Abstract: The invention is directed to a data storage medium that includes a plurality of servo bands distributed across the data storage medium and a plurality of data tracks positioned between each of the plurality of distributed servo bands. The data storage medium comprises a servo band pitch of less than 200 micrometers. The large number of servo bands distributed across the data storage medium with a relatively small servo band pitch reduces the influence of media dimensional instability. In this way, the invention may substantially increase data read head positioning accuracy, especially in the case of narrow track widths. A read head array arranged in a two-dimensional matrix that includes a first servo read head, a second servo read head, and a plurality of data read heads positioned between the first and second servo read heads may be applied to a data storage medium as described herein.

Abstract: Techniques for increasing the safety of medical device programming using general purpose hardware, such as a general purpose personal computer, are described. Some embodiments include a watchdog module that is serviced by the general purpose hardware, a mediator module that monitors programming instructions from the general purpose hardware, and/or a safe mode input that may be activated by a user. In some embodiments, a system comprises an implantable medical device, an intermediate device, a computing device that communicates with the implantable medical device via the intermediate device. The intermediate device may provide any one or more of the safety measures described above. In some embodiments, the intermediate device is dedicated hardware, and critical programming functions are provided by the intermediate device, rather than the general purpose hardware.

Abstract: Pairs of second-order filters with feedback and cross coupling may be used to implement pairs of complex poles. The cross coupling may be frequency-dependent cross coupling or frequency-independent cross coupling. Frequency independent cross coupling may include coupling an internal node of a biquad filter. The pairs of second-order filters can be used together to form a complex filter. The complex filter can be used to readily provide higher order poles. The resulting complex filter can achieve higher order poles while offering reduced circuit complexity.

Abstract: Delivery of energy by a defibrillator or other medical device is inhibited when the processor or software that controls a module of the medical device operates abnormally. A windowed watchdog timer (WWDT) incorporated into one module of the medical device is used to control the operation of other modules of the medical device via a software-based extension technique. As a result, the risk of harm to the patient is reduced compared to medical devices that incorporate over-limit type watchdog timers. In addition, costs associated with implementing WWDTs in multiple modules of the defibrillator are avoided, thereby lowering the overall cost of implementation.

Abstract: A device for detecting the wetting and/or soiling of a windscreen surface, in particular in a vehicle, comprises a camera with a sensor having a plurality of light-sensitive pixels arranged as an array and adapted to be illuminated according to an illumination cycle, and having a focussing optic for a camera focus set to almost infinite. The device is further provided with a light source for illuminating a detection portion of the screen surface detectable by the camera. The light source may be switched on and off according to a predeterminable ON/OFF cycle. The ON/OFF cycle is synchronized to the illumination cycle of the camera sensor, and the wetting/soiling of the screen surface may be detected by comparing the image information from the sensor of the camera when the light source is turned on and when the light source is turned off.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to techniques for reconstructing color channels in a multi-channel display device. The invention may be particularly useful in reconstructing the light source spectra for the color channels of liquid crystal displays (LCD). In order to accurately model and calibrate a display device, an accurate light source spectrum estimate for each of the individual color channels is needed. In accordance with the invention, a light source spectrum can be determined for each color channel of a display based on measured emission spectra for the color channels, an inverted contrast ratio for the display, and an assumed transmission spectrum for a light valve in the display. The invention provides techniques to compensate for light leakage from adjacent color channels with regards to wavelength dependent transmissions that cause hue shifts in images reconstructed by the display device.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a chromatic correction for a display device based on a device-dependent display profile. The method may ensure that images that appear on a display device in a soft proofing environment will be visually equivalent to images that appear on print media.

Abstract: A logistics management system is described that includes a host computer that performs logistics management tasks for shipment items, and a user interface module that presents a user interface for the host computer. The user interface module presents a user interface to include an item selection region to receive shipment criteria, one or more activity regions to display a set of shipment items that match the shipment criteria, and an action input region to receive action input specifying one or more logistics management tasks. The host computing system automatically performs the specified logistics management task on a plurality of the items in response to the action input received from a user. In this manner, an action may be performed on multiple items related to an overall logistics management task with limited user input required.

Abstract: In general, the disclosure presents techniques for rapidly cooling the body of a patient. A cooling garment is placed in contact with the body of the patient. Spacers within the cooling garment create a space between at least a portion of the cooling garment and the body of the patient. The cooling garment receives a coolant from a coolant supply and delivers the coolant to the body of the patient. The heat from the body of the patient may evaporate the coolant. A carrier gas, which circulates within the space between the cooling garment and the patient, carries the gaseous coolant out of the cooling garment via an exit port. The rapid cooling of the patient may slow the neurological damage to the patient.

Abstract: A color imaging technique includes setting a target value in a device-independent first color space and mapping the target value to a substantially complete point set in a second color space. The point set may include a plurality of points, each of which define substantially the same colorimetric value via a unique combination of colorants. After mapping the target value to a substantially complete point set, a point may be chosen. Moreover, after choosing a point in the point set, device-dependent colorant values defined by the point may be determined. In this manner, the invention may provide control over the colorants that are used to image a particular color.

Abstract: In general, the invention facilitates improved inter-module communication within a medical device system, such as an automated external defibrillator (AED), by using a serial data interface based on the USB specification to transfer data between modules. As a result, data transmission rates may be improved significantly, thereby providing ample communication bandwidth for a variety of medical device applications. Further, the serial interconnect nature of the USB interface reduces the number of physical interconnects that are needed to support the interface, thereby reducing the design constraints on the medical device system.

Abstract: Techniques are described for accurately and efficiently emulating an instruction processor having a write buffer. The described techniques may be utilized to quickly develop an emulated instruction processor that provides a fully-functional write buffer interface in an efficient and elegant manner. For example, a system is described that includes a computing system that provides an emulation environment, and software executing within the emulation environment that emulates an instruction processor having a write buffer interface and a memory interface. The software emulates the instruction processor by selectively outputting a write request on the write buffer interface or the memory interface in response to an emulation control instruction embedded within an instruction stream.

Abstract: A method for placing a predetermined number of notch filters in a disc drive servo control system to attenuate noise frequencies, in order of decreasing resonance magnitudes, is disclosed. The method involves calculating an open loop response for a response spectrum of the drive, calculating a notch filter for any noise frequency that exceeds a threshold, mathematically applying the notch filter into the servo control system, recalculating the open loop response and applying another filter for a noise frequency that exceeds the threshold and repeating until no noise frequencies exceed the gain threshold; selecting another frequency range and repeating the same process until a predetermined number of notch filters has been placed in the servo control system.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compensating for imaging aberrations that result from repeated passes by an imaging laser array. The aberrations may result from swath lines formed by thermal heating and from the ruling and screen angle of the image. The techniques described herein reduce the undesirable aberrations in thermal laser generated images by breaking up and/or reducing the swath lines. In general, the techniques provide for overlapping swaths and providing masking for one or both passes that print the overlapped region.

Abstract: A PWM DAC including an emitter follower buffer circuit provides increased accuracy and reduced cost. The emitter follower buffer circuit that enables inexpensive implementation of the PWM DAC. A temperature compensation circuit adjusts the digital input value applied to the PWM to compensate for temperature-induced variation introduced by the emitter follower buffer circuit. The compensation circuit may incorporate circuitry that replicates the PWM DAC at least in part, and monitors the base-emitter voltage of a replicated emitter follower buffer to track temperature-induced variation in the PWM DAC. The compensation circuit generates an error value that can be used to compensate one or more PWM DACs within a particular system.