Abstract: An image processing method for extracting a thread-like structure (GW) represented on the background in a digital noisy original image (IM1), comprising steps of acquisition (1) of the original image data; extraction (2) of elementary pixel strings (A1,A2,.) associated in string sets (SA,SB,SC), each of a same threadlike structure, forming a string set image (IM2); operation (4) of a First Phase (Intra-Set Phase) automatically yielding one Best String (A,B,C) per string set (INSI); and/or operation (5) of a Second Phase (Extra-Set Phase) automatically yielding one Final Best String (FBS) by linking Best Strings or elementary strings when the Second Phase is directly carried out (EXSI), for representing the threadlike structure (GW). Application: Medical Imaging; X-ray apparatus with image processing means and display means.

Abstract: An X-ray device and method of improving the quality of an image formed by an X-ray device are provided. The X-ray device comprises a source emitting a beam of X-rays toward an object to be examined. A detector for receiving the X-rays that pass through the object is connected to an image processor. An X-ray collimator comprising a translatable element and at least one aperture for narrowing the beam of X-rays is arranged between the X-ray source and the examined object. A method of improving the quality of an image formed by the X-ray device comprises the steps of narrowing the X-ray beam using the aperture of the collimator, moving the aperture through the X-ray beam to expose the object to be examined to the narrowed X-ray beam, and forming an image of the examined object based upon the highest intensity value received for each pixel of the detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of transmitting teaching materials by means of an electronic data network, wherein a person to be taught is first shown the teaching material on a client computer system. After the teaching material has been displayed, the person to be taught has the possibility of undergoing a test on the displayed teaching material. The invention also describes a computer network with a server computer system as well as a server computer system.

Abstract: A monitoring system for an infant, child, invalid, or other person requiring care uses computer vision and hearing, and inputs of other modalities, to analyze the status of a caretaker and/or cared-for person and its environment. The conditions are classified as normal or alarm conditions and an informative alarm signal is generated which may include records of the vision audio and other inputs. The system also has the ability to solicit responses from the occupants to stimulate a classifiable input to reduce ambiguity in its state signal.

Abstract: A row addressing circuit and method for addressing multiple rows of a visual display in a single cycle. The circuit comprises: a decoder coupled to a plurality of signal lines, wherein the decoder includes a system for decoding a row select address, a first pre-write address and a second pre-write address and selecting three corresponding signals lines during the single cycle; and wherein each of the plurality of signal lines is further coupled to a dedicated set of latches, wherein each set of latches includes a row select latch, a first pre-write latch, and a second pre-write latch.

Abstract: A communication network comprises a head-end and a plurality of network terminations coupled thereto through a shared communication channel, which is accessed by a protocol having one or more dedicated slots wherein upstream data cells are contained, which may collide in a transmission wherein two or more network terminations try to access the shared communication channel practically simultaneously. Herein the protocol is arranged such that the one or more dedicated slots precede the moment whereon the first next downstream transmission is started to be prepared by the head-end. In that case actual information in the dedicated slots can be fed back without substantial delay to the network terminations in order to provide them by return with actual contention information.

Abstract: Disclosed is an iron, comprising an aluminum sole plate which is provided with a coating which is provided by means of a sol-gel process and wherein an intermediate layer is present between the aluminum sole plate and the sol-gel coating. The intermediate layer comprises a porous layer of aluminum oxide. Also described is a method of manufacturing such an iron. The method comprises the steps of providing an aluminum sole plate, applying a porous intermediate layer of aluminum oxide by electrochemical treatment of the aluminum sole plate in an electrolyte comprising a solution of phosphoric acid, and providing a sol-gel coating on the treated sole plate. Furthermore, an aluminum sole plate which is suitable for use in an iron is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a scalable video transcoding method for transcoding an input video signal (103) coded according to MPEG-2 video standard, resulting in four transcoding architectures. Scalability is obtained by means of to switches (120) and (130) determining whether or not reconstruction (118) and motion compensation (128) of the coding error (119) are performed. Each architecture thus defined having a different processing complexity, the overall processing resources available can be optimally used and minimized along a group of frames in the transcoding of parts of said frames in accordance with one of these four architectures, while ensuring a good video quality of tanscoded signal (109). A cost-effective control strategy of said switches based on an energy prediction of said coding error is also proposed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a data processing device (100) for making suggestions to a user (101), the device comprising a detector (110) arranged to detect a condition (115) pertaining to the user of said device, and presentation means (120) for presenting to the user a suggestion to perform an activity in response to the detection of said condition. The device further comprises search means (140) arranged to automatically find media data (141) which provide the user with directions for performing said suggested user activity (131), wherein said presentation means is arranged to present said found media data to the user. The found media data, when presented to the user, elucidate how the user can realize the suggestion. For instance, the device may show to the user a video clip demonstrating how suggested physical exercises may be performed. The invention also relates to a method of making suggestions to the user.

