Abstract: A protective case or mounting device for a portable digital media device includes a first and a second snap fit cavity adapted to receive and selectively retain a first and a second protrusion element, respectively, associated with any of various accessory mounting or position retention elements. Connection between respective protrusions and snap fit cavities is made by depressible insertion. A portable digital media device may thus be removably engaged to various positioning elements without requiring the device to be removed from a protective case.

Abstract: A docking assembly serves as an interface between (1) a portable digital media storage and playback (PDMSP) device, and (2) a media reproduction system. A remote controller preferably controls the docking assembly and PDMSP device, which may receive electric charge from the assembly. Media reproduction systems may reproduce audio and video signals in user-perceptible form. Telephonic relay capability is further provided between a telephonic PDMSP playback device and a telephonic remote controller by way of a telephone rebroadcast receiver associated with the docking assembly. Methods for downloading digital media files, and for creating or modifying playlists with a remotely controllable docking assembly adapted to provide a television-compatible video output signal, are further provided.

Abstract: A retrofit kit is configured for a single or multiple tubular fluorescent lamp fixture. The original fixture being retrofitted may or may not have any reflectors. The kit includes a new improved reflector with double concave wings. The winged reflector preferably has a central arched, preferably trapezoidal portion which forms the lower cover of the fixture box. This central trapezoidal portion includes an access door to permit access to the ballast without the need to remove the winged reflector once it is installed. An arched, preferably trapezoidal socket bar is installed at each end of the fixture, to lower the position of the lamp with respect to the winged reflector surfaces, to enhance the light distribution in a downward direction while permitting enhanced up-lighting. The distal ends of the trapezoidal central portion of the reflector mate with the trapezoidal socket bars at opposite ends of the fixture.

Abstract: A method for removing motion artifacts from devices for sensing bodily parameters and apparatus and system for effecting same that includes analyzing segments of measured data representing bodily parameters and possibly noise from motion artifacts. Each data segment is frequency analyzed to determine up to three candidate peaks for further analysis. Up to three candidate frequencies may be filtered and various parameters associated with each candidate frequency are calculated. A pulse-estimate input may also be accepted from an external source. The best frequency, if one exists, is determined by arbitrating the candidate frequencies and the pulse-estimate input using the calculated parameters according to predefined criteria. If a best frequency is found, a pulse rate and SpO2 may be output. If a best frequency is not found, other, conventional techniques for calculating pulse rate and SpO2 may be used.

Abstract: A hatch is provided for a fluorescent lighting fixture having a continuous reflector covering the central section. The hatch is covered by a cover of compatible contour cut through the reflector underneath the location of the ballast in the housing above the reflector. The hatch cover is finished in the same surface as that of the reflector to minimize any disruption to the intended reflective pattern and to blend visually with the reflector. Two or more preferably quick-connect fasteners attach the hatch cover to the reflector. To gain access to the ballast, the lens or diffuser is removed and then the fluorescent lamp tubes which would interfere with the hatch cover are removed. The hatch cover is then removed to gain unobstructed access to the ballast from the underside of the fixture.

Abstract: For use in a video signal processor, there is disclosed a system and method for locating program boundaries and commercial boundaries using audio categories. The system comprises an audio classifier controller that obtains information concerning the audio categories of the segments of an audio signal. Audio categories include such categories as silence, music, noise and speech. The audio classifier controller determines the rates of change of the audio categories. The audio classifier controller then compares each rate of change of the audio categories with a threshold value to locate the boundaries of the programs and commercials. The audio classifier controller is also capable of classifying at least one feature of an audio category change rate using a multifeature classifier to locate the boundaries of the programs and commercials.

Abstract: A Web-based authentication system and method, the system comprising at least one Web client station, at least one Web server station and an authentication center. The Web client station is linked to a Web cloud, and provides selected biometric data of an individual who is using the Web client station. The Web server station is also linked to the Web cloud. The authentication center is linked to at least one of the Web client and Web server stations so as to receive the biometric data. The authentication center, having records of one or more enrolled individuals, provides for comparison of the provided data with selected records.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the heat of an ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. In the presently preferred embodiments, the system and method controls the temperature of the transducer by changing operating system parameters based on feedback from temperature sensing elements placed in the transducer. The chosen mutable system parameters may be preset by the construction of the ultrasonic system, under the control of the ultrasonic system user, or a combination of the two. In several exemplary embodiments, the one or more mutable system parameters are altered by an amount proportionate to the difference between the current temperature and a preferred operating temperature. In another exemplary embodiment, the system switches to a lower power imaging mode when the temperature feedback indicates a threshold temperature has been reached.

Abstract: A server system maintains a user profile of a particular end-user of consumer electronics network-enabled equipment and a data base of new technical features for this type of equipment. If there is a match between the user-profile and a new technical feature, and the user indicates to receive information about updates or sales offers, the user gets notified via the network of the option to obtain the feature.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coding video includes constructing motion-compensated extended base layer reference frames from base layer frames and at least portions of base layer residual image frames. The motion-compensated extended base layer reference frames are used for bi-directionally or uni-directionally predicting FGS motion-compensated residual image or temporal frames.

