Abstract: An actuator (100) including: a housing (102); a driven member (104) movably disposed with respect to the housing; a magnet (114) associated with the driven member and a ferric member (112) for providing a magnetic attraction force between the driven member and the ferric member for providing a normal force (Fn) between the housing and driven member such that a friction force between the housing and driven member resulting from the normal force must be overcome to initiate a relative movement between the housing and driven member; and a magnetic drive system (118, 120) for overcoming the friction force and driving the driven member relative to the housing. The driven member can be a lens holder for holding a lens (106), in which case, the actuator can further include an image sensor (110) for acquiring image data through the lens.

Abstract: Portable devices are usually synchronized with servers like personal computers. Furthermore, most portable devices provide a user with the possibility to generate data objects or to obtain data objects from other sources than the personal computer. This means that of certain data objects a backup exists, as they are stored on the personal computer. Other data objects are unique, as the user does not have a backup at his or her disposal. Energy is a precious commodity in portable devices. A memory, in particular a volatile memory, consumes power. In case energy is required for keeping data objects stored, of which no backup is at the disposal of the user, but this energy might not be available in the future due to battery level, storage of data objects of which a backup exists is sacrificed for the benefit of storage of data objects for which there is no backup.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for providing rendered images based on image segmentation with determining an edge within the image introduced by boundaries of image segments. To allow shift-based rendering, the invention provides determining an edge within the image introduced by boundaries of image segments, determining an edge region around the edge, determining a first displacement field for the segments, determining a second displacement field for the edge region, merging the first and the second displacement field into a third displacement field having a displacement of the first displacement field for the segments and a displacement of the second displacement field for the edge region, such that the edge region is treated as a separate object with a separate displacement, and shifting the image pixels according to the third displacement field.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for guiding the flow of a fluid sample is disclosed. The microfluidic device comprises a base plate (1) that extends in two lateral directions and has at least one through-going recess (1.1) in the vertical direction; a flow-through unit (2) that has at least a first and a second flow-through site (3.1, 3.2); and a plate structure (4). The flow-through unit (2) is arranged relatively to the recess (1.1) of the base plate (1) so that a vertical fluid flow from one side of this arrangement to the opposite side through each of the first and the second flow-through sites (3.1, 3.2) is enabled. Further, the plate structure (4) and the flow-through unit (2) are arranged relatively to each other so that a linking channel cavity (41) is formed for enabling a lateral fluid flow from the first to the second flow-through site (3.1, 3.2).

Abstract: A lighting assembly, a driver circuit, and a method of operating a discharge lamp are described. A discharge lamp (10) comprises a discharge vessel (14) with at least two electrodes (16) arranged at a distance d for generating an arc between the electrode (16). Driver electronics (32) operate the lamp (10) with electrical power. In order to reduce electrode burn-back, the driver electronics operate the lamp according to a switch-off sequence, which includes a power ramp interval (24) where the lamp (10) is operated with increasing electrical power over time, and subsequently the lamp (10) is switched-off.

Abstract: In a flat X-ray detector, Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) is reduced by either opening a pickup loop between the common lines (28) and the reference plane (29) of the PCB, or by reducing the size of a pickup loop by providing a permanent connection (33) between the common supply line and the reference plane (29) in respect of each row of photoconductors (12).

Abstract: An optical information carrier comprises a data layer for carrying the information, an outer surface for receiving a light beam for reading the information, and a transparent layer for transmitting the light beam to the data layer. The transparent layer comprises a pattern of physical damages for locally deforming the light beam. The physical damages are embedded in the transparent layer at a depth between the outer surface and the data layer. In the pattern of physical damages additional information is encoded. The additional information may be used for the purpose of copy protection.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of correcting a video signal that includes a video sequence parameter. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining a specific number of decoded values of the video sequence parameter; counting the times of occurrence of each different value of the decoded values; determining a correction value from the counting result; and correcting the decoded values of the video sequence parameter on the basis of the correction value. The present invention further discloses a correcting apparatus and a decoding apparatus of a video signal. With the present invention, it is able to find out conveniently a correction value of a video sequence parameter so as to correct the subsequent decoded values.

Abstract: An electric lamp provided with a bulb (1) of quartz glass and a metal electrode rod (3;21,22). The electrode rod (3;21,22) is at least partly embedded in the quartz glass material of the bulb. At least a major part of the surface of the electrode rod (3;21,22) that is in contact with the quartz glass material is provided with grooves (6) having a substantially longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A power supply system (1) comprises a power brick (3) which comprises a power converter (30) arranged in a first housing (2). The power converter (30) converts an AC-mains input voltage (VM) into an AC-output voltage (VO) which has a higher frequency than the AC-mains input voltage (VM). A power supply circuit (7) supplies a DC-voltage (PVi) to an application (8). The power supply circuit (7) and the application (8) both being arranged in a second housing (6) mechanically separated from the first housing (2). A cable (5) interconnects the power brick (3) and the power supply circuit (7) to supply the AC-output voltage (VO) to the power supply circuit (7). The power supply circuit (7) comprises a rectifier circuit (RE1, RE2, RE3) which rectifies the AC-output voltage (VO) to supply the DC-voltage (PVi) to the application (8).