Abstract: A disc drive apparatus (1) capable of reading/writing discs (100; 200) of different sizes comprises: a first rotary drive device (30) for holding and rotating a first-type disc (100) in a first play position; and scanning means (40) for scanning a surface (103) of the rotating first type disc (100) in its play position. The disc drive apparatus (1) further comprises a second rotary drive device (50), arranged opposite the scanning means (40), for holding and rotating a second-type disc (200) in a second play position. Said scanning means (40) are also capable of scanning a surface (203) of the rotating second-type disc (200) in its play position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high-pressure discharge lamp which is suitable in particular for motor vehicle headlights, and which has an improved color point stability close to the black body locus, a high color temperature, and a high luminous efficacy (lm/W). The high-pressure discharge lamp according to the invention comprises an inner vessel with a discharge chamber, with at least two electrodes extending into the discharge chamber, and possibly an outer bulb surrounding the inner vessel, wherein the discharge chamber contains an ionizable filling comprising:—at least one rare gas,—0 mg to 10 mg of mercury, and—a metal halide mixture comprising: * 40 to 80% by weight of sodium halide, * 25 to 55% by weight of scandium halide, * 1 to 15% by weight of indium halide, and * 0 to 34% by weight of thallium halide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for processing video signals, the system comprising a receiver (100) arranged to receive video signals, at least one video frame of which comprises at least one area corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of broadcast data sources. The system comprises a processor (150) arranged to process said video frames to extract at least a part of said area from at least one of said video frames. The frame (200) of a mosaic video signal may comprise one or more small pictures (210) and each of them may render a miniature version of a television program. A detection of edges and a detection of lines can be performed for extracting said area (210) or sub-area (240) from the frame. The television channel, from which the extracted area or sub-area was received or with which it is associated, can be identified. The user is enabled to specify a representation of the extracted area or sub-area on a display screen.

Abstract: A low-pressure gas discharge lamp is described, which is equipped with a gas-discharge vessel containing an inert gas filling as the buffer gas and an indium, thallium and/or copper halide, and with electrodes and with means for generating and maintaining a low-pressure gas discharge, wherein it has, as the electron emitter substance, a mixture of BaO, SrO, CaO and MgO, wherein: a) the molar proportion of BaO is less than 1 percent by weight b) the molar proportion of SrO is less than 10 percent by weight c) the sum of the molar proportions of CaO and MgO is greater than 90 percent by weight, wherein the CaO proportion in the CaO/MgO mixture lies between 10 and 90 percent by weight.

Abstract: A matrix display device comprises cavities (20) having walls at least one of which is covered with a material (24) having a secondary emission coefficient of more than unity. The cavities form a planar arrangement substantially parallel to the display screen which has a phosphor display screen. The cavities are provided with electrodes (21, 215, 217, 5 22, 225, 228) and the display device has a circuit for supplying an oscillating AC voltage (Vr, VRF) to said electrodes (21, 215, 217, 22, 225, 228) for generating electrons within the cavities by secondary emission. The cavities (20) have apertures (25) facing the screen (41), and the display device has a circuit for selectively letting electrons generated within the cavities pass said apertures and accelerating electrons having passed said apertures to the phosphor display screen.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high-pressure gas-discharge lamp, having at least one gastight fused press-seal between a glasslike material and molybdenum, wherein the molybdenum in the fused press-seal is at least partly exposed to an oxidizing environment and at least that part of the molybdenum that is exposed to the oxidizing environment is covered with a coating, and the coating comprises at least one oxide from among Fe2O3, Ta2O5, Nb2O5, Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, ZrO2, HfO2, and/or one nitride from among TiN, ZrN, HfN, AlN, BN, and/or one carbide from among TiC, ZrC, HfC, VC, NbC, TaC, B4C.

Abstract: The invention relates to producing an optical memory which combines stability of written and non-written data with high writing speed and good sensitivity during writing, such an optical memory as well as a method of writing in such a memory. The optical memory has a liquid crystal (LC) layer with a first type of LC molecules (102) aligned in one direction, forming a polymer network (108), and a second type of LC molecules (104) oriented in a perpendicular direction, in which the orientation of said second type of LC molecules is meta-stable. By making use of a force, exerted on the second type of LC molecules (104), by the network of aligned crosslinked molecules, an increase in relaxation rate for the second type of molecules (104) from a meta-stable state of orientation, is achieved, which makes it possible to use said relaxation for writing data at an increased writing rate.

Abstract: A controller (30) is capable of operating in two possible operative modes, each mode having a corresponding characteristic (11; 12). Said characteristics have an overlap in a range of error signal values [TLL-TN]. The controller is capable of switching from one mode to another, based on the value of the time-derivative (( ) of the input error signal (e), so that, for a certain input error signal within said range [TLL-TN], the controller can be in any of its modes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of differentiating specific content in a web page displayed by a display device (109). The method comprises the steps of identifying (105) content in said web page with identification parameters comprised by a predefined set of identification parameters and of transmitting (107) information about said identified content to said display device (109). The display device (109) is adapted for displaying the content according to the information in a way, which differentiates the content from other content in the web page.

Abstract: The invention regards an improved voltage converter with increased current capability. The voltage converter architecture may be configured by software. In the prior art programmable charge pumps have been configured in such a way, that the unused stages were simply short circuited by a decoding logic. According to the invention these stages are used to increase the current capability of the first pumping stage. In particular the result is an increase in current capability of a proposed charge pump device by 10% to 15% without the need of additional parts and within the same area.