Abstract: A punch down apparatus for punching a wine cap of a wine residing inside a fermentation bin is disclosed. The punch down apparatus includes a frame assembly having a frame coupled to a plurality of legs supporting the frame on a ground surface, a track assembly supported on the frame and adapted to slide relative to the frame in a first direction. In addition, the punch down apparatus includes a carriage assembly mounted on the track assembly and adapted to slide relative to the track assembly in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and an actuator assembly attached to the carriage assembly and adapted to move along with the carriage assembly. The carriage assembly includes a punch plate arranged downwardly of the frame and adapted to contact and punch the wine cap, and a linear actuator adapted to reciprocally move the punch plate in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A video decoder system, in one embodiment, includes one or more processors and a memory storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the video decoding system to perform an entropy decoding operation in a frame level pipelined manner on a bitstream representative of encoded video data to produce first output data, perform at least one of an inverse quantization operation or an inverse frequency transform operation in a row level pipelined manner on the first output data to produce second output data, perform a deblocking filtering operation on first input data that includes the second output data in a row level pipelined manner to produce third output data, and output a decoded video output based on the third output data.

Abstract: A video decoder system, in one embodiment, includes one or more processors and a memory storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the video decoding system to perform an entropy decoding operation in a frame level pipelined manner on a bitstream representative of encoded video data to produce first output data, perform at least one of an inverse quantization operation or an inverse frequency transform operation in a row level pipelined manner on the first output data to produce second output data, perform a deblocking filtering operation on first input data that includes the second output data in a row level pipelined manner to produce third output data, and output a decoded video output based on the third output data.

Abstract: A video decoder system, in one embodiment, includes one or more processors and a memory storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the video decoding system to perform an entropy decoding operation in a frame level pipelined manner on a bitstream representative of encoded video data to produce first output data, perform at least one of an inverse quantization operation or an inverse frequency transform operation in a row level pipelined manner on the first output data to produce second output data, perform a deblocking filtering operation on first input data that includes the second output data in a row level pipelined manner to produce third output data, and output a decoded video output based on the third output data.

Abstract: A VP8 video decoder is implemented by partitioning the required functions across multiple sub systems, with an optimal mapping to existing functional blocks. Key optimizations include the reuse of hardware designed for prior generation VP6 and VP7 decoders. In order to reduce implementation complexity, cost and power consumption, a non-exact, approximate deblocking loop filter is implemented.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatus monitoring a patient. In one example, a sensor that is configured to detect physiological changes in a patient is driven at a first current level and a subsequent sensor voltage is measured. Thereafter the current is varied to a second current level, and a next sensor voltage is measured. A next sensor voltage is projected based on the sensor voltage and the subsequent sensor voltage, and a third current level is identified that could produce the next sensor voltage. The third current level is compared to a threshold, and an alarm is produced in response thereto. The apparatus further includes elements in the sensor that facilitate the method.

Abstract: A VP8 video decoder is implemented by partitioning the required functions across multiple sub systems, with an optimal mapping to existing functional blocks. Key optimizations include the reuse of hardware designed for prior generation V?6 and VP7 decoders. In order to reduce implementation complexity, cost and power consumption, a non exact, approximate deblocking loop filter is implemented.

Abstract: A VP8 video decoder is implemented by partitioning the required functions across multiple sub systems, with an optimal mapping to existing functional blocks. Key optimizations include the reuse of hardware designed for prior generation V^6 and VP7 decoders. In order to reduce implementation complexity, cost and power consumption, a non exact, approximate deblocking loop filter is implemented.

Abstract: A VP8 video decoder is implemented by partitioning the required functions across multiple sub systems, with an optimal mapping to existing functional blocks. Key optimizations include the reuse of hardware designed for prior generation V?6 and VP7 decoders. In order to reduce implementation complexity, cost and power consumption, a non exact, approximate deblocking loop filter is implemented.

Abstract: A usage specification device is used to limit the use of information signals (audio, image, data) and to limit the output of disturbing signals (speaker, flash, light, RF transmission) in several devices in a large restricted area. For example, the usage specification device may transmit a certain type of control signal to disable image capture by camera-equipped portable/mobile devices, or it may transmit other types of control signals to disable audio capture or data capture by such devices. Similarly, the specification device may transmit a certain type of control signal to reduce the speaker volume on portable/mobile devices, or it may transmit other types of control signals to disable the flash, or minimize the intensity of light emitted by the display or restrict the transmission of RF signals from such devices. Due to such features, only undesirable features of portable/mobile devices may be prevented in restricted areas, while permitting other uses.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving the signal reception of a digital wireless receiver comprises a processing circuit for processing the preamble information of incoming signals, wherein a first predetermined portion of the preamble information is applied to a first antenna and a second predetermined portion of the preamble information is applied to a second antenna to produce a plurality of processed signals, such that the plurality of processed signals is compared to a predefined preamble sequence to obtain a mean-square error (MSE) for the respective antenna. Then, one of the first and second antennas with a lower MSE is selected to receive and process the incoming signals.

