Abstract: A complete automatic sprite generation system uses first-order prediction for an initial estimation, delayed elimination for outlier rejection, and field-based sprite generation for an interlaced source. Optionally, higher-order prediction for the initial estimation may be used to handle more complicated motion. The invention is useful for generating sprites, e.g., for 3D sequences, stock tickers, interactive advertising and other uses. The invention addresses outlier and fast motion problems that are not handled by the existing MPEG-4 scheme. Automatic sprite generation is provided by performing shot detection (e.g., panning or zooming) on the input images to provide a group of successive images that share a common scene for use in forming a sprite. The initial estimation of motion parameter data for forming the sprite is improved by using the motion parameter data of at least two previous input images.

Abstract: A rate control system suitable for use with a digital video transcoder, such as one conforming to the MPEG standard. The proposed rate control system starts coding with any reasonable set of assumed Group of Pictures (GOP) parameters, thereby avoiding a processing delay of about one GOP which would otherwise be incurred to extract the complete GOP structure information from a pre-compressed bit stream. In addition, the system avoids the need to store the data corresponding to the GOP, thereby reducing the memory required for transcoding. Encoding of a first picture in a sequence or GOP begins without a priori knowledge of the picture type of subsequent pictures. A reasonable set of GOP parameters is assumed to determine an encoding bit budget. The bit budget is gradually corrected as successive pictures are coded according to their picture types. Changes in the GOP structure of pre-compressed bitstreams can be addressed, for example, when switching channels, inserting commercials, and the like.

Abstract: An anti-jam bezel is provided for dispensing a flexible substrate from an output slot. The output slot has a front portion for outputting the flexible substrate and a rear portion for receiving the flexible substrate from a transport. A guideway diverges away from the rear portion of the output slot toward the transport to provide a substrate receiving opening. When in use, the bezel body is mounted adjacent the transport with a cavity between the transport and the rear portion of the output slot. The guideway is adapted to catch a leading edge of the substrate exiting the transport, and guide the leading edge to the output slot. In the event the output slot is blocked, the guideway will guide at least a portion of the substrate into the cavity, thereby preventing a jam.

Abstract: Advanced recording options are provided on a personal versatile recorder (PVR) or similar recording device. Television signals and associated electronic programming guide (EPG) data are received at a receiver (30). Recorded program material is stored in a storage device (60). A processor (75) provides for automatic suspending of recording, based on predetermined criteria, for at least a portion of time during which the one or more television programs would otherwise be recorded. Recording may be suspended when non-programming specific content (e.g., a commercial or emergency broadcast) is received at the PVR (20). Non-program specific content can be identified through the use of EPG data or Advanced Television Enhancement Forum (ATVEF) triggers. End of program notifiers may be provided which enable the PVR (20) to record the entire program, regardless of whether the program runs beyond its scheduled time. Recording may be optionally suspended where the program is a rerun.

Abstract: In order to provide a screw compressor comprising two screw rotors which are disposed in screw rotor bores in a compressor casing and which compress a refrigerant entering at a refrigerant inlet and discharge it at a refrigerant outlet, and comprising an inlet provided in the compressor casing for refrigerant which is coming from a subcooling circuit and is passed to the inlet in a system of lines, the inlet being disposed in such a way that it opens out into compression spaces enclosed by the screw rotors and screw rotor bores, in which compressor the pressure oscillations or pulsations occurring at the inlet propagate as little as possible to the pipeline system of the subcooling circuit outside the compressor casing, it is proposed that the inlet is preceded by a damper channel which is associated with the system of lines and in which refrigerant from the subcooling circuit is present.

Abstract: A system for streaming encrypted conditional access (CA) data, such as control words, from a primary or master conditional access provider (CAP) to one or more secondary CAPS. The primary CAP encrypts content (program data) that is to be access-controlled, such as a television program, according to the associated CA data. A first group of user terminals is compatible with the CA data of the primary CAP. The CA data is then provided to the secondary CAPs to provide corresponding CA data for the content in the secondary CAPs' associated formats for compatibility with other groups of terminals. The invention can be used in any packet-based distribution system, including a broadband television network headend, and avoids the need for the secondary CAPs to request the control words on an as-needed basis. Moreover, the CA data for a current crypto-period and a number of future crypto-periods are provided in a “sliding window” to allow the secondary CAP to begin preparing its CA data in advance.

Abstract: The present invention provides specific design dimensions for a sprayer plate flow restrictor orifices of a fuel oil atomizer, and the resulting arrangement of the atomized liquid spray pattern. Specific depth to diameter ratios of the sprayer plate restrictor orifices and specific dimensions of the chamfer of the inlets to the restrictor orifices of the atomizer of the present invention provide improved performance results as compared to prior art atomizers, including reduced emissions and increased durability of atomizer components.

Abstract: In order to design a sterile container for the accommodation and sterile storage, in particular, of surgical instruments or material, comprising a receiving area formed by a container base and container walls, such that it is easy and inexpensive to use it is suggested that the receiving area comprise a plurality of separate chambers and that each chamber have its own closure element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laser amplifier system consisting of a solid body, which comprises a laser-active medium, of a pumping radiation source for generating a pumping radiation field, which repeatedly permeates the solid body, and of a focusing system. Said focusing system generates a number of different branches of the pumping radiation field that enter the solid body and converts at least one branch emerging from the solid body into one of the branches which enter the solid body and which are different from the emerging branch. The aim of the invention is to improve a laser amplifier system of the aforementioned type in order to be able to generate the highest possible pumping power density in the solid body while requiring the smallest possible amount of complexity.

