Abstract: A novel method for driving a display having an array of pixels arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows includes the steps of defining a modulation period for a row of pixels, dividing the modulation period into a number of coequal time intervals equal to n times the number of rows in the array, receiving a multi-bit data word that indicates an intensity value, and updating the signal asserted on the pixel during a plurality of the time intervals such that the intensity value is displayed by the pixel. Note that n is an integer greater than zero. The method can be applied to all rows, which can be driven asynchronously. A display driver for performing the novel methods is also disclosed. The present invention facilitates driving the display at 100% bandwidth efficiency during each time interval in the modulation period.

Abstract: A novel ankle gapping device includes a lower leg engaging apparatus, a foot engaging apparatus, and a biasing member disposed between the lower leg engaging apparatus and the foot engaging apparatus. The leg engaging apparatus is adapted to securely engage a user's leg such that the leg engaging apparatus will remain stationary when the biasing member exerts an upward force thereon. The foot engaging apparatus is contoured to fit the user's foot. In a particular embodiment, the biasing member is a pneumatic biasing member, such as an inflatable tube that is actuated by a pump. As the pump provides compressed air (or some other fluid) to the biasing member, the pressure inside the biasing member increases, causing an increase in the volume of the biasing member. This pressure and volume increase exerts an upward force via the leg engaging apparatus to the lower leg, and a downward force via the foot engaging apparatus to the foot.

Abstract: A solidified biomass consisting of semi-carbonized or pre-semi-carbonized solid matter is pressure-formed from raw biomass material while being heated and has a maximum compressive strength of 60-200 MPa and calorific value of 18-23 MJ/kg. A method for producing the solidified biomass: includes crushing raw biomass material; loading a barrel with the crushed raw biomass material; inserting a pressure applying piston into a hollow of the barrel; pressure-forming the crushed raw biomass materials by applying pressure with the pressure applying piston while heating the material; obtaining semi-carbonized or pre-semi-carbonized solid matter by retaining constant time of the heating and the pressurizing; cooling the semi-carbonized or pre-semi-carbonized solid matter while maintaining pressure to obtain a cooled solid; and taking out and drying the cooled solid, wherein the pressure applying piston and the hollow of the barrel have very small clearance between their outer and inner peripheries.

Abstract: A water hammerless valve includes a pneumatically-operated valve having a valve disc for opening and closing a fluid channel by moving upward and downward through a pneumatic actuator operation, and a limiting mechanism for interfering with upward movement of the valve disc when the water hammer occurs. The limiting mechanism includes a stepping motor including a rotation shaft fixed on the upper actuator; a vertical movement component connected to the rotation shaft for moving upward and downward via rotation of the rotation shaft; a lower detecting component for detecting the fact that the vertical movement component contacts the upper end of a stem when the lower detecting component moves downward; and a control device for rotating the stepping motor, for controlling the air supply, and for transmitting a stop signal to the stepping motor when the lower end of the lower detecting component detects the fact.

Abstract: A device for detecting an approach or a touch related to at least one sensor element, in particular in an electrical appliance, the device comprising an input side and an output side, between which a first signal path with a first input and a first output and a second signal path with a second input and a second output are arranged, wherein the first signal path comprises a delay device with a delay, the delay device configured to delay a digital first input signal at the first input into a digital first output signal at the first output, wherein the delay is dependent on a capacitance value resulting from the approach or the touch related to the sensor element, and wherein the second signal path comprises an XOR-element, which is configured to generate an edge in a digital second output signal at the second output, when the digital first output signal outputted by the delay device exhibits an edge.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a liquid crystal alignment layer between the substrate and the liquid crystal layer, a barrier layer between the liquid crystal alignment layer and the liquid crystal layer, and a gasket formed around the perimeter of the liquid crystal layer and abutting the barrier layer. The gasket has a width less than or equal to 400 micrometers. A second substrate also includes a liquid crystal alignment layer and a barrier layer formed over the liquid crystal alignment layer. The gasket also abuts the barrier layer of the second substrate. In a particular embodiment, the substrate is a reflective display backplane, and the second substrate is a transparent substrate having a transparent electrode layer. The gasket of the present invention is much narrower than gaskets of the prior art, which enables LCD devices to be made smaller and cheaper because more LCD devices can be produced per wafer.

