Abstract: A system for reading bioelectrical signals from the skin of a user is provided. The system comprises a plug for inserting in an ear having an inner portion to be inserted into the ear, an outer portion and an inner floating electrode comprising a floating conductive wire, the floating conductive wire being attached to the inner portion of the plug, disposed over the outskirt of the outer portion and in communication with the signal processor. The system further comprises an outer floating electrode for reading a signal from skin around the ear, the floating electrode comprising a floating conductive portion connected to the plug and being in communication with the signal processor, a resilient portion adapted to expand and retract the floating conductive portion and a non-conductive linking portion attached to the floating conductive portion. The floating, resilient and non-conductive linking portions form an expandable loop around the ear from the plug.

Abstract: There are described a system and method for performing ultrasound testing of a component comprising a first material layer and a second material layer bonded by an adhesive layer. The method comprises applying input ultrasound to the component to cause longitudinal propagation of ultrasonic guided waves through the first material layer and the adhesive layer; acquiring acoustic waves from the component, wherein the acoustic waves produced by the longitudinal propagation of the ultrasonic guided waves; generating a signal representation of the acoustic waves; comparing the signal representation of the acoustic waves to a plurality of reference signals to identify a characteristic of the adhesive layer; and outputting an output signal indicative of the characteristic of the adhesive layer.

Abstract: A system and method for training a classification module of nonverbal audio events and a classification module for use in a variety of nonverbal audio event monitoring, detection and command systems. The method comprises capturing an in-ear audio signal from an occluded ear and defining at least one nonverbal audio event associated to the captured in-ear audio signal. Then sampling and extracting features from the in-ear audio signal. Once the extracted features are validated, associating the extracted features to the at least one nonverbal audio event and updating the classification module with the association.

Abstract: A system, device and method for assessing a fit quality of an earpiece while in use in a noisy environment. The earpiece having an external microphone for capturing an outer-ear audio signal and an internal microphone for capturing an inner-ear audio signal. The fit quality being assessed by estimating a filter according to the captured inner-ear and outer-ear audio signals, and determining a fit quality according to identified coefficients of the estimated filter. A system, device and method for assessing a seal quality of an earpiece while in use in a quiet environment. The earpiece having a loudspeaker for emitting a sound stimulus towards the ear canal and an internal microphone for capturing an audio signal inside the ear canal. The seal quality being assessed by estimating a transfer function according the emitted and captured sound stimulus, and determining at least one seal-quality indicator according to a signal magnitude of the transfer function.

Abstract: A system, device and method for assessing a fit quality of an earpiece while in use in a noisy environment. The earpiece having an external microphone for capturing an outer-ear audio signal and an internal microphone for capturing an inner-ear audio signal. The fit quality being assessed by estimating a filter according to the captured inner-ear and outer-ear audio signals, and determining a fit quality according to identified coefficients of the estimated filter. A system, device and method for assessing a seal quality of an earpiece while in use in a quiet environment. The earpiece having a loudspeaker for emitting a sound stimulus towards the ear canal and an internal microphone for capturing an audio signal inside the ear canal. The seal quality being assessed by estimating a transfer function according the emitted and captured sound stimulus, and determining at least one seal-quality indicator according to a signal magnitude of the transfer function.

Abstract: A method, device and system for correcting errors in a group of received packets having a redundant packet. The method includes determining an inconsistent bit indicator for a bit position of the packets, determining a bit reliability indicator indicative of a potential bit error location in at least one packet, calculating a number of potential bit error locations for the bit position and identifying a correctable bit location accordingly. A method, device and system for correcting an error in a received packet. The method is adapted to calculate a checksum value of the received packet, verify if the checksum value is indicative of at least one bit error in the received packet, identify a predefined Checksum Pattern Type (CPT) according to the checksum value and determine at least one bit error event (BEE) accordingly. A method, device and system for decoding a plurality of received fountain encoded symbols.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining motion vectors in a motion estimation process of a video encoder are provided. Embodiments of the present invention provide a solution for the problem of unnecessary cost function evaluations, found when combining the successive elimination method with a predetermined list of candidate motion vectors search ordering. In order to solve this problem, embodiments of the present invention provide an adaptive scan ordering of block matching candidates within a search area. Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention will only evaluate necessary cost functions, without impacting rate-distortion.

Abstract: A low-pressure powder injection molding machine, a kit and a method thereof. The machine has a feedstock container adapted to contain mixed feedstock, a mold and an injection device. The mold has an inlet and a cavity in which the feedstock material can set. The injection device has an injection port for supplying the mixed feedstock from the container to the mold by using pressure. The machine also has a moveable platform adapted to provide movement between the injection port of the injection device and the inlet of the mold in order to directly communicate the feedstock between the injection port and the inlet without using an intermediate conduit and thereby preventing any feedstock from setting or dissociating between the injection port and the inlet.

Abstract: A video intermodal transcoder converts a compressed bitstream formulated according a type-1 compression scheme to a type-2 compressed bitstream formulated according to a type-2 compression scheme. The transcoder includes an augmented type-1 decoder, a transcoder kernel, and an augmented type-2 encoder. The transcoder kernel performs processes of creating motion-vector candidates and pre-computing prediction errors for each cell of a predefined image coding block and for each candidate motion vector for repetitive use in evaluating various image partitions. In an implementation where the type-1 compression scheme follows the H.264 standard and the type-2 compression scheme follows the HEVC standard, the transcoder exploits the flexibility of the coding-tree structure and other HEVC features to significantly reduce the bit rate of the compressed bit stream. The pre-computation of prediction errors significantly reduces the processing effort, hence increases the throughput of the transcoder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimal signal encoding based on reference data relating encoded-signal characteristics to encoding parameters are disclosed. Reference vectors of encoding parameters and corresponding measurements of encoded-signal characteristics are used to establish a functional relationship between each characteristic and the encoding parameters. Candidate vectors of encoding parameters are identified based on user-defined boundaries of both the encoding parameters and acceptable encoded-signal characteristics. A figure of merit is determined for each candidate vector and the candidate vector of highest figure of merit is presented to an encoder.

