Abstract: Anti-theft protection system for a motor vehicle, and a method for operating an anti-theft protection system. The anti-theft protection system has a transmitting and receiving unit in the motor vehicle, which transmits radar signals and then waits for echo signals. A code transmitter, which receives a radar signal, modulates this signal and sends it back. An evaluation unit analyses all the received echo signals firstly for authorization of the code transmitter and secondly in order to determine the relative interior/exterior position of the code transmitter with respect to the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A portable location alarm device is provided which allows a user to preset an alarm event to occur when the device arrives at a pre-determined location. The alarm event alerts the user by audible, visual or vibrating means. The alarm device determines it's actual location using GPS data. In one embodiment the user bookmarks particular locations while physically present at a given location. Part of the bookmarking process involves the device simultaneously receiving GPS data that describes the physical location. The user can subsequently set an alarm event for any bookmarked location without the need for the device to carry large databases, for example of the type cross-referencing place names to mapping co-ordinates.

Abstract: A light-source lamp unit includes a light-source lamp unit detachably mounted, and a CPU constituting a drive and controller for the light-source lamp unit. The CPU senses lamp information obtained by a lamp-information storing block in the light-source lamp unit, pertaining to a lamp power rating, lamp life and whether a lamp is new or not, and starts counting operation time when the lamp is lit. The CPU compares the lamp life sensed and the operation time count, and forces the lamp to extinguish when the life of the light-source lamp expires. Prior to this action, the CPU gives a warning display before the life expiration of the lamp by a fixed duration of time, to warn that lamp replacement is needed. Because the lamp-information storing block in the light-source lamp unit stores the information about the lamp type and characteristics of the lamp, the light-source device can properly drive the lamp to light it and determine the lamp life even when a light-source lamp unit of a different type is used.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for achieving maximal coding gain for audio transmission. More particularly, at a chosen sample rate and frequency range value, an audio input signal is downsampled to the sample rate, encoded and transmitted at a given bit rate. At the receiving end, the downsampled signal is decoded and upsampled to the original or other suitable sample rate. The upsampled signal is then audibly output. Since resampling ratios using “small” numbers prove to be more computationally efficient, this method and apparatus supports resampling ratios which imply both standard and non-standard sampling ratios in the codec.

Abstract: A system and method of creating a highly efficient digital amplifier which can take either analog or digital inputs, and produce a high power accurate representation of the input to drive speakers or other low impedance load is described. The system employs a transition detector and delay unit which allows the comparator of the signal modulator to ignore its inputs for a pre-determined number of subsequent clock cycles once an output transition has been detected. Through the use of faster clocks and variable clock cycle skips upon the comparator's output transition, finer resolution of the feedback's clock period for noise-shaping purposes is achieved. Finer resolution of the clock period allows the present invention to employ a more aggressive noise-shaping than previously possible.

Abstract: In an information detecting circuit an equalizer equalizes an output from an A/D converter as an A/D converting information. A first interpolation circuit generates an interpolating value. A delay circuit delays the /VD converting information with a delay quantity equivalent to an output delay quantity of the equalizer. A second interpolation circuit generates an interpolating value. An interpolating position generating circuit produces an interpolating position information for generating an interpolating value synchronized in phase with the channel clock and supplies the interpolating position information into the first Interpolation circuit and the second interpolation circuit. A binary encoder converts the output of the first interpolation circuit. A tap coefficient controller generates a tap coefficient from interpolating value outputs of the first and second interpolations. A rate correcting circuit converts the tap coefficient to be fed-back to the equalizer.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transmission system in which, for the purpose of transmission, a signal is used which generates a broadband signal by means of code spreading and is capable of eliminating any echoes by means of correlation. The transmission system exhibits a transmitter and a receiver. In this configuration, digital information is spread to a great bandwidth in accordance with a CDMA technique, D/A converted and then transmitted by means of ultrasound via an air Preferred applications of the present invention are air interfaces having a length of a few meters. One field of application is, for example, the connection of cordless handsets or hands-free telephones to telephones.

