Abstract: The present specification discloses methods for scanning objects for the presence of lithium batteries. Normalized transmission X-ray data is used to generate organic, effective Z, and attenuation-based images. These images are then segmented using a combination of thresholding and region growing techniques to identify regions of interest. The regions are classified as lithium batteries or other objects, based on characteristics such as area of the region, its organic intensity, Zeff number, shape, spatial arrangement and texture.

Abstract: A faucet assembly is disclosed which is of a modular type for use in varying faucet designs and incorporating polymeric or partially polymeric parts in the internal water way assembly therein. The faucet assembly includes a cover plate and an internal water way assembly as well as at least one faucet handle. The internal water way assembly includes a valve assembly having a shank and a valve water way portion positioned on an upper portion of the shank. The valve water way portion defines a valve seat therein, and has a transversely extending outlet passageway. A valve cartridge for controlling flow through the assembly is seated in the valve seat, and, a bridge, which may be a single component or multi-part bridge has a passageway therethrough to receive water from the valve water way portion and a spout receiving portion. A spout tube is configured to be positioned in or on the spout receiving portion of the bridge. The internal water way assembly is attached to the cover plate.

Abstract: A simplified syntax signalling for the number of palette indices is disclosed, where the syntax element corresponding to the total number of palette indices minus one is signalled and the palette indices are associated with the copy-index modes in the current block. In another embodiment, a syntax corresponding to the number of palette indices minus 1 is signalled, where the palette indices are associated with the copy-index modes in the current block. According to this embodiment, the syntax is constrained to a range from 0 to block size minus 1. In yet another embodiment, conformance constraint is imposed on the palette predictor run. For a current position of the palette predictor list, a syntax element corresponding to a current palette predictor run is parsed from the input bitstream and the syntax element is constrained to a range of values access valid entries in the palette predictor.

Abstract: A method of video coding using the palette coding mode with reduced complexity by sharing context(s) between context-based entropy coding of syntax element for the last run type mode and context-based entropy coding of syntax element for the run type mode is disclosed. A method with reduced complexity for binarization of the syntax element associated with the number of palette indices of the current block is disclosed, where Rice parameter is derived for the number of palette indices without the need for a division or table lookup operation. In another method, the syntax element to specify whether transpose process is applied to associated palette indices of the current block is signalled in the bitstream for the current block in a location after the syntax element to specify a last run type mode for the current block.

Abstract: A method of palette index map coding of blocks in a picture by grouping coded symbols of the same type is disclosed for video encoder and decoder. In one embodiment, all syntax elements corresponding to the pixel index are grouped into a pixel index group, and all syntax elements corresponding to the escape pixel are grouped into an escape pixel group. All syntax elements corresponding to the run type and run length are grouped into an interleaved run type/run length group, or grouped into separate run type group and run length group. In another embodiment, the system parses from the video bitstream a last-run mode syntax element for a current block, where the last-run mode syntax element indicates whether a last run mode is a copy-index mode or a copy-above mode. Information associated with the last-run mode syntax element is used for reconstructing palette index map.

Abstract: A measurement method comprising: transmitting a plurality of ultrasonic signals to the fluid to be measured; receiving an return signal reflected or scattered from the particles in the fluid under test; calculating a one or more calculated values of the R parameter associated with the particle properties based on the return signal; determining the theoretical curve of the R parameter associated with the particle properties; and determining the mean diameter of the particles in the fluid based on the one or more calculated values of the R parameter and the theoretical curve of the R parameter; determining the mass concentration of the particles in the fluid according to the mean diameter of the particles. Embodiments also provide a measurement system for measuring the mean diameter and mass concentration of the particles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of video coding using palette coding mode including run modes are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system determines a maximum palette run for a current pixel being coded based on coding information including block size of the current block, pixel location of the current pixel, and whether a last run type for the current block is the copy-index mode or the copy-above mode. The current run associated with the current pixel is then encoded into one or more binary strings or decoded from the bitstream according to the maximum palette run. A syntax element to indicate the last run type for the current block can be signaled or parsed from the bitstream.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for image or video decoding in a video decoding system are disclosed. Input data associated with a current block coded with palette mode is received to parse a palette predictor run. A position of reused colors in a palette predictor table is computed according to the palette predictor run. A size of the palette predictor table is determined and compared with the position computed according to the palette predictor run to obtain a comparison result. The decoder applies palette decoding to the current block according to the comparison result. If the comparison result indicates the position computed according to the palette predictor run is not within the palette predictor table, the position is changed to a new position to indicate a corresponding reused color for the current block or a decoding process of palette predictor reuse flags is terminated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of palette coding for video data having color formats including a monochrome format are disclosed. The system determines whether the video data is monochrome or non-monochrome. If the video data is monochrome, one or more single-component values corresponding to one or more palette coding parameters are parsed from or signaled in the video bitstream for a single color component of input monochrome video data. Palette decoding is then applied to the single color component of input monochrome video data using the palette coding parameters. If the video data is non-monochrome, one or more multi-component values corresponding to one or more palette coding parameters are parsed from or signaled in the video bitstream for multiple color components of input non-monochrome video data. Palette decoding is applied to the multiple color components of input non-monochrome video data using the palette coding parameters.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include a method of video coding. The method includes receiving input data associated with a first block and a second block of an image frame, the first block and the second block corresponding to different color space components. The method further includes identifying a reference region in the first block, identifying at least two reference unit cells among a plurality of unit cells in the reference region, identifying respective intra prediction modes for processing the identified reference unit cells, determining an intra prediction mode for processing a sub-block in the second block based on the identified intra prediction modes, and generating an intra predictor of the sub-block based on the determined intra prediction mode. The reference region and the sub-block correspond to a same region in the image frame. The method further includes encoding or decoding the sub-block based on the intra predictor of the sub-block.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatuses and computer program products for managing a storage system. The storage system comprises a plurality of cache devices and a bottom storage device, and the plurality of cache devices comprise a first cache device group and a second cache device group. The method according to an aspect of the present disclosure comprises: receiving an input/output (I/O) request for the storage device; in response to determining that the I/O request triggers caching of target data, storing the target data from the storage device into the first cache device group if the I/O request is a read request:, and storing the target data into the second cache device group if the I/O request is a write request.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of palette predictor initialization for a coding system using palette coding are disclosed. A SPS predictor flag indicating whether SPS palette predictor values are present in a current SPS and a PPS predictor flag indicating whether SPS palette predictor values are present in a current PPS are used. According to the values of the SPS predictor flag and the PPS predictor flag, the current palette predictor array having a current predictor size for blocks in a picture corresponding to the current PPS is signaled at an encoder side or derived at a decoder side based on the PPS palette predictor values, the SPS palette predictor values or both.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for image or video decoding in a video decoding system are disclosed. Input data associated with a current block coded with palette mode is received to parse a palette predictor run. A position of reused colors in a palette predictor table is computed according to the palette predictor run. A size of the palette predictor table is determined and compared with the position computed according to the palette predictor run to obtain a comparison result. The decoder applies palette decoding to the current block according to the comparison result. If the comparison result indicates the position computed according to the palette predictor run is not within the palette predictor table, the position is changed to a new position to indicate a corresponding reused color for the current block or a decoding process of palette predictor reuse flags is terminated.

