Abstract: A spaced-based system is provided to simultaneously track and monitor one or more ocean going vessels at any point on the earth. The system includes a plurality of space vehicles or satellites each satellite includes an AIS communications payload to receive AIS signals including AIS information transmitted from the one or more vessels and to transmit the received AIS information. The system also includes a plurality of ground earth elements. Each ground earth element includes a receiver to receive the AIS information transmitted from one or more of the plurality of satellites to globally track and monitor the one or more vessels based on the AIS information received from the communications payload. The plurality of satellites are distributed in two or more orbital planes located at a substantially common altitude and having a substantially common inclination. In particular, the satellites may be deployed in a low earth orbit constellation.

Abstract: An automatic identification system (AIS) communications payload for a space vehicle traveling in earth orbit includes an antenna; a receiver connected to the antenna to receive an AIS signal including a reported vessel position transmitted from a vessel; a processor to process the received AIS messages and determine the accuracy of the reported vessel position; and a transmitter to transmit the processed AIS messages and the determined accuracy to a ground earth element. The processor may be configured to determine a position of the space vehicle; compare the reported vessel position to the space vehicle position; and determine the accuracy of the reported vessel position based on the comparison. The processor also may be configured to flag the AIS message as suspect when the reported vessel position is determined to be inaccurate.

Abstract: An adjusting tool having two electrical contacts provides a means for measuring an electrical signal that is used for adjusting electrical parameters of an object as the object is being physically adjusted by the adjusting tool. In an embodiment, the adjusting tool is configured such that the two electrical contacts make electrical contact with electrical contacts of a potentiometer of a hearing aid to receive an adjustment signal that is also applied to circuits in the hearing aid. The two electrical contacts of the adjusting tool maintain electrical contact with the electrical contacts of the potentiometer as the adjusting tool physically adjusts the potentiometer. In an embodiment, the adjusting tool includes a display to provide a visual representation of the adjustment signal as the potentiometer is adjusted.

Abstract: An automatic identification system (AIS) communications payload for a space vehicle traveling in earth orbit includes an antenna; a receiver connected to the antenna to receive an AIS signal including a reported vessel position transmitted from a vessel; a processor to process the received AIS messages and determine the accuracy of the reported vessel position; and a transmitter to transmit the processed AIS messages and the determined accuracy to a ground earth element. The processor may be configured to determine a position of the space vehicle; compare the reported vessel position to the space vehicle position; and determine the accuracy of the reported vessel position based on the comparison. The processor also may be configured to flag the AIS message as suspect when the reported vessel position is determined to be inaccurate.

Abstract: A spaced-based system is provided to simultaneously track and monitor one or more ocean going vessels at any point on the earth. The system includes a plurality of space vehicles or satellites. Each satellite includes an AIS communications payload to receive AIS signals including AIS information transmitted from the one or more vessels and to transmit the received AIS information. The system also includes a plurality of ground earth elements. Each ground earth element includes a receiver to receive the AIS information transmitted from one or more of the plurality of satellites to globally track and monitor the one or more vessels based on the AIS information received from the communications payload. The plurality of satellites are distributed in two or more orbital planes located at a substantially common altitude and having a substantially common inclination. In particular, the satellites may be deployed in a low earth orbit constellation.

Abstract: The circuit arrangement has a mains connection, a mains switch with two switching contacts, a demagnetization coil and a switch-mode power supply, which contains a driver circuit for producing a control voltage for the switching transistor of the switch-mode power supply. A first switching contact of the mains switch is arranged between the mains connection and the demagnetization coil in order to switch the demagnetization coil on and off, and the second switching contact is connected to a supply or control voltage for the driver circuit, in order to switch off the switch-mode power supply. In consequence, a power factor coil can be used between the mains connection and the switch-mode power supply for power factor correction, without the mains switch being loaded by the inductance of the power factor coil.

Abstract: An adjusting tool having two electrical contacts provides a means for measuring an electrical signal that is used for adjusting electrical parameters of an object as the object is being physically adjusted by the adjusting tool. In an embodiment, the adjusting tool is configured such that the two electrical contacts make electrical contact with electrical contacts of a potentiometer of a hearing aid to receive an adjustment signal that is also applied to circuits in the hearing aid. The two electrical contacts of the adjusting tool maintain electrical contact with the electrical contacts of the potentiometer as the adjusting tool physically adjusts the potentiometer. In an embodiment, the adjusting tool includes a display to provide a visual representation of the adjustment signal as the potentiometer is adjusted.

Abstract: The circuit arrangement has a mains connection, a mains switch with two switching contacts, a demagnetization coil and a switch-mode power supply, which contains a driver circuit for producing a control voltage for the switching transistor of the switch-mode power supply. A first switching contact of the mains switch is arranged between the mains connection and the demagnetization coil in order to switch the demagnetization coil on and off, and the second switching contact is connected to a supply or control voltage for the driver circuit, in order to switch off the switch-mode power supply. In consequence, a power factor coil can be used between the mains connection and the switch-mode power supply for power factor correction, without the mains switch being loaded by the inductance of the power factor coil.

Abstract: Video signals of interlaced form are first converted to progressive scan (non-interlaced) form and then picture elements are generated that lie between the "progressive" picture elements and are interpolated by a vertical one-half (1/2) line shuffling by application of a vertical averaging. The interpolated picture elements are buffer stored and are read out again at twice the frame repetition rate whereby each second line of the stored interpolated picture elements is emitted delayed in time by 10 milli-seconds. Fields in the format 100 Hz, 2:1 interlace thereby ensue. Advantageously, interpolated picture elements are used in all of the output fields thereby avoiding picture disturbences at the frame rate (25 Hz) of the original video signal. For increasing the subjective vertical sharpness, a vertical peaking may additionally be carried out.

Abstract: When processing a digital video signal, the problem often arises of converting the signal from a first sampling raster which is asynchronous with respect to the line interval to a second sampling raster which synchronous with the line interval. Interpolation filters are used for this purpose. The present invention provide a simple method for the conversion which does not require intermediate D/A or A/D conversion. For each line of the input signal, the phase of samples of the first sampling raster relative to the line synchronization pulse and the total number of the samples for this line are determined and are used to control of the interpolation filter.

Abstract: A video input signal is vertically interpolated and applied along with a field delayed and a field advanced video signal to respective inputs of a first median filter the output of which is applied along with a line delayed and a line advanced signal to respective inputs of a second median filter to provide an interpolated video output signal. The resultant double median filtered signal and a field delayed signal are applied via respective time compressors to a multiplex switch to provide an output signal of progressive scan form and in which every other line thereof is interpolated by double median filtering.