Abstract: A plurality of base stations each calculate a distance function value with respect to a mobile station by detecting up signal therefrom in their own receiver (step S15), and transmit the calculated value to a base station controller (step S16). When a base station as reference base station receives, from the mobile station, the difference of timings of base station down signal reception (steps S17 and S18), it transmits the reception timing difference to the controller (step S19). The controller calculates, from data from an in-question base station, the difference of up signal reception timings in the reference and in-question base stations, and reports the difference to other base stations than the reference base station, thus causing down signal transmission timing updating.

Abstract: A geographic-based communications service system has a mobile unit for transmitting/receiving information, and access points connected to a network. The access points are arranged in a known geographic locations and transmit and receive information from the mobile unit. When one of the access points detects the presence of the mobile unit, it sends a signal to the network indicating the location of the mobile unit and the information requested by the mobile unit. Based on the signal received from the access point, the network communicates with information providers connected to the network and provides data to the mobile unit through the access point corresponding to the location of the mobile unit.

Abstract: A communication apparatus having a first portion, a second portion and an extendible antenna is disclosed. The second portion is movable relative to the first portion. Such movement causes a corresponding movement of the antenna.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of arrangements in reflector antennas, and in particular to that part of this field that concerns reflector antennas that include subreflectors. The invention is concerned chiefly with an improved subreflector (5b) which when used in a reflector antenna (1) enables the antenna to obtain a radiation diagram with high suppression of side lobes in both the H-plane and the E-plane. The reflective structure of the subreflector (5b) includes at least two mutually different geometries (15, 17) that have been configured specifically to obtain radiation diagrams with good suppression of side lobes in both the E-plane and the H-plane.

Abstract: A linear antenna capable of adjusting directivity and impedance matching comprises: a common dipole in which two cylindrical conductors each having a length of &lgr;/4 of the transmission frequency are provided linearly (thus having a total length of &lgr;/2); a plurality of linear parasitic elements that are provided at positions separated by a distance D2 from the axis of the common dipole so as to surround the common dipole; and a U-shaped parasitic element for realizing impedance matching that is arranged in proximity to one end of the common dipole. Each of the linear parasitic elements are arranged parallel to the common dipole and have a length of one half-wavelength of a desired transmission frequency.

Abstract: An antenna arrangement is provided for use in a vehicle. It comprised an antenna element (601-606, 701a-704f, 901-907, 1203) and means (600, 801, 802, 803, 804, 900, 910, 1200, 1201, 1202) for moving the antenna element in relation to the vehicle. The means for moving the antenna element are arranged to move the antenna element in relation to the vehicle into a direction which is opposite to a direction of movement of the vehicle.

Abstract: An antenna includes first and second convex-curved antenna elements, which are connected in series via webs extending in a longitudinal direction of the antenna, such that they form a helical configuration. A further antenna element may extend parallel to the helical configuration. The antenna can be stamped from a single metal part, can be bent into a desired shape, and is particularly suitable for multiband applications.

Abstract: A radio wave absorbing panel is made up of a first insulating substrate and a second insulating substrate disposed in parallel a predetermined distance apart and a middle insulating substrate disposed between and parallel with the first and second substrates. The first and second substrates each have a conducting film coated over the entire surface of one side. On one side of the middle insulating substrate are coated multiple conducting films disposed in the form of stripes or a matrix. By this means a thin radio wave absorbing panel having excellent radio wave absorption and transparency to light can be obtained.

