Abstract: A quantization matrix adjusting method for quality improvement by scaling down the default quantization matrix. The adjusting method comprises the steps of: updating a used bits BB_X and an average quantizer scale Avg_Q; allocating a bit budget BB_C for a current picture; calculating an estimated quantizer scale EstQ_C according to the used bits BB_X, the average quantizer scale Avg_Q and the bit budget BB_C deciding the operation mode, when the estimated quantizer scale EstQ_C is smaller than a threshold Th_Q, assigning the operation mode as an adjusting mode, otherwise remaining at normal mode; scaling down a default quantization matrix as a new quantization matrix when the operation mode is the adjusting mode; and coding the current picture using the new quantization matrix and default quantization matrix in the adjusting mode and normal mode, respectively.

Abstract: A quantization matrix adjusting method for avoiding underflow of VBV by enlarging the default quantization matrix. The adjusting method comprises the steps of: updating a used bits BB_X and an average quantizer scale Avg_Q; allocating the bit budget BB_C for the current picture; calculating an estimated quantizer scale EstQ_C according to the used bits BB_X, the average quantizer scale Avg_Q and the bit budget BB_C; deciding the operation mode, when the estimated quantizer scale EstQ_C is larger than a threshold Th_Q, assigning the operation mode as an alert mode, otherwise remaining at normal mode; enlarging the default quantization matrix as a new quantization matrix when the operation mode is the alert mode; and coding the current picture using the new quantization matrix and default quantization matrix in the alert mode and normal mode, respectively.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a position of a vehicle within a field of view using a traffic sensor are provided. This involves (a) mounting the traffic sensor at a fixed location relative to a road; (b) modulating a microwave signal to produce a periodic time-varying modulated signal; (c) radiating the periodic time-varying modulated microwave signal in a radiation beam at a vehicle on a road to generate a reflected modulated microwave signal, wherein the reflected periodic time-varying modulated microwave signal induces a first received signal at a first receiver antenna and a second received signal at a second receiver antenna, the second receiver being spaced from the first receiver; and, (d) determining the position of the vehicle on the road within the field of view based on the periodic time-varying modulated signal, the first received signal, and the second received signal, wherein the position of the vehicle is determinable during a single period of the periodic time-varying modulated signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for lockout of toggle switches, such as those toggle switches that include a captivating switch head (e.g., an enlarged and/or offset switch head) disposed on a cylindrical-shaped switch arm of the toggle switch. In one example, the apparatus and methods may employ a securement housing configured to be secured to a toggle switch by capturing at least a portion of the switch arm of the toggle switch between a switch head and an adjacent surface in a manner that prevents movement of the switch arm from a first switch position (e.g., “off” position) to a second switch position (e.g., “on” position).

Abstract: An apparatus for constant quality rate control in moving picture compression. First, a total activity measure for the current picture to be encoded in a set of consecutive pictures is calculated. Based on the total activity measure of the current picture and an activity-to-complexity ratio of a previously encoded picture of the same type in the set of consecutive pictures, a complexity measure of the current picture is estimated. Thus, an instantaneous complexity measure is updated using the complexity measure and then an instantaneous rate is calculated. A target bit budget is allocated to the current picture depending on the instantaneous rate, the complexity measure and the instantaneous complexity measure. After encoding, the activity-to-complexity ratio for the just encoded picture is computed based on the total activity measure, actual bits consumed by the picture and the average of actual quantization step sizes used to encode the picture.

Abstract: An early retiring instruction mechanism, a method for performing the early retiring instruction mechanism and a pixel processing system employing the early retiring instruction mechanism applied to a graphic processor unit (GPU) are described. The pixel processing system comprises an early retiring instruction mechanism and a pixel shader. The early retiring instruction mechanism selectively retires a plurality of instructions in a first program in order to generate at least one early retiring instruction in a second program. The pixel shader is connected to the early retiring instruction mechanism. The pixel shader fetches the second program and decodes at least one early retiring instruction to execute the second program therein for processing a plurality of pixels. Then, the pixel shader checks whether the pixels in the process of the early retiring instruction generated from early retiring instruction mechanism are directly issued to leave the pixel shader in advance.

Abstract: A surveillance system using an array of detectors onto which energy from the scene under surveillance is focused can indicate the direction of an event that has been recognized. The invention uses two or more arrays to locate events in three dimensions, and to define regions within the three dimensional space being surveyed. The events are located by detecting which elements from the respective arrays are stimulated by the occurrence of an event, and determining the location of the event to be at the intersection of the fields of view of the stimulated elements.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for compressed sensing. In some embodiments, the apparatus (10) generally includes a receiving element (12) operable to receive an input signal, an integrate/dump circuit (14), a sampling element (16), and a processor (18). The integrate/dump circuit (14) is operable to integrate at least a portion of the received signal to provide an integrated signal and the sampling element (16) is operable to sample the integrated signal at a first sampling rate which is less than the Nyquist rate for the input signal. The processor (18) is operable to form a compressed sensing matrix utilizing a first set of time indices corresponding to the first sampling rate, form a measurement vector utilizing at least a portion of the sampled signal, and reconstruct at least a portion of the input signal utilizing the compressed sensing matrix and the measurement vector.

