Abstract: The reuse of an ink ribbon is prevented and the image quality and the proper paper feeding operation are secured by providing an ink ribbon damaging means to a ink ribbon cartridge of a color video printer. For example, a ring cutter is provided to the spool shaft of a spool on which an ink ribbon used for printing is wound so that the ink ribbon wound on the spool is cut.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing mobile phones of the type having a protruding antenna includes an air chamber which provides radio frequency shielding and which surrounds the mobile phone under test, a radio equipment automated testing circuit, an antenna mounted within the air chamber which includes a hollow cylinder of electrically insulating material for surrounding a portion of the protruding antenna during testing, a thin, electrically conductive film mounted on a surface of the hollow cylinder, the film including a first band portion extending in a circumferential direction entirely around a peripheral surface of the hollow cylinder, a finger portion extending from the first band portion in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the hollow cylinder, the finger portion tapering to a point at a location furtherest from the band portion, and a second band portion having a width that is smaller than the width of the first band portion, and extending from the point of the finger portion in a circumferential

Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying a telephone directory. A main menu is used to display the names of a telephone directory, and each of the names is associated with a primary number. A sub menu is used to display the numbers associated with each of the names in the main menu. The primary number is denoted and automatically selected in the second menu.

Abstract: Reverse channel circuitry for CDMA based mobile stations which allows carrier phase offsets to be implemented at baseband, thereby eliminating the need for multiple quadrature modulators and excessive D/A converters. In addition, just four baseband filters, two using scaled coefficients and the other two unscaled coefficients, are time multiplexed to produce in-phase and quadrature terms. The invention can lead to a significant savings in hardware and be a valuable tool in implementing multiple code channels with different carrier phase offsets.

Abstract: Described are methods and apparatuses for composing text messages using wireless electronic devices, such as cellular telephones. Specifically, a word list including a set of pre-selected words and a set of dynamically updated words is stored in a cellular telephone. The words in the word list are then displayed on the cellular telephone in a circular fashion. A user can select the words displayed on the cellular telephone to compose a text message. To reflect word usage pattern of the user, the second set of words is updated based on text messages previously composed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packet-transmission control method for controlling transmission of packets, the method comprising, a judgment step of forming a judgment as to whether or not the number of queue buffers that can be used for VC merging is smaller than the number of VCs to be merged in processing to merge a plurality of virtual connections into one virtual connection, and a merging step of merging virtual connections by giving a high priority to those virtual connections in a list having a large number of virtual connections to be merged in accordance with an outcome of the judgment formed at the judgment step, and relates to a packet-transmission control apparatus for controlling transmission of packets.

Abstract: A cigarette lighter adapter formed from two complementary members that form a cylindrically shaped housing having an axial end with an annular recess, and a ring that fits within the annular recess and secures the two complementary portions together. The ring is configured to fit entirely within the annular recess and to fill the recess completely, making removal without destroying the ring or the housing virtually impossible. Preferably, the ring is configured to snap fit into the annular recess. Additional means for securing the two members may also be provided, preferably at a location removed from the first axial end.

Abstract: A typical conventional Graphical User Interface (GUI) displays multiple menu items, together with their respective icons (or symbols), on a display region. However, when a display region has a relatively small area, displaying icons (or symbols) together with their respective menu items makes the display region clustered, thus increasing the difficulty for a user to locate and select a desired menu item. To overcome this shortcoming, an improved GUI displays multiple menu items of a menu on a display region that contains a column window and row window. Each of the menu items contains a content field and a symbol field. The GUI only displays the symbol fields of the menu items that are scrolled into the column window and the content field of a menu item that is scrolled into the row window. In doing so, the improved GUI facilitates a user to select a desired menu item from the menu.

Abstract: A modification to the available simulated annealing algorithm is provided to better utilize direct connects and other architecture-specific features of a Field Programmable Gate Array. A preferred embodiment comprises adding a template-based move to the SA move-set that recognizes a specific pattern or template in the user's design after mapping, and arranges the components into the optimal configuration for the specific template discovered. The present invention increases the intelligence of the SA move-set by selectively supplementing the random moves in the move-set with moves that produce locally good solutions.

Abstract: A holder for roll-type print media and a roll-type print media cassette, for easing replacement of a roll, including a printing apparatus capable of detecting the presence of a roll-type print media. The holder and cassette include supporting means for supporting the roll-type print media rotatively and regulating means for regulating the unwinding of the print media. The printing apparatus includes print media supporting means for supporting the roll-type print media rotatively such that the position of the axis of rotation is fixed. A contact sensor for detecting the presence of roll-type print media is also provided.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises an error diffusion processing section 10 for performing error diffusion processing with quantization levels of three or above on image data x(i, j) for producing an output; and a second error diffusion processing section 20 for performing error diffusion processing with quantization levels of three or above on the data outputted from the first error diffusion section 10 for outputting image data y(i, j). Quantization levels of three or above of the quantizer 22 in the error diffusion processing section 20 are determined to be desired value. Quantization levels of three or above of the quantizer 12 in the error diffusion processing section 10 are determined to be levels each between each neighboring two of the quantization levels of the quantizer 22, the minimum level of the image input data x(i, j) and the maximum level of the image input data x(i, j).

