Abstract: A system for improving the speed of the video encoding process by decreasing the number of cycles to perform the quantization. The disclosed system achieves the improvement through use of parallel processor such as one having a Single Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD) architecture. Concurrent processing during one instruction cycle is accomplished, thereby leading overall to the use of fewer instruction cycles. In the preferred embodiment, an MMX instruction set is used for executing four quantization in parallel. The disclosed system also achieves a higher precision of the quantization during the encoding of video signals with the SIMD architecture by using a larger multiplier and larger shift factor.

Abstract: An apparatus for using feedback to set a floating gate to a desired voltage during a set mode is disclosed. The apparatus includes a floating gate, a first and second tunnel device formed respectively between the floating gate and a first and second electrode, a first circuit coupled to the floating gate for comparing the voltage on the floating gate to a third voltage and for generating an output voltage at an output terminal, and a feedback circuit coupled between the output terminal and the floating gate. The feedback circuit includes the first tunnel device and a third tunnel device for causing the floating gate voltage to be modified as a function the output voltage until the floating gate voltage, the third voltage and the output voltage are approximately equal.

Abstract: An optical add/drop filter is formed using a hologram which is tuned to a wavelength in an optical signal. The diffraction condition of the hologram may be varied to vary the in add or drop content.

Abstract: A circuit that efficiently prevents the turning on of the synchronous rectifier in a buck converter during a predetermined condition, so as to prevent current reversing through the synchronous rectifier during that time. In one embodiment, the circuit provides control of the synchronous rectifier during the soft-start time for a non-isolated DC-DC buck converter, thereby preventing current reversing (sinking), referred to as the back bias condition, during its soft start process. In another embodiment, a circuit uses a signal indicative of a soft-start condition for a converter to prevent the turning on of the synchronous rectifier during the soft-start time. A corresponding system solves the aforementioned synchronous rectifier back bias problem for converters used in a paralleled converter configuration.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing electrical energy from thermal energy in which charges are separated between two working media triboelectrically or electrostatically, the charges are moved away from one another by displacement of the working media under the action of gas flow forces. In the process, these gas flow forces perform work against the Coulomb forces, and the charges are routed onto electrodes. The process steps are carried out within the inside volume of a heat pipe, with charge separation and charge displacement taking place using the directed gas flow within the heat pipe. The gas flow entrains a liquid medium and routes it past the other working medium for charge separation and displacement. An application of the present invention is in the use of solar energy.

Abstract: A method and circuit for programming a floating gate in a differential floating gate circuit to an input set voltage. The circuit includes a differential amplifier circuit for comparing the voltage on a floating gate with an input set voltage, and a gain stage for amplifying any voltage differential between those two voltages. During a set mode, an erase and a program tunnel device operate in a dual conduction mode for modifying the voltage on the floating gate. The output at the gain stage is used to modify the voltage across the erase tunnel device via a feedback loop until the differential floating gate circuit settles to a steady state condition such that the floating gate voltage is approximately equal to the input set voltage. Thereafter, during a read mode, the differential floating gate circuit may be reconfigured to preferably function as a voltage comparator with a built-in voltage reference.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-channel tunable filter and methods for making such a filter. In one embodiment, the filter comprises a bank of gratings imprinted into a filter material, such as Lithium Niobate. In another embodiment, the filter comprises a bank of gratings imprinted on a thin-film filter. An optical read-head comprising a pair of lenses is configured to pass light from within an optical fiber carrying multiple wavelengths through an appropriate grating to extract or drop a specific wavelength. To ensure continuous data transmission, the filter is tuned to a wavelength by configuring the read-head to move in a hitless manner. In one embodiment, the gratings are recorded by the interference of two beams. A first plane wave reflects off a first mirror stack and a second plane wave reflects off a second mirror stack. In another embodiment, the gratings are recorded by a phase masking method.

Abstract: A method of writing information to a synchronous memory device by examining a present word of N bits to be written, where each bit has a high or low value. The present word is compared to a previous word also having N bits to identify the number of bit transitions from a low value to a high value of vice versa. The present bit is inverted when the number of bit transitions is greater than N/2. To avoid the need for having an extra bit accompany data bytes to indicate the presence or absence of inversion, the present invention takes advantage of a data mask pin that is normally unused during writing operations to carry the inversion bit. Non-inverted data is written directly into the memory device while inverted data is first inverted again before writing to storage locations, so that true data is stored in the memory device.

Abstract: A clamp device designed for use in the motion picture industry where there is a need for temporarily mounting and supporting various lighting and other hardware on or from available surfaces and fixtures without marring them. The clamp device basically includes a fixed jaw attached to one end of a threaded shaft and an adjustable jaw which is movably mounted on the threaded shaft. A threaded adjustment member is coupled to the adjustable jaw to control the position of the jaw along the threaded shaft. Both jaws are configured to accommodate a multiplicity of variously shaped surfaces and structural members on which they are designed to be mounted.

