Abstract: Disclosed is a method of acquiring an image of a target to provide an output video image that has a plurality of frame images. The method includes the steps of receiving a series of frame images from a video camera, using a processor to manipulate the series of frame images, which includes determining a reference resolution for providing output frame images, and displaying and/or storing the manipulated series of frame images as the output video image without changing a resolution of the output frame images. Also disclosed is a document imaging apparatus that includes a digital imaging unit. The document imaging apparatus also includes a processor that is coupled to the digital imaging unit and that is configured to cause the digital imaging unit to zoom in or zoom out in real-time while maintaining a resolution value of stored images constant.

Abstract: A system for attenuating a primary radiation beam applied to a target area on a patient for generating an image of the target area during radiological examination includes a barrier formed of a radiation attenuation material and positionable over the target area to partially attenuate the primary radiation beam before the primary radiation beam reaches the target area. The barrier is configured to substantially extend around an entire periphery of the patient. The system also includes a buffer positionable between the barrier and the patient for offsetting the barrier from the patient. The buffer includes at least one flexible bag configured to retain a fluid. The at least one flexible bag is configured to improve the clarity of the image generated during the radiological examination.

Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging device that has a base and a plurality of image capture devices. The base includes a bottom portion and an elongate stem portion that is pivotally attached at one of its ends to the bottom portion. An arm is pivotally attached to the stem portion. The arm has an elongate flap pivotally attached to the arm's mid-portion. A plurality of image capture devices are embedded in at least one of the bottom portion, the stem portion, the arm and the flap. An additional embodiment of the image capturing system includes a housing, a light capture mechanism and an image display mechanism. The housing includes a base and a linkage having a plurality of elongate sections. The light capture mechanism simultaneously captures first and second images and is contained within at least one of the elongate sections. First and second lenses make up the light capturing mechanism.

Abstract: In the disclosed video display tag, a processor is wirelessly connected to a remote server. A video display screen and a motion sensor are coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to update the display screen in real-time with information relating to availability and/or character of a select product. Also included is a transmitter that sends the updated display screen information to remote users. The processor activates in response to a signal from the motion detector indicating that a human being is nearby the system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a portable scanner for digitizing books. The scanner has a first leaf and a second leaf joined to each other at a hinge. A first support member is attached to the first leaf and a second support member is attached to the second leaf. The support members maintain the first leaf at an angle of less than ninety degrees relative to a surface supporting the first leaf. At least one scanning mechanism is connected to one of the first or second leafs. A page turning mechanism flips each page of a book to be scanned and maintain each page in a secure position.

Abstract: There are disclosed a regenerated rubber, a method and apparatus for obtaining regenerated rubbers from vulcanized crumb rubber, such as rubber from scrap. The apparatus is a thermokinetic mixer having the particularity to have an air tight stationary chamber with inner non-uniform surface. The method comprises the steps of raising the speed of the rotor shaft in order to increase a temperature of a mixture made of vulcanized crumb rubber and a lubricant, such as oil, until a devulcanizing temperature is reached; and reducing the temperature of the mixture to a lower temperature during a second period of time. The method of the invention is environmentally friendly or “green”, since the regeneration method does not use chemicals, includes a shorter period of treatment at higher temperature avoiding the risks of rubber cracking and spontaneous combustion, and further allowing mass-production of regenerated rubber with lower energy consumption.

Abstract: Disclosed is a document imaging apparatus that includes a housing, which contains a paper storage tray, a digital image sensing device for capturing an image, an adjustable digital image sensing device stand supported by the housing and supporting the digital image sensing device, and a motorized document removal assembly comprising at least one roller wheel picker and a plurality of rollers, wherein the at least one roller wheel picker can be raised and lowered and is configured to apply a frictional force to a top surface of a single sheet of paper and to transfer the single sheet of paper toward the rollers. Optionally, a fax, copier, and printer and be integrated into the document imaging apparatus.

Abstract: A system for universal serial bus (USB) image capturing with two isochronous transfers includes a USB image capturing device and a host. The USB image capturing device has two endpoints for transferring a video stream through a USB. The host has a driver for receiving the video stream through the USB. The driver receives the video stream, and creates a read extension data structure for the endpoints. The driver manages and dispatches the packets of the endpoints, and copies data of the packets into a first buffer and a second buffer, respectively. When a first end frame flag in a packet of the first endpoint is set and a second end frame flag in a packet of the second endpoint is set, the driver combines data of the first and the second buffers into a frame and sends the frame to the host.