Abstract: An image display apparatus has a signal input portion for receiving an image signal, an image compensator for electrically compensating the image signal for distortion so that a left and a right image displayed in an observer's left and right eyes have identical distortion and then outputting a left and right image signal that correspond to the left and right images, a signal switcher for switching between the left and right image signals output from the image compensator so as to output the left and right images alternately chronologically, a single two-dimensional image display device for displaying a two-dimensional image in accordance with the image signal output from the signal switcher, a pair of left and right eyepiece optical systems for directing image light exiting from the two-dimensional image display device to the observer's left and right eyes so that the two-dimensional image is displayed as a virtual image in the observer's eyes, and an optical path switcher for time-divisionally switching opt

Abstract: A display device (506) is driven in a number of sub-fields. Each of the sub-fields is for outputting a respective illumination level by the display device. In each sub-field, a pixel of the displayed image may emit an amount of light corresponding to the particular sub-field, depending on whether it is switched on or not. A required intensity level of the pixel is realized by selecting an appropriate combination of sub-fields in which the pixel is switched on. According to the invention, a selection is made from the possible intensity levels that can be generated by all possible combinations of sub-fields. This selection contains those intensity levels that can be generated by sub-fields that are temporally close together, thus causing that the light of a pixel is emitted during a relatively short period. The image display unit (300) has a means (306) that is arranged to store the combinations of sub-fields for the respective selected intensity levels.

Abstract: An address driving method of a plasma display panel that permits a stable high-speed addressing. Tn the method, a data pulse is applied to an address electrode and applying a scanning pulse to a scanning electrode, to thereby generating an address discharge in the selected cell. Also, an auxiliary pulse is to an auxiliary electrode parallel to the address electrode, to thereby generating an auxiliary discharge. Accordingly, the auxiliary discharge is used to largely shorten a discharge delay time, thereby permitting a high-speed addressing. Also, the auxiliary pulse having the same polarity as the data pulse is applied to prevent an erroneous discharge between the auxiliary electrode and the data electrode.

Abstract: A drive apparatus for a plasma display panel useing a charge recovery circuit 12 that re-uses a recovered electrical charge, the drive apparatus comprising: a brightness detection means 16, 17 for detecting a brightness so as to obtain screen brightness information; and a charge recovery timing control means 4 for controlling a charge recovery period T from a time at which a charge recovery operation of the charge recovery circuit 12 starts to a time of fixing to a sustaining potential or a ground potential, wherein the charge recovery timing control means 4 controls the charge recovery period of the charge recovery circuit 4 in response to the brightness information obtained by the brightness detection means 16, 17.

Abstract: First and second substrates are disposed oppositely to each other in a plasma display panel. A parallel-crossed partition wall, a plurality of bus electrodes, a plurality of display discharge electrodes, and a plurality of data electrodes are provided to the panel. The parallel-crossed partition wall defines a space between the first and second substrates into a plurality of display cells. The bus electrodes are provided in a side of the first substrate opposite the second substrate, and superposed on a portion of the partition wall extended in the line direction when seen from a plane. The display discharge electrodes each are extended from each of the bus electrodes in each of the display cells defined in the columnar direction by a portion of the partition wall overlapping with the bus electrode when seen from the plane. The data electrodes are provided in a side of the second substrate opposite the first substrate and extended in the columnar direction.

Abstract: A method of driving an ac-discharge type PDP is provided, which expands the permissible range of the voltage applied across the scan and data electrodes at writing discharge and which ensures desired writing discharge generation even if the writing voltage has a comparatively small amplitude. First, (a) a wall-charge adjustment step of storing first wall-charge of a first polarity near the respective scan electrodes and second wall-charge of a second polarity near the respective sustain electrodes is performed, where the second polarity is opposite to the first polarity. The first wall-charge of the first polarity stored near the respective scan electrodes generates an associate electric-field in the cells. The step (a) is performed by common application of at least one of a first wall-charge adjustment voltage pulse to the scan electrodes and a second wall-charge adjustment voltage pulse to the sustain electrodes.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a system for encoding grey levels which makes it possible to reduce the problems of contouring by increasing the number of subscans using subscans common to several rows, thereby remedying the error due to the difference between the grey levels of simultaneously scanned cells. The invention provides a method and a device which make row groupings dynamically according to the content of the image.

