Abstract: A system and method for accurately mapping between camera coordinates and geo-coordinates, called geo-spatial registration, using a Euclidean model. The system utilizes the imagery and terrain information contained in the geo-spatial database to precisely align geographically calibrated reference imagery with an input image, e.g., dynamically generated video images, and thus achieve a high accuracy identification of locations within the scene. When a sensor, such as a video camera, images a scene contained in the geo-spatial database, the system recalls a reference image pertaining to the imaged scene. This reference image is aligned very accurately with the sensor's images using a parametric transformation produced by a Euclidean model. Thereafter, other information that is associated with the reference image can easily be overlaid upon or otherwise associated with the sensor imagery.

Abstract: A multi-finger electro-static discharge (ESD) protection circuit has at least two first resistive channels defining input fingers. At least two field effect transistor (FET) channels, each having a drain and source are connected to corresponding ones of the at least two input fingers. The gate terminals of at least one of the at least two FETs are configured to be biased by an ESD potential applied to the drain electrodes to reduce the turn-on potential of the ESD device. At least two second resistive channels are connected between a corresponding one of the source terminals of the at least two FETs and a circuit return path.

Abstract: A infrared radiation detector array for providing an image signal of a scene is provided including a plurality of infrared radiation detectors having infrared radiation responsive elements. Each one of the plurality of infrared radiation detectors provides a proportionate electrical signal in response to infrared radiation of the scene incident thereto. At least one blind infrared radiation detector having a radiation responsive element is provided and shielded from infrared radiation of the scene. The blind infrared radiation detector provides a proportionate electrical signal in response to infrared radiation incident thereto. The blind infrared radiation detector is configured to provide a signal indicating thermal distortion of the infrared radiation detector array.

Abstract: Flash frames are detected in video streams, for example, by looking for short sequences of one or more frames (or, to be more general, pictures) in which the frames within the sequence are not well-correlated to the frames that immediately precede and follow the flash sequence, where those frames before and after the flash sequence are themselves well-correlated to each other. Video compression processing is then adjusted in some way to handle flash frames in a special manner. For example, since flash frames are poorly correlated to their neighboring frames, it would be best not to make predictions based on such flash frames when encoding other frames. Encoding flash frames as anchor frames (e.g., I or P frames in an MPEG encoder) would be detrimental to those frames that are predicted from the anchor frames. Rather, flash frames are preferably encoded as frames that are never used as references for coding other non-flash frames (e.g., as B frames in an MPEG encoder).

Abstract: An input encoded video bitstream conforming to a first DCT-based image compression standard (e.g., MJPEG or DV) is converted into an output encoded video bitstream conforming to a second DCT-based image compression standard (e.g., MPEG) without having to fully decode the first bitstream according to the first image compression standard and without having to fully encode according to the second image compression standard in order to generate the output bitstream. Rather, a partial video decoder of a transcoding system applies steps of the first image compression standard to the input bitstream to generate dequantized DCT coefficient data. A DCT data converter of the transcoding system then processes the dequantized DCT coefficient data in the DCT domain as necessary to enable a partial video encoder of the transcoding system to apply steps of the second image compression standard to the converted DCT coefficient data in order to generate the output bitstream.

Abstract: An electrostatic protection (ESD) circuit for an integrated circuit (IC) includes a string of a plurality of diodes connected between a Vss line and a Vdd line. A first PMOS transistor and a first NMOS transistor are connected in series between the Vdd line and the string of diodes. The first PMOS transistor has a gate connected between two of the diodes of the string, and the NMOS transistor has a gate connected to the Vdd line. A second PMOS transistor and a second NMOS transistor are connected in series between the Vss line and the Vdd line with the PMOS transistor having a gate connected to the junction between the first PMOS transistor and the first NMOS transistor and the second NMOS transistor having a gate connected to the Vdd line. A clamp NMOS transistor is connected between the Vss line and the Vdd line and has a gate connected to the junction between the second PMOS transistor and the second NMOS transistor. A diode may be connected between the Vdd line and the second PMOS transistor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating automated multi-view three dimensional pose and geometry estimation for the insertion of realistic and authentic views of synthetic objects into a real scene. A multi-view three dimensional estimation routine comprising the steps of feature tracking, pairwise camera pose estimation, computing camera pose for overlapping sequences and performing a global block adjustment to provide camera pose and scene geometric information for each frame of a scene. A match move routine may be used to insert a synthetic object into one frame of a video sequence based on the pose and geometric information of the frame, and calculate all other required object views of the synthetic object for the remaining frames using the pose and geometric information acquired as a result of the multi-view three dimensional estimation routine.

Abstract: A reconfigurable antenna capable of dynamic reconfigurability of several antenna parameters. Specifically, the present invention is an antenna comprising a plurality of surface PIN devices arranged in a gridlike array. Each of the SPIN devices can be individually activated or deactivated. When a SPIN device is activated, the surface of the device is injected with carriers such that a plasma is produced within the intrinsic region of the device. The plasma can be sufficiently conductive to produce conductor or metal like characteristics at the surface of the device. Various ones of the SPIN devices can be activated to electronically paint a conductive pattern upon the substrate supporting the PIN devices. Through selective activation of the SPIN devices various surface antenna patterns can be produced upon the substrate including dipoles, cross dipoles, loop antennas, Yagi-Uda type antennas, log periodic antennas, and the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing time and frequency information to a plurality of studios such that the studios can then use the time and frequency information frequency and timelock their studio components to the global reference. The apparatus includes various embodiments for facilitating the distribution of time and frequency depending upon the type of digital network that is used for distributing the television signals.

