Abstract: A method to produce nanoporous microsponge particles useful as carriers for drug delivery. The method comprises a cross-linking/precipitation step wherein a cross-linking agent reacts with a biocompatible polymer having nucleophile functional groups, which react with said cross-linking agent. The cross-linking agent is prepared by a reaction between 1,1?-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) and a diamine compound. The biocompatible polymer has an average molecular weight ranging from 10 KDa to 150 KDa.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for managing compressed data transaction sizes in a system on a chip (“SoC”) in a portable computing device (“PCD”) are disclosed. Based on lengths of compressed data tiles associated in a group, wherein the compressed data tiles are comprised within a compressed image file, multiple compressed data tiles may be aggregated into a single, multi-tile transaction. A metadata file may be generated in association with the single multi-tile transaction to identify the transaction as a multi-tile transaction and provide offset data to distinguish data associated with the compressed data tiles. Using the metadata, embodiments of the solution may provide for random access and modification of the compressed data stored in association with a multi-tile transaction.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to decode a block of video data in a coded bitstream includes a memory and a processor in communication with the memory. The memory is configured to store data associated with the block of video data in the coded bitstream. The processor is configured to: determine a transform partition type of the block, the block associated with transform coefficients determined via applying one or more transform functions on a plurality of pixel values associated with the block; determine, based on the transform partition type, an order in which the transform coefficients are to be inputted to an inverse transform function corresponding to the one or more transform functions; obtain output values via inputting the transform coefficients to the inverse transform function in the determined order; and decode the block of video data in the coded bitstream based on the output values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting copy protection included in an input video signal is described. Two types of copy protection are particularly addressed, including techniques that imbed copy protection pulses and copy protection phase flips in the video signal. A method for preserving copy protection is also presented, where the input video signal is first examined to determine if copy protection has been included in the input video signal. The input video signal then converted to component video data, which removes any copy protection present. An output video signal is then generated from the component video data, and when it was determined that the input video signal includes copy protection, the copy protection is recreated in the output video signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for measuring noise in video image processing. The described methods use horizontal and vertical variances of pixels of an image to extract noise information from the image. Silent regions in an image are considered to determine amplitude variations in the image. A smallest silent region in the image is searched by performing measurements over various block sizes. A least sum of absolute differences approach is used on both horizontal and vertical directions for finding the minimum energy of a received image signal. Using the disclosed method and processor, with a Gaussian distribution for the measured channel noise, both silent image regions, as well as edges, are equally covered.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting copy protection included in an input video signal is described. Two types of copy protection are particularly addressed, including techniques that imbed copy protection pulses and copy protection phase flips in the video signal. A method for preserving copy protection is also presented, where the input video signal is first examined to determine if copy protection has been included in the input video signal. The input video signal then converted to component video data, which removes any copy protection present. An output video signal is then generated from the component video data, and when it was determined that the input video signal includes copy protection, the copy protection is recreated in the output video signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed wherein the horizontal and vertical variances of the pixels of an image are determined to calculate a noise measurement in a received image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting copy protection included in an input video signal is described. Two types of copy protection are particularly addressed, including techniques that imbed copy protection pulses and copy protection phase flips in the video signal. A method for preserving copy protection is also presented, where the input video signal is first examined to determine if copy protection has been included in the input video signal. The input video signal then converted to component video data, which removes any copy protection present. An output video signal is then generated from the component video data, and when it was determined that the input video signal includes copy protection, the copy protection is recreated in the output video signal.

Abstract: A dressing apparatus for dressing a polishing pad includes a dressing member engageable with the polishing pad. The dressing apparatus is adapted to change the amount of force exerted by the dressing member on the polishing pad as the dressing member moves radially along the polishing pad. A controller for controlling the dressing apparatus has pre-programmed recipes that are selectable based on the radial profile of a measured polished wafer.

Abstract: A digitally programmable gain control circuit and method of operating the same is disclosed. The gain control circuit includes a programmable gain amplifier having an amplifier structure represented by a plurality of overlapping discrete monotonic transfer function segments, wherein at least one point of non-monotonicity occurs among one or more of the plurality of overlapping discrete monotonic transfer function segments, and a gain segment translator circuit operative to translate a monotonic gain value to a segment code to match the non-monotonic characteristics of the programmable gain amplifier. The programmability of the gain amplifier is provided by a coarse gain control circuit and a fine gain control circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting copy protection included in an input video signal is described. Two types of copy protection are particularly addressed, including techniques that imbed copy protection pulses and copy protection phase flips in the video signal. A method for preserving copy protection is also presented, where the input video signal is first examined to determine if copy protection has been included in the input video signal. The input video signal then converted to component video data, which removes any copy protection present. An output video signal is then generated from the component video data, and when it was determined that the input video signal includes copy protection, the copy protection is recreated in the output video signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting copy protection included in an input video signal is described. Two types of copy protection are particularly addressed, including techniques that imbed copy protection pulses and copy protection phase flips in the video signal. A method for preserving copy protection is also presented, where the input video signal is first examined to determine if copy protection has been included in the input video signal. The input video signal then converted to component video data, which removes any copy protection present. An output video signal is then generated from the component video data, and when it was determined that the input video signal includes copy protection, the copy protection is recreated in the output video signal.

