Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a smoothing processing unit which performs smoothing processing, a thinning processing unit which performs thinning processing, an edge direction determination unit which determines an edge direction with respect to each pixel of the image data and a blending processing unit which decides a pixel value of each pixel of when the thinning processing and the smoothing processing are realized at same time. In the image processing apparatus, the blending processing unit decides a pixel value of a target pixel of when the thinning processing and the smoothing processing are realized at the same time depending on a combination of whether the thinning processing is performed or not and whether the smoothing processing is performed or not on the target pixel.

Abstract: The OSS provides unique and automated provisioning, activation, fallout management and monitoring of SONET and WDM networks comprising control plane mesh and traditional SONET/WDM Rings/Chains. Resource discovery and dynamic provisioning provides for increased use of network bandwidth. It is possible both all control plane networks and mixed control plane and traditional networks. Network connections or the network topology may be accomplished in a hop-by-hop manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition, method and apparatus for determining the sequence of a nucleic acid strand utilizing a pH-sensing agent.

Abstract: A method and system of load balancing application server resources operating in a distributed set of servers is described. In a representative embodiment, the set of servers comprise a region of a content delivery network. Each server in the set typically includes a server manager process, and an application server on which edge-enabled applications or application components are executed. As service requests are directed to servers in the region, the application servers manage the requests in a load-balanced manner, and without any requirement that a particular application server spawned on-demand.

Abstract: An apparatus used in video encoding comprising a processor configured to generate a prediction block for a current block, compute a difference between the current block and the prediction block to generate a residual block, wherein the residual block comprises a plurality of residual values, and if the plurality of residual values include at least one non-zero residual value comprising at least one sign and at least one residual level, perform entropy encoding on the at least one sign; and perform entropy encoding on the at least one residual level, wherein one non-residual value comprises one sign and one residual level.

Abstract: A method is provided for compensating for impairment of an electrical signal output from a device under test (DUT), the impairment resulting from an impairment network. The method includes measuring an impaired electrical signal received at an electronic analyzer via the impairment network; applying a coded pulse sequence to the impairment network; estimating an impairment transfer function corresponding to the impairment based on the applied pulse sequence; and correcting the measured electrical signal using the impairment transfer function to determine the electrical signal output from the DUT.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling multiple displays is provided. The disclosed method is used to control a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs), wherein every GPU controls one or more displays. The method includes the following steps: providing a graphical interface the same to a graphical program library of an operating system to replace the graphical program library to receive a drawing command from an application program; determining a display set of the GPUs according to a display region of the application program, wherein a frame displayed by the display controlled by each GPU is intersected to the display region; and delivering coordinate-transformed drawing commands to the GPUs in the display set according to the display intersection region, wherein each GPU in the display set only draws the content of the corresponding display intersection region.

Abstract: A fluid pumping device includes a piezoelectric actuator externally coupled to a microfluidic device. The piezoelectric actuator has an axial displacement along a lengthwise axis responsive to application of a bias voltage. The axial displacement of the piezoelectric actuator operates one of an internal valve and an internal pump chamber of the microfluidic device.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a processor configured to receive a current block of a video frame, and determine a coding mode for the current block based on only a bit rate cost function, wherein the coding mode is selected from a plurality of available coding modes, and wherein calculation of the bit rate cost function does not consider distortion of the current block.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for tail termination are provided that include a decoder that includes a processor configured to a forward state metric and a backward state metric wherein each iteration of an initial state of the backward state metric is fetched from a memory and is pre-computed without feedback from a decoding iteration. Each decoding iteration is substantially identical, and the backward state metric that is pre-computed is used for a subsequent iteration. The decoder may include a turbo decoder or a radix-4 decoder.

Abstract: A method for depositing a coating comprising a polymer and pharmaceutical agent on a substrate, comprising the following steps: discharging at least one pharmaceutical agent in a therapeutically desirable morphology in dry powder form through a first orifice; discharging at least one polymer in dry powder form through a second orifice; depositing the polymer and/or pharmaceutical particles onto said substrate, wherein an electrical potential is maintained between the substrate and the pharmaceutical and/or polymer particles, thereby forming said coating; and sintering said coating under conditions that do not substantially modify the morphology of said pharmaceutical agent.