Abstract: A method of driving a display device makes use of the dynamic variation in the brightness of a surface mode liquid crystal device cell having liquid crystal layer with a non-zero twist angle. It has been found that when the applied voltage across such a cell is decreased, the brightness does not increase smoothly to its new value, but instead rises rapidly, reaches a non-equilibrium maximum value, and then slowly decays to the equilibrium value. According to the present invention, the liquid crystal layer is switched before the equilibrium value of the brightness has been reached, so as to make use of the non-equilibrium increased brightness and so increase the brightness of the display. The present invention also provides a liquid crystal display device having means for driving the liquid crystal layer so as to make use of the dynamic variation in the transmissivity of the liquid crystal device.

Abstract: A plurality of gate lines (51) connected to a gate driver (50) for supplying gate signals and a plurality of drain lines (61) connected to a drain driver (60) for supplying drain signals are provided on a substrate (10). Pixels (200) are formed in the regions surrounded by these lines. Each of the pixels (200) includes a TFT (70), a storing circuit (110) connected to the source (11s) of the TFT (70) for storing a digital signal, and a signal selector (120) for selecting a signal A or signal B in response to the signal stored in the storing circuit (110) and supplying the selected signal to a display electrode (80). Once a digital signal corresponding to a display image is written to the storing circuit (110) of each pixel (200), an image can be continuously displayed, even when operation of the drivers (50, 60) is stopped from the next frame, by continuing the operation of the storing circuit (110). Because the driver operation or the like can be suspended, overall power consumption can be reduced.

Abstract: The object is to realize format conversion in inputting an image signal corresponding to conventional low resolution (hereafter referred to as a video signal) to an active matrix semiconductor display device or to a passive matrix semiconductor display device corresponding to recent high resolution, and at the same time to provide a novel method of driving capable of improving the resolution in an outline portion of an image. With the driving method of the present invention, conversion of a screen size which is not capable of being completely performed by only lowering a clock frequency, can be completely performed by artificially reducing the number of scans of gate signal lines in accordance with outputting a gate selection pulse at a timing for simultaneously selecting a plurality of gate signal lines using a modulated clock signal in which a clock signal has been modulated at a constant period.

Abstract: An active matrix type display apparatus includes a display panel, a horizontal display driver and a controller. The horizontal display driver includes m (m is an integer larger than 1) horizontal driving sections to drive the display panel based on m display data sets in response to an output clock signal, respectively. The controller generates the output clock signal from an input clock signal, and carries out sampling of input data to produce display data for a horizontal line of the display panel. Also, the controller sequentially stores the display data and outputs the stored display data to the m horizontal driving sections in units of display data sets in response to the output clock signal, respectively.

Abstract: A driver for driving a liquid crystal panel that includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal sandwiched between the substrates, a plurality of signal lines (31) which are arranged in a first given direction on a substrate and to which an image signal is supplied, a plurality of scanning lines (32) which are arranged in a second direction and to which a scan signal is supplied sequentially, and a plurality of pixels arranged in the form of a matrix on the surface of a substrate opposed to the liquid crystal, and driven with the image signal and scan signal supplied over the plurality of signal lines and plurality of scanning lines comprises: an image signal supply unit (101 to 104) including a first-direction shift register that has a plurality of stages (1a) and supplying the image signal sequentially to the plurality of signal lines in a first direction according to a transfer signal sequentially generated by the first-direction shift register, and a scan signal supply unit including a second-direction s

Abstract: A control system enables telephone calls to be answered remotely using a remote control unit also adapted to remotely control an electronic device such as VCR. A processor based station may communicate with a remote control unit using both infrared and radio frequency protocols to enable remote telephone communications and remote control of electronic devices.

Abstract: A mouse 1 for computer is provided with a click button cover 2, which can be raised to open or closed optionally either a left click button 3 side or a right click button 3 side, and has a pushing part 4 corresponding to a click button 3 inside the cover.