Abstract: A digitally programmable gain control circuit and method of operating the same is disclosed. The gain control circuit includes a programmable gain amplifier having an amplifier structure represented by a plurality of discrete monotonic transfer functions, wherein a point of non-monotonicity occurs between at least a plurality of the discrete monotonic transfer functions, and a gain segment translator circuit operative to translate a binary monotonic gain control code to a segmented binary code to match the non-monotonic characteristics of the programmable gain amplifier. The programmability of the gain amplifier is provided by a coarse gain control circuit and a fine gain control circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for customized editing and/or censoring of video and/or audio signals begins when a signal and a plurality of editing parameters are received. The signal includes an audio and/or video signal, where each of the editing parameters corresponds to separate portions of the signal. The editing parameters may be embedded within the signal or provided in simulcast with the signal. While the signal is being processed, a selective editing circuit is monitoring the editing parameters. When an editing parameter indicates that the corresponding portion of the signal is to be edited, the selective editing circuit edits the corresponding portion based on the editing parameter, which may be provided by the content provider or the user. In addition, the editing parameter may indicate various levels of editing the signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing video signals to a plurality of video outputs may be done within a video system that includes a video decoder, a digital-to-analog module, and an output control module. In such a video system, the video decoder includes an analog-to-digital conversion module for converting an input video signal(s) into a digital video signal(s). The video decoder further includes a comb filter that is operably coupled to receive the digital video signal and to produce therefrom a Y component digital signal and a C component digital signal. The output control module is operably coupled to receive the Y and C component digital signals and also to receive an output command. If the output command dictates, the output control module provides the Y and C component digital signals to the digital-to-analog module. In response, the digital-to-analog module produces a composite video output and an S video output.

Abstract: An electronic air cleaner (10) includes a housing (20), a mechanical prefilter (30), an electrostatic precipitator cell (40) and at least one germicidal lamp (50). The electrostatic precipitator cell (40) includes a plurality of collector plates (42) for collecting thereon particulate material from the air stream. The germicidal lamp or lamps (50) are disposed to irradiate the collector plates (42) and any particulate material collected thereon with germicidal light to destroy microbial growth that might occur on the particulate material deposited on the collector plates. Reflectors (60) may be provided in operative association with the germicidal lamp or lamps (50) to concentrate the germicidal light unto the collecting surface of the collector plates (42). A post filter (90), disposed downstream with respect to air flow of the lamp or lamps (50), is provided to remove volatile organic compounds from the air flow.

Abstract: The invention features furnishing a representation of the quadrature amplitude modulation of two input signals (e.g., U and V video signals) based on the phase of a reference signal (e.g., a color burst reference signal). The two input signals are scaled based on the phase of the reference signal, and the scaling is synchronized to the phase of the reference signal.

Abstract: A system and method for compensating against false color from composite video source information detects when there is a diagonal luminance transition (or a cross pattern) and attenuates combed chrominance information to facilitate a reduction in a false coloring effect. A programmable threshold diagonal transition detector generates a multi-level compensation control signal, such as the amount of chrominance reduction or attenuation (in dB) to effectively notch combed chrominance data, based on a detection of a diagonal transition of luminance data among lines of video data. The multi-level compensation control signal is used by a multi-level compensator to attenuate the combed chrominance information from the 2-D adaptive comb filter.

Abstract: A method and system to automatically align overlaying video data on a computer screen based on input information of R or G or B data, horizontal synchronization signal data (Hsync) and vertical synchronization signal data (Vsync) automatically reconstructs a pixel clock time base of an offboard underlying graphics source for use in aligning overlaid video using a generated vertical pixel pattern. The system and method also automatically detects a size of an active computer screen region and position of a top left hand corner and a bottom right hand corner of the active computer screen region to align overlaying video using the reconstructed pixel clock time base and a single color block pattern.

Abstract: Method of providing closed captioned data to a television viewer comprised of detecting closed captioned data signals transmitted in conjunction with a television signal, decoding the data signals to caption display signals, and displaying the caption display signals on an auxiliary screen separate from a screen displaying the television signals.