Abstract: An active matrix electroluminescent display device has an array of current—driven electroluminescent display elements (20), for example comprising organic electroluminescent material, whose operations are each controlled by an associated switching means (10) to which a drive signal for determining a desired light output is supplied in a respective address period and which is arranged to drive the display element according to the drive signal following the address period. Each switching means comprises a current mirror circuit (24, 25, 30, 32) which samples and stores the drive signal with one transistor (24) of the circuit controlling the drive current through the display element (20) and having its gate connected to a storage capacitance (30) on which a voltage determined by the drive signal is stored. Through the use of current mirror circuits improved uniformity of light outputs from the display elements in the array is obtained.

Abstract: For a possible flexible adaptation to changing ambient conditions, a circuit arrangement comprising an integrated circuit in which a microprocessor is provided which controls an index generator provided in the integrated circuit for teletext and/or on-screen display functions and which performs control functions of a television apparatus by means of a control interface provided in the integrated circuit is characterized in that a storage interface for a read-only memory outside the integrated circuit is provided in the integrated circuit, and in that the read-only memory comprises at least a part of the program code for the microprocessor and at least a font for the teletext function and possible further index functions.

Abstract: In the known method, a semiconductor element (1) is provided with two connecting conductors (2, 3) by arranging, preferably a large number of elements (1) between first and a second conductive plate (5, 6), the two connecting conductors (2, 3) secured at the upper surface and lower surface of an element (1) being formed from the two plates (5, 6). The first connecting conductor (5) is formed from a part (2) of the first plate (5) which borders on an opening (7), and the element (1) is covered with a protective envelope (4). The known method has the drawback that the devices obtained are not always directly suitable for surface mounting. Furthermore, the reliability of the device is sub-optimal.

Abstract: A cellular trench-gate field-effect transistor comprises a field plate (38) on dielectric material (28) in a perimeter trench (18). The dielectric material (28) forms a thicker dielectric layer than the gate dielectric layer (21) in the array trenches (11). The field plate (38) is connected to the source (3) or trench-gate (31) of the transistor and acts inwardly towards the cellular array rather than outwardly towards the body perimeter (15) because of its presence on the inside wall 18a of the trench (18) without acting on any outside wall (18b). The array and perimeter trenches (11,18) are sufficiently closely spaced, and the intermediate areas (4a, 4b) of the drain drift region (4) are sufficiently lowly doped, that the depletion layer (40) formed in the drain drift region (4) in the blocking state of the transistor depletes the whole of these intermediate areas between neighbouring trenches at a voltage less than the breakdown voltage.

Abstract: This invention relates to an image processing method for filtering pixels of an image in a temporal sequence of successive images. At each pixel of the images, spatially smoothed intensities are determined, and the spatially smoothed intensities of a center image are tested relative to the smoothed intensities of its preceding and its succeeding images. If a spatially smoothed central intensity at a pixel substantially deviates from the intensities in the preceding and succeeding images at that pixel, the filtered intensity of that central pixel is assigned as the spatially smoothed intensity of the center image. If not, the filtered intensity of that pixel is assigned as a further temporal filtering of the three spatially smoothed intensities. The invention also relates to an apparatus, in particular a medical x-ray imaging apparatus, for carrying out the image processing method.

Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray tube which includes a device for generating and focusing an electron beam on a target material. In order to avoid the problems of inadmissible heating of the anode while attempting to increase the electron beam density, according to the invention a gaseous target material contained in a chamber is used to generate the X-rays; this target material can be heated to a substantially higher temperature without the anode being damaged.

Abstract: The electric lamp comprises a lamp vessel (1) in which an electric element (2) is arranged. The electric element (2) is connected to feedthroughs (3, 4) that extend through the wall of the lamp vessel (1). The respective feedthroughs (3, 4) comprise a metal shell (7) and an internal current conductor (13) connected thereto. The metal shell (7), which has no knife edge, clamps around the neck-shaped end portion (5, 6) of the lamp vessel (1), hence realizing the gastightness of the feedthrough.

