combines features of an executable process with the need for multiple application programs to share a single input device. The present invention provides an executable program implemented as a process that allows multiple applications to communicate with a single input device. This is achieved by loading the input device control executable program as a process. The executable program is a server thus allowing multiple application programs to interface with the same input device. The multi-instance input device control (MIIDC) executable program responds to each application program request as if the input device is open for the calling application program. Each application program is thus enabled to communicate with the input device instance without interrupting the operation of other application programs communicating with the input device. The input device instance keeps track of all the connections to it and multiplexes and resolves conflicting requests.

Abstract: A system and a method for the transfer of data between a digital camera and a host using a novel combination of hardware and software related elements. An aspect of the hardware-related elements provides a camera base unit which remains connected with the host, and which the camera is connected with to facilitate the transfer of data to the host. The camera base unit significantly simplifies the connection between the camera and the host by alleviating the need to directly connect the camera with a host. Furthermore, the camera base unit, by providing a pass-through connection and placement guides that mate with the camera, assures that an intuitive placement of the camera on the camera base unit also enables an electronic connection between the camera and the host. Therefore, the simple placement of the camera in contact with the camera base unit ensures a proper interface between the camera and the host, which is connected with the camera base unit.

Abstract: The memory of a digital camera is flexibly managed. When memory is available the camera will use it to capture the highest possible quality and highest possible resolution images. The user is allowed to specify a decrease and increase to the quality and compression settings of the image through the camera's user interface, effecting the size of the image file in memory. (always within the bounds of what can be supported by the amount of image data actually captured by the camera). The user specified settings are applied by the camera to the image data at a later time (e.g. only when the image data is finally downloaded to the host pc). In addition, the camera can store more data even after the memory is full.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing both still images and video using a single user input element. The user input element functions both (1) as a mode selection input, and (2) as a capture input. The user input element could be a button, switch, dial or other input element. In one embodiment, the digital camera is equipped with a dual-mode capture button, which combines a slider button with a transparent capture button. The transparent capture button actually has two distinct contact points on the printed circuit board. One contact point corresponds to the still camera icon, and thus to capture of still image data, while the other contact point corresponds to the video camera icon, and thus to the capture of video data. Sliding the transparent button in one direction uncovers a still camera icon, while sliding the button in another direction uncovers a video camera icon. When the button is positioned over one of the icons, the other icon is obscured.

Abstract: A camera for recording an image and associated audio. The camera activation mechanism also initiates the recording of audio data in the audio memory, with the audio memory being continuously overwritten after a maximum time of audio is recorded. Thus, at any point in time when an image is captured, audio from prior to that time is available, and audio after that time could be recorded, all with the pressing of a single button. In an alternate embodiment, a partial activation of an image capture button initiates recording of audio.