Abstract: The present invention is a hybrid sealing technique. According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, an unsealed lamp body is heated and a partial pinch seal is performed on a first side of the lamp body at an outer junction area. Then, a shrink seal is applied which completes the sealing process at the first side of the lamp body by sealing an inner junction area on the same side of the lamp body. The present invention retains the benefits of the shrink seal, but alleviates the difficulty associated with holding the electrode assemblies in place when performing a traditional shrink seal. In addition, the machine which holds the electrode assemblies in place is greatly simplified.

Abstract: An infrared gas analyzer includes an infrared source for emitting infrared energy, a sample cell for gases to be analyzed in the path of infrared energy emitted by the source and an assembly having first and second detectors also in the path of infrared energy and a third detector out of the path of infrared energy, mounted within the assembly and in close thermal proximity to each other and being responsive to impinging infrared energy to produce an electrical response. All detectors are sandwiched between a base and a single window that overlies them. The analyzer further includes a narrow band filter corresponding to an absorption wavelength band for a gas of interest and a narrow band reference filter corresponding to a reference wavelength band. Each of the narrow band filters are positioned outside the assembly and between the assembly and the source in the path of infrared energy.

Abstract: A method and system for visually signaling the selection of a specific television or video camera source during the live editing of multiple camera sources is disclosed. The system includes an adapter and a power console in combination for receiving a plurality of tally signals from a video switcher and converting each of the tally signals into an encoded sub-audible Continuous Tone Control Squelch System tone. The system also includes a tally system having a plurality of belt-pack assemblies for receiving the encoded sub-audible CTCSS tone and illuminating tally lights corresponding to the camera selected by the switcher.

Abstract: A method for sensing the voltage on a floating gate in a floating gate circuit during a set mode is disclosed.

Abstract: A tunable filter with a flattopped passband is provided for use as a micromachined optical filter with input and output optical fibers which provides a wavelength tunability with several discrete wavelengths and a flattopped passband. The standard Fabry-Perot resonator is modified by incorporating multilayer dielectrics to form a pair of interference filters, one of which is vibrated to provide for tunability and provision of several resonant wavelengths. The layers can either be deposited on an existing dielectric slab of a Fabry-Perot device or included on the ends of the input and output optical fibers which are then incorporated into the Fabry-Perot device.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for extending battery life in a radio frequency (“RF”) wireless modem by automatically commanding the RF modem into a low power, auto-sleep-no-coverage mode when coverage is not available. The auto-sleep-no-coverage mode timing is configurable through software parameters in the operating system of the modem. The invention conforms to the Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) Specification and increases the standby time of the device outside the coverage area to that similar to the standby time when the modem is within a coverage area. One embodiment of the present invention uses two software programmable timers and a preferred embodiment of the invention uses three software programmable timers and a counter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for accessing and using services and applications from a number of sources into a customized application. The present invention accomplishes this through an entity referred to as a web service. The web services architecture maintains a directory of services available to provide processing or services, along with the location of the services and the input/output schemas required by the services. When a request for data or services is received, appropriate services are invoked by a web services engine using service drivers associated with each service. A web services application is then generated from a runtime model and is invoked to satisfy the request, by communicating as necessary with services in proper I/O formats. In one embodiment, the web services application provides responses in the form of HTML that can be used to generate pages to a browser.

Abstract: A power converter is provided that operates with a wide range input and provides the required hold up time using a smaller, less costly hold-up capacitor. A charging circuit is provided to charge a capacitor through an auxiliary winding. The power converter includes circuitry for channeling the energy from the capacitor to the converter to provide hold-up time during input power loss conditions, while having better utilization of stored energy. The power converter of the present invention also provides this function using fewer and lower cost components than prior art devices.

Abstract: A system and corresponding method for adjusting the brightness and color of MPEG encoded video images. A digital versatile disk player capable of decoding a previously encoded MPEG video signal and adjusting the brightness and color of the entire previously encoded MPEG video signal based on a subset of information contained in the encoded input signal. The brightness and color adjustments are performed while the encoded MPEG video signal is in the frequency (dct) domain before motion compensation is performed. The digital versatile disk player also determines whether the particular block to be decoded is of a predetermined type and decodes such block accordingly.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a software configurable wireless modem that can be configured using software downloaded by a host computer. The user can select a preferred mode of operation, or mode selection can be done automatically based upon whether one or more predetermined criterion, such as a location of the modem, are met.

Abstract: A method of treatment of a condition selected from the group comprising conjunctivitis, keratitis, ‘allergic eyes’, adenovirus infections, corneal homograft rejection, anterior uveitis, nasal polyps, vasomotor rhinitis, allergic manifestations of the nasopharynx, reversible obstructive airways disease, Crohn's disease, distal colitis and proctitis, which method comprises administration to a patient suffering from such a condition of a therapeutically effective amount of an aqueous solution containing, as active ingredient, 9-ethyl-6,9-dihydro-4,6-dioxo-10-propyl-4H-pyrano(3,2-g)quinoline-2,8-dicarboxylic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Also described are novel pharmaceutical compositions suitable for use in such methods of treatment.