Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing multiple descriptive source coding in which a plurality of homogeneous encoders are advantageously employed in combination with a corresponding plurality of advantageously substantially identical decoders. In particular, diversity is provided to the multiple encoders by modifying the quantization process in at least one of the encoders such that the modified quantization process is based at least on a quantization error resulting from the quantization process of another one of the encoders. In this manner, diversity among the multiple bit streams is obtained, and in particular, the quality of a reconstructed signal based on a combination of multiple decoded bit streams at the receiver is advantageously superior to that based on any one of the decoded bit streams. In accordance with a first illustrative embodiment of the present invention, two Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) coders are employed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing multiple descriptive source coding in which a plurality of homogeneous encoders are advantageously employed in combination with a corresponding plurality of advantageously substantially identical decoders. In particular, diversity is provided to the multiple encoders by modifying the quantization process in at least one of the encoders such that the modified quantization process is based at least on a quantization error resulting from the quantization process of another one of the encoders. In this manner, diversity among the multiple bit streams is obtained, and in particular, the quality of a reconstructed signal based on a combination of multiple decoded bit streams at the receiver is advantageously superior to that based on any one of the decoded bit streams. In accordance with a first illustrative embodiment of the present invention, two Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) coders are employed.

Abstract: A method for re-testing semiconductor device includes following processes: (1) providing a first carrier for accommodating semiconductor devices which have been tested; (2) taking the semiconductor devices out from the first carrier and placing them according to the information of a fist map by a pick-and-place machine, wherein the information of the first map has the coordinates of the positions of the film frame where the semiconductor is to be placed; (3) placing the film frame with the semiconductor devices placed thereon to a testing machine, and re-testing the semiconductor devices according to the information of the first map by the tester; (4) placing the film frame with the semiconductor devices attached thereon to a pick-and-place machine, and taking the semiconductor devices out according to the result of the retesting from the film frame, and placing the semiconductor devices on at least one carriers.

Abstract: Methods of a reducing the complexity of Trellis-Based Scalar-Vector Quantizer (TB-SVQ) includes the initial step of defining an unbounded set of reproduction symbols in which neighboring symbols are distanced from each other by a predetermined factor. The set of the representation symbols is grouped into a region and a norm value is assigned to the region. A threshold value for the norm is then determined and the region is bound to an element in the region with respect to the norm of the region. A region parameter is then determined as a function of the norm of the region to minimize the shape gain of the region and to thereby reduce the complexity of the TB-SVQ for the source and optimally shape a constellation associated with the region. The inventive methods achieve a shaping gain of substantially 1.53 dB which is the theoretical limit of shaping gain. Thus, these methods optimally shape the constellation and achieve highly efficient data transmission.

Abstract: Methods of designing successively refinable Trellis-Based Scalar-Vector quantizers (TB-SVQ) include a multi-stage process wherein a TB-SVQ is applied to a set of digital data to set up a codebook boundary and to obtain a non-uniform density gain for a constellation in which the data signals will be encoded. In at least one more stage, a Trellis coded quantizer (TCQ) is applied to the output codebook boundary of the first stage to obtain a granular or shaping gain of 1.53 dB. The inventive methods successively refine the TB-SVQ so that robust signal transmission is achieved. By applying a multi-stage process wherein a TB-SVQ is utilized in the first stage and a TCQ is utilized in the second and successive stages, the computational complexity and time for encoding the constellation are greatly reduced.

Abstract: A method for making cooking utensils with patterns includes actions of forming patterns on a thin metal plate by a roller, shaping the metal plate into a cooking utensil, and applying Teflon on the cooking utensil. The roller is engraved with patterns previously such that same patterns can form on the metal plate when the roller is rolling on the metal plate. The metal plate is shaped into a cooking utensil by a pressing machine. A handle can be fitted to the cooking utensil. And, the Teflon is applied on the cooking utensil for preventing foods from sticking to the same.

Abstract: An automated method for the development of fixed-point algorithms which have been initially implemented as floating-point code which advantageously hides most of the tedious operations that need to be performed across the various stages of such a conversion procedure inside the definitions of a set of C++ classes. With the aid of these C++ class definitions, the fixed-point design process (i. e., the conversion from floating-point code to equivalent fixed-point code) is substantially simplified. Specifically, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a programmer need only to include and/or exclude certain previously defined header files, and to change the variable declarations within the floating-point code, in order to simulate the source codes across various stages of the conversion process.