Abstract: An apparatus and method for scaling the power consumption of a video processor is provided. The apparatus includes a video processor having a plurality of video-processing modules for receiving a stream of image signals at an input and producing a processed image stream at an output, wherein the video processor is initially set to process each received pixel of the image stream according to a preset power-consumption level; an evaluator, coupled to the video processor, for determining an objective-quality metric of the pixel characteristics that are indicative of video quality in the image stream; and, a power-management module, coupled to the evaluator, for obtaining a new power-consumption level for the video processor from a predetermined table according to the objective-quality metric determined by the evaluator, wherein the predetermined table contains a number of different arrangements of the video-processing modules to generate a plurality of power-consumption level.

Abstract: A loudspeaker includes an acoustical enclosure having an internal wall dividing the enclosure into first and second subchambers, an electro-acoustical transducer having a vibratable speaker cone mounted in an opening in the internal wall of the acoustical enclosure, an internal vent in the internal wall of the acoustical enclosure for pneumatically coupling the first and second subchambers, a first external vent in a wall of the first subchamber for pneumatically coupling the first subchamber to an exterior environment outside of the acoustical enclosure, and a second external vent in a wall of the second subchamber for pneumatically coupling the second subchamber to the exterior environment, a ratio of the acoustic masses of the internal vent to the the second external vent being approximately 3/1 to 7/1, and a ratio of the acoustic masses of the first external vent to the second external vent being approximately 15/1 to 30/1.

Abstract: An optical record carrier recording method forms pits and lands by directing a radiation beam (12) onto a recording surface (21) of an optical record carrier (20). The radiation beam for each pit to be recorded is set to at least one write power level (Pw) capable of forming a pit during a write power irradiation period (31) and, for each land between the pits, to at least one bottom power level (P0) incapable of forming a pit during a bottom power irradiation period (51).

Abstract: In a method and arrangement for embedding and detecting a watermark in an information signal, the embedded watermark (Wi) is selected (13) from a plurality of watermarks (W1 . . . WN) in dependence upon a property P of the signal. An example of such a property is the distribution of luminance values of the current video image as calculated by an analysis circuit (12). The corresponding watermark detector performs the same operation: the watermark being looked for depends on the same signal property. It is achieved with the invention that the embedded watermark changes from time to time as a function of the information signal content, so that it cannot easily be hacked.

Abstract: A security system purposely damages at least a portion of content material, using a damaging process that is easily reversible, until a verification of authorization is determined. While the authorization to access the content material is in an unverified state, an undamaged version is provided for immediate rendering, but any stored versions of the content material is stored in the damaged state. When the authorization is verified, the damaging process ceases, and the stored damaged version is repaired, thereby allowing unimpeded subsequent access to the authorized content material. If sufficient evidence is obtained to warrant a determination that the content material is unauthorized, the access to the material is terminated, and any stored content material remains in the damaged state, thereby precluding subsequent access to the unauthorized content material.

Abstract: A switching power amplifier of class D has a switching stage for generating a block wave signal by alternately switching the block wave signal between supply voltages. A filter (24, 25) generates a power output signal (22) corresponding to an input signal to be amplified, which is coupled to a linear input (19) that is free of hysteresis. A control circuit (27, 28, 29) provides feedback between the output power signal and the linear input for controlling both the gain in the operational frequency range and also the alternately switching of the switching stage. Hence, the amplifier oscillates controlled via the same feedback loop that also controls the operational behavior of the amplifier, resulting in low output impedance and low distortion.

Abstract: An audio signal processing device includes a signal supply for supplying coded audio signal over more than one input channel and, per input channel, over separate frequency sub-bands domain sub-channels. Further filters are used to decode and synthesize the audio signals over the total frequency domain. Sub-band combination circuits are used for supplying respective input channels to the same sub-band combination circuit the signals from the same sub-band frequency domain audio signals.

Abstract: In methods and an optical recording apparatus using these methods, an optimum write power of a radiation beam in the apparatus is set by writing a series of test patterns on the optical recording medium, forming a read signal from the patterns and processing the read signal. Such processing involves fitting a function, preferably a straight line, to parameters obtained from the read signal without having to perform a differentiation step.

Abstract: A method of selecting a generator matrix (G) for encoding information words (m) including information symbols (m1, m2, mk) into codewords (c) of a code (C) provides an enhanced error correction capability if at least one information symbol (m1, m2, m3) is known a priori to a decoder decoding received, possibly mutilated codewords (r). In order to design a code of which the correction power is enhanced if some information symbols are known to the decoder prior to decoding, the generator matrix (G) is selected such that the minimum Hamming distance of at least one subcode (C?) of the code (C) is larger than the minimum Hamming distance of the code (C), and that a subcode generator matrix (G?) of the at least one subcode (C?) is derived from the generator matrix (G) of the code (C) by omitting the at least one row from the generator matrix (G) corresponding to the at least one a priori known information symbol (m1, m2, m3).

