Abstract: An improved method, termed “statistical synthetic aperture magnetometry” (SSAM) of transforming magnetoencephalographic (MEG) measurements into corresponding three-dimensional images of the electrophysiological activity within the brain. The computed images are static, representing the time-integrated brain activity over a selected period. By selecting the time periods and frequency bands of interest, the SSAM method selectively images brain activity relating to different types of brain pathology or to cognitive events. Unlike prior art methods, the SSAM method compensates for the growth of ionic signal source strength estimates with depth into the head, resulting, in part, from the declining sensitivity of the MEG sensors. This is achieved by computing and displaying functions of the ratio of source strength to its noise for each element comprising the image.

Abstract: In an electrostatically controlled apparatus, such as a MEMS array having cavities formed around electrodes and which is mounted directly on a dielectric substrate in which are embedded electrostatic actuation electrodes disposed in alignment with the individual MEMS elements, a mechanism is provided to controllably neutralize excess charge and establish a controlled potential between the MEMS elements and the electrostatic actuation electrodes.

Abstract: A color optical inspection system extracts only such luma and chroma spatial features as are necessary for detection of defects related to the physical characteristics of devices populating the surface of a board. During the training phase, the features of each device present on each of a number of golden boards is extracted and compared against a set of established criteria, thereby to select one or more spatial features to be extracted for the associated devices during the inspection phase. A match region whose boundaries are defined by the selected features of the devices on the golden boards is established during the training phase. During the inspection phase, the selected features of each associated device are extracted to determine whether they fall inside the match region. If the extracted features falls outside the corresponding match region, then a defect is reported.

Abstract: A spectacle lens image sensing processing apparatus irradiates the convex surface of a lens to be examined with light from a light source, projects an image of the convex surface onto a reflection screen placed on the concave surface side of the lens. The apparatus senses the image of the convex surface, projected on the reflection screen, by using an image sensing unit, and performs image processing for the image of the convex surface sensed by the image sensing unit by using an image processing unit, thereby detecting optical characteristics of the lens. The image sensing unit is placed together with the light source on the convex surface side of the lens. The image of the convex surface of the lens is reflected by the reflection screen to return to the convex surface side of the lens, thereby forming the image on the image sensing unit. A spectacle lens positioning method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously settling multi-sided competition for allocation of multi-attribute time-variable resources whose value that change over time or which expire if not allocated prior to a predetermined time, comprises applying a time-dependent cost optimization function to current and subsequent settlement periods. The invention is applicable to diverse fields, such as allocating professionals' time, competitive selling of perishable goods, allocating production capacity, and committing media space. The invention is useful in such fields as construction, information technology services, selling of perishable foods, production of electronic circuit boards, and selling of television advertisements.

Abstract: A method of operating a network is beneficially conducted on a municipality or neighborhood level. The method in disclosed embodiments comprises installing a digital communications network within a limited selected geographical region. The network is formed from a high speed backbone and a plurality of nodes branching outward from the high speed backbone. A plurality of communicating stations are connected to the network and users at each communicating station subscribe to communicate over the network. Due to the unique scope of the network, the users are related primarily by virtue of their residence in a common geographical region. The network may be installed within a public utility right of way and may be used to monitor utility usage and to bill utility users. The network is thus independent of public telephone infrastructure. The network is preferably partitioned and communications are direct from station to station without broadcasting.

Abstract: In a computer system functioning as an autonomous agent with a robotic controller wherein the computer system need not be programmed to perform a specific task, values in an array of error variables are obtained from comparison between an array of resources variables used to indicate resource use and state of an Autonomous Agent and an array of corresponding desired levels for the resource variables. Each individual value in the array of error variables represents an error in the actual value of a particular resource variable as compared to its desired value. Derivative variables for the resource variables and for parameters controlling behavior of the Autonomous Agent are created. The values of the array of error variables and their associated derivative variables are used to adjust values of the behavior-controlling parameters thereby modifying behavior of the Autonomous Agent.

Abstract: A clock multiplication technique includes driving two oscillatory circuits by an input signal. One of the circuits has an inverted input. The oscillatory circuits are characterized by a transfer function having an unstable region bounded by two stable region. Oscillations produced during operation of each of the circuits in the unstable regions are combined to produce a signal whose frequency is a multiple of the input frequency.

Abstract: In a card type semiconductor memory device, at least one memory chip for storing a still image and a connector having a number of signal lines for transferring various signals between the memory chip and a host device are mounted on a card-like substrate. The memory chip includes a memory section and a signal processing section. The memory section includes analog nonvolatile semiconductor memories for sequentially storing, as analog values, color interleaved analog image signals having analog luminance information of predetermined colors in units of pixels in synchronism with a predetermined clock signal. The signal processing section calculates, as analog values, the luminance information at a plurality of pixel positions, which are read out from the memory section, to convert the luminance information into color image data having analog luminance information of the respective colors in units of pixels and outputs the color image data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an interpolation unit, compensation value calculation unit, and compensation unit. For an interpolation point selected from an image signal at an interval of n pixels (n is an integer of 2 or more), the interpolation unit interpolates the pixel value of each color data at the interpolation point using the pixel values of pixels of the same color falling within an interpolation region of m×m pixels (m is an integer of 2 or more) centered on the interpolation point, and outputs the pixel value as an interpolated pixel value at the interpolation point for each color data. The compensation value calculation unit generates a pixel compensation value for compensating for the pixel value of the interpolation point using the pixel values of pixels falling within a compensation region of M×M pixels (M is an integer equal to or larger than m and n) centered on the interpolation point.