Abstract: A computer keyboard having a plurality of Internet keys corresponding to at least a subset of an Internet-related software command set is disclosed. In one embodiment, the plurality of Internet keys includes a back key, a forward key, an open location key, a stop load key, a site list key, an add site key, a reload key, a find key, and a print key. The Internet keys provide keyboard-actuated activation of Internet-related software such as Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer without the need for hot keys or the remapping of function or DOS keys.

Abstract: A resistance film type touch panel includes first and second substrates opposing to each other, and respectively having panel planes. A first electrode film is formed in a central portion of the panel plane of the first substrate on a lower surface of the first substrate, and a second electrode film is formed in a central portion of the panel plane of the second substrate on an upper surface of the second substrate. First and second electrodes are connected to the first electrode film and are formed to oppose to each other around the first electrode film on the lower surface of the first substrate. Third and fourth electrodes are connected to the second electrode film and are formed to oppose to each other around the second electrode film on the upper surface of the second substrate orthogonally to the first and second electrodes. First to fourth wiring lines connect the first to fourth electrodes to connection terminals, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a distributed display panel that accepts personal computing devices. The personal computing device can drive the distributed display panel so that the combination functions as a computer terminal. The CPU is not in the distributed display panel but in the portable computing device carried by the user. This approach allows the user to effectively carry computer in the user's pocket and use generic services on the computer network. The distributed display panel device consists of memory and an interface to an external port into which the personal computing device can be inserted. Once the personal computing device is inserted the personal computing device is recognized and connections are made to the distributed display panel and to a network. From this point computing is performed on the personal computing device. Since the CPU of the personal computing device is known and trusted (since it belongs to the user) the computing environment is highly trusted.

Abstract: A PDP not posing the problem that previous display data appears at the time of activation, and a wave generating circuit capable of generating a complex wave without the necessity of expanding a quantity of ROM data and of increasing a reading speed have been disclosed. A plasma display panel display comprising a plasma display panel that includes a plurality of cells to be selectively discharged to glow, a reset unit for bringing the plurality of cells to a given state, an addressing unit for setting the plurality of cells to states associated with display data, and a sustaining discharge unit for enabling the plurality of cells to glow according to the set states further comprises an operation halt factor detector for detecting the fact that a factor of halting the operation of the plasma display panel has occurred, and an initialization unit that when it is detected that the operation halt factor has occurred, initializes memory information in the plasma display panel.

Abstract: A method for generating a derived multimedia application from a master multimedia application, wherein the master application uses a data base and two or more screens (4, 6, 8) defined as entries in the database, the method including the steps of sorting the screens in a predetermined order, utilizing at least one selection criterion (12a, 12b, 12c) to create a derived multimedia application consisting of one selection including at least one of the screens which conform to the selection criterion, and providing means so that the derived multimedia application acts like a stand-alone multimedia application.

Abstract: The present method represents a three-dimensional shape model by polygons according to a plurality of object images information picked up by rotating a real object for every arbitrary angle to assign texture information on each polygon from object image information having the largest projection area of the relevant polygon. In order to improve the color continuity between adjacent polygons, the object image information having correspondence between a polygon of interest and an adjacent polygon thereof is selected so as to be the object image information approximating the shooting position and the shooting direction. An alternative method divides an object image into a plurality of regions, obtains difference between an object image and a background image in region level, outputs a mean value of the absolute value of difference in the region level, and detects the region having the mean value of absolute values of difference equal to or greater than a threshold value as the object portion.

Abstract: A data conversion apparatus for converting index data to real data and an image generation apparatus for converting index texture data to real texture data by the data conversion to make it possible to suitably carry out texture mapping.

Abstract: A main CPU 11, a main memory 12, a main DMAC (direct memory access controller) 13 and a picture processing unit (graphic processing unit or GPU) 15 are interconnected over a main bus 1. In an input/output unit of each of the main CPU 11 and the GPU 15 are mounted programmable packet engines (PPE) 112, 152 capable of modifying the data packetizing/unpacketizing sequence in order to perform packet transfer with freedom in the packet form. This affords freedom to the packet form to realize efficient delopment and packing of packet data and efficient drawing processing.