Abstract: A system and method for providing communication with a tracking device are disclosed. An example tracking device includes a location detector, a communication device, memory, a processor, and a configuration routine. The location detector is operative to determine locations of the tracking device. The communication device is operative to communicate with a remote system. The memory stores data and code, the data including location data determined by the location detector and configuration data. The processor is operative to execute the code to impart functionality to the tracking device. The functionality of the tracking device depends at least in part on the configuration data. The configuration routine is operative to modify the configuration data responsive to communications from the remote system. Thus, functional access to the tracking device is provided to the remote system.

Abstract: A system comprises a network of sensors inside a cargo container, each sensor capable of generating sensor information pertaining to the environment within the cargo container; an operation center; and a device (e.g., a lock) outside of the cargo container capable of communicating with the network of sensors (possibly using a wireless standard) and with the operation center (possibly using a satellite or cellular network), capable of receiving the sensor information, and capable of reporting a message based on the sensor information to the operation center. The sensor network may include an arrangement of temperature sensors, humidity sensors, radioactivity sensors, chemical/biological toxin sensors, chemical explosive sensors, vibration sensors, sound sensors, collision sensors, and/or light sensors. The device may include a communication module capable of communicating with other device on other containers. The operation center may monitor messages received from the devices to determine proper responses.

Abstract: The invention involves a papilloma pseudovirus that can induce immune response after oral intake as well as its preparation. It is characterized in that HPV or BPV pseudovirus are made by disrupting HPV-VLP or BPV-VLP, mixing them with plasmids (plasmids or DNA vaccine), and reassembling them into the pseudoviruses (VLPs with plasmids inside). Oral administration of the pseudoviruses will result in delivery to mucosal and systemic lymphoid tissues and induce immune responses for disease prevention and treatment. The pseudovirus induces stronger immune response than DNA vaccines. Additionally, the pseudovirus can be applied in gene therapy by bringing the therapeutic genes into lymphoid tissues in the human body.

Abstract: A novel digital camera module includes an image capture device, a circuit substrate, a lens unit and a housing that is mounted to the circuit substrate before the image capture device is mounted to the circuit substrate. In one particular embodiment, the housing is formed onto the circuit substrate via molding. The housing includes a bore to receive the lens unit, with the diameter of the bore being larger than the diagonal of the image capture device such that image capture device can be mounted to the circuit substrate through the bore. In another particular embodiment, the circuit substrate includes an aperture so as to facilitate the flip-chip bonding of the image capture device. The order in which the image capture device and the housing are coupled to the circuit substrate helps prevent damage to the image capture device during the mounting of the housing to the circuit substrate.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a digital camera includes dispersing white light through a test device to generate a color dispersion image including a plurality of different wavelengths of light; capturing a test image of the color dispersion image; obtaining intensity values corresponding to at least two of the different wavelengths of light from the test image; and comparing the intensity values to expected intensity values. The test device may include a color dispersion medium, e.g., a variable band pass filter, and/or a light transmission medium. The method may further include obtaining at least two different values corresponding to an intensity pattern image containing a plurality of intensities of undispersed light transmitted through a light transmission medium.

Abstract: A method of providing sense perception to an electronic system includes capturing a plurality of data sets, each data set representing an observation of a scene from a different perspective, comparing the data sets to identify invariants in the data sets, comparing the invariants to identify objects including the invariants, comparing the identified invariants and objects to other identified invariants and objects to identify additional objects including invariants not yet included in previously identified objects, and outputting data indicative of the identified objects and invariants. The different perspectives can be temporal (e.g., time sequenced), positional (e.g., movement of sensors), etc. The data sets can include data indicative of optical images, sound, and/or any other type of sensory data. The invariants can be data representations of color patches in an optical image. The data sets can include data indicative of at least three different types of sense perceptions.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for verifying a commercial transaction between a card-holder, a merchant, and a credit card company. The card-holder makes a purchase with the merchant using a full credit card number. The merchant submits a transaction approval request for approval with the credit card company. The credit card company executes conventional credit approval of the transaction approval request, as well as verifies the transaction approval request with the card-holder. An approval is sent to the merchant only after the transaction approval request is both conventionally approved by the credit card company and verified by the card-holder. The card-holder, or the credit card company, may initiate verification of the transaction approval request. The transaction approval request can also be automatically verified if one or many pre-verification criteria is/are satisfied by data contained in the transaction approval request.

