Abstract: Rate control in a stereoscopic digital video communication system is accomplished by modifying the quantization level of P or B-frame data in the enhancement layer depending on whether the frame is temporally predicted (from the same layer) or disparity predicted (from the opposite layer). The invention can maintain a consistent image quality by providing additional quantization bits for disparity-predicted P-pictures, for example, where a P-frame may be encoded from a B-frame in the enhancement layer. The selected quantization level corresponds to an overall bit rate requirement of the enhancement layer. For disparity predicted P-frames, the quantization step size is modified according to the activity level of the frame being encoded in the enhancement layer, or of the reference frame, whichever is greater. Also, image quality is improved and frame freeze up is prevented during editing modes such as fast forward and fast rewind which require random access to the picture data.

Abstract: In a high-pressure cleaning apparatus comprising an electric motor, a high-pressure pump driven by the electric motor, and an automatic switching-off means for the electric motor including a switch actuatable by an actuating element moveable in dependence upon the pressure or the flow of the liquid being conveyed by the high-pressure pump, in order to reduce the switching expenditure it is proposed that a switching-off element which is manually actuatable on the high-pressure cleaning apparatus be associated with the same switch so that in one position of the switching-off element, the switch cuts off the power supply to the electric motor independently of the pressure or the flow of the liquid being conveyed, whereas in the other position the switch is actuatable by the actuating element.

Abstract: In order to construct a traveling floor cleaning appliance, which has a cleaning tool engaging on a floor surface, a cleaning liquid tank as well as a dirty liquid container and a suction unit for taking up a cleaning liquid sprayed on the floor surface and transferring it into the dirty liquid container, in such a manner that its design is simplified and its weight reduced it is suggested that the cleaning liquid tank be constructed as a one-piece, closed hollow body consisting of plastic and that the dirty liquid container be designed in the form of a double-walled receptacle of the hollow body.

Abstract: A scrambled data transmission is descrambled by communicating encrypted program information and authentication information between an external storage device and block buffers of a secure circuit. The program information is communicated in block chains to reduce the overhead of the authentication information. The program information is communicated a block at a time, or even a chain at a time, and stored temporarily in block buffers and a cache, then provided to a CPU to be processed. The blocks may be stored in the external storage device according to a scrambled address signal, and the bytes, blocks, and chains may be further randomly re-ordered and communicated to the block buffers non-sequentially to obfuscate the processing sequence of the program information. Program information may be also be communicated from the secure circuit to the external memory. The program information need not be encrypted but only authenticated for security.

Abstract: Temporal and spatial scaling of video images including video object planes (VOPs) in an input digital video sequence is provided. Coding efficiency is improved by adaptively compressing scaled field mode video. Upsampled VOPs in the enhancement layer are reordered to provide a greater correlation with the input video sequence based on a linear criteria. The resulting residue is coded using a spatial transformation such as the DCT. A motion compensation scheme is used for coding enhancement layer VOPs by scaling motion vectors which have already been determined for the base layer VOPs. A reduced search area whose center is defined by the scaled motion vectors is provided. The motion compensation scheme is suitable for use with scaled frame mode or field mode video. Various processor configurations achieve particular scaleable coding results. Applications of scaleable coding include stereoscopic video, picture-in-picture, preview access channels, and ATM communications.

Abstract: Digital coupons are selectively transmitted in a communication network to subscriber terminals for promotional purposes. Subscribers automatically receive coupon credits when they meet the preconditions of the digital coupons. Free or reduced price pay-per-view (PPV) programming in particular may be provided when a subscriber purchases a given number of PPV programs at a regular price. The terminals maintain a running balance of available coupon credits and inform the subscriber via a user interface of the available balance. Subscribers can be rewarded for viewing commercial messages by awarding coupons which can be immediately redeemed for PPV programs. With an optional report back capability, terminal usage pattern data can be retrieved and analyzed by program service providers to determine the effectiveness of the promotions and to gather additional demographic and individual data. The integrity of the scheme is assured with encryption techniques.