Abstract: A character sequence drawing apparatus which stores font data and font processing functions for executing processes for using the font data. The font processing functions are, for example a rasterizer initialization function, a glyph-by-glyph pattern obtaining function, a glyph-by-glyph font metrics information obtaining function, and a common font metrics information obtaining function. The character sequence drawing apparatus receives, from an application program (AP), a piece of font access information that includes addresses of font data and a group of types of font processing functions, assigns a font ID to the piece of font access information, stores the font ID with correspondence to the piece of font access information, and sends the font ID to the AP. After this, the AP can issue a request to execute a drawing-related process (e.g., obtaining a character sequence width, obtaining height of a font, or drawing a character sequence) to the character sequence drawing apparatus, specifying a font ID.

Abstract: A scheme for interactive video manipulation and display of a moving object on a background image is disclosed. In this scheme a background image stored in a background image storage unit is read out and displayed on a screen, and a manipulation target spatial position is set on the screen. Then, a partial image to be synthesized and displayed is uniquely specified from partial images which are set in correspondence to spatial positions on the background image and representing an object moving on the background image, according to the manipulation target spatial position set by the setting step, and the partial image as specified by the specifying step is read out from a partial image storage unit, and synthesized and displayed at the manipulation target spatial position on the background image. A scheme for realizing a variable speed video playback with a playback speed different from a normal one is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture are provided for a transform system for graphics processing as a computer system or on a single integrated circuit. Included is an input buffer adapted for being coupled to a vertex attribute buffer for receiving vertex data therefrom. A multiplication logic unit has a first input coupled to an output of the input buffer. Also provided is an arithmetic logic unit having a first input coupled to an output of the multiplication logic unit. Coupled to an output of the arithmetic logic unit is an input of a register unit. An inverse logic unit is provided including an input coupled to the output of the arithmetic logic unit or the register unit for performing an inverse or an inverse square root operation. Further included is a conversion module coupled between an output of the inverse logic unit and a second input of the multiplication logic unit. In use, the conversion module serves to convert scalar vertex data to vector vertex data.

Abstract: A recording head of an ink-jet -recording apparatus has a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of pressure chambers connected to the plurality of nozzles respectively, and an ink saving chamber connected to the plurality of the pressure chambers for supplying ink into the pressure chambers and for temporarily saving the ink. An ink way is connected to the ink saving chamber for supplying the ink into the ink saving chamber. A driver causes respective pressures in the pressure chambers to change in such a manner that the ink is jetted from the nozzles so as to carry out flushing operations of the nozzles. A flushing controller causes the driver to carry out the flushing operations so that a flushing operation for a pressure chamber arranged relatively further from the ink way is delayed in starting for a predetermined time with respect to a flushing operation for another pressure chamber arranged relatively closer to the ink way.

Abstract: A printer and printing method suitable for high speed multicolor printing. A paper transport section (112) advances the printing medium (113), and a print head (110) prints text or graphics on the printing medium (113) by driving printing elements corresponding to a plurality of colors. A transport unit (111) moves the print head (110) orthogonally to the direction in which the printing medium (113) travels. A plurality of image buffer units (109) store information indicating where the printing elements are driven. A logic device (102) performs a logic operation on information read from image buffer units (109) to detect whether at least one of the printing elements is driven at a particular dot column position. A logic operation results memory (114) stores the logic operation results correlated to a print head (110) position.

Abstract: A print head has a nozzle array to achieve printing of dots of identical color along a plurality of main scanning lines during a main scanning pass, and to achieve formation of multiple dots of the color at a substantially fixed pitch in a sub-scanning direction. Partial overlap printing is effected, using a specific part of the plurality of dot forming elements, by executing dot printing in one main scanning pass on at least one target main scanning line which is also a target of dot printing during another main scanning pass.

