Abstract: A method for evaluating the depth of a pixel in a scene, the scene enclosed in a view volume, the scene to be rendered from a camera position, the view volume having a near and a far plane, includes calculating a depth value for a pixel in the scene, the depth value being generated by a depth function of view distance within the view volume from the camera position, and storing the depth value in a floating-point format, the floating-point format including a mantissa and exponent, where, as the distance of the pixel to the far plane decreases, the absolute magnitude of the depth value generated by the depth function approaches the minimum non-negative number representable by the floating-point format.

Abstract: Methods for reducing cavitation in impulse or drop on demand ink jetting devices are provided. Impulse ink jet compositions comprising antioxidant are also provided which are suitable for printing clear, well-defined alphanumeric text or low spread, narrow bar width bar codes on porous substrates such as Kraft paper or corrugated cardboard. The ink compositions preferably comprise from about 20 to 50 percent by weight of a carbon black dispersion, from about 10 to 20 percent by weight of a dispersion medium, from about 40 to 60 percent by weight of a plasticizer and less than 2% of an antioxidant additive. The antioxidant additive lowers the dissolve oxygen level in the ink, thereby enhancing the jetting perfomance of the printhead.

Abstract: A method for interpolating a pixel during the deinterlacing of a video signal, the video signal including at least two fields of interlaced scan lines, each scan line including a series of pixels having respective intensity values, includes generating a motion value representative of the motion between successive frames about the pixel, detecting an edge direction about the pixel, performing an edge adaptive interpolation at the pixel, using the detected edge direction, and performing a motion adaptive interpolation at the pixel, using the generated motion value.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and system for improved user access control to an Object Oriented Database (OODB) based on property level security. Property level access control specifies who can access each piece of information within an object of an OODB. Embodiments of the present invention include a database comprising at least one object, the object containing at least one property and a property access control list comprising at least one property level permissions set. The property access control list may be used to control user access at the property level of an OODB. The present invention may further include a group access list including the identity of groups that have access to the property.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, server/computer and data structure for reducing the overhead of dynamically linking attribute values across objects and minimizing memory requirements for storing cloned objects by utilizing a process of generating at least two Complex Objects, each having at least one Component Object, wherein each of said Complex Objects shares at least one Component Object with another Complex Object. By using a combination of Tailored Server and class methods (for construction, property access, copy, clone, delete, etc.) in handling the Complex Objects, the present invention hides the multiple Component Object complexity from the user and manages the generation and modification of Complex Objects including object schema definition and object instantiation. Thus, for example, Complex Object cloning permits a concomitant change for a common core property value to be accomplished for all clones that share the Shared Component Object.

Abstract: Impulse ink jet compositions are provided which are suitable for printing clear, well-defined alphanumeric text or low spread, narrow bar width bar codes on porous substrates such as Kraft paper or corrugated cardboard. In one embodiment, the ink compositions preferably comprise from about 20 to 50 percent by weight of a carbon black dispersion, from about 10 to 20 percent by weight of a dispersion medium, from about 40 to 60 percent by weight of a plasticizer and optionally an antioxidant additive. The antioxidant additive lowers the dissolved oxygen level in the ink, thereby enhancing the jetting performance of the printhead.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for arranging and presenting situational awareness information on a computer display screen using maps and/or other situational awareness information so that greater amounts of relevant information can be presented to a user within the confines of the limited area on small computer screen displays. The map display layout for a screen display utilizes multiple, independent map displays arranged on a computer screen in order to maximize situational awareness information and display that information efficiency. By displaying single or multiple maps in a plurality of range bands arranged along the peripheral area of a display screen, wasted screen area is minimized. The ability to independently scale with respect to distance, time and velocity, as well as zoom and pan each map on the screen display further improves the display presentation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image/video enhancement system and method for transmission of the image/video. The system processes an image before transmission using a pre-processor and then de-processes it after transmission using a post-processor. The pre-processor increases the compression ratio of the compression scheme used by the transmission system without losing image quality. The post-processor restores the transmitted image to a high-quality image.

Abstract: A chair includes a leg unit with left and right sides, and a generally L-shaped seat member connected pivotally to the leg unit and swingable about a horizontal axis. The seat member has left and right sides. A seat-tilting mechanism includes a pair of movable plates disposed respectively, vertically and movably on the left and right sides of the leg unit and connected fixedly to each other. Each of the movable plates has an upper edge which is formed with a row of pin notches that are arranged one behind another. An aligned pair of engaging pins is mounted respectively and fixedly to the left and right sides of the seat member. A biasing unit biases the movable plates upward so as to engage a selected one of the notches in each of the movable plates with a respective one of the pins, thereby positioning the seat member with respect to the leg unit.

Abstract: A high chair includes a foldable frame having a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs, a seat and a backrest mounted on the frame between the front legs and between the rear legs, and a pair of pivotal coupler devices, each of which is connected to one of the front legs and one of the rear legs. Each of the coupler devices includes first and second casing halves respectively having substantially circular opposite base walls which are connected pivotally to two opposite ends of a pivot shaft, and which respectively have peripheral flanges substantially extending circumferentially. The peripheral flanges extend toward and overlap one another. The peripheral flange of the first casing half includes a first slot and a second slot which is spaced from the first slot in an angular direction relative to the pivot shaft. A spring-loaded button is mounted on the base wall of the second casing half, and has a button head biased to extend radially and outwardly of a respective one of the peripheral flanges.