Abstract: In order to improve a method of injecting a first and a second fuel component into a combustion chamber, particularly of a rocket engine, wherein an injection element guides the first fuel component in an inner cylindrical stream and the injection element guides the second fuel component in an annular stream surrounding the inner cylindrical stream, so that by comparison with known methods improved mixing and more homogeneous preparation of the fuel takes place on injection into the combustion chamber, it is proposed that in the injection element the first and/or the second fuel component is guided by an element which produces a pressure drop and is disposed and constructed in such a way that the energy released during the pressure drop is at least partially converted into turbulence energy of the stream of the first and/or the second fuel component in order to achieve a good intermixing of the two fuel components in the mixing zone.

Abstract: A method for transmitting forces between two joined parts. A connection element is introduced into two corresponding openings in the two joined parts. A first undercut on a connection head of the connection element extends obliquely to the direction of force. The first undercut is applied to a first contact surface, which is operatively connected to the first joined part. A connection shank, starting from a connection head with an enlarged portion having a second undercut facing the first undercut, is introduced into the opening in the second joined part. The connection shank, with a longitudinal slot starting from the end surface at the shank end of the connection element, running in the direction of force and extending to the height of the enlarged portion, is compressed in the region of the enlarged portion. After the introduction, a spreading element is introduced into a receiving portion of the connection element.

Abstract: In a stereoscopic video transmission system, where an enhancement layer image is disparity predicted using a lower layer images, the lower layer image is made to more closely match the enhancement layer image by shifting the lower layer image to the right to compensate for inter-ocular camera lens separation. The motion vector search range for disparity prediction is reduced to improve coding efficiency. At an encoder, the optimal offset, x, between the enhancement layer image and the lower layer image is determined according to either a minimum mean error or a minimum mean squared error between the enhancement and lower layer images. The offset x is bounded by an offset search range X. The x rightmost pixel columns of the lower layer image are deleted, and the x leftmost columns of the lower layer image are padded to effectively shift the lower layer image to the right by x pixels to obtain the reference image for use in disparity predicting the enhancement layer image.

Abstract: In an implant for fixing a plastic replacement for a tendon at a channel accommodating the plastic tendon replacement in the area of the tibia near the knee in the form of a disc having through-openings for threads joined to the plastic tendon replacement and being of such dimensions that it completely covers the opening of the channel exiting from the tibia, in order to prevent rotation of the implant with respect to the tibia head, the disc comprises on its underside facing the tibia projections for preventing the disc from rotating relative to the tibia.

Abstract: A system for printing and copying color and black-and-white documents avoids the need for manual collating. The system provides N sets of documents using a printer and a copier, where each set of documents includes a first type of sheets (such as black-and-white sheets), and a second type of sheets (such as color sheets) provided in a particular sequence in relation to the first type of sheets. A first complete document set is printed, including the first and second types of sheets, along with N-1 insert sets of the second type of sheets, and an instruction sheet indicating the particular sequence. The first complete document set is positioned in a document feeder of the copier, and the N-1 insert sets are positioned in a post-process insertion tray of the copier.

Abstract: In order to provide a method of electrolysis for the electrolysis of water, in which water is decomposed electrolytically from an electrolysis medium and the electrolysis gases hydrogen and oxygen obtained are each separated from the liquid electrolysis medium in a gas separator, wherein a supply of water to balance out the water consumption resulting from the electrolysis is controlled by a determination of an electrolysis medium volume which is determined by the total amount of electrolysis medium in the method of electrolysis, and by means of which the total volume of the electrolysis medium in the plant can be maintained constant, it is proposed that at least one physical quantity which is characteristic of the electrolysis, and whose variation causes a change in the electrolysis medium volume in addition to the change in the electrolysis medium volume resulting from the water consumption, is measured and there is calculated from a deviation of this quantity from a predetermined reference value for this q

Abstract: In the performance of vascular anastomosis, in order to improve and simplify the making of the connection between the vessels, a surgical instrument is proposed which is characterized by a tubular shaft closed at the front end thereof, with an outer diameter which enables introduction into one of the vessels, with suction openings in the wall of the shaft in the area of the front end thereof, and with a suction connection on the shaft at a distance from the front end thereof.