Abstract: In order to maximally improve the deformation characteristic of a piezoelectric actuator of an ink jet head so as to improve the printed image quality, the present invention newly provides expansion/contraction sections in the vicinity of a displacement section which is displaced in the thickness direction by the expansion/contraction in the planar direction of a piezoelectric layer in the piezoelectric actuator, wherein the expansion/contraction sections are expanded/contracted in the planar direction by the expansion/contraction of the piezoelectric layer in the planar direction, so that the displacement of the displacement section in the thickness direction is controlled by the expansion/contraction of the expansion/contraction section in the planar direction.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic image formation apparatus that plural lines on a surface of a photosensitive body are simultaneously scanned by plural laser beams for image formation, image deterioration due to differences among light quantities of the plural laser beams is correctly prevented by a simple and cost-effective structure. The present invention aims to lower the image deterioration due to laser start characteristics as much as possible, and especially to realize high-speed image formation without degrading highlight reproducibility and fine line reproducibility.

Abstract: Print data adaptation means (67) include data conversion means (37) which are adapted to convert the received scan data (SD1) into printable print data (PD2) in accordance with first conversion information (CI1), which print data (PD2) can be printed by thermal printing means (44) set to a first print mode, and which conversion means (37) are adapted to convert received scan data (SD1) into printable print data (PD2) in accordance with second conversion information (CI2), which print data (PD2) can be printed by the thermal printing means (44) set to a second print mode, the printing row feed (RD1) of the thermal printing means (44) in the first print mode of the thermal printing means (44) corresponding substantially to the printing dot size (DP) and the printing row feed of the thermal printing means (44) in the second print mode of the thermal printing means (44) being smaller than the printing dot size (DP).

Abstract: A thermal printer is disclosed which includes a housing, a chassis assembly with a printer mechanism securely mounted in the housing and a head frame assembly having a thermal head and rotatably mounted on the chassis assembly by a shaft. The shaft is disposed in a paper feeding direction at a side of the chassis assembly. The thermal printer further includes a paper sensor having a sensor frame rotatably mounted on the chassis assembly by a shaft which also is disposed in the paper feeding direction at the side of the chassis assembly.

Abstract: A novel device for remote information download and transfer for downloading a secure, permanent record of criminal activity and/or accident evidence relating to a vehicle for evidentiary purposes which may be directly transferred to an information center and/or the authorities through a transmission link which is preferably a satellite up/link-down/link or saved directly onto the downloading device. The remote downloading device may be activated automatically or upon a trigger signal and comprises an interface, an information capturing storage device, a video monitor display and preferably a transceiver. The interface communicates with an information storage device, downloads the information saved therein and transmits it to the capture storage device, transceiver or both. The information may be displayed on the visual display monitor or transmitted via the transceiver to an off site location.

Abstract: A three-dimensional model is created to represent an environment to be captured on video. A camera is fitted with pan, tilt and/or zoom sensors. An operator selects a location in the environment. The three-dimensional model is used to determine the three-dimensional coordinates of the location selected by the operator. Information from the pan, tilt and/or zoom sensors is used to transform the three-dimensional coordinates to a two-dimensional position in the video from the camera. Using the two-dimensional position of the video, a graphic is properly added to the video such that the graphic appears to be at the selected location in the environment.

Abstract: A human tracking device according to the present invention stably tracks a human with good perception of the distance to a human with high resistance against disturbance. A camera image is divided into a human region and a background region. Then, each area of the image is judged whether or not the human region can be divided into a plurality of blob models corresponding to parts of a human. The parts of a human are preferably the head, trunk and legs. When the result of the judgment is “YES”, a plurality of human blob models are produced based on the human region. When the result of the judgment is “NO”, a single human blob model is produced based on the human region. The human is then tracked based on these human blob models. In this way, the human can be stably tracked with good perception of the distance to the human and with high resistance against disturbance.