Abstract: An apparatus includes means for associating a first editing effect with a first editing direction; means for associating a second editing effect with a second editing direction; means for receiving an editing input indicating an input direction and an input length; means for determining an editing degree according to a corresponding length of said input length in an editing direction by extracting a component corresponding to the input in the editing direction; and means for applying said associated editing effect in a degree according to the editing degree to an image.

Abstract: Digital content management methods and systems are provided. First, device ID of a first electronic device is received, and a data license including at least the device ID of the first electronic device, and a control license including at least a read authorization for a digital content are generated. Then, the digital content and the control license are packed as a content package, and the content package and the data license are respectively transmitted to the first electronic device. An electronic device determines whether the device ID of the electronic device conforms to the device ID recorded in the data license. If so, the digital content in the content package is allowed to be read according to the control license. A new data license is generated for the digital content according to the device ID of a second electronic device. The new data license is stored to the second electronic device, and the data license in the first electronic device is abrogated.

Abstract: An apparatus includes means for receiving input indicating a selection point; generating a set of paths originating from said selection point; determining an influence value for each point on a path to generate an influence map; and applying said influence map to an image.

Abstract: A photometric calibration method includes: obtaining a target image and a reference image by a light field camera and transforming the reference image into a revised target image corresponding to the target image; calculating a photometric calibration ratio according to a function for correlating the target image and the revised target image by using a numerical algorithm; and the intensity of the target image is divided by the photometric calibration ratio to obtain a calibrated target image. A light field of a scene is formed by all of the calibrated target image so as to improve the quality of the light field.

Abstract: A bath curtain rack structure includes a horizontal rod and a pair of retaining brackets. The horizontal rod has two ends connected to the pair of retaining brackets which are mounted on walls. Each of the pair of retaining brackets includes a base, a socket, a cover, and a screw. The base has a plurality of through holes and a protrusion thereon. The through holes are adapted for insertion of fasteners for the base to be secured on the walls. The protrusion has outer threads and a concave thereon. The socket has an arc end and a tubal section. The arc end corresponds in shape to the concave so that the angle of the socket is adjustable when the arc end is connected to the base. The tubal section is adapted for insertion of the horizontal rod. The arc end of the socket is formed with a threaded hole. The cover is formed with inner threads to engage with the outer threads of the protrusion. The screw is inserted through the threaded hole of the socket to fasten the socket on the base.

Abstract: A multi-function microscope device comprises a main body and a light adjustment base; the main body having at least one light-emitting element, a magnetic element, and a transmitting element; a microscope lens being formed by a transparent element, a lens, and a magnetic element; a microscope device and being assembled by the lens, the main body, and the light adjustment base through the magnetic elements; a focusing element being formed by a focusing element retainer, a focus adjusting element, a cover retainer, and a cover; wherein the multi-function microscope device assembled by the microscope device and the focusing element can be arranged to a machine having a microscope equipment or a microscope frame, to be conveniently carried and used by a user as well as lowering the cost.

Abstract: A device for food-shelf-life management comprises an electronic recorder that has a display screen and a plurality of operational keys. The operational keys are to be operated for setting a present date, a present time, and expiry dates of shelf life of foods. The display screen serves to present the present date and time, codes, the expiry date, a number of days left before the expiry date, checks and warning symbols.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of tile-based belief propagation are disclosed. An image is split into a number of tiles. Messages are iteratively generated within each of the tiles based on the messages from neighboring pixels to the tile at a previous iteration, wherein each message represents information of a state of the pixel. The generated messages for sending out of the tiles are stored. Labels are then determined based on the stored messages, wherein each label represents the state of the pixel.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first register, a second register and an adder. The second register reads a number of pixels from a sub-window image in turn. The adder adds the pixels in the second register and stored values in the first register to output a number of adding calculation values. The adding calculation values are returned to the first register and are saved as stored values. In addition, the present invention relates to an image processing method and a human face detection system using the above image processing apparatus.

Abstract: A low-backlight image visibility enhancement method and system is proposed for integration to a backlit type of display unit, such as active matrix LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The proposed method and system firstly converts the image of each video frame into a brightness-based grayscale image; then decomposes the grayscale image into a low-pass base layer and a high-pass detail layer; and then performs a brightness compensation for the base-layer image and a contrast enhancement for the detail-layer image; and finally combines the two image layers into one single image and performs color conversion to the combined image. The resulted image is then used for display on the display unit. This feature allows the display unit to use a low level of backlight to save electrical power consumption while nevertheless allow the image to be displayed with good visibility.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus thereof for enhancing a digital image. The method includes the steps of: capturing a pixel data block; determining a searching region and a reference window with the pixel data block serving as a center; dividing the searching region into compared windows each having a size equal to a size of the reference window; sequentially comparing the compared windows to the reference window to determine corresponding weighting values according to compared results; multiplying calculated blocks in the compared windows by the corresponding weighting values of the blocks to obtain weighted blocks; accumulating the weighted blocks to obtain a summed pixel data block; accumulating the weighting values to obtain a summed weighting value; and normalizing the summed pixel data block according to the summed weighting value to obtain an image-enhanced pixel data block.

