Abstract: Smokable rods of cigarettes are manufactured using wrapping materials that incorporate at least one fibrous material (e.g., flax fibers, hardwood pulp fibers and/or softwood pulp fibers) at least one filler material (e.g., calcium carbonate in particulate form). The wrapping materials possess multi-layer coatings. The wrapping materials possess coatings in the form of series of spaced apart bands, each band possessing a series of layers. At least one of the coating layers can have a filler material dispersed or suspended within a film-forming material of that layer.

Abstract: An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is configured to perform image processing tasks on a printer or other multi-function device. The ASIC includes a processor, a dedicated cache memory, a cache controller and additional Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) normally employed in image processing tasks. This additional SRAM may be dynamically allocated as a cache memory when not otherwise occupied.

Abstract: The present invention provides BACE inhibitors of Formula (I): methods for their use, and intermediates and methods for their preparation.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions thereof, methods of using the same, processes for preparing the same, and intermediates thereof.

Abstract: Digital images that are produced by an image forming device may be processed using an edge enhancement technique to reduce the effects of halftone color depth reductions. For each element in the original image, certain detail elements are classified by examining the magnitude of pixel intensity gradients between elements of interest in a first window applied at each element and other elements in the first window. If a first predetermined condition is satisfied, those elements locations are stored. After halftoning, a morphological filter may be applied to the same element locations in the halftone image to enhance the halftone image.

Abstract: A method of transforming a n-bit data packet to a m-bit data packet with a lookup table. The lookup table includes at least one entry data packet and at least one respective delta value associated with each entry data packet. The method includes the acts of receiving an input data packet having n-bits, indexing the lookup table with at least a portion of the input data packet to obtain one of the at least one entry data packet, and decompressing the obtained entry data packet with the at least one respective delta value associated with the obtained entry data packet, thereby resulting in an output data packet having m-bits. The decompressing act includes using a portion of the input data packet to determine the number of delta values called for decompressing the obtained entry data packet. The method can be used in, for example, an image processor.

Abstract: Error diffusion is performed upon input image data. In one aspect, multiple error diffusion processing elements perform error diffusion on a selected pixel in parallel. In another aspect, the error diffusion logic is integrally formed with a fast local memory in the same electronic device, such as an ASIC. The error data produced by the error diffusion logic for a pixel is buffered in the fast local memory until it is to be used by the error diffusion logic on other pixels. In still another aspect, a first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer regulates or buffers the color image data between the output of a color conversion system, such as a colorant lookup table, and the input an error diffusion processing element. In yet another aspect, the error diffusion logic has tagging logic that produces and stores an indicator, either in the output data stream itself or in a separate area, to indicate whether a raster contains printable data.

Abstract: This invention is about using natural AGAVE extract as a sweetener, to replace all or part of the high-calorie sugars and or artificial sweeteners added in foods and medicines promoting an important reduction of calories and the elimination of artificial sweeteners by using natural AGAVE extract as the main sweetening ingredient.

Abstract: A method for dynamically compensating for a faulty pixel in a scan line of a scanner having an image sensor with a plurality of sensor pixels includes generating digitized scan data; processing the digitized scan data to compensate for any faulty pixels of the plurality of sensor pixels to form compensated scan data; processing the compensated scan data to apply offset and gain correction to the compensated scan data to form calibrated scan data; processing the calibrated scan data to adjust the calibrated scan data to compensate for human visual perception to form final scan data; and storing the final scan data in a scanner image memory.

Abstract: A method for performing a division operation in a system includes a) determining an approximate quotient of a numerator value and a denominator value; b) determining an initial error of the approximate quotient; c) determining a quotient adjustment value based on the initial error; d) determining whether to apply the quotient adjustment value to the approximate quotient; e) if the determination at d) is YES, then applying the quotient adjustment value to the approximate quotient; f) determining an iterative error of the approximate quotient; g) updating the quotient adjustment value based on the iterative error; h) repeating acts d) through g) until the determination at d) is NO, thereby determining a final value for the approximate quotient; i) generating an integer quotient based on the final value of the approximate quotient; and j) using the integer quotient with regard to at least one aspect of the system.

Abstract: Cigarettes are manufactured using modified automated cigarette making apparatus. Those cigarettes possess smokable rods having paper wrapping materials having additive materials applied thereto as patterns. The additive material can be applied as a coating formulation in an off-line manner to a continuous paper sheet web that is later used for cigarette manufacture. The additive material can be applied as a coating formulation in an on-line manner to continuous paper web moving through an operating cigarette making machine. The coating formulation is applied to the paper web using roll applicator techniques, ink jet printing techniques or electrostatic precipitation techniques. Liquid coating formulation are curable, and are virtually absent of solvent or liquid carrier. Radiation, such as ultraviolet or electron beam radiation, is used to solidify and fix polymerizable liquid components of the coating formulation that have been applied to the paper web.

