Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for synthesizing depth of field effects in a digital image using ray tracing approximation. For each target pixel in the image, an aperture-shaped kernel is centered about a reference pixel. A cone of rays is traced through the aperture toward the image scene. The trajectory of the rays and the intersections between the rays and objects in the scene are approximated for a given scene depth, focal depth and aperture shape. The color of the pixel lying at the intersection, which may be offset from the target pixel, is sampled. This sampling process is repeated for several apertures bounding the target pixel, where each aperture is centered about a different reference pixel. The resulting color of the target pixel is acquired by integrating the colors of the pixels at each of the resulting intersections.

Abstract: A small and portable apparatus for sharpening the blades of a pair of scissors is provided according to the invention. The scissors sharpener comprises a main body; a vertically-oriented, stationary sharpening steel having opposed surfaces that is securely attached to the main body; a pivotable sharpening steel that rotates with respect to the main body; and a U-shaped return spring positioned between the main body and the pivotable sharpening steel. A user inserts a pair of scissors so that the inside surfaces of the two blades abut the opposed surfaces of the stationary sharpening steel for stable alignment, and closes the blades against the pivotable sharpening steel to cause it to travel along the blade cutting edges to sharpen them. When the scissors blades are disengaged from the scissors sharpening apparatus, the return spring will bias the pivotable sharpening steel back to its standby position.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for controlling the actuation of a movable structure, the moveable structure configured to open and close an aperture in a vehicle, is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a sequence containing a request to at least one of open and close the aperture, interpreting the sequence as a request to one of enable and disable the actuation of the moveable structure, and in response to the interpretation, one of enabling and disabling the actuation of the moveable structure.

Abstract: A storage unit includes an accumulation structure defined by a plurality of vertical walls having a plurality of guides arranged horizontally and configured to support a plurality of trays. In each tray there is at least one shaped housing that accommodates at least one object and on the sides of the tray there are shaped edges configured to be slidingly coupled with the guides when the tray is inserted between two consecutive vertical walls. Each tray is configured so as to receive on its upper surface one or more spacer elements that can be superimposed to one another and to the upper surface and connected to one another and to the upper surface through removable connections in order to vary the depth of the shaped housing. Movers are provided that are suited to move the trays with the objects arranged thereon and to insert/extract the trays in/from the guides.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated population of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and uses thereof for the treatment of vascular diseases.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to obtain a brake system that can generate appropriate braking force without influence of temperature. A brake system includes: a piston that presses pressing members; a motor that moves the piston; a current detection unit that detects current flowing in the motor; a storage unit that stores a correspondence relation between idle running current and motor stopping current; a motor stopping current setting unit that sets the motor stopping current using the storage unit and the idle running current; and a control unit that stops to supply the current to the motor when the current flowing in the motor reaches the motor stopping current. The correspondence relation is set so that the rate of change of the motor stopping current relative to the idle running current becomes smaller when the idle running current is small than that when it is large.

Abstract: A system and method for processing a 3-dimensional landmark providing a 3-dimensional representation of a 3-dimensional real world object located at a predefined geographic location is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a data set containing the 3-dimensional landmark, determining a largest continuous horizontal surface of the 3-dimensional landmark, and storing the determined largest horizontal surface as road traffic area of a road network used by a user when moving on the object.

Abstract: Event based metadata synthesis is provided. In some embodiments, event based metadata synthesis includes determining time and location information for a first digital asset (e.g.

Abstract: The illustrative storage management system uses snapshot technologies and performs block-level analysis thereof and to synthesize full backups of a database, regardless of the database management system (DBMS) and content of the database and without involving native DBMS utilities. Synthetic full copies are created efficiently and use network transport resources sparingly. Successive snapshots of the database may be hardware snapshots and/or software snapshots. The illustrative storage management system tracks which data blocks in the database change over time after a baseline full copy is saved to secondary storage. Only the changed blocks are subsequently moved to secondary storage as incremental backups and are indexed for future reference. A synthetic full backup of the database, at a given point in time, may be created by synthesizing the original full backup with changed blocks from any number of later incremental backups.

Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed for processing a banknote. The method includes providing a banknote having at least one photonically active security feature, the banknote being moved along a conveyance path; illuminating the at least one security feature with light from a stimulus source; identifying a location of the at least one security feature by detecting an emission from the security feature; directing an excitation source at the identified location; illuminating the at least security feature with light from the excitation source; and detecting a further emission from the photonically active security feature in response to the light from the excitation source. Further the process includes the step of analyzing the shape and size of each object within an image during the search phase to determine if the object has the expected physical attributes of the real feature.

Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry implements registration on a medical image and each of a plurality of reference images. The processing circuitry performs deformation on the medical image based on a result of the registration. The processing circuitry sets a first region of interest on the deformed medical image. The processing circuitry sets on at least two of the plurality of reference images, a second region of interest corresponding to the first region of interest. The processing circuitry retrieves from the reference images on which the second region of interest is set, a reference image similar to an image in the first region of interest.

Abstract: Headphones include a left loudspeaker element; a right loudspeaker element; and a holder for holding the left loudspeaker element and the right loudspeaker element, such that the loudspeaker elements can be attached to the ears, wherein the left loudspeaker element or the right loudspeaker element includes: a first sound converter; a second sound converter, wherein the first sound converter is implemented such that the first sound converter provides directed emission in the direction of an ear in the operating position of the headphones, and the second sound converter is implemented such that the second sound converter provides no or less directed emission than the first sound converter in the direction of the ear in the operating position of the headphones.

Abstract: A variable displacement oil pump for an internal combustion engine includes a pump element to vary inside volumes of pumping chambers to suck and discharge an oil, a varying mechanism to vary a pumping volume variation quantity of the pumping chambers, with movement of a movable member such as a cam ring, an urging mechanism to urge the movable member in a direction to increase the pumping volume variation quantity, first and second control oil chambers to urge the movable member to vary the pumping volume variation quantity, and a control mechanism, such as a pilot valve, to control the supply/drainage of the oil to or from the second control oil chamber. An operation oil pressure of the movable member is set higher than an operation oil pressure of the control mechanism in a higher pressure region.

Abstract: Various exemplary illustrations of an electrode assembly for an electrostatic atomizer, for example for a rotation atomizer, and exemplary methods of making and/or using the same, are disclosed. An exemplary electrode assembly may include an electrode holder arrangement for holding at least one electrode creating an electrostatic field about a symmetrical axis, wherein there is a dielectric material for influencing a discharge current component extending in the direction of the symmetrical axis.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for multiple wavelength Raman interrogation laser generation and Raman spectra acquisition. An intracavity laser tuning subsystem is integrated into the laser cavity. The tuning subsystem allows switching between at least two laser output frequencies in a manner effective for good identification and separation of Raman spectra from non-Raman spectra, including auto-fluorescence from the sample and background. The tuning subsystem can be implemented in different ways in the cavity. It does not require material alteration of the line-narrowing components. Also, processing of acquired raw signal from the multiple wavelength interrogation can further assist effective Raman spectra identification and separation.

Abstract: An electronic device with a Frequency Modulation (FM) antenna includes an earphone jack, an FM chip, a switching unit, and a processing unit. The earphone jack includes a left channel pin, a right channel pin, and a ground pin. The FM chip receives an FM signal and outputs a Receive Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) value of the FM signal to the processing unit. The processing unit receives the RSSI value, compares the RSSI value with a predetermined value, and controls the switching unit to select the left and right channel pins as a signal receiving point of the FM antenna or select the ground pin as the signal receiving point of the FM antenna according to a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A variable displacement vane pump includes first and second sealing grooves formed on an intake port side and separated away from each other in a circumferential direction; first and second sealing members provided in the first and second sealing grooves; a first fluid-pressure chamber formed on a side on which a volume thereof decreases when the cam ring moves to a side on which an eccentricity of the cam ring increases; and a second fluid-pressure chamber formed on a side on which a volume thereof increases when the cam ring moves to a side on which the eccentricity of the cam ring increases; and a control valve configured to control the pressure in the first or second fluid-pressure chamber.

Abstract: Multiple order connectors for contactless communication devices and methods for using the same are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a first device for use in establishing a contactless communications link with a second device is provided. The first device can include a first order connection, which can be constructed to interface with a counterpart first order connection of the second device, and a second order connection. The second order connection can include a substrate, at least one contactless communications unit (CCU) mounted on the substrate and that is operative to establish the contactless communications link with a respective counterpart CCU of the second device, and an actuator operative to move the substrate such that the at least one CCU is optimally aligned with its respective counterpart CCU to establish the contactless communications link.

Abstract: A computer-based ordering system for ordering goods and services includes a plurality of self-service client terminals and a server. Each self-service client terminal runs a self-order application including a set of interactive menu screens having buttons that allow the customer to select and customize products for the order. An administration tool application communicates with the server to administer the self-service client terminals. The administration tool application including a menu editor that enables the administrator to create and edit the interactive menu screens provided by the self-order application at the self-service client terminals. The menu editor accesses a library of menu templates containing predefined groupings of buttons, and uses the menu templates, as directed by the administrator, during creation and editing of the interactive menu screens.