Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for conditioning the output signals of an array of surface-emitting lasers with an array of edge-receiving optical devices. Both the array of surface-emitting lasers and the array of edge-receiving optical devices are mounted on an optical bench substrate. The array of edge-receiving optical devices may also be monolithically fabricated on the optical bench substrate. The array of surface-emitting lasers and the array of edge-receiving optical devices are aligned by alignment features and slots, which are fabricated on the optical bench substrate so as to optically couple the array of surface-emitting lasers to the array of edge-receiving optical devices.

Abstract: A multispectral radiation detector for detecting radiation in at least two spectral bands, comprises a substrate and a layer stack grown on the substrate. The layer stack comprises at least first and second photodiodes, each photodiode having at least one strain-compensating superlattice absorbing layer substantially lattice matched to adjacent layers of the detector. Each strain-compensating superlattice absorbing layer has an energy gap responsive to radiation energy in a corresponding spectral region and different from the energy gaps of other strain-compensating superlattice absorbing layers of the detector.

Abstract: A microprobe for thermoelectric microscopic measurements comprises a probe body (11), which consists of a doped or intrinsically conductive semiconductor material and has at least one thermoelectric contact surface (19). The probe body (11) can carry a metal or semiconductor layer (17), which is separated from the probe body (11) by an insulating layer (16) except in the area of the thermoelectric contact surface (19). A process for the production of a microprobe for thermoelectric microscopic measurements is also given.

Abstract: A multimedia architecture for pre-fetching data from a server provides limited-memory client machines with the ability to take advantage of a large remote database with relatively quick response time. A compiler program analyzes a given script to determine what data is needed by the current script and what potential scripts might be addressed from the current script and what server-stored data those scripts would need. That data is pre-fetched from the server upon commands from the compiler program in order to be quickly available for display at the client machine if requested by a user.

Abstract: The performance of video encoding is characterized both over the short term (e.g., based on the previous encoded frame) and over the long term (e.g., based on the previous n encoded frames). An encoding parameter (e.g., the global quantization level) is selected for the current frame based on the short-term and long-term performance characterizations and the current frame is encoded using that selected encoding parameter. In a preferred embodiment, the global quantization (Q) level is permitted to change for only certain (i.e., adjustable) frames. In addition, the global Q level for key frames is generated using special processing which tends to allow the key frames to be encoded using more bits.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for encoding symbols of a current message with a variable-length code. According to a preferred embodiment, the statistics of the current message, are analyzed, wherein the symbols of the current message constitute a symbol set. Dominant symbols of the symbol set which are out of order are determined. Selected symbols of the dominant symbols are reordered in the variable-length code to reduce the size of code words of the variable-length code which represent the selected symbols.

Abstract: A prediction block is generated using a first region of a first reference frame and a second region of a second reference frame. A current block of a current frame is compared to the prediction block, where the comparison is based on a set of match points from the current block and a corresponding set of match points from the prediction block. The current block is processed based on the comparison of the current block to the prediction block. For each match point of the prediction block, a table index is generated from a pixel of the first region and either a pixel of the second region or an offset value, and a corresponding entry is retrieved from a lookup table using the table index. The comparison of the current block to the prediction block is based on the lookup-table entries for the prediction block. In a preferred embodiment, prediction blocks are generated for motion-estimation processing for bi-directionally predicted (B) frames of certain video encoding standards such as the H.263 standard.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and storage medium for processing data streams of a data conference between a local user of a data conferencing system and at least one remote user of the data conferencing system, the data conference comprising at least one remote video source associated with the at least one remote user and a local video source associated with the local user. A dialog window is displayed for the local user, the dialog window having a record control. One of the at least one remote video sources and the local video source is selected for recording. The record control is activated, and the selected video source is recorded into a file in response to the activation of the record control.

Abstract: A computer-implemented process and apparatus are used for efficient conversion of color video signals. The most significant bits (MSBs) of YUV data are masked off and converted into a single index that allows for the number of colors needed in a standard display format. The Y MSBs are scaled down by a fractional factor prior to the formation of the index so as to save computer memory space that would otherwise be wasted. In a preferred embodiment, relatively low-noise and temporally-changing dithering is applied to the values of full-sampled YUV data prior to color conversion.

Abstract: A current row and a next row of an image are selected in accordance with digital differential accumulator processing. A current-row weight factor and a next-row weight factor are selected in accordance with the digital differential accumulator processing. Weighted current-row image signals are generated by multiplying a plurality of image signals of the current row by the current-row weight factor and weighted next-row image signals are generated by multiplying a plurality of image signals of the next row by the next-row weight factor. Vertically scaled image signals are generated by adding the weighted current-row image signals and the weighted next-row image signals.

Abstract: A video processor system has separate and independent video processors for performing a variety of video processor functions required for encoding and decoding video signals. Each of the separate video processors performs its own individual set of video processor functions. During the encode process the first video processor performs motion estimation to provide motion estimation information which it applies to the second video processor. The second video processor receives the motion estimation information and performs forward and inverse discrete cosine transforms, quantization and dequantization, frame addition and frame differencing, as well as run length encoding. The run length encoding operation produces run/value pairs which are then applied to the first video processor. The first video processor performs variable length encoding upon the run/value pairs.

Abstract: A computer system, method, and storage medium for providing a control button for interfacing with a user of the computer system. According to a preferred embodiment, the computer system comprises a display device for displaying the control button, the control button having a three-dimensional appearance and at least first and second regions, wherein the control button is a window. The computer system comprises a processor running an operating system comprising a window data structure, the processor also running an application comprising a window procedure and a window parent. The window data structure notifies the window procedure when the user pushes the control button with a user input means, and the window data structure containing a pointer to the window procedure.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating a video database index for indexing a video database comprising a plurality of video frames, the video database index comprising a plurality of index frames, wherein each video frame within the video database has a unique location within the video database. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the video frames of the video database are transmitted to a processor. A processor generates the index frames of the video database index in accordance with the amount of change occurring in images depicted by the video frames of the video database. Each of the index frames represents a unique video sequence of a plurality of video sequences that constitute the video database. Each video sequence comprises a sequence of video frames of the video database. Also, each video sequence has a unique location within the video database.