Abstract: The present invention provides for applying electric impulse trains to a patient. A ditherer generates a plurality of indicia, each of the plurality of indicia corresponding to an impulse train. The ditherer is further configured to vary the time period between generating the indicia corresponding to the plurality of impulse trains. There is also a plurality of outputs for each of the plurality of indicia. Each of the two impulse trains are substantially 180 degrees out of phase with one another.

Abstract: Lines of input image data are scaled in a first dimension, the one-dimensionally scaled lines are stored in a buffer memory until a sufficient number of lines have been stored to perform scaling equally in two dimensions, and the stored lines are then scaled in a second dimension to produce image data scaled two-dimensionally by a user-selected scaling percentage. A first image scaling method is used to scale the input image data if the user-selected scaling percentage exceeds a predetermined threshold value, such as 50 percent, and a second scaling method is used if the scaling percentage does not exceed the threshold value. The first method can be, for example, linear interpolation, and the second method can be, for example, averaging.

Abstract: A core network architecture for supporting an internet protocol based network is disclosed. The system includes a base station which is configured to convert a signal from a first network to an internet protocol network signal and send the converted signal through the internet protocol base network. The network also includes a gateway which is configured to receive the converted signal and deploy the converted signal through the internet protocol base network. In this sense, the internet protocol base network manages the call mobility and delivery of the signal. The base station in this disclosure may be a femto base station and the first network may be a code division multi-access (CDMA) network.

Abstract: A method for performing error diffusion halftoning of an image includes subdividing the image into a plurality of tiles, the plurality of tiles including a first tile and a second tile adjacent to the first tile; performing error diffusion processing of the first tile; and performing the error diffusion processing of the second tile based on an output phase of the first tile.

Abstract: A method for detecting and correcting firmware corruption in a system having a host communicatively coupled to an electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus having a hardware unit communicatively coupled to a non-volatile memory, includes determining via the hardware unit whether firmware on the non-volatile memory is corrupted; if the firmware is determined to be corrupted, then: invoking a communication driver resident in the hardware unit to establish bi-directional communications between the host and the electronic apparatus; and initiating a firmware download from the host to update the firmware on the non-volatile memory to an uncorrupted state.

Abstract: A package or bag is provided with an easy open re-closable device for allowing ready access to the contents of the bag. The closure device is applied longitudinally in a vertical orientation in plastic bags but the closure device is spaced from the ends. In a layer paper bag, while the position of the closure device is preferably longitudinal, the closure device may have any orientation including a diagonal position. The closure device is incorporated in the fins of a fin bag and the closure devices extends longitudinally of the bag in a vertical direction. The process or making a multi layer paper material with a closure device incorporated therein is carried out in a continuous operation. The process of making zip-fin plastic bag or film containing the fins and closure are performed in a continuous operation.

Abstract: An accessory device that can be removably attached to the button of a hat. The device includes a base with an opening that extends at least partially through the base. The device can be attached to the hat by pushing the button of the hat into the opening of the device. Friction between the inner surface of the opening and the button securely holds the device to the hat.

Abstract: Compounds represented by the following structural formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates and hydrates thereof, wherein: n is 2, 3, or 4 and W is CH2, CH(OH), C(O) or O; R1 is an unsubstituted or substituted aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl-alkyl, heteroaryl-alkyl, cycloalkyl-alkyl, or t-butyl; R2 is H, alkyl, haloalkyl or phenyl; Y is an unsubstituted or substituted thiophen-2,5-diyl or phenylene; R3 is alkyl or haloalkyl; R4 is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, naphthyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthyl, quinolyl, pyridyl or benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl group; and R5 is H, alkyl, or aminoalkyl; are useful for modulating a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor, particularly in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: A light controller capable of varying the brightness of a light emitting diode in a linear manner. The light controller may control a number of lights in a predetermined pattern or in a pattern designed by the user. A remote control may be used to control and interact with the light controller. The light controller may have inputs for audio signals, tachometer signals, or other external signals. The light controller may be coupled to other light controllers to enable the control of additional lights in a synchronized manner. The light controller may be particularly well suited to controlling light emitting diodes and controlling lights in a vehicle accent lighting application, although many other uses may be apparent.