Abstract: An adaptive antenna system includes N antennae, N forward equalizers operatively coupled to a respective one of the N antennae, and N processors performing a constant modulus algorithm (CMA) to thereby generate N respective control signals which adapt coefficients associated with each respective one of the forward equalizer. Preferably, the adaptive antenna system also includes a sampling device receiving a signal based on the collected output of the N forward equalizers, and a feedback equalizer receiving an output of the sampling device and generating a feedback signal biasing the signal received by the sampling device. If desired, the N control signals are applied to the N respective forward equalizers during a first operating mode, and a selected one of the N control signals is applied to the N forward equalizers during second mode of operation. A method of operating a beamforming antenna system is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for modulating an MPEG-4 FGS compressed video stream for variable-bandwidth transmission. A source of a video stream is provided, and a display having means for generating a control input signal for controlling one or more of video compression, error correction code generation, or symbol constellation mapping. The source video stream is compressed using MPEG-4 FGS compression to generate a compressed output video stream. The video compression is optionally performed based upon the control input signal from the display. Error correction code for the compressed video stream may be added, and its generation and addition may be optionally controlled based upon the control input signal from the display. The resulting video symbols may then be mapped to constellations, with this mapping also optionally controlled based upon the control input signal. The resulting compressed output video stream is then transmitted to the display.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving the signal reception of a digital wireless receiver comprises a processing circuit for processing the preamble information of incoming signals, wherein a first predetermined portion of the preamble information is applied to a first antenna and a second predetermined portion of the preamble information is applied to a second antenna to produce a plurality of processed signals, such that the plurality of processed signals is compared to a predefined preamble sequence to obtain a mean-square error (MSE) for the respective antenna. Then, one of the first and second antennas with a lower MSE is selected to receive and process the incoming signals.

Abstract: A method and system for combining signals in a receiver are provided. If the current packet is determined to be the retransmitted packet according to predetermined criteria, The retransmitted packet and the previously stored packet in error with the same packet number are combined using a maximum ratio combining method according to the signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) calculated from the preamble of each packet. With this type of diversity combining, a reliable data packet transmission in a shorter time period can be obtained while increasing the SNR and reducing the throughput time in multipath channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for modulating an MPEG-4 FGS compressed video stream for variable-bandwidth transmission. A source of a video stream is provided, and a display having means for generating a control input signal for controlling one or more of video compression, error correction code generation, or symbol constellation mapping. The source video stream is compressed using MPEG-4 FGS compression to generate a compressed output video stream. The video compression is optionally performed based upon the control input signal from the display. Error correction code for the compressed video stream may be added, and its generation and addition may be optionally controlled based upon the control input signal from the display. The resulting video symbols may then be mapped to constellations, with this mapping also optionally controlled based upon the control input signal. The resulting compressed output video stream is then transmitted to the display.

Abstract: An adaptive antenna system includes N antennae, N forward equalizers operatively coupled to a respective one of the N antennae, and N processors performing a constant modulus algorithm (CMA) to thereby generate N respective control signals which adapt coefficients associated with each respective one of the forward equalizer. Preferably, the adaptive antenna system also includes a sampling device receiving a signal based on the collected output of the N forward equalizers, and a feedback equalizer receiving an output of the sampling device and generating a feedback signal biasing the signal received by the sampling device. If desired, the N control signals are applied to the N respective forward equalizers during a first operating mode, and a selected one of the N control signals is applied to the N forward equalizers during second mode of operation. A method of operating a beamforming antenna system is also described.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving signal reception in a signal receiver is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least two first receiver chips, a digital combiner circuit and a single third receiver chip. At least two antennae are used to receive at least two signals, the signals are passed through front end section and equalizer of the first receiver chips, wherein the quality of the signals is evaluated. The signals are combined intelligently in the digital combiner circuit based on the quality of each signal. The combined result is fed into the decoder located in the back-end section of the singe third receiver chip.