Abstract: A pipelined parallel processor (PPP) integrated circuit includes a filtering unit, internal routing circuitry such as a crosspoint switch, an internal frame store controller, and one or more function circuits. The function circuits include, for example, arithmetic units, lookup tables, timing compensators, adders/subtractors, statistics modules, image shifting circuitry, and other useful processing devices. The components of the PPP are interconnected with the crosspoint switch that routes data among the frame store controller, filtering unit, function circuits, external input channels, and external output channels. The internal frame store controller includes a plurality of programmable video line store memories that are coupled to an external field or frame store memory. Each line store memory may be programmed to provide data to, or receive data from one of the PPP components by a controller and to transfer the data from or to the memory, respectively.

Abstract: A channel is inserted into a sequence of frames for an image, by varying one or more display characteristics across a display in accordance with a spatio-temporal pattern applied to, for example, successive lines of each modified frame. The channel may be employed to watermark the image, and the watermark may be defined as W(x) and its complement [1−W(x)] in counter-phase rotations of successive lines in pairs of frames. The watermark information is applied in relatively still portions of the image with sufficient lightness level. A receiver includes a watermark detector that has a priori information about the watermark. The watermark detector examines specific regions of the displayed image over time, and tests the regions for the watermark during time intervals when the image remains relatively still.

Abstract: A method and concomitant apparatus for adapting the behavior of an MPEG-like encoder to information discontinuities within a received information stream, such that encoding quality and random access to a resulting encoded stream is retained near information discontinuity point without adversely impacting buffer utilization parameters. Specifically, an anchor frame comprising an I-frame preceding an information discontinuity is encoded as a P-frame, while an anchor frame following the information discontinuity is encoded as an I-frame.

Abstract: A rear projection system provides for reduced cabinet depth by folding the optical path with polarization sensitive mirrors. In one aspect, the projector outputs linearly polarized light to a quarter-wave polarizing sheet, which circularly polarizes the projector output. A mirror directs the projected light back through the quarter-wave material to a polarization-dependent reflector. The light has a reflective polarization state. The polarization-dependent reflector reflects the light back to the quarter-wave material and mirror. Upon traversing the path a second time, the light is in a transmissive polarization state.

Abstract: An apparatus and a concomitant method for using M-ary pyramid decomposition in combination with N-scale tiling to reduce the computational complexity in determining motion vectors for block-based motion estimation is disclosed.

Abstract: A cathode ray tube and a plural beam electron gun therefor include a main lens that comprises a tubular focus grid G5 and a conductive coating on the inner surface of the tube neck. The neck coating extends from the region of focus grid G5 towards the faceplate of the cathode ray tube. Preferably, the exit of the focus grid G5 is non-planar and is curved or undulated and focus grid G5 includes an aperture plate intermediate its entrance and exit. The aperture plate preferably has an elliptical center beam opening and connected-semi-elliptical outer-beam openings, to better converge and focus the outer and center electron beams. Also preferably, the focus grid G5 is centrally located in the tube neck and at least partly surrounded by the conductive neck coating.

Abstract: A light-emitting fiber comprises an optical fiber having a number of light-emitting elements disposed along the length of one surface thereof. The light-emitting elements include a segmented hole injecting electrode on which an electro-luminescent material, such as an OLED material, is disposed and an electron injecting electrode overlying the OLED layer. The segmented hole injecting electrodes are connected together by an electrical conductor disposed on a side surface of the optical fiber. Electrical contacts connect to the electron injecting electrode and are disposed, at least in part, so as to not overlie the OLED layer. The electrodes, OLED material and contacts are deposited on the optical fibers by mask deposition, preferably utilizing masks adapted to contemporaneously process a plurality of fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for partitioning data to improve error resilience. Specifically, one or more segment markers (symbols) are entropy encoded along with the bitstream (payload) into a packet.

Abstract: Materials for making a plasma display having a transparent front panel spaced from a back panel which is a metal core having layers of a dielectric material extending over and bonded to the core. The materials of which the back panel is made are chosen to form a back panel having a thermal coefficient of expansion compatible with that of the front panel. The dielectric material is made from a green ceramic tape which is bonded to the core and cofired with the core to form the back panel. The materials for the dielectric can be chosen such that the composite TCE of the cofired assembly matches the TCE of the front panel.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method an apparatus for allocating processing resources in an information stream decoder in response to format indicia included within a compressed information stream. Specifically, the invention comprises an apparatus and method for decoding a video stream having an associated source video format to produce a decoded video stream having the same format or a different format, in which a computational resource is allocated in response to a change in format between the associated video format and the resultant video format.

Abstract: An apparatus for electronic format and frame rate conversion in a multiple format video processing system adapted to avoid display motion artifacts causes by 3:2 conversion of 24 Hz video source video by tripling the frame rate of the source video and responsively adjusting the format of the resultant video signal.