Abstract: Electronic image displays. of lists that extend beyond the vertical display dimension of the display screen, are displaced in the vertical direction by touching the screen with a finger and then moving the finger in the desired direction on the screen. In a natural manner, the initial speed of displacement of the displayed image corresponds to the speed of motion of the finger along the screen. When the user's finger is disengaged from the screen, the system senses the disengagement and thereafter allows the vertical displacement speed of the image to decrease at a controlled rate. When it is desired to stop the motion of the image at a given point, or to make a selection from the displayed image, the system measures the length of time that the finger is in contact with the screen and the distance that the finger is moved during that time, to determine if a selection is desired or if it is desired only to stop displacement of the image.

Abstract: A flat display device, preferably of the PALC type, in which the plasma channels are formed by etching laterally-spaced slots in a spacer plate, attaching a thin dielectric sheet over the etched spacer plate, and bonding the etched spacer plate to a transparent substrate such that each channel is formed by the portion of the substrate between flanking walls formed by the etched slots in the spacer plate, adjacent flanking walls in the spacer plate, and the overlying portion of the thin dielectric sheet. In a modification, strengthening crossbars are formed between adjacent flanking walls.

Abstract: A system and method for virtual clothes modeling includes a unit s for obtaining a virtual image of a particular shopper, a scanner for scanning an identifying token which identifies predetermined information in a database associated with a first article of clothing, a retrieval unit for retrieving from the database a visual display of the predetermined information first article of clothing corresponding to the identifying token, and

Abstract: A single-component Artic Brite phosphor and a low pressure discharge lamp utilizing such a phosphor is provided having a lamp envelope 3 having an inner surface 15, means 5,6,7,9,13 within the lamp envelope for generating ultraviolet radiation; and a layer 17 of a luminescent material adjacent the inner surface of the lamp envelope for generating visible light when impinged by the ultraviolet radiation. The phosphor material is at least one layer of a single-component Artic Brite calcium halophosphate phosphor having CIE color coordinates of X=346 and Y=359 and a CRI of at least 69, preferably a calcium halophosphate having the formula Ca5-x-ySbxMny(PO4)3ClzF1-x-z, wherein x is from about 0.032 to 0.037; y is from about 0.06 to 0.14; and z is about 0.025 to 0.05. The phosphor is derived from low cost, mined calcium carbonate, employing reactants in the following ratios: based on six phosphate atoms) about 0.142 manganese carbonate, about 0.904 calcium fluoride, about 0.

Abstract: A method of forming a co-axial interconnect line in a dielectric layer is provided. The method includes defining a trench in the dielectric layer and then forming a shield metallization layer within the trench. After forming the shield metallization layer, a conformal oxide layer is deposited within the shield metallization layer. A center conductor is then formed within the conformal oxide layer. Once the center conductor is formed, a fill oxide layer is deposited over the center conductor. A cap metallization layer is then formed over the fill oxide layer and is in contact with the shield metallization layer.

Abstract: A camera-based system implements a calibration procedure for determining, for a given system user, calibration information that characterizes the manner in which the user points within the system. The system directs the user to point separately at each point in a set of two or more points at different positions on a display. The system then detects, for each of the points pointed to by the user, a location of a pointing finger of the user in an image generated by each camera in a set of cameras of the system, such that for each of the points the location of the pointing finger and the corresponding point on the display specify a line. The lines associated with the points are then used to compute a reference point or other pointing direction calibration information for the user. The calibration information for the user may be stored with user-identifying information in a database of the system, and is utilized in subsequent pointing direction determinations for that user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of reducing flicker in liquid crystal displays. A light beam modulated by image information organized by frames is produced. In alternating frames, designed as even and odd frames, the light beam is modulated use complementary voltages relative to a common electrode. The difference in the average modulation in the even frames and in the odd frames over time is determined. That difference is used to adjust the potential of the common electrode such that the difference in the average modulation over time becomes zero.

Abstract: An arc lamp illuminator for a projection system includes one or more polarization conversion prisms to laterally spread the arc image. A pair or triplet of projection lenses can be used with mirrors and field lenses to direct the arc image along separate paths to separate polarization conversion prisms to further laterally spread the original arc image. A compact arrangement of the two-path embodiment is enabled by the use of a compound light guide including a pair of arc image-sized input ports, a pair of TIR prisms for directing the arc image along a common path, and a rectangular light guide for guiding the arc images to the polarization conversion system.

Abstract: A method for storing a block of data consisting of N rows and M columns, which includes the step of transposing the block of data by 90° to thereby produce a transposed block of data consisting of M rows and N columns, and, the step of storing the transposed block of data. The transposed block of data is preferably retrieved by using one or more fetch commands, with the number of fetch commands required to retrieve the transposed block of data being less than the number of fetch commands required to retrieve the same data if stored in its original form, thereby reducing memory bandwidth. In a presently contemplated implementation, the block of data is a reference macroblock of decoded MPEG video data that is used in motion compensation operations, and each of the fetch commands is an A×B fetch command, where A represents the number of columns of data and B represents the number of rows of data to be fetched in response thereto, and wherein further, A>B.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a circuit for calibrating out non-linearities in the signal processing path from received digital input data to the analog voltage produced on a data (column) line of the display, and for calibrating out differences between column drivers and column lines in the device. The device receives digital input data and in response thereto generates an analog data voltage to be applied to a column line. The device includes means for generating a precision staircase reference signal, and means for comparing the precision staircase reference signal voltage to the data voltage and in response thereto producing a calibration data error value which is stored in the device. One, or preferably all, columns of the device are calibrated by stepping the digital input data through each value in its operating range and storing the corresponding calibration data error values in memory.