Abstract: A buoyancy control device having a back panel and including at least one flotation bladder, which at least one flotation bladder is configured with the device for controllable inflation and deflation, and connected thereto a harness arrangement for securing the device to a body of a user, the device having a cylinder-mounting mechanism arranged to enable front or side mounting of at least one breathable gas cylinder is useful for snorkeling and diving or repeated diving from snorkeling. A particularly preferred configuration provides a lightweight device of less than 5 kg and an apparatus of no more than 10 kg whereby carriage to and from snorkeling and/or diving location is simplified.

Abstract: A display device includes (a) a non-volatile memory containing corrective data for compensating input image data received; (b) display hardware receiving control and data signals for displaying an image; and (c) an image processing circuit that retrieves the corrective data from the non-volatile memory to generate the data signals for the display hardware, after applying the corrective data to each color component of each pixel in the input image data.

Abstract: A buoyancy control device having a back panel and including at least one flotation bladder, which at least one flotation bladder is configured with the device for controllable inflation and deflation, and connected thereto a harness arrangement for securing the device to a body of a user, the device having a cylinder-mounting mechanism arranged to enable front or side mounting of at least one breathable gas cylinder is useful for snorkeling and diving or repeated diving from snorkeling. A particularly preferred configuration provides a lightweight device of less than 5 kg and an apparatus of no more than 10 kg whereby carriage to and from snorkeling and/or diving location is simplified.

Abstract: An improved jack pad for supporting a jack foot having a foot plate includes a body having an upper surface and a lower surface joined by a side wall, and defining a recess configured for receiving the foot plate and having a retaining lip for securing the foot plate therein. The jack pad may provide for the drainage of water from the pad.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for capturing panoramic image is disclosed. The integrated circuit comprises a plurality of pixel arrays fabricated on a common substrate, wherein each pixel array being positioned to capture an image to be projected thereon, and wherein the orientation of each pixel array is rotated to match with the orientation of the image projected thereon. The integrated circuit also includes readout circuits coupled to the pixel arrays for reading electrical signals corresponding to the images captured from the pixel arrays. In one embodiment, the plurality of pixel arrays corresponds to four pixel arrays and the orientation of said each pixel array is substantially 90° apart from a neighboring pixel array. The integrated circuit further comprises a timing and control circuit, wherein the timing and control circuit is for controlling said one or more readout circuits and the plurality of pixel arrays.

Abstract: An improved jack pad for supporting a jack foot having a foot plate includes a body having an upper surface and a lower surface joined by a side wall, and defining a recess configured for receiving the foot plate and having a retaining lip for securing the foot plate therein. The jack pad may further comprise means for the drainage of water from the pad.

Abstract: A method characterizes manufacturing imperfections in a camera and variations in its operating environment to allow images captured by the camera to be compensated for these defects. The method includes: (a) illuminating a field of view of the optical elements under a controlled condition; (b) exposing multiple images onto the image sensor under the controlled condition; (c) extracting from the multiple images parameter values for pixels of the image sensor; and (d) compensating images taken subsequently in the camera using the parameter values. The controlled condition includes an external light source for illumination, and the image sensor is sensitive to color components.

Abstract: A display device includes (a) a non-volatile memory containing corrective data for compensating input image data received; (b) display hardware receiving control and data signals for displaying an image; and (c) an image processing circuit that retrieves the corrective data from the non-volatile memory to generate the data signals for the display hardware, after applying the corrective data to each color component of each pixel in the input image data.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope having a folded optical imager resting upon a coverglass overlying a sensor such that such that the sensor is substantially at the image plane of the imager and an image may be formed on the sensor.

Abstract: A method characterizes manufacturing imperfections in a camera and variations in its operating environment to allow images captured by the camera to be compensated for these defects. The method includes: (a) illuminating a field of view of the optical elements under a controlled condition; (b) exposing multiple images onto the image sensor under the controlled condition; (c) extracting from the multiple images parameter values for pixels of the image sensor; and (d) compensating images taken subsequently in the camera using the parameter values. The controlled condition includes an external light source for illumination, and the image sensor is sensitive to color components.

