Abstract: An osmotic process is disclosed. The process comprises passing a draw stream (12) and a feed stream (2), the feed stream (2) being an aqueous stream of lower salinity than said draw stream (12), through an osmotic unit (8) in which water but not salts pass from the feed stream (2) to the draw stream (12). The process further comprises passing the feed stream through an ion exchange unit (4a, 4b) in which an ion exchange process is used to treat the feed stream (2) before the feed stream (2) passes through the osmotic unit (8) and using the draw stream (12) in said ion exchange process before or after the draw stream (12) passes through the osmotic unit (8). A power generation process and an electricity generation process based on the osmotic process is also described, along with a system for carrying out the osmotic process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a biometric device (1) for capturing fingerprint information and for extracting significant data from a partial fingerprint area, comprising processing means (8), a line sensor (2) for consecutively capturing fractional fingerprint images from fractional areas of a finger through a relative sliding movement between the finger and the line sensor, means for consecutively storing the fingerprint information in a first memory (6), decision-making means (3) for deciding when the information stored in the first memory constitutes a partial fingerprint area, extraction means (4) for extracting significant data from the partial fingerprint area stored in the first (7), where the captured fractional fingerprint images are stored in the first memory (6) in such a way that several consecutive fractional images are compared with the previously captured images, and are combined together to form a partial fingerprint area which is large enough for the extraction of the significant data, and where

Abstract: The invention relates to a biometric device (1) for capturing fingerprint information and for extracting significant data from a partial fingerprint area, comprising processing means (8), a line sensor (2) for consecutively capturing fractional fingerprint images from fractional areas of a finger through a relative sliding movement between the finger and the line sensor, means for consecutively storing the fingerprint information in a first memory (6), decision-making means (3) for deciding when the information stored in the first memory constitutes a partial fingerprint area, extraction means (4) for extracting significant data from the partial fingerprint area stored in the first (7), where the captured fractional fingerprint images are stored in the first memory (6) in such a way that several consecutive fractional images are compared with the previously captured images, and are combined together to form a partial fingerprint area which is large enough for the extraction of the significant data, and where

Abstract: In one aspect of a preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a system for video compression comprising a video preprocessor; a predictor configured to receive video data from the preprocessor; and an encoder configured to communicate with the predictor. Preferably, the preprocessor comprises a colorspace converter, a frame activity detector, and a subsampler, the predictor comprises a frame differencer and a reference frame handler, and the encoder comprises an error image encoder and an image adder. In another aspect, the invention comprises a system for video decompression comprising a predictor and a decoder configured to communicate with the predictor. Preferably, the predictor comprises a reference frame handler and wherein said decoder comprises an error image decoder and a colorspace converter.

Abstract: In one aspect of a preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a system for video compression comprising a video preprocessor; a predictor configured to receive video data from the preprocessor; and an encoder configured to communicate with the predictor. Preferably, the preprocessor comprises a colorspace converter, a frame activity detector, and a subsampler, the predictor comprises a frame differencer and a reference frame handler, and the encoder comprises an error image encoder and an image adder. In another aspect, the invention comprises a system for video decompression comprising a predictor and a decoder configured to communicate with the predictor. Preferably, the predictor comprises a reference frame handler and wherein said decoder comprises an error image decoder and a colorspace converter.

Abstract: In one aspect of a preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a system for video compression comprising a video preprocessor; a predictor configured to receive video data from the preprocessor; and an encoder configured to communicate with the predictor. Preferably, the preprocessor comprises a colorspace converter, a frame activity detector, and a subsampler, the predictor comprises a frame differencer and a reference frame handler, and the encoder comprises an error image encoder and an image adder. In another aspect, the invention comprises a system for video decompression comprising a predictor and a decoder configured to communicate with the predictor. Preferably, the predictor comprises a reference frame handler and wherein said decoder comprises an error image decoder and a colorspace converter.