Abstract: An electronic device has a display panel (10), for example an active matrix liquid crystal display device, and includes touch input means which are operable by a user to perform input functions and which comprise touch elements (15, 18) in the form of button, pads or the like, spaced from the display panel and carried on a housing or frame (20) containing the display panel, and a sensing circuit (35) connected to the touch elements which is carried on a substrate (30) of the display panel together with a drive circuit (33, 34) of the display panel. Provision of the sensing circuit on the display panel substrate leads to compactness and reduced manufacturing costs while the separation of the touch elements from the display panel offers considerable flexibility in, for example, the arrangement of the touch elements and without risk of the display panel being contaminated or damaged.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a mood based virtual photo album which provides photos based upon a sensed mood the viewer. The method may include the steps of capturing a first image of a facial expression of a viewer by a camera, providing the image to a pattern recognition module of a processor, determine a mood of the viewer by comparing the facial expression with a plurality of previously stored images of facial expressions having an associated emotional identifier that indicates a mood of each of the plurality of previously stored images, retrieving a set of photos from storage for transmission to the viewer based on the emotional identifier associated with the determined mood, and transmitting the set of photos in the form of an electronic photo album.

Abstract: An optical element (16) introduces a first wavefront deviation when a first radiation beam having a first wavelength passes through it and a second wavefront deviation when a second radiation beam having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength passes through it. One surface of the optical element comprises a phase structure in the form of annular areas (52, 53, 54, 55), the areas forming a non-periodic pattern of optical paths of different length. The optical paths for the first wavelength form the first wavefront deviation and the optical paths for the second wavelength form the second wavefront deviation, the difference between the two deviations being proportional to the difference between the first and second wavelength.

Abstract: A method for oxidizing organic matter contained in an aqueous effluent and an installation for implementing the method. The method comprises the following steps: injecting into a tubular body the aqueous effluent; bringing the aqueous effluent to a pressure P1, corresponding to the critical pressure of the aqueous effluent; bringing the aqueous effluent to a temperature T1; and injecting into the tubular body at n points spaced apart from one another, n fractions of at least an oxidizing composition, so that a portion of the thermal energy produced by the oxidation reaction increases the temperature of the reaction mixture from said temperature T1 to temperature T2>T1 according to an increasing curve, whereby the organic matter is oxidized, the reaction mixture continuously developing from a sub-critical liquid state to the supercritical domain.

Abstract: A device with multiple toilet care action is provided with a reservoir for an active substance and suspension means for suspending the device from the rim of a toilet bowl such, that with every flushing operation, an active substance is dispensed to the flushing water in the toilet bowl. The reservoir is provided with at least two compartments for such an active substance. In a particular embodiment, in the compartments, active liquids have been disposed. In this situation, the device is provided with a holder, a bottle with said compartments detachably connected to the holder and a liquid collecting element which, when the device is suspended from the rim of a toilet bowl, is located in the path of the flushing water in the toilet bowl for adding thereto with each flushing operation an active liquid, the contents of the compartments being in constant communication with the liquid collecting element.

Abstract: A next generation of high-speed CD-RW discs for high-speed recording (4x-10x) needs a new write strategy, which is not suited for recording at lower speeds (1x-4x). Existing CD-RW recorders may accept these discs and make recordings according to existing write strategies. This will result in unreadable discs. To prevent this, a Power Calibration Area (PCA) and a Program Memory Area (PMA), both needed for recording, are hidden for the existing recorders. As a result the disc will be rejected. In a method wherein an absolute time reference (ATIP) is applied on the disc, the start locations of these areas being determined by a fixed time offset relative to a subsequent Lead-in area, the PCA and PMA are made untraceable by introducing and Absolute Time in Pre-Groove (ATIP) time code jump of, for instance, one minute just before the Start time of the Lead-in area.

Abstract: A flexible probe, applicable for measuring signals from the object with an uneven surface, includes at least a probe tip, a flexible multi-layered dielectric substrate, a planar transmission structure and a coaxial transmission structure. The probe tip is connected to the planar transmission structure and extends beyond the flexible dielectric substrate. The planar transmission structure is attached to and supported by the flexible dielectric substrate and then connected to the coaxial transmission structure.