Abstract: An intercom system utilizing peer-to-peer computer network hardware that shares bandwidth between digital audio transport and inter-processor data communications on a common time-division-multiplexed (TDM) parallel bus. The system hardware automates symmetric, simultaneous, variable-length data block transfers among all of the microprocessor- controlled cards in the system. These cards communicate without intervention by or assistance from a central controller or intermediary communications processor, thereby improving system throughput and reliability and decreasing system complexity. An additional benefit of the communication scheme employed herein is that all system cards automatically track changes in the population of other cards in the system. The intercom system described employs a Configuration Card connected to a configuration computer to provides the system supervisor with the ability to quickly configure the system for a particular use without altering the system's hardware configuration.

Abstract: An image converting apparatus for converting an image of an input video signal into an image with a metallic luster and representing the metallic luster with parameters designated corresponding to the input image. The apparatus is based on the concept that a model of reflected light can represented with a model of reflected light of diffusion reflection and mirror-surface reflection and that even though the resultant model of reflected light is three-dimensional data, assuming that the brightness of an input video signal linearly varies, the model can be represented with brightness data. A color correction circuit 5 has a look-up table with which calculations for generating an image with a metallic luster are performed with the brightness data and the designated parameters. A matrix calculating circuit extracts a luminous signal component from the input video signal. A pre-modifying circuit adjusts the amplitude.

Abstract: A distributed memory switching hub interconnecting heterogeneous local area networks operating at different transmission speeds for receiving, storing and forwarding frames of data. The distributed memory switching hub employs a distributed memory architecture in which memory storage for frames of data received and to be transmitted is located at each low speed LAN port of the distributed memory switching hub. A distributed memory architecture renders unnecessary the need for a central programmable processor or shared common memory to store and forward frames received by the distributed memory switching hub.

Abstract: A method and software apparatus are provided for implementing a dynamically modifiable test flow for integrated circuit devices that adapts to the characteristics of each processed device lot. According to the method of the invention, a modified set of tests sufficient to ensure proper device function for a particular lot is performed, reducing test costs and increasing test capacity. The method and system of the invention periodically samples a predetermined sample number of devices using a full set of tests including a set of skippable tests. Depending upon the performance characteristics of the sample device group on the skippable tests, a number of skippable tests are skipped during a modified test flow. After a next set of devices is tested using the modified test flow, the full set of tests is again performed on another sample group, and the size and makeup of the modified test flow is adjusted according to the new results.

Abstract: Round-robin arbitration circuit selects in clock cycle channel contending for arbitration; each arbitrated channel having channel number in sequence of channel numbers. Channel is designated as currently arbitrated; designated channel having designated number. Channels are masked from arbitration with designated channel, such that designated and unmasked channels are arbitrated to select channel. Channels having numbers sequenced after designated number are masked from arbitration, and channels having, numbers sequenced earlier than designated are also masked from arbitration. During subsequent cycle, designated channel is shifted to next channel in sequence of channel numbers by incrementing designated number. When designated number is last in sequence, designated channel is shifted to next having first number in sequence.

Abstract: A computer implemented, graph based method for determining the orientation of objects which can assume a plurality of orientations relative to a default orientation, including being rotated 90.degree. clockwise, mirrored about an X axis, or mirrored about a Y axis, where the X axis and the Y axis are orthogonal to each other, and having a plurality of orientation constraints, including a fixed orientation constraint which requires an object to have one of eight predefined orientations, a same orientation constraint which requires that every object in a set of two or more objects must have the same orientation, a mirrored orientation constraint, which requires that a pair of objects have a mirrored orientation about the X axis or the Y axis, and a same or mirrored orientation constraint, which requires that every object in a set of two or more objects must have either the same orientation or the mirrored orientation.

Abstract: Described is an one bit matched filter for generating a sequences of correlations between a signal bit stream and a sample stream of n sample bits. The n sample bits are arranged in a rang of n bit positions n, n-1, . . . , 2, 1. Among the n sample bits, m boundary positions are defined based on the bit pattern of the sample stream, where m<n. At a specific time T(k), the m boundary positions are used to generate a Contribution (k) for a section of signal bits that are shifted into the n bit positions. At the time T(k), a Correlation (k) is generated by adding the Contribution (k) with the Correlation (k-1) that was generated at the previous time T(k-1).

Abstract: An inter-processor communication system for a multi-processor environment wherein each processor has an associated processor system controller comprising an inter-processor communication registers (IPC Comm Reg). The IPC Comm Reg further comprising a response command register (CMD1 Reg), a non-response command register (CMD2 Reg), and a response register (RSP Reg). During inter-processor communication, the IPC Comm Reg of an initiating processor is coupled to the IPC Comm Reg of a target processor via the IPC bus so that data can be transmitted and one or more of a set of control flags of the target IPC Comm Reg is cleared or set in response to a write or read operation. In the inter-processor communication method for communication between multiple processors the initiating processor system controller coupled to an initiating processor detects the state of a set of status control flags of an initiating IPC Comm Reg associated with that initiating processor.

Abstract: An anti-vandalism detection and alarm system is disclosed for detecting and reporting the scratching of relatively hard materials such as glass and plastic which generate characteristic sound or vibration frequencies during scratching, and for detecting and reporting the cutting and slashing of relatively soft materials such as fabric, leather and plastic.