Abstract: An image-capturing device and method for removing strangers from an image are described. First, a first image is input. Then, a control module determines if an unwanted object processing step is needed, and obtains a result. If the result is no, the first image is directly sent to an output module. If the result is yes, an image-identifying module begins to identify the target-image and the unwanted object in the first image, and then, an unwanted object processing module starts the step to process unwanted images. The unwanted object processing step can remove the unwanted object from an image and fill the left lacuna region. Afterwards, a second image is produced and sent to the output module.

Abstract: An image processing method is provided. A digital image is outputted by an optical sensor and includes M pixels. The ith pixel among the M pixels has an ith set of original gray levels, wherein i is an integer index ranging from 1 to M. In the method according to this invention, M sets of logarithm values are first generated. The ith set of logarithm values among the M sets of logarithm values is generated based on the ith set of original gray levels and a set of adjusting parameters relative to the optical sensor. Statistics of the M sets of logarithm values is then gathered. According to the statistics result, a target color temperature of the digital image is determined.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a video encoding method and system for encoding a video sequence. The video sequence includes N sub-sequences which each includes a plurality of frames. When the present invention encodes the jth frame in the ith sub-sequence of the video sequence, the frames previous to the jth frame in the ith sub-sequence have been encoded. Based on the encoded frames, an initial quantization scale is generated. According to the initial quantization scale, the jth frame of the ith sub-sequence is encoded in the inter-encoded mode. Whether the jth frame in the ith sub-sequence is a “scene change” relative to the (j?1)th frame in the ith subsequence is judged, and if YES, based on the initial quantization scale, an adjusted quantization scale is generated. Moreover, the jth frame in the ith sub-sequence is re-encoded in accordance with the adjusted quantization scale.

Abstract: An image-capturing device and method for removing strangers from an image are described. First, a first image is input. Then, a control module determines if an unwanted object processing step is needed, and obtains a result. If the result is no, the first image is directly sent to an output module. If the result is yes, an image-identifying module begins to identify the target-image and the unwanted object in the first image, and then, an unwanted object processing module starts the step to process unwanted images. The unwanted object processing step can remove the unwanted object from an image and fill the left lacuna region. Afterwards, a second image is produced and sent to the output module.

Abstract: A light emitting diode module for attaching to a surface of a sign, which includes a mounting plate having top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted to the top surface of the mounting plate, a housing having top and bottom surfaces, a first electrical connector attached to the bottom surface of the mounting plate and electrically connected to the plurality of light emitting diodes, a second electrical connector attached to the top surface of the housing for engaging with the first electrical connector, a third electrical connector attached to the housing and electrically connected to the second electrical connector, and a power supply for providing a voltage to the third electrical connector. As the bottom surface of the mounting plate is placed on the top surface of the housing, the first electrical connector engages with the second electrical connector for electrically connecting the plurality of light emitting diodes to the third electrical connector.

Abstract: A light emitting diode module for attaching to a surface of a sign, which includes a mounting plate having top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted to the top surface of the mounting plate, a housing having top and bottom surfaces, a first electrical connector attached to the bottom surface of the mounting plate and electrically connected to the plurality of light emitting diodes, a second electrical connector attached to the top surface of the housing for engaging with the first electrical connector, a third electrical connector attached to the housing and electrically connected to the second electrical connector, and a power supply for providing a voltage to the third electrical connector. As the bottom surface of the mounting plate is placed on the top surface of the housing, the first electrical connector engages with the second electrical connector for electrically connecting the plurality of light emitting diodes to the third electrical connector.

Abstract: A circuit for driving a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that includes a power supply and a voltage divide circuit utilizing positive and negative temperature coefficient thermistors to boost the drive voltage to the LEDs as the ambient temperature deviates from room temperature, which compensates for increased electrical resistance of the LEDs at low temperatures and decreased LED light output efficiency at high temperatures. The circuit also provides a signal voltage to indicate the drive current through the LEDs, and includes a transistor to shut down the power supply when the signal voltage drops below a predetermined level (i.e. the number of burned out LEDs exceeds a predetermined number). A compensation circuit utilizes a thermistor to boost the signal voltage as the ambient temperature drops to compensate for the characteristic turn-on voltage of the transistor that increases as the temperature of the transistor drops.

Abstract: A circuit is provided for control and data transfer between a standard data storage device interface and one of a choice of several host computers. Parallel transition memories in conjunction with a buffer memory under common control of a buffer manager increase the transfer efficiency between the data storage unit and the host computer. Selectable register banks provide interface compatibility with multiple host computers for implementation of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and circuit for control of intelligent or integrated disk drives whereby a single computer address port may be used for control of two intelligent disk drives. The circuit requires only a single jumper connection for definition of the drive address. Tristate drivers on all output circuits from the disk drive controller to the host computer are disabled when the drive is not selected.

Abstract: The invention provides a circuit for use with a standard bidirectional databus having an active current device providing a first logic level in combination with a selectably jumpered passive resistance device providing a second logic level, the active element responsive to an enable signal whereby tristating the bus write drivers and reading the bus will sense a configuration determined by selection of the jumper.