Abstract: When the studied motion is periodic, such as for a beating heart, it is possible to acquire successive sets of two dimensional plus time data slice-sequences at increasing depths over at least one time period which are later rearranged to recover a three dimensional time sequence. Since gating signals are either unavailable or cumbersome to acquire in microscopic organisms, the invention is a method for reconstructing volumes based solely on the information contained in the image sequences. The central part of the algorithm is a least-squares minimization of an objective criterion that depends on the similarity between the data from neighboring depths. Owing to a wavelet-based multiresolution approach, the method is robust to common confocal microscopy artifacts. The method is validated on both simulated data and in-vivo measurements.

Abstract: A system residing preferably in a television set-top box monitors the television watching habits of one or more viewers and creates one or more profiles for each viewers descriptive of various characteristics of each viewers, including television watching preferences and demographics. The set-top box is able to select among various available video programming segments to create customized and/or targeted video programs for delivery to the viewer or viewers as a linear program. The customized linear video programs may include targeted content, advertising, and other video programming.

Abstract: A system for linearizing RF amplifiers employing baseband predistortion techniques provides additive or multiplicative predistortion of the quadrature (I/Q) input signal. The predistorter uses a discrete-time polynomial kernel to model the inverse transfer characteristic of the amplifier, providing separate and simultaneous compensation for nonlinear static distortion, linear dynamic distortion and nonlinear dynamic effects including reactive electrical memory effects. A predistortion controller monitors and compares the amplifier output with the quadrature input signal to compute estimates of the residual output distortion of the amplifier. Output distortion estimates are used to adaptively compute the predistorter parameter values in response to changes in the amplifier's operating conditions. The computed values are used in the predistorter.

Abstract: A retaining device to secure a socket to an anvil including an O-ring, an integral projection extending inwardly from the O-ring, and an insert secured at or near a far end of the integral projection. The insert may be made from a non-metallic high modulus material that can compress up to 50% of its original diameter without breaking. The insert may also include a socket wear indicator that consists, for example, of a raised ridge located within a recess on the side of the insert. The raised ridge, if crushed at the juxtaposition between the socket and the anvil, provide an early indication that the socket's drive aperture is worn and that the socket should be replaced.

Abstract: An MRI RF coil that is optimized for SENSE imaging is used in a method where the surface current density distribution on a coil former was calculated to maximize the SNRsense within a volume of interest. An analytic relationship was formulated between the SNRsense and surface current density on the coil former. The SNR at pixel ? in a SENSE-MR image, SNRsense,?, is inversely proportional to the g-factor. The g-factor was formulated in terms of the B1 distribution of the coils. By specifying the geometry of the desired coil former and using a finite element mesh, the surface current distribution was calculated to maximize the SNRsense, by minimizing (1/SNRsense) in the volume of interest using a least squares procedure. A simple two-coil array was tested and phantom images were collected. The results show that the new coil design method yielded better uniformity and SNR compared to standard coils.

Abstract: The oxidation behavior of the bond coat is improved using a HVOF nanostructured NiCrAlY coating. NiCrAlY powder is mechanically cryomilled and HVOF sprayed onto Ni-based alloy to form a nanocrystalline bond coat. Oxidation is performed on the coating to form the thermally grown oxide layer (thermally grown oxide). After heat treatment at 1000° C. for 24 and 95 hour, a homogeneous ?-Al2O3 layer is formed on top of the bond coat. The nanostructured characteristic of the coating and the presence of Al2O3 within the cryomilled powders (oxidation occurred during cryomilling process) affects the nucleation of the alumina layer on the top of the coating. The formation of a continuous thermally grown oxide layer protects the coating from further oxidation and avoids the formation of mixed oxide protrusions, such as those presented in the coating sprayed using the as-received powder.

Abstract: A system for tomographic imaging includes a source of at least partially coherent radiation, a frequency-swept laser source and an interferometer. The radiation in the interferometer is phase modulated at a modulation frequency for elimination of DC and autocorrelation noises as well as the mirror image. The interference fringes of the radiation backscattered from the sample into the interferometer are detected to obtain a spectral signal. The spectral signal of the detected backscattered interference fringes is transformed to obtain a location dependent signal at each pixel location in a data window. A tomographic image of the fluid flow in the data window is generated for display and of the structure of the scanned fluid flow sample in the data window from the location dependent signal is generated.

Abstract: A method and system for sensing disappearance of the previously detected logos in noisy digital video signals. When a video program starts, a short period of time is allowed to initially detect the existence and the location of the logo within the incoming video frames. Once the logo is detected and a logo map is generated, logo tracking senses whether the logo remains in, or disappears from, the video frames. If the logo moves or (partially) changes its intensity, color, pattern, etc., it will be sensed as having disappeared altogether.

Abstract: A method for providing user interfaces in a first network to a remote access device, the first network including interconnected first devices and at least one interface device for connecting the first network to a second network. The remote access device establishes communication with the second network and sends a request to the interface device for accessing the first network; at least one of the first devices obtains information from one or more of the first devices, and generates a user interface description including at least one reference associated with the device information, the reference including an external address such that the device is accessible from the remote access device; the interface device sends the user interface description to the remote access device; and the remote access device displays a user interface based on the user interface description.

Abstract: A digital predistortion system and method employing parallel signal paths is disclosed. A first primary signal path receives a rectangular (I,Q) input signal and provides it to an additive predistortion correction circuit. A second parallel signal path includes coordinate rotation circuitry and a predistortion coefficient look up table. Any effects of calculational errors on the primary input signal are minimized by avoiding manipulations of the input signal in the primary signal path. A third parallel signal path may be used to receive the input signal for calculating adaptive updates to the look up table entries.

Abstract: An environmental control system controls monitoring and operation of a multiplicity of disparate environmental control devices by determining an appropriate configuration for each control device and communicates corresponding monitoring and control commands to each device in accordance with its corresponding communication protocol over a selected I/O port. An operational instruction set includes a structural definition of an enterprise facility in which devices are defined by personality modules and communicate with a system host in accordance with a protocol defined in a protocol module. Facility implementation is defined by a node tree structure which collects suitable protocol nodes under a corresponding I/O interface port node. Device (personality) nodes are collected under corresponding protocol nodes, and data point nodes depend from their corresponding device nodes.

Abstract: An RF amplifier assembly employing a finned heat sink and a heat pipe enhanced aluminum pallet is disclosed. The hybrid heat pipe enhanced aluminum pallet reduces the spreading thermal conduction resistance associated with the conduction of localized energy from RF amplifier devices when compared to a copper pallet. The localized energy concentration of RF amplifier devices is spread along the length of the heat pipe increasing the overall efficiency of the heat sink coupled to the pallet and accommodating non-uniform heat loading. This reduces the junction temperature of the devices, which leads to higher mean time before failure and higher output levels. The pipes are formed and embedded into the pallet so as to pass under different areas of interest and extend to the under-utilized regions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a digital television service where a Preview Program is transmitted along with associated Broadcast Scheduling Information (BSI) so that a viewer can easily reserve an associated Main Program for later viewing and/or recording. Different formats are provided for coding an MPEG-2 digital television signal which incorporate the Preview Program along with the associated Broadcast Scheduling Information (BSI) for the associated Main Program. Different functional architectures for Associated Digital Television Receivers (ADTVR) are also described which allow viewers to reserve the Main Programs for later viewing and/or recording. In the preferred embodiments, an RSVP Icon is simultaneously displayed with the Preview Program to inform the viewer that they may utilize the service of the preferred embodiments to easily reserve a related Main Program for later viewing and/or recording.