Abstract: A digital image stabilization method that integrates a digital stabilization device and a digital video encoder is disclosed. The digital stabilization device comprises a determining module for determining background regions, a comparison module for calculating motion vectors, and an adjustment module for adjusting jerky image motion in frames. When there are frame jiggles, the motion vector between an I frame and a P frame is used for motion estimation to get a first motion vector and also define a background region of the P frame. Next, a second motion vector of a B frame is calculated according to the background region to adjust jerky motion of the P frame and the B frame for stabilization. The next P frame then uses the background region of the preceding P frame as its background region.

Abstract: A camera using a programmable aperture is disclosed in which a programmable lens is disposed between a lens assembly and a sensor to properly transmit or block light rays reflected by a photographed object and incident to the lens assembly and then received by the sensor so as to obtain records of the incident light rays at different positions on the lens assembly. Moreover, complete light field data of the photographed object can be restored to facilitate subsequent image processing at any focal length.

Abstract: Both a video integrated circuit that is connected to a video display apparatus for processing and displaying a plurality of video signals, and the video display apparatus thereof, are provided. The video integrated circuit and the video processing apparatus comprise a processor, a video capture unit, a watermark generating unit, a codec, and a video output unit. The video capture unit receives a digital video signal in response to a first signal from the processor to generate a processing signal. The watermark generating unit receives the processing signal in response to a second signal from the processor, and then embeds a watermark into a video corresponding to the processing signal to generate an integrated signal. The codec receives and compresses the integrated signal in response to a third signal from the processor, and then generates a compressed signal. The video output unit outputs the compressed signal to the video display apparatus in response to a fourth signal from the processor.

Abstract: A management system for digital broadcast rights and a method thereof, which applies to a digital video broadcasting system and utilizes the function of a multimedia home platform; when the multimedia data is intended to record or replay, the user's data will be analyzed to determine whether the user is allowed to use the multimedia data; further, encryption and decryption processes are used to monitor and control the record and replay processes of the multimedia data and protect the digital broadcast rights of the multimedia data lest it be unrestrictedly used or duplicated as one pleases.

Abstract: A video integrated circuit and a video processing apparatus thereof, connected to a memory and a video display apparatus, for processing and displaying a plurality of video signals are provided. The video integrated circuit and the video processing apparatus comprise a processor, a video capture unit, a motion picture experts group decoder, a memory control unit, and a video output unit. The video integrated circuit and the video processing apparatus generate a plurality of images corresponding to the plurality of video signals after processing. The video integrated circuit and the video processing apparatus displaying the plurality of images in one single chip decrease the cost and the size of products.

Abstract: A portable cart for mobile computer classroom is disclosed, which installs a plurality of computers and electronic devices on a mobile vehicle so that a computer classroom can be set up anywhere. The portable cart includes a first computer, a plurality of second computers, a power supply device, a network hub, a projector, a central control computer, and a wireless network access point. The first computer is used by teachers for teaching, and the second computers are portable computers with wireless transmission capability. When the second computers are not in use, they are placed at a slot rack which is wired for electrical recharging. The power supply device further comprises a recharge device and a plug, wherein the plug can be plugged in the electrical power outlet to provide power to the first computer and the electronic devices installed in the portable cart, and can recharge the second computers through the recharge device.

Abstract: A pointing device is electrically connect to a computer. The pointing device is used to control movements of a cursor on a display device of the computer. The pointing device has a housing, a pointing unit installed inside the housing to generate pointing signals to control the movements of the cursor, a rollable device for generating rolling signals, a light source for illuminating the rollable device, and a control unit for controlling the pointing device. When the computer transmits a state signal to the pointing device, the control unit controls the light source to determine an illumination mode of the rollable device according to the state signal.

Abstract: A door lock assembly includes a hollow casing, a latch, an actuator rod, and a drive mechanism. The casing has left and right side walls that are opposite to one another, and a rear wall interconnecting the left and right side walls. The left side wall has upper and lower openings formed therein. The latch is mounted movably in the casing in a latching direction between a latched position for allowing extension of the latch out of the casing via the upper opening and an unlatched position for allowing retraction of the latch into the casing. The actuator rod is disposed below the latch, and is movable in the casing along a direction parallel to the latching direction between an extended position outwardly of the casing via the lower opening and a retracted position. The actuator rod has an actuating element formed thereon, and a coiled spring for urging the actuator rod to the extended position.