Abstract: A method, a circuit arrangement and a display device which suppresses motion blur due to motion integration carried out along a motion trajectory on the image data, which occurs in matrix type displays in which a motion trajectory is integrated by the viewer and/or the display, includes an inverse integration filtering of the video signal. To avoid de-blurring in image regions where motion cannot be detected, or image is low and to avoid noise modulation, motion estimation as well as further image characteristic are used.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a preferably discrete bipolar transistor with a collector region, a base region, and an emitter region which are provided with connection conductors. A known means of preventing a saturation of the transistor is that the latter is provided with a Schottky clamping diode. The latter is formed in that case in that the connection conductor of the base region is also put into contact with the collector region. Here, the second connection conductor is exclusively connected to the base region, and a partial region of that portion of the base region which lies outside the emitter region, as seen in projection, lying below the second connection conductor is given a smaller flux of dopant atoms. The bipolar transistor is provided with a pn clamping diode which is formed between the partial region and the collector region.

Abstract: The present invention can complement and benefit virtually any method utilizing motion compensation to decode an inputted digital video data stream by determining a likely local nature of reference frame data area in the video data stream and then applying proper interpolation to the reference frame data area according to the determined likely local nature of the reference frame data area. The present invention can also complement and benefit virtually any decoding system utilizing motion compensation to decode an inputted digital video data stream by providing a motion compensation predictor that is adapted to determine a likely local nature of a reference frame data area in the video data stream and then apply proper interpolation to the reference frame data area according to the determined likely local nature of the reference frame data area.

Abstract: A method of code phase tracking for CDMA type communication is disclosed together with apparatus including a GPS receiver (10 to 15) for the same. The method uses a modified early-minus-late correlation function to determine the code phase error between a target pseudorandom noise code of an incoming signal and locally generated replica codes. The early-minus-late correlation function is modified compared to the true function whereby the gradient of the modified function at zero code phase error is increased. This may be achieved my modifying the early-minus-late correlation function after its derivation.

Abstract: An adaptive data communication approach permits communication bus monitoring by using a reconfigurable bus monitor built into the CPU bus structure and adapted to report back to the CPU in response to detecting certain CPU-programmed events. In one particular example embodiment, a circuit arrangement having a CPU circuit communicates with another device over a communication channel while a reconfigurable circuit monitors the communication channel. The CPU circuit configures the reconfigurable circuit for monitoring any of various types of event expected to occur on the communication channel. The reconfigurable circuit collects signals passed on the communication channel and reports back to the CPU circuit when data indicative of the first event type occurs on the communication channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit (404) on a die (402), wherein the die (402) forms a detachable part of a wafer (401) comprising a plurality of dies that are separated from each other by dicing lanes (403). The method comprises a step of applying a metallization pattern (407) in at least one of the dicing lanes (403) to form a communication bus comprising at least one communication bus circuit (405) that is part of the integrated circuit (404). Said step is followed by a step wherein the integrated circuit (404) is tested according to a predetermined testing method which uses the communication bus circuit (405) to communicate with the integrated circuit (404). This step is followed by a next step wherein the die (402) is detached from the wafer (401). The communication bus circuit (405) is designed so as to communicate in a wafer test mode as well as in a functional mode. During the testing of the integrated circuit (404), it communicates in the wafer test mode.

Abstract: A plastic drink-through lid of the type having a deck, a peripheral skirt, and a partially separable, preformed tab in the deck to form a drink-through hold which does not extend through the peripheral skirt. The tab has an upstanding thumb catch preformed thereon. The fold back hinge is formed in the deck immediately adjacent the tab and spaced less than about one-half of the lid radius from the periphery. This creates a very short throw which allows a user to open the tab and lock it back with the thumb of the same hand that is holding the cup.

Abstract: A display monitor has at least a stand-alone operational mode, and a further operational mode as a further peripheral to, e.g., a PC. The monitor has an input for connecting to a first peripheral device. The monitor also has circuitry for enabling data communication with the first peripheral device for user control of a functionality of the display monitor in the stand-alone mode, and for data communication between the first peripheral and the PC via the monitor when the monitor is in the further operational mode and connected to the PC and to the first peripheral.

Abstract: For imaging a 3D data set the method of the invention comprises the following steps in succession: acquisition of images, reconstructing a 3D data set, followed by visualization, the reconstruction being started with a limited initial range of orientations around the direction of a local midprojection from a starting point so as to be visualized, the acquisition being continued during visualization and the reconstruction being updated in accordance with the additional acquisition obtained up to a final result. In particular, the selected part comprises a first visualization covering a range of from about 40° to 60°, with a midprojection at about from 20° to 30°.

Abstract: An animated virtual creature is generated on a display such as a television set, in order to simulate a pet or to facilitate user interface functions. In one embodiment, one or more signals corresponding to the program being watched are monitored. When certain events are detected based on this monitoring, the animated character is controlled in a manner that corresponds to the detected event. In another embodiment, the animated virtual creature responds to program selections made by a user in a program recommendation system.