Abstract: An optical touch system and an optical touch method are provided. The optical touch system includes a scanning unit, a light source, a detector, a first light collecting unit and a second light collecting unit. The scanning unit provides an incident ray in a first direction. At least a portion of the energy of a reflected ray corresponding to the incident ray in a second direction is received by the first light collecting unit and collected to the detector. A retro-reflected ray corresponding to the incident ray in the first direction is received by the second light collecting unit and collected to the detector.

Abstract: A tilt-wheel mouse circuit is provided. Without adding more I/O pins, the tilt-wheel mouse circuit provides extra scrolling-left and scrolling-right functions through an external-extend circuit and firmware of a micro-controller within the tilt-wheel mouse circuit. It follows that the cost of the manufacturing of the tilt-wheel mouse is accordingly low and the package size of the micro-controller is accordingly small.

Abstract: A method for irrigation of a wound, wherein the method involves the use of a reservoir housing containing a wound irrigation solution and a discharge means attached thereto, wherein the discharge means has multiple ports for directing a stream of the solution at a wound at an appropriate pressure.

Abstract: A serial interface cache controller, control method and micro-controller system using the same. The controller includes L rows of address tags, wherein each row of address tags includes an M-bits block tag and an N-bits valid area tag. The M-bits block tag records an address block of T-byte data stored in an internal cache memory, and the N-bits valid area tag records valid bit sectors in the address block. Each valid bit sector has the size of T/N bytes. The controller needs to read T/N bytes of data from an external memory to the internal cache memory at each time without the need of reading the T-byte data of the whole address block. Because the T-byte data of the whole address block is not necessary to be read by the micro-controller, the waiting time of the micro-controller may be shortened, and the performance can be increased.

Abstract: An optical mouse is provided with a light guide. The light guide has a collecting surface, a single reflection surface and an exit surface, guiding a light of a light source to a tracking surface through three interface engagements of a refraction, a reflection and a refraction, so as to reduce optical power loss caused by too many interface engagements, and to increase a gazing angle of the light incident to the tracking surface. An array of micro-lenses, as a light diffuser, can be set on the exit surface to improve optical characteristics and distribution of the light incident to the tracking surface.

Abstract: Taggant fibers and methods of use provide for enhanced protection and security when the fibers are used in documents such as land titles, currency, passports and other documents of value. The taggant fibers consist of a minimum of two separate zones with each zone containing a different taggant to emit different wave lengths when excited. The taggants may consist of organic or inorganic compounds as are conventionally known and can be manufactured using for example polymeric materials which can be extruded during the fiber manufacturing process. Authentication of the fibers or documents containing such fibers can be readily viewed using conventional techniques.

Abstract: A system for universal serial bus (USB) image capturing with two isochronous transfers includes a USB image capturing device and a host. The USB image capturing device has two endpoints for transferring a video stream through a USB. The host has a driver for receiving the video stream through the USB. The driver receives the video stream, and creates a read extension data structure for the endpoints. The driver manages and dispatches the packets of the endpoints, and copies data of the packets into a first buffer and a second buffer, respectively. When a first end frame flag in a packet of the first endpoint is set and a second end frame flag in a packet of the second endpoint is set, the driver combines data of the first and the second buffers into a frame and sends the frame to the host.

Abstract: An optical touch screen system for recognizing a relative distance of an object based on optical sensors includes a display screen to display visual prompts to solicit actions from a user; first and second lighting and sensing modules mounted on two adjacent corners of the display screen for forming first and second visual fields above the display screen respectively, wherein the first and the second visual fields intersect to form a touch area on the display screen, and the first and the second lighting and sensing modules detect an object entering the touch area and generate a first electrical position signal and a second electrical position signal respectively; and a processor for calculating a position of the object based on the first electrical position signal and the second electrical position signal.

Abstract: A device for wound irrigation which has a compressible reservoir housing with a sterile wound irrigation solution and a plurality of ports to facilitate producing a pressurized dispersed stream of wound irrigation solution.