Abstract: A method of video coding using palette coding mode for color video in a non-444 color format is disclosed. The non-444 video data can be converted to the 444 format so that the palette designed for the 444 format can be used for the non-444 video data. For the 4:2:0 color format, each chroma sample collocated with corresponding quad luma samples is padded with three chroma samples to form converted quad chroma samples. For the 4:2:0 color format, if a current pixel does not belong to the color palette, one or more escape values are signaled for the current pixel and the escape value associated with the chroma sample of the current pixel for each color component is not signaled for three of the quad chroma sample locations collocated with corresponding quad luma samples.

Abstract: Video processing methods and apparatuses receive input data associated with a current block, determine an actual intra prediction mode for the current block by performing decoder side intra mode derivation, perform intra prediction based on the actual intra prediction mode, replace the actual intra prediction mode with a pseudo mode when processing the current block by an intra mode dependent tool in syntax signaling or parsing, and encode or decode the current block. The pseudo mode referenced by the intra mode dependent tool is a predefined mode or a derived mode, which is referenced as the intra prediction mode for blocks coded using decoder side intra mode derivation, or is referenced by the intra mode dependent tool as the intra prediction mode for all intra prediction coded blocks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for video coding using template-based Intra prediction are disclosed. According to one method, where determining whether to apply the template-based Intra prediction or one or more parameters associated with the template-based Intra prediction depends on the current block size. According to yet another method, the quad-tree plus binary tree (QTBT) structure is used to partition an image or one or more areas of the current image into blocks. If the template-based Intra prediction is used for a current block and the current block is non-square, the width and height of the L-shaped reference pixel line are determined according to width and height of the current block.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for video coding using template-based Intra prediction are disclosed. According to one method, the template-based Intra prediction searches N template matching candidates to reduce the complexity. In another method, the template-based Intra prediction assigns different weights for different pixel locations of template or uses different pixel precision for interpolation filter during cost evaluation among template matching candidates. In yet another method, truncated template size is used to reduce the complexity. In yet another method, the left and top templates may have different sizes for non-square block. In yet another method, inverse templated-based Intra prediction is used.

Abstract: A spread faucet assembly, an installation kit, and an installation method are described herein. The spread faucet assembly has a spout assembly with a spout, a tailpiece, and at least one fluid inlet conduit. It also include at least one valve assembly having a shank, an fluid inlet conduit, a fluid outlet conduit and a valve cartridge, wherein the shank has an inner surface having a fluid receiving area in fluid communication with the valve cartridge and the fluid outlet conduit, the inner surface defines an opening in fluid communication with the valve cartridge and valve assembly fluid inlet conduit, and the valve cartridge is positioned in the opening. A connector is also included for coupling the at least one valve assembly fluid outlet conduit with the at least one spout assembly fluid inlet conduit.

Abstract: A method of measuring a flow rate of a fluid flowing in a space between an outer conduit and an inner element in the outer conduit is provided. Ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received through the space between multiple pairs of ultrasonic transducers along multiple propagation paths, respectively. A mean line velocity of the fluid is calculated based on data from each pair of ultrasonic transducers. As such, multiple mean line velocities across the space are obtained. The flow rate of the fluid is calculated based on the multiple mean line velocities.

Abstract: A system and method for calculation of flow rate comprising at least two ultrasonic sensors, ultrasonic transmit receive device, and signal processing device. At least two ultrasonic sensors are installed on the pipe where the fluid is flowing through, and at least two ultrasonic sensors contain different ultrasonic beam paths, further, the ultrasonic beam paths of at least two ultrasonic sensors contain the overlap area. The ultrasonic transmit and receive device is used to actuate at least two ultrasonic sensors, and is used to transmit one or multiple ultrasonic signals to pipes via one or multiple of at least two ultrasonic sensors, further, to receive ultrasonic signal via at least two ultrasonic sensors. The signal processing device is used to process the ultrasonic signal received, further, to calculate the flow rate of the fluid precisely.