Abstract: A rotary nozzle for a high-pressure cleaning apparatus has a housing into which a feed line for a cleaning fluid issues, an outlet provided in the housing for expelling the cleaning fluid, a nozzle body through which the cleaning fluid flows, and a bearing that surrounds the outlet. The nozzle body is disposed in the housing, and is supported at its convex end in the bearing. The bearing is formed directly in an inner wall of the housing as a conically-shaped depression to avoid the need for a separate bearing insert, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process. Additionally, the conical shape of the bearing cooperates with the convex shape of the nozzle body to provide optimal sealing with a reduced contact surface for a long service life. The bearing is disposed concentrically relatively to the outlet. The nozzle body is set by the flow of cleaning fluid through the housing in a revolving movement in which a longitudinal axis of the nozzle body revolves on a generated cone.

Abstract: An atomizer spray plate is provided for discharging fuel oil. The spray plate has a cylindrical rear portion and a conical front portion. A frusto-conical whirl chamber extends from the rear portion to the front portion with a decreasing radius. The rear portion includes a number of whirl slots extending radially inward from an outboard region of the rear portion to the whirl chamber to provide the fuel oil with rotational energy. A discharge slot is provided in the front portion of the atomizer spray plate for receiving the fuel oil from the whirl chamber with the rotational energy. The discharge slot includes a cylindrical through-hole with a diameter d, and a transverse slot having a semi-circular cross-section with radius r. The discharge slot can be easily and economically fabricated with two shaping steps since there is no need to precisely set any particular non-right angle for walls of the discharge slot.

Abstract: In order to make it possible to change over quickly and easily to different label sizes and shapes in a labeling apparatus for the application of labels to packages and goods comprising a label dispensing device and an air-blast labeling device, wherein the label dispensing device supplies labels individually from a supply to the air-blast labeling device and wherein the air-blast labeling device has an underpressure chamber with a suction plate having a plurality of openings for drawing in the labels supplied by the label dispensing device, a source of compressed air with a compressed-air distributor which has an air-blast plate arranged adjacent the suction plate and provided with a plurality of openings, as well as a compressed-air pulse generator which directs a blast of compressed air from the source of compressed air through the air-blast plate of the compressed-air distributor and through the suction plate against the label held by the suction plate in order to release this from the suction plate and c

Abstract: A vacuum based lifter device is provided for displacement of an article. At least one suction plate or suction cup is designed for connection to and disconnection from a vacuum source. The suction plate or suction cup is secured to equipment in order to be able to move it together with or relative to the article which is to be displaced. The device has a pallet-like structure into which fork members mounted on a fork-lift truck can be inserted. Parts of the structure define a vacuum chamber, a vacuum source having an electrically driven vacuum pump provided on the pallet-like structure and pneumatically connected to the vacuum chamber, and a mechanically or electrically controllable stop and release valve. The release valve is pneumatically coupled between the vacuum chamber and the suction plate or suction cup.

Abstract: A motion estimation and compensation technique is provided for interlaced digital video such as video object planes (VOPs). Predictor motion vectors for use in differentially encoding a current field coded macroblock are obtained using the median of motion vectors of surrounding blocks or macroblocks. When a surrounding macroblock is itself interlaced coded, an average motion vector for that macroblock is used, with fractional pixel values being mapped to the half-pixel. When the current block is not interlaced coded but a surrounding block is, the field motion vectors may be used individually or averaged. In a repetitive padding technique for an interlaced coded VOP, the even and odd lines of the VOP and surrounding block are grouped. Within each field, exterior pixels are padded by setting them to the value of the nearest boundary pixel, or to an average of two boundary pixels. The lines are then reordered to provide a single padded reference VOP image.

Abstract: A surgical torque wrench having jaws for application to a rotating part and a handle removably secured to the jaws. The jaws and handle are secured together about a pivot that is parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating part. A securing device is fitted between the jaws and the handle which secures them relative to each other in a given angular position and is releasable when a given torque is reached. A removable handle member is provided to fix the jaws to the handle to allow for application of torque.

Abstract: The effects of noise in a video processing system are reduced, resulting in improved image quality. A digital video signal containing a luminance component in Y color space is processed by increasing the amplitude of the luminance data in accordance with a nonlinear transfer function. As a result, low-amplitude components of the luminance signal are reduced. Subsequent quantization errors in transform coefficients produced by a spatial compression routine in a video encoder are consequently reduced. Inverse operations are performed at a video decoder to recover the original luminance data. The invention reduces quantization noise which is manifested particularly as dust-like variations in luminance intensity in an otherwise darkened region of a video image. A decoder apparatus is also presented.