Abstract: Instructions for a processing unit are stored in a number of memory banks, successive instructions being stored in successive, different memory banks. Whenever execution of an instruction is started, the reading of one instruction which will be executed more than one instruction cycle later is also started. Consequently, a plurality of instructions are being read in parallel from different memory banks. After the reading of an instruction, and before starting the execution of the instruction, the instruction passes through a pipeline in which the processing device detects whether the relevant instruction is a branch instruction. If this is so, the processing unit starts the reading in parallel of a number of instructions as from a branch target instruction. If it appears at a later stage that the branch is taken, said number of instructions is loaded into the pipeline in parallel.

Abstract: A CMOS Class F amplifier uses a differential input to eliminate even-order harmonics, thereby avoiding the need for circuits that are tuned to the second harmonic. This also minimizes the sensitivity of the design to changes in the second harmonic frequency and/or the particular component values selected for the tuned circuit. Third-order harmonics are reduced by controlling the phase relationship between the differential inputs. Additional efficiency is achieved by dynamically controlling the impedance of the amplifier as a function of output power level.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a display device, a substrate is provided with a pattern of barrier ribs of frit material by moving a squeegee across a substrate. The barrier ribs extend in a longitudinal direction and have a predefined profile in cross-section which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. A contact portion of the squeegee has grooves which correspond in cross-section to the predefined cross-sectional profile of the barrier ribs.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes a heap memory (HM) containing a plurality of data objects (DO) each accessed by respective pointers originating from programme thread memory stacks (SF). In one embodiment, a garbage collection utility (100) periodically sweeps the heap (HM) and identifies redundant data objects to a free-list (FL) to enable their memory space to be re-used. System requests for memory (AREQ), if they cannot be met by the free list (FL), are stored (ALLIST) to be handled subsequently. As further data objects are marked redundant during sweeping, the space they occupy is first offered to the stored system requests (ALLIST) before being made generally available through the free-list (FL).

Abstract: A capacitive sensing array device, particularly a fingerprint sensing array device, includes an array of sense electrodes covered by a dielectric layer defining a sensing surface over which, for example, a person's finger is placed in use. Each sense electrode is associated with an overlying, electrically isolated, second electrode on the sensing surface. One or more adjacent conductor lines at a predetermined potential are also carried on the sensing surface, e.g. in the form of a grid surrounding and spaced from the second electrodes and the second electrode and/or its adjacent conductor line is shaped at a part thereof so as to encourage electrical flash-over at a reduced potential level at that part and prevent damage being caused by electrostatic charges carried by a person's finger.

Abstract: An optical record carrier (10) comprises a recording layer for recording information in a pattern of optically detectable marks in substantially parallel tracks (11-15). Neighboring tracks are separated by edges (16-20). Control information is encoded in a modulation of the transverse position of the even-numbered edges (16, 18, 20). The modulation of neighboring even-numbered edges have a mutual fixed phase shift. The modulation of the odd-numbered edges (17, 19) is such as to enhance the amplitude of a push-pull signal when scanning the tracks (11, 12) neighboring such an odd-numbered edge (17).

Abstract: Reading partly written record carriers by means of a reading device which positions the read head on the basis of written marks presents problems when an information block behind a non-written area must be read. This Application describes a writing device and a method of writing information blocks on a record carrier of a rewritable type such as a CD-RW or a DVD-RAM. First, record carrier areas (21, 22, 23) which are in use are detected for writing information blocks, for example, via the corresponding writing instructions. Subsequently, it is detected whether boundary areas (31, 32, 33) adjoining the areas which are in use are unwritten. In that case, the boundary areas are initialized by writing them with dummy information, preferably with dummy information blocks comprising address information in the conventional manner. Furthermore, the Application discloses a record carrier provided with status information which is indicative of the non-written state of areas.