Abstract: A structure of a hybrid MEMS structure is provided wherein a plate comprises a thin actuatable layer of conductive silicon, such as a MEMS actuatable element, and a thicker handle layer of conductive silicon to provide structural integrity which are separated by a thin oxide, together forming an SOI wafer. This plate is mounted to a substrate, typically ceramic, with the thin actuatable layer facing the substrate and separated by an air gap that is formed by creating, on the substrate, insulator standoffs which come in contact with the plate. A suitable dielectric material useful as a standoff on the substrate is a footrest that permits high aspect ratios.

Abstract: A multiple receiver approach is disclosed for a pulse decoding communication system, which can enhance system robustness and increase information carrying capacity. Two or more receivers are used to produce groups of pulses from a received signal. In one embodiment, system robustness is enhanced by redundancy. In another embodiment, information capacity is increased by producing independent groups of pulses from one cycle of an analog waveform.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for deployment in an outdoor environment for managing and distributing Ethernet-type data communication signals. The apparatus includes electrical isolation elements for various electromagnetic effects and a high speed pulse reshaper and repeater. The isolation elements include low capacitance electric pulse suppression devices so that maximum signal distance can be achieved without loss of usable pulse shape and isolation transformers on differential signal pair that retain magnetization at elevated temperatures so that signals are not blocked. As a further feature, a management protocol is included whereby the type of signals can be autonomously distinguished, managed, secured and redirected, thus allowing the apparatus to be operated with compatible devices in a daisy-chained and start switch fabric.

Abstract: A packet-switch system utilizes a linecard-to-switch (LCS) protocol to integrate linecards with a switch core. Since the linecards include a majority of the buffering of the system and are located physically away from switch core, the size of the switch core can be reduced in size. The LCS protocol is a label-swapping, credit-based, flow-control, which enables the system to operate without requiring such information as the number of port modules available within a switch core or what Qualities of Service (QoS) or multicast flows are available. In addition, the LCS protocol enables the linecards to contain and manage the majority of the buffers in the system, and also to control the data drop policy within the system.

Abstract: A MEMS device having a fixed element and a movable element wherein one or the other of the fixed element and the movable element has at least one radially-extended stop or overdeflection limiter. A fixed overlayer plate forms an aperture. The aperture is sized to minimize vignetting and may be beveled on the margin. Overdeflection limitation occurs during deflection before the movable element can impinge on an underlying electrode. The overdeflection limiter may be conveniently placed adjacent a gimbaled hinge.

Abstract: In an array apparatus, each MEMS element, comprising an actuatable element and a supportive handle, is mounted over a plurality of electrodes wherein the air gap is controlled by the thickness of the electrodes and not primarily by the structure of the handle. The structure of electrostatic actuation electrodes in specific embodiments is disclosed. While the invention is primarily a technique for reducing the air gap without unduly limiting the thickness of the handle, the invention may also be used to establish an air gap greater than the thickness of the handle.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an interpolation unit, compensation value calculation unit, and compensation unit. The interpolation unit interpolates the pixel value of each color signal at an interpolation point using the pixel values of pixels in the same color falling within a predetermined interpolation region including the interpolation point, and outputs the pixel value as an interpolated pixel value at the interpolation point for each color signal. The compensation value calculation unit generates a pixel compensation value for compensating the pixel value of the interpolation point using the pixel values of a plurality of pixels around the interpolation point that fall within a compensation region wider than and including the interpolation region.

Abstract: A gated oscillator is provided for digital circuits. The gated oscillator is achieved by the unconventional use of controlling the operating point of a Van der Pol oscillator. Oscillations are achieved by Van der Pol self-oscillation behavior.

Abstract: A method of training a recursive filter comprises updating recursive parameters of the filter with delta values computed from sampling of an error signal and obtaining derivative terms of the output signal with respect to the parameters. Adaptation using derivatives for FIR filters is known, but this technique was not available for IIR filters because of the unavailability of the derivative values. However, when it is realized that the derivative itself is recursive, a parameter derivative function is obtained which will produce derivative terms for updating the filter parameters with acceptable filter performance.

Abstract: Studio camera position and motion may be derived from the camera image by separating out the background and deriving from a background having a number of areas of hue and/or brightness different from adjacent areas estimates of movement from one image to the next. The initial image is used as a reference and amended with predicted motion value. The amended image is compared with incoming images and the result used to derive translation and scale change information. Once the proportion of the reference image contained in an incoming image falls below a threshold a fresh reference image is adopted.