Abstract: An object of the present invention is to enable a receiving side to easily recognize which of imaging devices has picked up received image data. A capsule endoscope (one example of the in-vivo image acquiring apparatus) of the present invention is swallowed by a subject, and picks up images of the inside of organs of the subject. The capsule endoscope has a plurality of LEDs, a plurality of CCDs, and a transmission module. The CCDs paired with the LEDs pick up images of the inside of a body cavity illuminated by the LEDs. The transmission module adds identification data for identifying the CCDs to image data in front and rear directions of the capsule endoscope picked up by the CCDS, and transmit the image data together with the identification data to the receiving side.

Abstract: Described herein is a medical imaging technique that includes directing ultrasound waves into a portion of a body of interest during at least a portion of a time period during which an MR imaging process is simultaneously performed on the portion of the body of interest such that the MR signal is altered by the application of the ultrasound waves. The ultrasound waves may be applied continually during the MR imaging process, or only during a portion thereof. The frequency of the ultrasound waves may be substantially the same as, or different than that of the MR signals. Images may be produced from only the MR imaging process or both the MR imaging process and the application of ultrasound waves prior to the imaging sessions.

Abstract: For a multi-channel audio signal, parametric coding is applied to different subsets of audio input channels for different frequency regions. For example, for a 5.1 surround sound signal having five regular channels and one low-frequency (LFE) channel, binaural cue coding (BCC) can be applied to all six audio channels for sub-bands at or below a specified cut-off frequency, but to only five audio channels (excluding the LFE channel) for sub-bands above the cut-off frequency. Such frequency-based coding of channels can reduce the encoding and decoding processing loads and/or size of the encoded audio bitstream relative to parametric coding techniques that are applied to all input channels over the entire frequency range.

Abstract: An electronic card (100) configured to be read by a reading device (300) is disclosed. The card (100) comprising a card portion (270) having a surface (156) onto which are formed a plurality of user interface elements (154) and electronic apparatus (259) attached to the card portion (270). The apparatus (259) comprising a memory (276) in which are retained a plurality of data strings. At least one of the data strings is associated with a corresponding one of the user interface elements (154). The apparatus (259) also comprises a processor means (275) coupled to the memory means (276) and communication means (278) for coupling the processor means (275) to the reading device (300). The processor means (275) is configured to relate reading signals generated from a selection of at least one of the elements (154) and received via the communication means (278) with at least one of the retained data strings. The retained data strings are inaccessible to the reading device (300).

Abstract: A bent optical fiber coupler (100) that employs at least one optical fiber (10) is disclosed. The coupler includes a curved optical fiber guide channel (200) having a strong curve. The optical fiber(s) held within the optical fiber guide channel have a bend corresponding to the guide channel curve. The fiber end portions are optionally disposed within a straight fiber guide (160) at a coupler input/output end, which is preferably configured to have a standard connector geometry. Use of nanostructured fibers for the at least one optical fiber allows for strong bends having tight radii of curvature without imparting significant attenuation. Coupler assemblies that include the coupler optically coupled to at least one opto-electronic device (310) are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention comprises methods for filling holes in printed wiring boards and printed wiring boards produced by these methods. The methods involve plating metal conductors inside the holes of the printed wiring boards while protecting the conducting surfaces of the printed wiring boards from being plated using photoresist film. The side surfaces of a printed wiring board are covered with photoresist. The photoresist is exposed to developing light, except the photoresist covering the holes on one side of the board is masked to prevent exposure of the holes to the developing light. The undeveloped photoresist covering the holes is removed. The board is subjected to a plating process, which deposits conductive materials in the holes, but the photoresist on the conducting surfaces of the board prevents conductive materials to be plated on the surfaces of the board.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium for using competency-related information for individuals to provide a variety of benefits is described. In some situations, individuals may propose self-assessments of competencies that they believe that they possess, such as specified skill levels of specified skills. Various techniques to independently approve proposed self-assessed competencies can be provided, such as by defining groups of appropriate reviewers (e.g., supervisors, peers and/or subordinates) for self-assessed competencies and by automatically retrieving and processing validation information from such reviewers upon receipt of a competency self-assessment in order to determine whether to approve the self-assessed competency.

Abstract: A back-up solution is presented for a DSL modem that guarantees essentially uninterrupted data connections in the event of a failure in the DSL connection. When a DSL data connection fails, e.g., due to changes of the local loop characteristics in the high frequency band, a voice-band modem is used in conjunction with an amplitude modulator/demodulator to keep the data connection uninterrupted by shifting the voice-band modem signal up to DSL frequencies, transmitting the data at this higher frequency over the local loop between the subscriber and a DSLAM, and then shifting the voice-band modem signal back to a “normal” frequency and demodulating this signal using the voice-band modem before it enters the data network. Since the frequency band used is at a frequency higher than that of voice communications, the subscriber can continue to use the local loop to conduct voice communications or any other communications that require use of the voice band frequencies, such as facsimile and V.