Abstract: A bi-optical, dual window, point-of-transaction workstation images indicia associated with multi-sided products by splitting the field of view of each imager into a plurality of subfields that simultaneously extend through each window over regions of the product. A plurality of energizable illuminators, one for each subfield, illuminates each subfield with illumination light over an adjustable illumination time. The illumination light returned from the indicia in each subfield is captured along respective optical paths from each window to each imager. A plurality of exposure sensors, one for each subfield, and located externally of each imager, senses the returned illumination light in each subfield. A controller energizes each illuminator to illuminate each subfield, deenergizes each illuminator when the returned illumination light sensed by the respective exposure sensors exceeds a threshold, and processes the captured illumination light in at least one of the subfields.

Abstract: Embodiments of a process for forming a photodetector region in a CMOS pixel by dopant implantation, the process comprising masking a photodetector area of a surface of a substrate for formation of the photodetector region, positioning the substrate at a plurality of twist angles, and at each of the plurality of twist angles, directing dopants at the photodetector area at a selected tilt angle. Embodiments of a CMOS pixel comprising a photodetector region formed in a substrate, the photodetector region comprising overlapping first and second dopant implants, wherein the overlap region has a different dopant concentration than the non-overlapping parts of the first and second implants, a floating diffusion formed in the substrate, and a transfer gate formed on the substrate between the photodetector and the transfer gate. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating implantable medical devices, preferably with PEEK, having antimicrobial properties, are disclosed. The antimicrobial effect is produced by incorporating ceramic particles containing antimicrobial metal cations into molten PEEK resin, which is subsequently allowed to cool and set in its final shape achieved by injection molding, cutting and machining or other techniques.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods and apparatus for increasing the efficiency of a photovoltaic module. In one aspect, an apparatus includes an array of photovoltaic cells. One or more reflective surfaces can be provided along the edges of the array, between the edges of the array and the frame. The reflective surfaces can extend in a direction from the back of the array toward the front of the array so as to reflect light exiting the first and second edges of the array back into the array through the first and second edges. The reflective surface can be convex and/or can be disposed at one or more angles with respect to the array. The angles can be selected based on a selected geographical latitude and a corresponding selected orientation of the array relative to the sun.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head is fabricated with a multi-level tapered write pole. The write pole comprises a main pole with a tapered tip on a leading edge or a trailing edge, on which is formed at least one yoke that has a tapered edge. The edge of the yoke is recessed from the ABS of the main pole, giving the head a stepped profile. The yoke can be a single yoke formed on one side of the main pole or it can be two yokes formed on both the leading and trailing sides of the main pole. The write pole structure creates an efficient channeling of magnetic flux to the ABS surface of the pole tip which produces magnetic recording field at high area densities.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first semiconductor device including a NAND flash memory core. The apparatus also includes a second semiconductor device including periphery circuitry associated with the NAND flash memory core.

Abstract: A method and system is described for removing contamination from a conductive particulate matter sensor. The sensor has a substrate with two electrodes on the substrate configured to collect particulate matter between the electrodes, thereby establishing an electrically conductive path through collected particulate matter between the electrodes that can be detected by measuring electrical resistance between the electrodes. The method includes heating the sensor to a first temperature for a first duration of time, wherein the first temperature and first time are sufficient to remove collected particulate matter from the sensor. The method further includes heating the sensor to a second temperature for a second duration of time, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature, to remove contaminants that cannot be removed by heating to the first temperature for the first duration of time.

Abstract: A method in a network device for providing end-to-end connection in a unified optical and coax network, comprising receiving at an integrated node device (IND) a frame from an optical line terminal (OLT), wherein the frame comprises a data frame and a logical link identifier (LLID), and placing the data in a one of a plurality of buffers based on the LLID, wherein the one of the plurality of buffers corresponds to a customer premises equipment (CPE) associated with the LLID, wherein the data frame stays intact in a media access control (MAC) layer.

Abstract: A blower air suction device of a motor vehicle air conditioner includes a blower with a vertical arrangement consisting of a blower motor, a blower rotor, and a blower opening, wherein the blower is ensheathed by a blower scroll, and an air inlet housing with a fresh air opening formed in a front wall and with an ambient air opening. The installation of blower is suspended, that is, with the blower rotor under the blower motor, and the air inlet housing is arranged in the process beneath the blower.