Abstract: There is provided a system for comprising a plurality of blocks, each block comprising any hardware element and a plurality of segments for providing interconnection of the plurality of blocks. A segment comprises a connector between multiple blocks and other segments and segments are connected via the ports of blocks or other segments. Communications between blocks is packet based, each packet including at least a destination block. The packet includes at least one of data, packet/message identification and padding. Blocks have an associated address. A block has one or more input ports and one or more output ports. Segments include means for routing packets to destinations. Each block and segment includes properties. Properties include one or more of clocks, bandwidth, bit widths, and latencies. The plurality of segments for multiple packets to be active on different segments. A single segment includes a plurality of ports for multiple packets to be active on different ports of the segment.

Abstract: A separated tracking device includes a first portion including a location determining device operative to receive signals from a positioning system, a wireless communication device operative to communicate the location data from the first portion to a second portion of the tracking device, the second portion including a wireless data transceiver operable to transmit the location data to a remote server. In a particular embodiment, the first portion of the tracking device is attached to a first shoe and the second portion of the tracking device is incorporated in a second shoe. In another embodiment, the second portion of the tracking device is incorporated in a hand-held device. A method for manufacturing a separated tracking device and a method of operating a separated tracking device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A simulated consciousness method (10) for an improved human/computer interface. A computer system (12) is programmed to have a Digital Life Form (32) possessing a plurality of attributes (65). A plurality of actions (64) taken relative to objects (60) in the environment (30) contribute to simulated feelings (76) which ultimately control the viability of the Digital Life Form (32). When there are not sufficient energy packets (66) to sustain the Digital Life Form (32) then simulated death 52 results. Therefore, only actions (64) which contribute to the viability of the Digital Life Form (32) are repeated in the long-run. Some of those actions (64) include perception of reality, concept formation, and natural language processing.

Abstract: A personal communications earpiece (10, 10a, 10b) for use with a personal communications device such as a telephone (50). The personal communications earpiece (10, 10a, 10b) has an ear hook (12) for placing over an ear (60) of the user. An ear bud (14, 14a) containing a speaker (27) is both physically and electrically connected to the ear hook (12) by a flexible connector (16). A front portion (22) of the ear hook (12) extends generally downward in front of the ear (60). In one embodiment, the ear bud (14) has an in ear portion (28) with a plurality of grooves (30) therein for assisting in preventing the ear bud (14) from completely blocking or occluding the ear canal of the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing complex mathematical calculations. The apparatus includes a multicore processor 10 where the cores 15 are connected 20 into a net with the processors on the periphery 15a primarily dedicated to input/output functions and distribution of tasks to the central processors 15b-h of the net. The central processors 15b-h perform calculations substantially simultaneously, far exceeding the speed of conventional processors. The method 100, which may be implemented by an instruction set to the processor nodes, informs the processor nodes how to divide the work and conduct the calculations. The method includes steps dividing the data into subsets 110 directing the subsets to predetermined nodes 115, performing the calculations 120 and outputting the results 125.

Abstract: A novel digital camera module includes an image capture device, a lens unit including a body, a housing including an opening for receiving the lens unit and positioning the lens unit with respect to the image capture device, and a contaminant trap formed by an isolated annular space between the lens unit and the opening of the housing. In a particular embodiment, the opening of the housing includes surfaces having at least two different perimeters, the smaller of which slidably engages the outer surface of the lens unit. The contaminant trap collects and contains any contaminants before they reach vulnerable components such as the image capture device and/or other optical components within the camera module.

Abstract: A computer array (10) has a plurality of computers (12) for accomplishing a larger task that is divided into smaller tasks, each of the smaller tasks being assigned to one or more of the computers (12). Each of the computers (12) may be configured for specific functions and individual input/output circuits (26) associated with exterior computers (12) are specifically adapted for particular input/output functions. An example of 25 computers (12) arranged in the computer array (10) has a centralized computational core (34) with the computers (12) nearer the edge of the die (14) being configured for input and/or output.