Abstract: Methods and systems for encoding video data are provided. Evolving standards for video encoding such as High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard require a significant increase in computational complexity for both inter and intra encoding. The method includes calculating an approximate cost of each of a first set of prediction modes. Then selecting a second set of prediction modes from the first set of prediction modes based on probability distributions associated with each of the modes in the first set of prediction modes, the second set having substantially fewer prediction modes than the first. A number of candidate prediction modes prior to rate distortion optimization (RDO) is reduced. Experimental results show that the proposed method provides substantial time reduction and negligible quality loss as compared to the HEVC reference.

Abstract: Methods and systems for parallel rate-constrained motion estimation in a video encoder are provided. Embodiments of the present invention provide a solution for the problem of the reliance upon spatial dependencies when processing parallel RCME on a frame. In order to solve this problem, embodiments of the present invention determine a list of at least two Motion Vector Predictor Candidates (MVPC), determine, in parallel for at least two of said at least two MVPCs, corresponding Motion Vector Candidates (MVC) using Rate-Constrained Motion Estimation (RCME) and determine the optimal Motion Vector (MV) among the determined MVCs based on rate distortion optimization.

Abstract: A video encoder with rate-constrained search ordering feature for reducing computational cost of motion estimation in video coding has been provided. The video encoder has a motion estimation module for determining vector encoding costs for respective motion vectors corresponding to candidate blocks in a video frame, and assigning an order for evaluating a rate-constrained cost of each candidate block based on the determined vector encoding costs.

Abstract: Methods and systems for encoding video data are provided. Evolving standards for video encoding such as High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard require a significant increase in computational complexity for both inter and intra encoding. The method includes calculating an approximate cost of each of a first set of prediction modes. Then selecting a second set of prediction modes from the first set of prediction modes based on probability distributions associated with each of the modes in the first set of prediction modes, the second set having substantially fewer prediction modes than the first. A number of candidate prediction modes prior to rate distortion optimization (RDO) is reduced. Experimental results show that the proposed method provides substantial time reduction and negligible quality loss as compared to the HEVC reference.

Abstract: Methods and systems for rate-constrained search ordering algorithms for reducing computational cost of motion estimation in video coding have been provided. Conventional search orderings, such as spiral search, can weaken the filtering criterion of rate-constrained successive elimination algorithms. Simulation results provided herein above demonstrate that, on average, the amount of SAD (sum of absolute differences) operations required to encode the tested sequences, is reduced using embodiments of the invention, when compared to the conventional implementations of spiral search for example. Advantageously, for sequences with unpredictable motion, this reduction may be greater than 5%, and may even exceed 10% when smaller block partitions are evaluated.

Abstract: A controller for operating a multilevel electric power inverter circuit. The controller is configured to generate and apply to the plurality of switching elements switch signal waveforms, the switch signal waveforms comprising a first control signal for causing an energy storage device to be series connected with a direct current source and a load or an alternating current source and charged to a predetermined value proportional to a voltage of the direct current source, and a second control signal for causing the energy storage device to be disconnected from the direct current source and series connected with the load or the alternating current source, thereby causing the energy storage device to be discharged.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining encoding parameters of an encoder or a transcoder which yield an encoded signal of optimal measurable properties are disclosed. For a video signal, the encoding parameters may include quantization granularity, a measure of display resolution, and a frame rate. The measurable properties of an encoded signal may include a fidelity index, a relative size, and a relative flow rate. Reference data records quantifying properties of sample signals encoded according to experimental sets of encoding parameters are used to define parameters of conjectured analytical functions characterizing the encoding or transcoding functions. The analytical functions are then used to generate granular tables of estimated measures of encoded-signal properties. A fast search mechanism relies on the granular tables, together with sorted arrangements of the granular tables, to determine, in real-time, preferred encoding parameters for multimedia data streams received at an encoder or a transcoder.

Abstract: There is described a system, method, and computer-readable medium having stored thereon executable program code for generating a final Cobb angle prediction for idiopathic scoliosis, the method comprising: receiving patient-specific 3D morphological spine parameters, a selected curve type, and a selected skeletal maturity; applying the patient-specific 3D morphological spine parameters, a selected curve type, and a selected skeletal maturity to a predictive model based on 3D morphological spine parameters, curve type, and skeletal maturity, and generating the final Cobb angle prediction by modeling a progression curve of the idiopathic scoliosis.

Abstract: Method and system for transcoding a sequence of input images into a sequence of output images that can effectively handle one or more transcoding uses cases are presented. The embodiments of the invention exploit the incoming metadata retrieved from the decoding process to adapt the video content and to achieve a significant speed-up in comparison to the traditional cascaded approach while maintaining high quality for output images.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining encoding parameters of an encoder or a transcoder which yield an encoded signal of optimal measurable properties are disclosed. For a video signal, the encoding parameters may include quantization granularity, a measure of display resolution, and a frame rate. The measurable properties of an encoded signal may include a fidelity index, a relative size, and a relative flow rate. Reference data records quantifying properties of sample signals encoded according to experimental sets of encoding parameters are used to define parameters of conjectured analytical functions characterizing the encoding or transcoding functions. The analytical functions are then used to generate granular tables of estimated measures of encoded-signal properties. A fast search mechanism relies on the granular tables, together with sorted arrangements of the granular tables, to determine, in real-time, preferred encoding parameters for multimedia data streams received at an encoder or a transcoder.