Abstract: It is known to represent a square block of an image which has a maximum horizontal or vertical extension N as N vectors each representing one column or row, and encode it using an N×N discrete cosine transform matrix. We introduce a technique which transforms an input vector, or array, representing a portion of an arbitrarily-shaped object block in which the maximum horizontal or vertical extension is at most N, by adding to it additional padding elements, to produce a vector or array which can be encoded using an N×N discrete cosine transform. The padding maximises the number of transformed elements which are zero. We propose encoding arbitrarily-shaped objects based on this padding technique.

Abstract: The present invention provides the conditions for new bistable twisted nematic liquid crystal displays, in particular the necessary twist angles, liquid crystal retardation values, input and output polarizer angles, for both transmissive and reflective liquid crystal displays.

Abstract: A phototransistor comprises a layer having two n-type semiconductor regions which constitute an emitter region and a collector region, and which sandwich a lightly doped p-type base region. In operating conditions the base region is completely depleted leading to punchthrough, and generation of high optical conversion gain when the phototransistor is illuminated. The base region and part of the emitter and collector regions are covered with an oxide layer. The phototransistor can be fabricated by CMOS processing technology, so very large scale integrated circuits can be fabricated comprising a large number of the phototransistors.

Abstract: We propose modifying the error-diffusion method for transforming a grey-scale image into a halftone image, so that binary data is hidden in the resulting halftone image. Simultaneously, a second halftone image is generated by error diffusion, not storing the hidden data. The hidden binary data is typically a binary image, and the dark regions of this binary image can be seen when the two halftone images are overlaid.

Abstract: A frequency divider circuit is disclosed that generates output signals having a frequency substantially half of the frequency of the input signal. The circuit comprises two D-Flip-Flop circuits wherein one employs the said input signal and the other one employs the complement of the said input signal, and each of the two D-Flip-Flop circuits consists of a pair of loading transistors, two regenerative pairs coupled with each others, and two common-gate switches.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for preparing photo-patterned mono- or polychromatic, polarizing films. The polarizer can be pixelated into a number of small regions wherein some of the regions have one orientation of the principal neutral or color absorbing axis; and some other of the said regions have another orientation of the principal neutral or color absorbing axis. The axis orientation is determined by the polarization vector of actinic radiation and the multi-axes orientation is possible by a separated masked exposure. This polarizer can be placed on the interior substrate surface of the LCD cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated electronic microphone formed as part of a semiconductor device, and a manufacturing method therefor. The microphone is formed with a sensing electrode as part of a sensing membrane, and the sensing electrode is connected to the gate of a sensing transistor to provide an output. The microphone may be operated in constant bias or constant charge mode.

Abstract: A method is proposed for converting a multicolor image in which each pixel has a color intensity value for only a single color, into a full color image. For pixels for which the intensity value of a first color is known, the intensity value of a second (missing) color is interpolated as the intensity value of the first color multiplied by the local average intensity of the second color and divided by the local average intensity of the first color. Each of the intensity values of the first and second color values is determined over a set of nearest neighboring pixels. The smoothing artifact produced by the proposed method is much less than some known algorithms described above, but the computational complexity of the proposed method is low.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for measuring the resistivity of a sample of cement-based material. A transformer is formed with a primary coil, a secondary formed by means of a sample of said cement-based material, means for supplying a voltage to said primary, means for measuring the voltage induced in said sample, and means for measuring the current induced in said sample. The resistance of the sample can be measured and thus the resistivity of the concrete sample can be calculated.

Abstract: Three measuring methods and apparatus for determining the twist angle (&phgr;) and retardation value (d&Dgr;n) of any twisted nematic liquid crystal (LC) cell are disclosed. These methods make use of a monochromatic light source such as a laser beam. Twist angle and retardation values an be obtained by data fitting using data obtained by adjusting only the polarizes and the LC cell orientation. No retardation wave-plate is needed.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for preparing photo-patterned mono- or polychromatic, polarizing films. The polarizer can be pixelated into a number of small regions wherein some of the regions have one orientation of the principal neutral or color absorbing axis; and some other of the said regions have another orientation of the principal neutral or color absorbing axis. The axis orientation is determined by the polarization vector of actinic radiation and the multi-axes orientation is possible by a separated masked exposure. This polarizer can be placed on the interior substrate surface of the LCD cell.

