Abstract: A device for laparoscopically approximating edges of a tissue opening toward each other for surgical attachment, the device including a first tissue engaging component, and a second tissue engaging component, a spreader component for moving the first tissue engaging component away from the second tissue engaging component, and a control for moving the first tissue engaging component away from the second tissue engaging component. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to measure brand exposure in media streams are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein are to determine a first histogram based on at least one of luminance components or chrominance components of a first frame of video, and determine a second histogram based on at least one of luminance components or chrominance components of a second frame of the video. Disclosed example apparatus are also to detect a transition in the video based on the first histogram and the second histogram, and responsive to the detection of the transition in the video. Disclosed example apparatus are further to process a region of interest within at least one of the first frame or the second frame to detect a logo in the region of interest.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to measure brand exposure in media streams are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein are to determine a first histogram based on at least one of luminance components or chrominance components of a first frame of video, and determine a second histogram based on at least one of luminance components or chrominance components of a second frame of the video. Disclosed example apparatus are also to detect a transition in the video based on the first histogram and the second histogram, and responsive to the detection of the transition in the video. Disclosed example apparatus are further to process a region of interest within at least one of the first frame or the second frame to detect a logo in the region of interest.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to measure brand exposure in media streams are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein are to determine a first histogram based on at least one of luminance components or chrominance components of a first frame of video, and determine a second histogram based on at least one of luminance components or chrominance components of a second frame of the video. Disclosed example apparatus are also to detect a transition in the video based on the first histogram and the second histogram, and responsive to the detection of the transition in the video. Disclosed example apparatus are further to process a region of interest within at least one of the first frame or the second frame to detect a logo in the region of interest.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to measure brand exposure in media streams are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein are to determine a first histogram based on at least one of luminance components or chrominance components of a first frame of video, and determine a second histogram based on at least one of luminance components or chrominance components of a second frame of the video. Disclosed example apparatus are also to detect a transition in the video based on the first histogram and the second histogram, and responsive to the detection of the transition in the video. Disclosed example apparatus are further to process a region of interest within at least one of the first frame or the second frame to detect a logo in the region of interest.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to measure brand exposure in media streams are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein are to determine a first histogram based on at least one of luminance components or chrominance components of a first frame of video, and determine a second histogram based on at least one of luminance components or chrominance components of a second frame of the video. Disclosed example apparatus are also to detect a transition in the video based on the first histogram and the second histogram, and responsive to the detection of the transition in the video. Disclosed example apparatus are further to process a region of interest within at least one of the first frame or the second frame to detect a logo in the region of interest.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to measure brand exposure in media streams are disclosed. An example method to determine brand exposures included in media content disclosed herein comprises determining whether a scene detected from a media stream corresponding to the media content matches a reference scene, identifying an expected region of interest in the detected scene based on information describing the reference scene when the detected scene is determined to match the reference scene and the reference scene is not specified to be a scene of no interest, and determining whether a reference brand identifier associated with the reference scene is included in the expected region of interest identified in the detected scene.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to measure brand exposure in media streams are disclosed. An example method to determine brand exposures included in media content disclosed herein comprises determining whether a scene detected from a media stream corresponding to the media content matches a reference scene, identifying an expected region of interest in the detected scene based on information describing the reference scene when the detected scene is determined to match the reference scene and the reference scene is not specified to be a scene of no interest, and determining whether a reference brand identifier associated with the reference scene is included in the expected region of interest identified in the detected scene.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to measure brand exposure in media streams are disclosed. Disclosed example apparatus include a scene detector to compare a signature of a detected scene of a media presentation with a library of signatures to identify a first reference scene, and a scene classifier to classify the detected scene as a scene of changed interest when a first region of interest in the detected scene does not include a first reference brand identifier included in a corresponding region of interest in the first reference scene. Disclosed example apparatus further include a graphical user interface to present the detected scene, prompt for selection of an area of the first region of interest in the detected scene, and compare the selected area to a library of reference brand identifiers to identify a second reference brand identifier included in the first region of interest in the detected scene.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to measure brand exposure in media streams are disclosed. Disclosed example apparatus include a scene detector to compare a signature of a detected scene of a media presentation with a library of signatures to identify a first reference scene, and a scene classifier to classify the detected scene as a scene of changed interest when a first region of interest in the detected scene does not include a first reference brand identifier included in a corresponding region of interest in the first reference scene. Disclosed example apparatus further include a graphical user interface to present the detected scene, prompt for selection of an area of the first region of interest in the detected scene, and compare the selected area to a library of reference brand identifiers to identify a second reference brand identifier included in the first region of interest in the detected scene.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to measure brand exposure in media streams are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a brand identifier detector to compare first data associated with a first scene of a media stream with second data associated with a reference scene including a first brand identifier to detect the first brand identifier in the first scene of the media stream. The example apparatus also includes a measure and tracking module to combine respective locations of the first brand identifier in respective frames of a first sequence of image frames forming the first scene to determine a weighted location for the first brand identifier. The example apparatus further includes a report generator to report appearance data corresponding to the first brand identifier, the appearance data including the weighted location for the first brand identifier.