Abstract: A method for estimating channels of an OFDM signal. The method comprises the steps of deriving responses of pilot channels, deriving responses of first data channels by time and frequency domain combined linear interpolation among the responses of the pilot channels, deriving each response of boundary channels by frequency domain linear interpolation between the responses of the nearest pilot and first data channels, and deriving responses of second data channels by frequency domain extrapolation using the responses of the pilot and first data channels.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a dual-band active filter having filtering response and positive pass-band gain. The dual-band active filter includes an input match unit for gain match of the dual-band active filter and for having a band-pass filtering response; a first gain stage electrically connected to the first input match unit for providing the flat gain of the dual-band active filter; an inter-stage unit electrically connected to the first gain stage for matching gain and for having a band-stop filter response; a second gain stage electrically connected to the inter stage unit for providing the flat gain of the dual-band active filter; and an output unit electrically connected to the second gain stage for matching the dual-band active filter and for having a low-pass filtering response.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating camera motion parameters and determining a filter to correct for camera motion errors. The estimating method and system includes obtaining an observation point set including a plurality of observed point vectors, computing a plurality of motion output vectors by performing a recursive least squares (RLS) process based on a plurality of motion parameter vectors, and comparing the plurality of motion output vectors to the plurality of observed point vectors. The filter determining method and system includes determining a plurality of desired motion point vectors, computing a plurality of estimated motion point vectors by means of an RLS algorithm, and computing the filter based on a difference between the plurality of estimated motion point vectors and the plurality of desired motion point vectors.

Abstract: An apparatus of sequentially decoding CCK codes includes a series of received signal registers used to respectively temporarily save the received signals, a phase selector used to select one numeral from 1, ?1, j or ?j respectively for CCK code of each chip to multiple with the signal register, a series of adders used to sequentially complete adding operation, a series of sequential operation registers used to save values obtained from the sequential selecting operation of the phase selectors and the sequential adding operation of the adders, and a comparing device used to select a maximal value from those saved in the operation registers. The comparing device includes a comparator and a maximum register. According to the invention, the data processing speeds up while the hardware complexity is reduced.

Abstract: A current-matching variable gain amplifier is provided. The amplifier comprises a reference current source, at least one cascode amplifier, a matching circuit, a control circuit, and at least one first blocking circuit. The reference current source provides a reference current. Each of the cascode amplifiers amplifies an input signal according to the reference current. The matching circuit equalizes the voltage level at a first node in each cascode amplifier and the voltage level at a second node in the matching circuit. The matching circuit also equalizes the current of a main MOSFET of each cascode amplifier and the current of a first MOSFET of the matching circuit. The control circuit controls the current of the first MOSFET of the matching circuit. Each of the first blocking circuit(s) corresponds with the cascode amplifier, and is coupled between the reference current source and the corresponding cascode amplifier, for blocking RF signals.

Abstract: A method of mode detection for OFDM signals. The method comprises the steps of delaying the OFDM signal for a first and second number of samples, multiplying the two delayed signals by coefficient signals, and deriving a sum of the two products, deriving an error signal by subtracting the sum of the two products from the OFDM signal, extracting amplitudes of the coefficient signals, and accordingly deriving step size signals, updating the coefficient signals according to the error signal and step size signals, detecting edges of the amplitudes of the coefficient signals, and determining the guard interval length and transmission mode according to the detected edges.

Abstract: This disclosure presents a heat dissipation mechanism, which conducts generated heat of a thermal device to the housing of an electronic apparatus by a metal piece fastened between the thermal device and electronic apparatus, and then dissipates heat into the air through multiple holes opened over an apparatus shell. Besides, the presented mechanism is also suitable to mini-size, portable electronic apparatus to solve the thermal dissipation technique thereof.

Abstract: A method and system includes at least one interconnect hub, connecting the at least one interconnect hub to a plurality of audio connection devices to form a network of audio connection devices with the interconnect hub at the center of the ring. The audio connection devices are connected to each other through the at least one interconnect hub, and data is synchronously transmitted between at least two of the audio connection devices through the at least one interconnect hub.

Abstract: A portable target locator for use by a ground observer to accurately determine the location of a target and transmit location information and firing instructions to an unmanned vehicle so the unmanned vehicle can locate the target and perform an operation based on the firing instructions. The apparatus comprises optics for permitting a user to see a magnified view of the target; a location determining component for determining a location of the apparatus; rangefinder for determining a range from the apparatus to the target; an Azimuth sensor for determining an Azimuth from the apparatus to the target; a processor for determining the location of the target based on the location of the apparatus, the range to the target, and the Azimuth from the apparatus to the targets, a transmitter for transmitting the location information and the firing instructions to the unmanned vehicle, and a portable handheld housing.

Abstract: A traffic sensor and a method of operating the traffic sensor to collect vehicular traffic data for a road is described. The traffic sensor has (a) a radar module for generating radar-based vehicle data regarding a plurality of vehicles passing the sensor field of view based on detection and measurement of traffic; (b) an image module for generating image data representing a plurality of images of the road and the traffic; and, (c) a traffic sensor enclosure for enclosing both the radar module and the image module.

Abstract: A metric generation scheme for use in OFDM receivers. In a preferred embodiment, an OFDM receiver of the invention includes a dynamic quantizer to compress a series of channel-state information values. Also, a bit de-interleaver is provided to de-interleave a series of symbol-based data inverse to interleaving operations at a transmitter end. The de-interleaved symbol-based data is further compressed by another dynamic quantizer to yield a complex signal according to a constellation scheme. Then a metric generator calculates a bit metric of a zero group and a bit metric of a one group for each received bit in which the constellation is divided into the one group and the zero group for each bit location.