Abstract: A system for generating an animated image of at least the head of a character which is speaking, with the face of the character having visible articulation or expression matching the words being spoken, is described. An input stream of marked up text comprising text to be spoken by the animated character and instructions representing behavioral features are combined in a modified text stream which includes randomization instructions to create random behavioural features. The modified text stream is processed to produce an audio stream representing the text being spoken and a sequence of phonemes corresponding to portions of the audio signal. The phoneme stream is mapped by phoneme to viseme mapping means to produce a stream of morph targets. The morph targets are, in turn, combined with further random movement instructions and these are then processed in an animation module to generate an animated image of at least the character's head.

Abstract: At a face of a silicon semiconductor substrate tilted about one degree from a [100] orientation, a readout integrated circuit (ROIC) is implemented, specially designed and fabricated for direct epitaxial growth. Layers of II-VI semiconductor material, preferably including layers of HgCdTe of different bandgaps, are successively and monolithically grown on the face by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) within a window masking the face and then patterned and wet-etched to create mesas of two-color detector elements in an array. Preferably a beginning buffer layer of CdTe is grown to minimize crystalline mismatch between the Si and the HgCdTe. Sloped sidewalls of the mesas ensure good step coverage of the conductive interconnects from the detector elements to the ROIC.

Abstract: A ticket dispensing mechanism (40) includes a drive (42) receiving sheet material (24) from a supply (22). The drive advances the sheet material. A printer (48) prints ticket information on the sheet material as it is advanced by the drive thereby to form a printed ticket. A retaining mechanism (64) receives the printed ticket advanced by the drive and holds the printed ticket in a manner such that the leading end of the next ticket printed contacts and ejects the held ticket prior to itself being held by the retaining mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a connector used to join two or more panels having a foam core and having a cavity defined in a edge thereof. The connector includes a connector body having at least two attachment heads which are dimensioned to fit snugly within the corresponding cavities bounded by internal sidewalls defined in the foam core. Barbs provided on each attachment head are configured to pierce the internal sidewalls of the panels and inhibit withdrawal of the attachment head from the cavity defined in the foam core.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved method of manufacturing of an optical device (40), particularly semiconductor optoelectronic devices such as laser diodes, optical modulators, optical amplifiers, optical switches, and optical detectors. The invention provides a method of manufacturing optical device (40), a device body portion (15) from which the device (40) is to be made including a Quantum Well (QW) structure (30), the method including the step of: processing the device body portion (15) so as to create extended defects at least in a portion (53) of the device portion (5). Each extended defect is a structural defect comprising a plurality of adjacent “point” defects.

Abstract: A digital to analogue converter (DAC) system (30) is described which has a plurality of weighting elements (40) where some of the weighting elements have a different nominal weight from other elements. In a preferred arrangement pairs of elements with the same nominal weight are combined, with each pair of elements having more than two output states. A selection unit is coupled to the elements and an adder is coupled to the selection unit to sum the outputs of the weighted elements. In use, the DAC system receives a digital signal and the selection unit determines the output state of each element combination to provide values of the weighted elements which, when summed, are equivalent to the digital signal. The selection unit also determines the output state of each element in each element combination to minimise errors. An analogue to digital (A/D) converter (200) based on the DAC is also described.

Abstract: A method and system for tracking the movement of animals as the animals are moved from location to location during processing comprises the steps of tagging the animals under observation and tracking the location and duration each tagged animal spends at each location as it is moved to generate data representing each tagged animal's movement history

Abstract: An exercise or physical therapy apparatus provides both tonic and phasic exercise to selected muscle groups of a user, such as the muscles of the arms or legs. The phasic exercise may be accomplished by a cycle. The tonic exercise is accomplished by subjecting the muscle group to a constant load, such as a user- or therapist-selected portion of the user's body weight, by springs, or by weights. A measurement device measures the degree of displacement of the user's torso, it being an objective of the user to keep the torso stationary.

Abstract: An abrasive wheel to grind or cut a variety of materials comprising a core part fixed to a tool transmitting motive power and long tips and short tips alternately attached on the base surface of a shank around the core part. The tips are arranged to cover the base surface with space therebetween at predetermined intervals along the circumference of the shank.

Abstract: A power line testing device has a signal generator that is adapted to be connected to one of a plurality of AC branch circuits, and generates an identification signal. This identification signal will be strongest in the branch circuit of origin. A receiver of the testing device senses the strength of the identification signal, compares that strength to a stored identification signal, and is therefore able to identify to which AC branch circuit the transmitter is connected.

Abstract: A sports racquet comprises a handle and a frame coupled to the handle. The frame includes an inner portion and an outer portion located substantially opposite the inner portion. The inner portion of the frame include a plurality of undulations that extend towards and away from a ball-hitting surface, the undulations reducing the unintended bunching and wrinkling of material that intermittently forms in the frame during the manufacturing process. The undulations can be varied by location, undulation length, undulation height, and frequency and can be used in racquets made from a variety of materials and methods.

Abstract: Powdered nickel-based alloys having substantial amounts of chromium and molybdenum are molded and sintered to form tubular filter supports. Metal oxide particulates, preferably titanium oxide, are impregnated into the interior surfaces of the tubular elements and sintered to create 0.1 micron filter membranes. Hastelloy C-22 is a preferred nickel-based alloy for forming the porous metal support, while rutile is preferred as a starting material for forming the filter membrane. The resultant porous metal/metal oxide filter elements have superior resistance to chemical attack in high chloride, low pH environments.

Abstract: A vehicle floor mat affixation device includes at least two tines or hook members formed substantially on respective helical paths around an axis of the affixation device and ending in downwardly bent terminal portions with sharpened points. The preferably tempered stainless steel hook members are adapted to easily pierce vehicle floor carpeting and to be screwed into place. A reverse face of the affixation device includes a panel of releasable fastening material that is designed to mate with a similar panel of releasable fastening material in the vehicle floor mat. The present invention resists affixation device pull out and shear forces applied to the mat with respect to the carpeting on which the mat is placed, but nonetheless permits easy removal and replacement of the vehicle floor mat and of the affixation devices themselves.

Abstract: A marine riser has couplings with screw-threads for securing marine riser sections together, and a carousel mechanism for coupling auxiliary lines to the marine riser sections at various locations along the sections to permit the lines to rotate freely relative to the marine riser sections as the sections are rotatably assembled. The marine riser also has a buoyancy module which houses choke and kill lines in buoyancy module fairing portions.

Abstract: In a method of monitoring animals within an area, position data of each animal within the area is collected at interval. The position data is then processed to generate movement pattern data of the animals. The movement pattern data is then analyzed to determine at least one physical condition of the animals.

Abstract: A bicycle derailleur is provided with a parallelogram link that is sufficiently rigid axially to maintain the distance between the link pivot axes during derailleur actuation but substantially flexible in torsion and shear to permit simple alignment of the pivot holes and control of the link width during formation and assembly of the link, thereby ensuring smooth operation of the derailleur during gear shifts.