Abstract: A system and method for use characterizing battery cells. Charging and/or discharging characteristics for each of a plurality of battery cells may be determined, the battery cells may be marked based on the determined charging and/or discharging characteristics, and grouped based on the marking—e.g., such as battery cells having similar or near similar charging and/or discharging characteristics are grouped together. Battery packs may then be assembled such that each battery pack would comprise only battery cells belonging to the same group (or “in-family”). The charging characterization may be based on voltage rise curve, which may be determined for each battery cell—e.g., based on sampling or recording during charging, at sufficient rate. Battery cells may subsequently be monitored, during use of the battery packs, to ensure that the charging or discharging does not change, and battery cells exhibiting change in characteristics may be manually or automatically removed from use.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to measure brand exposure in media streams are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a brand identifier detector to compare first data associated with a first scene of a media stream with second data associated with a reference scene including a first brand identifier to detect the first brand identifier in the first scene of the media stream. The example apparatus also includes a measure and tracking module to combine respective locations of the first brand identifier in respective frames of a first sequence of image frames forming the first scene to determine a weighted location for the first brand identifier. The example apparatus further includes a report generator to report appearance data corresponding to the first brand identifier, the appearance data including the weighted location for the first brand identifier.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to specify regions of interest in video frames are disclosed. Example disclosed methods to mark a region in a graphical presentation include selecting a first point located at a substantially central position within the region, selecting a plurality of second points to define a boundary of the region, and comparing a plurality of stored templates with the selected first and second points to identify a first one of the stored templates to represent the region.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to measure brand exposure in media streams are disclosed. An example method to determine brand exposures included in media content disclosed herein comprises determining whether a scene detected from a media stream corresponding to the media content matches a reference scene, identifying an expected region of interest in the detected scene based on information describing the reference scene when the detected scene is determined to match the reference scene and the reference scene is not specified to be a scene of no interest, and determining whether a reference brand identifier associated with the reference scene is included in the expected region of interest identified in the detected scene.

Abstract: A system and method for use characterizing battery cells. Charging and/or discharging characteristics for each of a plurality of battery cells may be determined, the battery cells may be marked based on the determined charging and/or discharging characteristics, and grouped based on the marking—e.g., such as battery cells having similar or near similar charging and/or discharging characteristics are grouped together. Battery packs may then be assembled such that each battery pack would comprise only battery cells belonging to the same group (or “in-family”). The charging characterization may be based on voltage rise curve, which may be determined for each battery cell—e.g., based on sampling or recording during charging, at sufficient rate. Battery cells may subsequently be monitored, during use of the battery packs, to ensure that the charging or discharging does not change, and battery cells exhibiting change in characteristics may be manually or automatically removed from use.

Abstract: An electrical connector and a method for assembling the electrical connector is provided, wherein the electrical connector includes a connector shell defining a connector shell cavity and having a connector nose end and a connector base end, wherein the connector shell includes a connector shell internal threaded portion proximate the connector base end, a contact insert having a power contact carrier, a ground contact carrier and a ground plane, wherein the ground contact carrier is conductively connected to the ground plane and a bonding nut having a bonding nut threaded portion, wherein the contact insert and bonding nut is contained within the connector shell cavity to be proximate the connector base end, such that the bonding nut threaded portion engages the connector shell internal threaded portion to contact the ground plane.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to specify regions of interest in video frames are disclosed. Example disclosed methods to mark a region in a graphical presentation include selecting a first point located at a substantially central position within the region, selecting a plurality of second points to define a boundary of the region, and comparing a plurality of stored templates with the selected first and second points to identify a first one of the stored templates to represent the region.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to specify regions of interest in video frames are disclosed. An example disclosed method comprises determining an initial template region to represent a region of interest whose location is based on a first point selected in a graphical presentation, determining a first modification to perform on the initial template region in response to a second point selected in the graphical presentation, detecting the second selected point in the graphical presentation, and reshaping the initial template region toward the second selected point, the reshaping corresponding to the first modification, the reshaping being performed in response to detecting the second selected point without also requiring the user to select any point substantially on the boundary defining the initial template region to initiate the reshaping.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to specify regions of interest in video frames are disclosed. An example disclosed method comprises determining an initial template region to represent a region of interest whose location is based on a first point selected in a graphical presentation, determining a first modification to perform on the initial template region in response to a second point selected in the graphical presentation, detecting the second selected point in the graphical presentation, and reshaping the initial template region toward the second selected point, the reshaping corresponding to the first modification, the reshaping being performed in response to detecting the second selected point without also requiring the user to select any point substantially on the boundary defining the initial template region to initiate the reshaping.