Abstract: A device comprising a number of different wavelength-selective active-layers arranged in a vertical stack, having band-alignment and work-function engineered lateral contacts to said active-layers, consisting of a contact-insulator and a conductor-insulator. Photons of different energies are selectively absorbed in or emitted by the active-layers. Contact means are arranged separately on the lateral sides of each layer or set of layers having the same parameters for extracting charge carriers generated in the photon-absorbing layers and/or injecting charge carriers into the photon-emitting layers. The device can be used for various applications: wavelength-selective multi-spectral solid-state displays, image-sensors, light-valves, light-emitters, etc. It can also be used for multiple-band gap solar-cells. The architecture of the device can be adapted to produce coherent light.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for modulating a flow of fluid in a duct using a rotating member that rotates in the duct. A sensing unit senses the rotation speed of the rotating member and generates a rotation signal as a function of the sensed rotation speed. A control unit receives the rotation signal from the sensing unit and generates a control signal to modify the rotation speed of the rotating member. The apparatus can be self-powering by generating an electric current in response to rotation of the blade.

Abstract: In order to design an electric motor with a housing, with a rotor and with a stator, each stator unit including pole shoes, formed as claw poles, as well as a coil positioned following the rotor in the direction of the rotor axis, by means of which the pole shoes can be magnetized, at low cost, it is proposed that the stator unit has two pole shoe elements of which a first pole shoe element has a first pole shoe carrier as well as first pole shoes formed integrally onto this carrier and of which a second pole shoe element has a second pole shoe carrier as well as second pole shoes formed integrally onto this carrier, and that the first pole shoe carrier carries a connecting element which establishes a magnetic circuit between the pole shoe carriers and which is fixedly connected to at least the second pole shoe carrier.

Abstract: A system (300, 500) for scrambling digital samples (115, 200, 250, 260, 270) of multimedia data, including audio and video data samples, such that the content of the samples is degraded but still recognizable, or otherwise provided at a desired quality level. The samples may be in any conceivable compressed or uncompressed digital format, including Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) samples, samples in floating point representation, samples in companding schemes (e.g., ?-law and A-law), and other compressed bit streams. The quality level may be associated with a particular signal to noise ratio, or quality level that is determined by objective and/or subjective tests, for example. A number of LSBs can be scrambled in successive samples in successive frames (FRAME A, FRAME B, FRAME C). Moreover, the parameters for scrambling may change from frame to frame. Furthermore, all or part of the scrambling key (310) can be embedded (340) in the scrambled data and recovered at a decoder (400, 600) to be used in descrambling.

Abstract: With an insertion catheter for inserting a vascular prosthesis into a vessel, with an elongate, substantially tubular catheter cover having a proximal and a distal end, with an outlet for the vascular prosthesis provided at the distal end, in order to make insertion of the vascular prosthesis into the vessel particularly safe and simple, in particular, to provide the vascular prosthesis with protection against twisting, it is proposed that the outlet have a cross-sectional shape differing from a circular shape, and that the cross-sectional area defined by the outlet area be smaller than the cross-sectional area of the vascular prosthesis inserted in the vessel in the opened, unexpanded state.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to realize a small and light blood pump that can control thrombosis and moreover, endure a prolonged use.

Abstract: In order to improve a control device for operating a load circuit having at least one electric motor, this control device comprising a control stage which generates a pulse width modulated control signal, a power stage supplying the load circuit and having an electronic switch activated by the pulse width modulated control signal, a freewheeling element connected in parallel to the load circuit and a blocking monitoring means which generates a measurement switch-off interval by suppressing at least one switch-on interval of the pulse width modulated control signal, monitors the voltage in the load circuit during the measurement switch-off interval, compares it to a limit value and generates a blocking state signal in accordance with the comparison, in such a manner that a differentiated analysis of the voltages occurring in the measurement switch-off interval is possible it is suggested that for monitoring at least two electric motors connected in parallel in the load circuit the blocking monitoring means car

Abstract: A sound attenuating apparatus for mounting on a heat exchanging apparatus such as a cooling tower, this apparatus having an attenuator housing with vertically extending sides, a top cover and a bottom adapted for mounting on the tower. There is an annular air inlet in the bottom and an air outlet is formed in at least one of the sidewalls. Perforated interior walls are mounted in the housing and define an /airflow passageway that extends from the air inlet to the air outlet. These walls include a first annular wall section extending about and defining an outer circumferential portion of the airflow passageway and a second wall section with that is annular and extends about a substantially vertical central axis. The latter wall section defines an inner circumferential portion of the passageway. The second wall section extends generally upwardly and outwardly from the air inlet. Sound absorbing material is arranged behind the perforated walls.

Abstract: In a closure device for the fluid delivery line of a high-pressure cleaning apparatus having arranged in the fluid delivery line a closure member which is pressed with a closing force against a valve seat and thereby closes the fluid delivery line, and which is liftable off the valve seat by a mechanical actuating element displaceable by a hand lever and extending in a sealed manner out of the fluid delivery line, when the hand lever is moved in the direction of an open position, in order to reduce the holding forces when the hand spray gun is open, it is proposed that downstream of the valve seat in the fluid delivery line a displaceably mounted piston extend in a sealed manner out of the fluid delivery line and upon being pushed out of the fluid delivery line cooperate with the hand lever in such a manner that the hand lever is moved in the direction towards its open position.

Abstract: A method for checking bores in or edges on an object of measurement, and in particular for recognizing burrs. A prepared object of reference is scanned with a distance sensor in correlation with scanning the prepared object of reference with another distance sensor. The measurement signals of the two distance sensors are then compared.

Abstract: To make available a method for checking a marking element for displacement in relation to a holding structure, in particular a bone, on which this marking element is fixed, said marking element being used for determining position in navigational surgery, and said marking element functioning with the greatest possible precision, it is proposed to choose a point of orientation which is in a unique relationship to the holding structure and to monitor the position of the point of orientation in a reference system of the marking element.