Abstract: The progress of transferring an electronic object from a sending handheld to a receiver is graphically represented as an object gradually sliding out of view on the display of the sender and gradually sliding into view on the display of the receiver. A gravity sensor in the sending handheld is used to determine the transmission's data rate. This visual feedback is an ergonomic feature for, e.g., electronic toys.

Abstract: A method and signal processing apparatus for reducing the number of bits of a digital input signal (Mi), includes adding a pseudo-random noise signal (Na) to the digital input signal (Mi) to obtain an intermediate signal (Di), the pseudo-random noise signal (Na) being defined by noise parameters (Np), and quantizing the intermediate signal (Di), having a word length of n bits, to a reduced word-length signal (Me) having a word length of m bits, n being larger than or equal to m. The method further includes quantizing the intermediate signal (Di) using a first transfer function which is non-linear, the first transfer function being defined by non-linear device parameters (NLDp).

Abstract: A record carrier (1) has a servo track (4) indicating an information track (9) intended for recording information blocks represented by marks, the servo track (4) having a periodic variation of a physical parameter at a first frequency and modulated parts for encoding record carrier information. The modulated parts have a bit synchronization element constituted by a phase modulation of the periodic variation and a data part having data bits of the record carrier information encoded by direct digital modulation. Alternatively, the modulated parts include a second frequency, which is substantially different from the first frequency, for encoding data bits of the record carrier information, the second frequency being a integral multiple N of the first frequency. A recording and/or playback device has a device for recording/reading the information blocks and for reading the record carrier information.

Abstract: In order to improve an arithmetic decoder, the method of arithmetically decoding an arithmetically-encoded information signal into an information signal including a serial sequence of n-bit symbols is adapted to decode two subsequent symbols of the information signal in one decoding cycle if the first symbol to be decoded has the most probable symbol value.

Abstract: An optical record carrier recording method forms pits and lands by directing a radiation beam (12) onto a recording surface (21) of an optical record carrier (20). The radiation beam for each pit to be recorded is set to at least one write power level (Pw) capable of forming a pit during a write power irradiation period (31) and, for each land between the pits, to at least one bottom power level (P0) incapable of forming a pit during a bottom power irradiation period (51).

Abstract: In a method for entering a character sequence consisting of one or more characters into an electronic device including keys for entering keystrokes by a user as well a display panel for presenting information to the user, wherein a group of characters is presented on the display panel in the form of a matrix composed of rows and columns, at least one specific character is pointed by a cursor which is movable through the matrix, and the character sequence is constructed by pointing out consecutive characters one by one by the cursor, and the character is entered by a keystroke. In order to enter a specific character from the character sequence, the cursor moves automatically in a first direction through a specific row or column, thereby sequentially pointing out the characters in the specific row or column; the automatically moving cursor can be moved towards the column or row, respectively, of the specific character by one or more first and/or second keystrokes.

Abstract: Method of registering a running time on an information carrier, the information carrier comprising main data and subcode data, the running time being indicated in a subcode channel by a subcode time expressed in accordance with a predetermined format. A pseudo-running time is described by incrementing the subcode time in accordance with a pseudo-tempo, which is different from an actual tempo, the actual tempo representing a tempo in accordance with the actual running time. The invention further relates to an information carrier and an apparatus.

Abstract: A supply assembly for an LED lighting module includes a control switch for supplying a constant current to the LED lighting module. A dual switching signal composed of low frequency bursts of high frequency pulses is applied to the control switch. By varying the low frequency component of the dual switching signal, the average current through the LED lighting module may be varied in order to vary the light intensity outputted by the LED lighting module.

Abstract: A method of reducing the response time upon a change-over between different display modes of a video display device, picture information from a first channel being displayed in one display mode and picture information from another channel being displayed in another display mode. Picture information from the one channel is simulated by picture information from the other channel. The two channels may carry different picture information.

Abstract: In a method and a device for reading and a method and a device for recording files on a sequential medium as well as the sequential medium itself, in order to enable the use of sequential write-once mediums, the file system descriptor pointing to a current version of a management information area, is recorded on a reserved track being located at the beginning of the volume. Thereby, the management information area is recorded at a location behind files being recorded onto the volume.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and devices for storing and reading data (5, 6) on a storage medium (17). In order to allow compatibility between different file systems (JAFS, UDF) data structures are stored in a first administrative area (10) as belonging to the first file system (JAFS) and a second administrative area (12) belonging to the second file system (UDF). Thus, a so-called bridge disc is achieved that may be read in the different file systems.