Abstract: A method for resolving a type in a programming language to a resolve stage is provided. The method includes determining whether a version at the resolve stage of the type exists. The method further includes, if the version at the resolve stage does not exist, allowing a thread exclusive access to the type, resolving the type from an original resolve stage to the resolve stage, by the thread, by adding resolution information for the resolve stage to the type, and creating the version of the type based on the resolving by creating a copy of the type, where the copy of the type is at the resolve stage. Two or more versions are associated with the type, and the two or more versions are at different resolve stages.

Abstract: A clock signal generator having first and second coarse delay circuits connected in series delays pulses of a reference signal having period Tp to produce pulses of the clock signal. The first coarse delay circuit delays pulses of the reference signal with a delay resolution of Tp/N seconds over a range spanning Tp seconds to produce pulses of an output signal. The second coarse delay circuit delays pulses of the output signal of the first coarse delay circuit over a range spanning Tp seconds with a delay resolution of TP/M seconds to provide pulses of the clock signal with a timing resolution of Tp/(M*N) seconds when the integers N and M are relatively prime.

Abstract: A hardware/software design tool converts an electronic design specification and zero or more technology specifications into realization of the electronic design in computer hardware, software and firmware. It compiles design and logic technology specifications into a model which can be utilized for behavioral analysis of logical characteristics. It translates partitions of the design and one or more logic technologies into one or more processor intermediates or binaries suitable for execution on multi-purpose processing units. It translates partitions of the design and logic technology into a collection of cells and interconnects suitable for input to physical design processes such as is required to target a FPGA, ASIC, system-on-a-chip or custom logic.

Abstract: The present invention discloses how a transcoder may be used to reduce the bit rate of an MPEG-2 stream by transmitting only the visible area of the movie specified by pan-scan directives. Because the pan-scan conversion is performed prior to transmission, not immediately before display, the non-viewed portion of video does not need to be transmitted.

Abstract: In order to transport large size windmill towers, the invention suggests a steel tower (1) for a windmill, comprising a number of cylindrical or tapered tower sections (2), at least the wider sections (2) of which being subdivided into two or more elongated shell segments (3), which combine into a complete tower section (2) by means of vertical flanges (6) tightened together, e.g., by bolts (10), said shells being also provided with upper and lower horizontal flanges (4), respectively, to allow interconnection of tower sections (2) one on top of the other.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing a well using a gas are disclosed herein. A compressed lift gas can be provided to a well to obtain a production stream. The production stream can be separated to obtain the product and a recycle gas stream. The recycle gas stream can be immediately recompressed for use as lift gas, or separated to form a lift gas stream, and a power stream containing natural gasses from the well. The lift gas stream is recycled for use as lift gas, while the power stream can be transported and/or collected for sale, recycled for use as lift gas, or consumed as power for the compressor, based on measurements obtained throughout the system, coupled with practical and economic variables. By supplementing or replacing generated lift gas and/or an external power source with natural gas from the well, the present systems and methods can become self-contained after start-up.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a method whereby with respect to a microorganism present in an environment contaminated with tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE), capability of the microorganism to degrade contaminants can be judged promptly. In order to achieve the above-described object, a biological activity judging method according to the present invention is a method of judging capability of a contaminated environment to eliminate an organochlorine compound, in which using a DNA probe that allows a bacterium to be detected specifically, which has a degradation activity with respect to the organochlorine compound and/or a dechlorinated product thereof, the bacterium in the environment is detected. The present invention also provides a new type of polynucleotide that can be used as a DNA probe in the biological activity judging method according to the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coating powder sieving device, specifically for a powder paint coating installation, having a screen surface for sieving a coating powder. The screen surface is angular. An ultrasonic probe excites vibrations in the screen surface wherein the vibrations in the screen surface occur substantially in a direction perpendicular to the screen surface. A powder fluidization hopper incorporating the coating powder sieving device and a powder coating installation including plural powder fluidization hoppers are also disclosed.

Abstract: Determining the transition between systole and diastole is important for pulse contour-analytical determination of hemodynamic, first of all cardiac output. During the temporal progression of arterial pressure P(t) on which pulse contour analysis is based, the transition between systole and diastole appears as a local minimum. This local slump of the pressure curve downward is very short and is often little recognizable in the actually measured curves due to inaccuracies conditioned by measuring techniques. It was also found that the transition between systole and diastole can be more reliably and accurately determined as the site of maximum curvature of function P(t). Consequently, the invention relates to a device having a calculation unit that comprises evaluation means for detecting the site of maximum curvature of function P(t) in a detection area between the maximum and minimum functional value of the pulse cycle as the site of transition between systole and diastole.

Abstract: One version of the invention relates to a laser detection system that includes a ball lens and a plurality of fiber optic bundles placed adjacent the ball lens so that incoming light rays are focused onto the bundles by the ball lens. In one particular version of the invention, a ball lens is one that can provide an almost infinite number of “principal” axes for off-axis light. Each fiber optic bundle is aimed in a different direction from each other bundle so that each bundle will have a different FOV even though the same ball lens is used to focus the incoming light rays.