Abstract: An identification system for a light radiation source (103) having a control circuit (107) for communicating with an identification circuit (108) associated with the light radiation source, wherein the identification circuit is arranged for storing data relating to the light radiation source. During operation, the control circuit communicates with the identification circuit via a signal path comprising at least a portion of a first electric wire (112) provided for energizing the light radiation source such that it is used as a first transmitting antenna for communicating with the identification circuit. The operation of the light radiation source is controlled in dependence on the data retrieved from the identification circuit. Depending on the result of the identification, operation of the light radiation source can be authorized or prevented, thus blocking the use of an incorrect radiation source for a given application.

Abstract: The invention relates to a disk drive unit for a disk (D) to be used in a device for reading and/or writing the disk at high rotational speeds of the disk. It comprises a turntable (5) and a clamping mechanism (7, 11) to hold the disk firmly on the turntable. A clamper (7) thereof is adapted to be provided on a side of the disk (D) facing away from the turntable (4) and includes at least one magnetizable portion. A magnet (11) is provided in the turntable and is movable in a direction to and away from the magnetizable portion of the clamper A centrifugal operating mechanism (16-21) is adapted to cause the magnet to move towards and away from the magnetizable portion of the clamper in dependence of the rotational speed of the turntable.

Abstract: Summarization of audio and/or visual data based on clustering of object type features is disclosed. Summaries of video, audio and/or audiovisual data may be provided without any need of knowledge about the true identity of the objects that are present in the data. In one embodiment of the invention are video summaries of movies provided. The summarization comprising the steps of inputting audio and/or visual data, locating an object in a frame of the data, such as locating a face of an actor, extracting type features of the located object in the frame. The extraction of type features is done for a plurality of frames and similar type features are grouped together in individual clusters, each cluster being linked to an identity of the object. After the processing of the video content, the largest clusters correspond to the most important persons in the video.

Abstract: An optical scanning device for scanning different formats of optical record carrier. The device includes a first radiation source (16), a second radiation source (70) and a third radiation source (72) arranged to emit radiation beams having a predetermined first, second and third, different, wavelength. The device further includes a redirector (15) for redirecting the second and third radiation beams. The redirector (15) includes a diffraction structure arranged to redirect the second radiation beam from the second input optical path (48) along the second output optical path (50) and to redirect the third radiation beam from the third input optical path along the third output optical path, so as to improve the colinearity of the second and third output optical paths with respect to a first output optical path of the redirector.

Abstract: A method of determining a zero point of a current sensor in a circuit arrangement for operating a gas discharge lamp includes switching off the current through the sensor for a short period during a first half wave and determining a first test value. Then the current through the sensor is switched off for a short period during a second half wave having a different polarity and a second test value is determined. The average value of the two test values is formed and the zero point is determined using the average value. It is prevented thereby that the zero point drifts during lamp operation, and that amplitudes of the positive and negative half waves of the lamp current are formed differently.

Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray detector (1) with an array (2) of sensor elements (21), wherein each row (i) of sensor elements is connected via an addressing line to an addressing unit (5), and wherein each column j) of sensor elements is connected via a read-out line to a read-out unit (3). In the read-out unit (3), sensor signals are preprocessed, for example amplified by amplifiers (31). The detector further comprises a control unit (6) which is adapted to set the gains of said amplifiers (31) for each column (j) and each row (i) individually. The values of the gains may particularly be derived from a priori knowledge, from previous images of the object, or from the image signals of rows that have already been read out.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical device comprising a container enclosing an insulating liquid (A) and an electrically susceptible liquid (B), the insulating liquid (A) and the electrically susceptible liquid (B) being immiscible and being in contact with each other via an interface (14), at least one of the liquids (A; B) being at least partially placed in a light path through the container. The optical device further comprises heating means (2, 12, 20) that preferably are responsive to a temperature sensor (30) for heating the insulating liquid (A) and the electrically susceptible liquid (B). Consequently, an optical device is obtained in which the influence of the temperature dependence of the physical properties of the insulating liquid (A) and the electrically susceptible liquid (B) on the behavior of the optical device is reduced, thus yielding an optical device with improved optical characteristics at low temperatures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a detector arrangement for the conversion of electromagnetic radiation into electrical signals. The detector arrangement includes sensitive areas (D1, D2, D3, D4), where each sensitive area corresponds to a respective electrical signal, and at least two of the sensitive areas mesh with one another in such a manner that non-overlapping envelopes (C1, C2, C3, C4) of the individual meshing sensitive areas also mesh with one another.

Abstract: A wireless link module comprises a lower band antenna (LBA) and a higher band antenna (HBA). Each of these antennas comprises an antenna element (AE) with a feeding end (FE) and an open end (OE). The respective antenna elements (AE1, AE3) are substantially capacitively coupled. In addition, the respective antenna elements (AE1, AE3) are electrically coupled at the respective feeding ends (FE1, FE3) via an antenna coupling short (VC1).

Abstract: A passive processing device (D) is adapted to be interfaced in a full integrated way on at least a first audio signal path defined between a first audio signal source and an audio signal processing means of an electronic device, such as a mobile communication device. This device (D) comprises a first protection means (DE11; DE12) for rejecting electrostatic discharges on the first path, a first rejection means (CR11, R11; CR12) for rejecting radio signals at least in a chosen frequency band on the first path, and a first AC-coupling means (CC1) for interfacing voltage levels between the first audio signal source and the audio signal processing means.