Abstract: A method characterizes manufacturing imperfections in a camera and variations in its operating environment to allow images captured by the camera to be compensated for these defects. The method includes: (a) illuminating a field of view of the optical elements under a controlled condition; (b) exposing multiple images onto the image sensor under the controlled condition; (c) extracting from the multiple images parameter values for pixels of the image sensor; and (d) compensating images taken subsequently in the camera using the parameter values. The controlled condition includes an external light source for illumination, and the image sensor is sensitive to color components.

Abstract: An in vivo image capturing system includes a capsule, and a camera encased within the capsule and configured to capture through a transparent window of the capsule, a view outside the capsule. The system includes a light source enclosed within the capsule and a reflector configured to reflect a ray of light from the light source, away from the camera. Wherever incoming image rays and outgoing illuminating light rays intersect at a common point on any surface of the transparent window, an angle between an outgoing illuminating light ray and a surface normal exceeds an angle between an incoming image ray and the surface normal such that a reflection of the outgoing illuminating light ray from said any surface is not within a field of view (FOV) of the camera.

Abstract: An imaging system having a folded optical axis that is accomplished through the effect of a first lens group, a prism, and a second lens group wherein a second surface of the prism is a mirror wherein the folded imaging system exhibits a horizontal field of view (HFOV) greater than 160 degrees and a vertical field of view (VFOV) greater than 80 degrees. Further aspects include a conjugate ratio of the lenses to be substantially 5.47 and a ratio of the entire lens focal length to the focal length of the first lens to be substantially ?0.309.

Abstract: The invention is a telescopic pole with a locking mechanism to be utilized as a footrest in hot tubs. The invention works by extending said pole in length to reach from one wall to the opposite wall of a hot tub by engaging said locking mechanism said pole is locked to said length +½? said locked pole is then wedged into place between said hot tub walls.

Abstract: Connecting rotors in rotary machines, particularly turbines, is generally described. Some aspects of the invention provide for a simplified attachment rotors to each other and/or other components of a turbine assembly, such as, drive shaft, using friction fit.

Abstract: A PLL circuit (1a, 1b) for generating a pixel-clock signal based on a hsync signal. The PLL circuit comprises a phase-frequency detector arranged to receive the hsync signal and a frequency divided pixel-clock signal, and generate up and down signals based on the hsync signal and the frequency-divided pixel-clock signal. A charge pump (20) is arranged to generate an output signal based on the up and down signals and a loop filter (30) is arranged to generate a frequency-control signal based on the output signal of the charge pump (20). Furthermore, a VCO (40a, 40b) is arranged to generate an oscillating signal and adjust the frequency of the oscillating signal in response to the frequency-control signal. The VCO (40a, 40b) is adapted to have a tuning range with a center frequency which is larger than or equal to 4 GHz.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment disclosed herein relates to an articulatable sealing device. The device includes a plurality of seal elements each of which is urgable against a seal-surface, a fixing member tightenable about a perimeter of the seal elements, and a retractor in operable communication with the plurality of seal elements and able to move the plurality of seal elements in a desired direction.

Abstract: A method is provided for characterizing manufacturing variations in a camera and imperfections in its operating environment to allow images captured by the camera to be compensated for these defects. In one embodiment, a method for characterizing a camera includes: (a) illuminating a field of view of the optical elements under a controlled condition; (b) exposing multiple images onto the image sensor under the controlled condition; (c) extracting parameter values of a model for the image provided on the image sensor from the multiple images; and (d) compensating images taken subsequently in the camera using the parameter values. The objects in the field of view may have a predetermined color, contrast or pattern. In one instance, the controlled condition includes an external light source for illuminating the field of view, and the image sensor is sensitive to a plurality of color components. The field of view may be illuminated at a predetermined light intensity for each of the color components.

Abstract: Improved wind turbine. The turbine includes a rotor supporting a plurality of blades for receiving wind, and means are provided for supporting magnets or high-permeability iron to rotate with the blades and located at the periphery of the blade tips. Stator stricture is located proximate to the blade tips to interact with the magnets or iron to generate electricity.