Abstract: UV detectors comprising undoped Zn1-xMgxS as the UV responsive active material. Where x exceeds 0.3 the thickness of the active material must be below a critical value, for example if 0.30<x<1.00, and the active material is formed as a layer of a thickness t wherein 5000 Å≧t≧100 Å. A particularly preferred combination of x and thickness is x=0.57 and t≦1400 Å because at around these values the UV response of the active material is similar to the UV response of human skin.

Abstract: A data transmission system is proposed, for example for video-on-demand, internet or multimedia applications, in which a number of subscribers in a building are connected to a central server through at least in part twisted pair cables within the building. Compensation for the channel distortion caused by the use of twisted pair cables is provided by the use of pre-emphasis filters in the outgoing data lines from the server. The required coefficients for the pre-emphasis filters are established by first characterizing the distortion properties of a channel by the use of a test signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chemical compositions of synthetic dyes and a fabrication process for the photo-induced alignment of liquid crystals. The compositions and methods of the invention are applicable to lateral field driven LCDs such as the In-plane Switching mode. A method of alignment using a multiple wavelengths light source is disclosed. This is a non-contact technique to align liquid crystals so that the particulates and static charges generated by the rubbing process can be eliminated. A synthetic dye film is exposed to a linearly polarized or non-polarized light. Due to photoisomerization, conformational molecular change occurs, and the isomer orientation is no longer random but becomes anisotropic. This in turn gives rise to a homogeneous anisotropic orientation of the liquid crystal molecules.

Abstract: A phase locked loop wherein the voltage controlled oscillator is controlled by the output of a phase comparison circuit through a split loop filter. The oscillator has two varactors in parallel in its tuning circuit. The first branch of the loop filter includes an integrator filter generating a first error voltage and the second branch includes a low pass filter generating a second error voltage. The first error voltage controls one varactor and the second error voltage controls the other varactor. As a result the error voltages are effectively summed in the capacitance domain to obviate the need for a dedicated error voltage adder and to allow the total capacitance required in the loop filter to be reduced while still retaining an adequate signal to noise ratio in the filter.

Abstract: The invention relates to dimeric compounds comprising two 5-amino-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoline fragments joined together by a divalent linking group, processes for their preparation, intermediates for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing such dimeric compounds and the use of such compounds as cholinesterase inhibitors and in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's Disease and myasthenia gravis.

Abstract: Blind channel equalization methods, receivers and systems incorporating the same for use in a multiple-input, multiple-output, (MIMO) wireless communication system are described. Signal equalization is achieved by devising a characteristic system convolution matrix and algebraically operating on said convolution matrix by equalizing functions generated from second order statistics of the received signals. Such equalization is done with an aim to removing or suppressing inter-symbol interference elements from the received signals to enable satisfactory signal recovery. The described methods, systems and receivers, have the benefits of retaining the speed and processing power efficiency of equalization algorithms based on second order statistics while substantially insensitive to the accuracy of channel order estimates.

Abstract: A CMOS reference voltage generating circuit is described that produces a reference voltage by taking the difference between the gate-source voltages of two p-type and n-type CMOS transistors operating in the saturation region, one of the gate-source voltages being multiplied by a gain factor. Different circuits are described for situations where the n- or p-type transistors have the greater temperature dependence.

Abstract: Novel C3-substituted cyclodeca-1,5-diynes can be prepared through novel synthetic procedures using starting (E)-C3-substituted-4-(aryl- or heteroarylmethylidene)cyclodeca-1,5-diynes reagents. Both the C3-substituted cyclodeca-1,5-diyn-3-enes and the starting reagents have improved thermal stability compared to unsubstituted counterparts.

Abstract: Two articles are compared to detect differences by forming images of the two articles and then viewing said images in respective eyes. This forms a superimposed image and any differences between the two articles are visible as a three-dimensional element to the image by the stereoscopic effect. The method may be used to compare a product with a master to detect any errors, or may for example be used to compare fingerprints or for DNA matching. Three dimensional or remote articles can likewise be compared by viewing and comparing camera-caught images of the articles rather than the articles themselves.