Abstract: A trial (test) power toothbrush designed to emulate the performance of a corresponding commercial toothbrush, powered by a non-rechargeable battery. The power to drive the toothbrush is controlled by a control circuit which is responsive to the battery to maintain the drive power at approximately the level of the commercial unit and a short “trial use” period, i.e. one month/30 days, and then to terminate operation of the power toothbrush. The trial toothbrush may then be readily disposed of by the user, including the battery therein.

Abstract: A method and device for improved character input are described, wherein the method employs a keypad 100 comprising keys 102 able to display secondary characters 106 in addition to primary characters 104. The keypad has a default display state. A first key selection causes the keypad 100 to display secondary characters 106 associated with the first key on other keys 102, whereupon a second key selection causes the displayed character to be input, following which the keypad reverts to displaying the default state. Further secondary characters 200 may also be displayed after a first key selection. The method is particularly useful for handheld devices such as mobile radio telephones or handheld computers adapted to implement the method of the invention.

Abstract: A multi-channel filter (20) includes S inputs for receiving S input signals (x1 . . . xS) and at least S filters (14, 28) coupled to the S inputs for filtering the input signals (x1 . . . xS) or auxiliary signals (y1 . . . yS) derived therefrom. The multi-channel filter (20) further includes a signal combiner (16) for combining the filtered signals into an output signal (ê) and a further signal combiner (22) coupled in between at least part of the inputs and at least part of the filters (14, 28). The further signal combiner (22) is arranged for combining at least part of the input signals (x1 . . . xS) into at least one auxiliary signal (y1 . . . yS) The multi-channel filter (20) is asymmetric in that at least one of the filters (28) has a filter length which is substantially larger than the filter lengths of the other filters (14).

Abstract: This invention facilitates the relocation of a hypertext document and objects referenced by hypertext items. The Universal Resource Locators (URLs) in a hypertext document are identified and assessed. A modifiable URL is a URL that is associated with an object that has been relocated, or with an object that will be relocated when the hypertext document is relocated. Each modifiable URL in the document is modified to reflect the relocation of each object, and each object that has not yet been relocated is relocated. If any relocated object is another hypertext document, this other document is similarly processed to identify and update each modifiable URL, each object requiring relocation is relocated, and each relocated hypertext document is subsequently similarly processed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for activating a display device with rows and columns, in which voltages may be supplied to the rows and columns of the display device as a function of data to be displayed. In addition, the invention relates to a display device having such an arrangement. To allow an efficient energy utilization and to avoid inaccuracies, an arrangement for activating a display device with columns and rows is proposed in which voltages (Vcol, Vcol/2, Vss, Vrow+, Vrow?) can be supplied to the rows and columns of the display device (2) as a function of data to be displayed, and the arrangement comprises at least one voltage divider unit (12) and one voltage multiplier unit (11), a supply voltage (Vdd) being supplied to the voltage divider unit, a divided voltage derived from the voltage divider unit being supplied to a voltage multiplier unit, and the divided voltage and the voltage generated by the voltage multiplier unit being supplied to the display device.

Abstract: A method of creating an audio/video stream comprises multiplexing a video component, an audio component and a content reference identifier, the content reference identifier is associated with the video component and the audio component in an MPEG transport stream. Apparatus for transmitting and receiving the audio/video stream isalso described.

Abstract: The invention, related to an encoding method applied to a video sequence divided into successive groups of frames (GOFs) themselves subdivided into successive couples of frames (COFs), comprises a motion estimation step applied to each couple of frames (COF), a motion-compensated three-dimensional (3D) subband decomposition step applied to each GOF, using a motion-compensated temporal analysis, based on said motion vector fields, and a spatial wavelet transform for defining a decomposition into spatio-temporal subbands, a coding step, for quantizing and coding said spatio-temporal subbands, and a control step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for addressing cells of a display panel, in particular discharge cells of a plasma display panel (PDP), each cell corresponding to a pixel in response to a video signal, wherein the addressing of those cells which are identified as being not active is skipped by an adaptive line skip unit (ALS).

Abstract: A method of detecting frequency errors in a receiver during frame synchronization. A fast synchronization and reliable reception of the data requires a fast determination of frequency errors in the received signal. In CPFSK and OFDM, the frequency offset is even more important because of potential subcarrier interference. The method operates in the time domain and removes the 2p limitation in the phase representation by an unwrap function allowing a precise frequency determination.

Abstract: The invention relates to a display device which includes a driver circuit and a liquid crystal display with a plurality of rows R and columns C. The invention also relates to a driver circuit for driving a display. In order to reduce the power consumption of display devices, displays are operated in the partial display mode. According to the MRA (Multiple Row Addressing) technique a plurality of rows p is driven simultaneously. The number of rows p to be simultaneously driven, however, differs for displays of different size. When a display is operated in the partial display mode, therefore, for an optimum optical performance it is necessary that the value p of the rows to be simultaneously driven is other than this number in full size operation. In order to drive the rows R and columns C, at least p+1 voltages are required when F=GMAX.