Abstract: An apparatus for X-ray analysis of materials advantageously utilizes a parabolic multilayer mirror for parallelizing the X-rays. Moreover, it may be desirable to monochromatize the parallelized radiation, for example by means of a crystal monochromator. According to the invention an influencing device for the X-rays is constructed as a single mechanical unit comprising a combination of an X-ray mirror (46) and a monochromator (48). This unit (66) can be arranged in the analysis apparatus in at least two positions (74, 76) in such a manner that the X-rays travel via the X-ray mirror (46) and the monochromator (48) in the first position (74) whereas the X-rays travel only via the X-ray mirror (46) in the second position (76). Consequently, no separate units comprising only an X-ray mirror or a combination of an X-ray mirror and a monochromator are required, so that a substantial saving in costs is achieved.

Abstract: In coding a sequence of pictures (P), a motion vector (MV) is established for a block of pixels (B(*,*;n)) in a current picture (P(n)) to be coded. The motion vector (MV) indicates a block of pixels (B(*,*;n−1)) in a previous picture (P(n−1)) which is similar to the block of pixels (B(*,*;n)) in the current picture (P(n)) to be coded. Data (D) relating to the block of pixels (B(*,*;n)) in the current picture (P(n)), is compressed (CMP). The extent to which the data (D) is compressed depends on a compression parameter (CP). The compression parameter (CP) is controlled on the basis of the motion vector (MV). Accordingly, data relating to a block of pixels representing a moving object can be compressed to a relatively small extent, whereas data relating to a block of pixels representing a stationary object can be compressed to a relatively large extent. This allows a relatively good picture quality at a decoding end.

Abstract: A method is described for setting an optimum write power for recording information on an optical recording medium. A series of test patterns (20′, 21′, 22′) is written on the medium, the test patterns being written with different write powers. The values of the write power in subsequent test patterns form a symmetrical pattern. On reading the test patterns, the modulation of each read signal is determined. An optimum value of the write power is determined from the modulations.

Abstract: A screen-based host with processing and I/O facilities interacts with distributed items that are arranged for storing and exchanging digital information with the host. In particular, under proximity conditions and initially without user interaction, the items exchange accordingly with the host without requiring formatted berth facilities of the host. The various items through associated self-identifying evoke specific iconizing by the host for signaling to the user an associated service field. The host allows a user person to activate data processing operations with respect to the service field. During proximity conditions, the items keep abreast of host-generated results relevant to a corresponding service field. The host allows free styling of the items with respect to the item's physical shape.

Abstract: The electric lamp comprises a lamp vessel (1) which is transparent to visible light, and which lamp vessel accommodates a light source. The lamp vessel (1) is covered with an optical interference film (5; 5′) which includes layers of alternately a first layer (51, 53) of silica and a second layer (52) of a material having a relatively high refractive index. According to a first aspect of the invention, one of the second layers (52) includes an odd number of sub-layers (52a, 52b, 52c) of alternately a first sub-layer (52a, 52c) of the material with a relatively high refractive index and a second sub-layer (52b) of a further material with a further relatively high refractive index. Preferably, the material of the second sub-layer (52b) is Ta2O5.

Abstract: In a semiconductor switch device such as an NPN transistor (T) or a power switching diode (D), a multiple-zone first region (1) of one conductivity type forms a switchable p-n junction (12) with a second region (2) of opposite conductivity type. In accordance with the invention, this first region (1) includes three distinct zones, namely a low-doped zone (23), a high-doped zone (25), and an intermediate additional zone (24). The low-doped zone (23) is provided by a semiconductor body portion (11) having a substantially uniform p-type doping concentration (P−) and forms the p-n junction (12) with the second region (2). The distinct additional zone (24) is present between the low-doped zone (23) and the high-doped zone (25). The high-doped zone (25) which may form a contact zone has a doping concentration (P++) which is higher than that of the low-doped zone (23) and which decreases towards the low-doped zone (23).