Abstract: A framework of magnet pods and beams or strongbacks can be quickly and easily assembled to plug a leak in a ferromagnetic container wall. The magnet pods are located on either side of the leak. One or more beams extend between the magnet pods. Each magnet pod has a yoke with plural holes therethrough. The yoke loosely receives the beam. Each beam has lines of holes therethrough all along the beam length. The plurality of holes in the yokes and beams simplifies the alignment of at least one set of holes between the yoke and beam, wherein a pin is inserted to couple the beam to the magnet pod. A clamp is pinned to the beam so as to be adjacent to the leak. The clamp is tightened to exert removable pressure on a patch over the leak.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for preventing clogging in impulse inkjet printers. It has been found in accordance with the invention that ink clogging during quiescent periods can be prevented by providing an ink that has the property of forming a barrier of higher viscosity ink where the ink contacts the ambient air. As a result, the viscous barrier shields the remaining ink from the effects of air exposure during the quiescent period. Thereafter, the barrier is removed by a series of sub-pulses that re-homogenize the viscosity barrier and clear the nozzle.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the depth of a pixel in a scene, the scene enclosed in a view volume, the scene to be rendered from a camera position, the view volume having a near and a far plane, includes calculating a depth value for a pixel in the scene, the depth value being generated by a depth function of view distance within the view volume from the camera position, and storing the depth value in a floating-point format, the floating-point format including a mantissa and exponent, where, as the distance of the pixel to the far plane decreases, the absolute magnitude of the depth value generated by the depth function approaches the minimum non-negative number representable by the floating-point format.

Abstract: An impulse fluid jet apparatus having pulse generating circuitry for an impulse jet. The circuitry generates driving a longer pulse exciting the resonant frequency of the jet and a shorter pulse for exciting a higher harmonic frequency of the jet. The longer pulse changes the state of energization of the transducer in the jet to eject a droplet of fluid and the shorter pulse changes the state of energization so as to break off the tail of the droplet.

Abstract: A method for removing salt and water from a fish meal production process stream without sacrificing fish protein solids that are to be recovered as final product. Fish oil and fish protein solids are allowed to separate from water in the process streams, allowing for the removal of water and dissolved salt without the removal of substantial amounts of fish protein solids.

Abstract: A controller card is provided that allows the processing and display of two types of graphics pixel data for display in two environments. The card contains a first graphics controller chip coupled to the video capture port of a second graphics controller chip. In a first mode the first chip may generate graphics pixel data for display in a first environment. The pixel data is stored in the memory of the second chip reserved for graphics pixel data and transmitted to a display device coupled to the second chip. In a second mode, the video capture port may be coupled to a video source so that data captured in the video port is stored in the memory of the chip reserved for video pixel data. The second chip may then process and output to the display device both video pixel data and a second type of graphics pixel data generated by the second chip and stored in the memory of the second chip reserved for graphics pixel data.

Abstract: A method for forming a mouth guard and apparatus for anatomically conforming the impression material to a user's mouth and teeth. Polyvinyl siloxane base putty is combined in equal parts with polyvinyl siloxane catalyst putty until a uniform amalgam is formed by kneading and mixing. The mass is then formed into a roll of about three inches in length having a thicker center and extended and tapering ends with a one-inch diameter at the center and approximately half-inch diameters at the ends. A bite bar having a lateral handle is pressed through the center of the mass to form grasping means by which the putty-mass-and-bite-bar, or mouth-guard, assembly may be easily handled. A shield (that may have prongs) on the bite bar serves to support and obstruct the passage of the putty mass. Curving the putty mass about the shield and optional prongs serves to conform the putty mass to the anatomical curvature of a user's teeth.

Abstract: A rigid ultrasonic radiating plate system assembly designed for fastening to bottom/planes of an ultrasonic cleaning tank. As an initial sub-assembly, the plate has selected threaded bolts/studs which are fitted/welded in a pattern perpendicular to the bottom of the plate. This plate sub-assembly component is fitted through the selected tank plane (bottom/wall), by simultaneously matching the entire bolt/stud hole pattern through to the outside of the tank and on the inside of the tank against the surface of the bottom/wall.

Abstract: A security barrier apparatus suitable for use in residential, farm and industrial settings includes a motor, a chain and a brake mechanism for engaging the chain. The apparatus is mounted to a first support such as a post. The chain extends from the first support to a second spaced support and is raised and lowered relative to the ground by operation of the motor. The motor may be remotely actuated by an electronic transmitter. The apparatus further includes protective features to prevent damage to the motor in the event that a vehicle collides with the chain.

Abstract: Video information is simultaneously generated for presentation on multiple displays by a display system including a video memory having a plurality of addressable storage locations, each storage location providing for the storage of data representing a component of an independent displayable image and a video controller providing a plurality of output display control and data signals connectable to a respective plurality of video displays. The video controller accesses the video memory in a predetermined addressing pattern so as to access a sequence of the components corresponding to a plurality of the independent displayable images. The video controller, in turn, generates the plurality of output display control and data signals whereby the sequence of the components provided by way of each of the plurality of the output display control and data signals corresponds to a respective one of the independent displayable images.