Abstract: A method and audio converter for generating further audio signals (u, ul, ur, uc, us) from initial audio signal (x, xl, xr), wherein optionally an information signal (in means 23) is derived from said initial audio signals (x). On basis of the initial audio signal (x, xr, xl), a dominant signal y(k) and a residue signal (or signals) q(k), substantially transverse to each other, are determined (means 21 and 22). In at least two frequency ranges frequency components of the dominant signal are analysed (means 24), and a difference signal yr ({y(k)?yb(k)) corresponding to the dominant signal minus a frequency range component of the dominant signal in one or more frequency ranges (yb(k)) is formed. The difference audio signal yr and the residue signal q(k) are transformed into said further audio signal u(means 25), i.e. u = T ? ( y r ? ( k ) q ? ( k ) ) .

Abstract: A device for reading information stored on an information plate (1), and/or for writing information on an information plate (1), includes a loading mechanism for loading and unloading the information plate (1). The loading mechanism includes at least one movable scanning lever (5) for detecting the position of the information plate (1). The lever is designed for making contact with the plate edge of the information plate (1). A position sensor is provided for supplying position information on the position of the information plate (1) in dependence on the position of the scanning lever (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of searching a predetermined number of objects which are closest to an example, in a hierarchical object structure which is obtained by using a hierarchical object classification method. The proposed method consists of going through the hierarchical structure starting from the root, descending as far as the first node closest to the searched example of which a number of leaves lower than the number of lacking results depend, and then going back up to the brother node of this node which is closest to the searched example, so as to add other results and so on and so forth until said predetermined number is arrived at. Application: MPEG-7 descriptions.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging method which involves a pulse sequence for generating magnetic resonance signals and in which diffusion weighting is applied, for example, by way of a pair of gradient pulses which are separated by a 180° refocusing RF pulse. The magnetic resonance signals are generated as spin echo signals due to refocusing pulses. The refocusing pulses are flanked by compensation gradient pulses and the gradient strengths of the compensation gradient pulses are alternated according to a periodic pattern.

Abstract: A data carrier that communicates confidential data is configured to mask process-dependent power consumption by using power stored in an internal capacitor. The capacitor is initially charged to the voltage of an external power source, and then decoupled from the external power source. The capacitor provides power to an internal processor, and consequently discharges gradually. At the end of a given time interval, the capacitor is discharged to a fixed voltage, then charged to the supply voltage. In this manner the power consumed by charging of the capacitor is decoupled from the power consumed by the processor. If the capacitor drops below a threshold voltage before processing is completed, the processor is halted. To optimize the available processing time, the time interval before discharging the capacitor to the fixed voltage is dynamically adjusted to reduce the time that the processor is halted.

Abstract: The need for service repair calls for a medical imaging system is reduced by enabling the operator to diagnose and, at times, to repair system problems without calling a repair service. A system diagnostics package includes an interactive diagnostic procedure which interacts with the system operator to receive input and information concerning a system problem. The diagnostics package uses this qualitative operator input, augmented if necessary by quantitative system data, to logically arrive at a system diagnosis. In a preferred embodiment the ultrasound system is able to learn about and discover new problem sources and their solutions. This information can be retained by the imaging system and used to repair similar problems in the system in the future. The information can be communicated to the system manufacturer so that the knowledge learned by one system can be disseminated to other systems to expedite their diagnosis and repair.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for balance control for component video signals. The system and method of the present disclosure allow for adjusting or compensating for possible color encoding errors, as well as allowing individual viewer preferences to be accommodated, in consumer electronics devices, such as high definition monitors and other imaging devices and appliances. The system includes circuitry for receiving the U and V component video signals and outputting balance adjusted component color difference signals Uout and Vout.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is switchable between a normal operating mode and a test mode. A functional circuit and a test pattern converter are both coupled between input contacts, output contacts and a redefinable contact of the integrated circuit. In the test mode respectively the test pattern converter drives the outputs contacts and, dependent on the circuit configuration, the redefinable contact. The test pattern converter is arranged to provide a first and second relation between signals at the input contacts and the output contacts, with the redefinable contact used as an input or output contact respectively, dependent on the circuit configuration. The relations have been selected so as to permit testing of stuck-at and cross-connect errors with the redefinable contact used as input and output contact respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming high quality oxide layers of different thickness over a first and a second semiconductor region in one processing step. The method comprises the steps of: doping the first and the second semiconductor region with a different dopant concentration, and oxidising, during the same processing step, both the first and the second semiconductor region under a temperature between 500° C. and 700° C., preferably between 500° C. and 650° C. A corresponding device is also provided. Using a low-temperature oxidation in combination with high doping levels results in an unexpected oxidation rate increase.

Abstract: A method for localising a target 2 (fi. a tumour) in an object 4 (fi. human tissue) by means of scanning the object with a fan shaped X-ray beam 6. In known methods the X-ray beam is scanned twice over the object. In the first scan a shadow image of the object 4 and the target 2 in it is projected on an X-ray detector 10. In the second scan the position and the orientation of the X-ray beam 6 differs from the position and orientation of it in the first scan. Also during the second scan a shadow image of the object and the target is projected on the X-ray detector, in such a way that the positions of the target on the detector are mutually different. In this way the height of the target above the detector surface 10 may be calculated from the distance between the two shadow images of the target if both positions of the X-ray beam as well as both orientations are known.