Abstract: Consumers should be allowed to easily access content within their home, and share between their homes if allowed based upon geographical constraints, but not allow the content to be illegitimately shared between domains of different ownership. An efficient solution is to add intelligence information to the header of the IP packets that enables the firewall to determine if that packet, without requiring other packets from the same content and without touching the data within the packet, can be forwarded and/or if billing charges should apply.

Abstract: This invention digitally simulates periodic frequency modulation, especially the use of fudge factors to reduce digitization error. The fudge factor is based upon the relationship of expected and actual results. The fudge factor is derived from data during previously completed periods and can be applied to upcoming periods of rotation. The frequency modulation can be applied by varying the step sizes during the simulation. This invention can be applied to simulate the frequency modulation of a rotating speaker. The digital apparatus that implements this invented process includes a digital processor and memory. In summary, this invention is much more stable and realistic sounding than prior-art.

Abstract: The present invention provides digital watermarks through multiple channels. The channels can include, e.g., visible, ultraviolet and infrared channels. The non-visible channels can be selected to fluoresce either in the visible or IR/UV spectrums upon the appropriate illumination in the infrared or ultraviolet spectrums. The watermarks in the various multiple channels can cooperate to facilitate watermark detection or to authenticate an object in which the watermarks are embedded. In other implementations the multiple watermarks include so-called orientation components. A relative relationship between the orientation components is used to convey data.

Abstract: Embedded data in gaming objects is used to authenticate the gaming object and to enhance the gaming experience in gambling venues.

Abstract: The present invention provides steganographically embedded auxiliary data in motor vehicle documentation. The auxiliary data is used to authenticate the documentation or provide additional or redundant information pertaining to the documentation. Examples of such documentation are license plates, vehicle titles, insurance cards, registration cards and emissions documentation. In one implementation of the invention, a title document is digitally watermarked for authentication. The digital watermark may include a digital signature related to a buyer and a digital signature related to a seller. In another implementation, the transfer of motor vehicles is facilitated via digital watermarking. In still another implementation, a document includes two or more digital watermarks. The digital watermarks are intertwined with each other and at least one of the watermarks is intertwined with the document.

Abstract: An adjustable device installed at the inlet of conventional junctions/splitters (116) for on-line control of the distribution of coal among the outlet pipes is herein disclosed. The device includes a plurality of wake inducing airfoils (60) each positioned upstream of a plurality of flow channels in the riffler (50) for directing coal flow to the outlet pipes. Each wake-inducing airfoil has a cross-section defined by a width W that varies along its length H for creating upstream turbulence, and a particle wake that preferentially diverts the coal flow to one of the outlet pipes at the splitter junction without affecting primary air flow. For example, each wake inducing airfoil may comprise a rounded convex edge leading to straight tapered sides. The surfaces of the sides may be roughened or textured (63) for promoting turbulent boundary layers. In addition, conventional fixed or variable orifices may be used in combination with the wake inducing airfoils for balancing primary air flow rates.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of forensic digital watermarking that randomly selects an orientation and/or embedding protocol for a digital watermark signal to be embedded in the content signal. It then embeds the digital watermark signal at the selected orientation in the content signal. The embedding applies a different orientation to the forensic watermark for each instance of embedding a watermark. This thwarts averaging and over-embedding attacks.

Abstract: The present invention relates watermarking compressed objects. A watermark is determined for a compressed video object. The watermark is compressed as an object and the watermarked object is then associated with the compressed video object. The two separate objects are provided to a rendering device, which after decompressing both objects, embeds the watermark in the video prior to rendering.

Abstract: A color laser engraving method engraves a document including a surface layer and one or more sub-layers. The sub-layer includes different colors and orientations of ink. A laser provides openings in the surface layer—to expose color ink in the sub-layer—to create color images and/or text. The different orientations of the colored inks include, e.g., circular, linear and overlapped groupings of ink. A sub-layer preferably includes many repeated instances of the grouping. A digital watermark is embedded in a document via transfer of the digital watermark in an embedded image or text, or by pre-embedding the document via altering intensity of colored inks on the original document card stock. A digital watermark can be carried via modulation with a pseudo-random noise sequence.

Abstract: A system for balancing and controlling the distribution of pulverized coal into multiple equal diameter outlet pipes of coal pulverizers for improving boiler performance. The device includes a plurality of flow control elements, one flow control element for each outlet pipe, all positioned a pre-determined distance upstream of the outlet pipes. Each flow control element is mounted on an independent adjustment mechanism and is thereby adjustable in position relative its corresponding outlet pipe to selectively vary the wake of the downstream coal particulate flow relative to primary air flow. The method of the present invention is practiced by monitoring coal particulate flow at the outlet pipes relative to primary air flow or individual flame characteristics, and then compensating for noted imbalances by selectively adjusting the flow control elements, thereby balancing and controlling the distribution of coal and improving combustion efficiency.

Abstract: An adjustable device installed at the inlet of conventional junctions/splitters (116) for on-line control of the distribution of coal among the outlet pipes is herein disclosed. The device includes a plurality of flow control elements (60) each positioned upstream of a plurality of flow channels in the riffler (50) for directing coal flow to the outlet pipes. Each flow control element preferably comprises a rounded convex edge leading to straight tapered sides (FIG. 9). The surfaces of the sides may be roughened or textured (63) for promoting turbulent boundary layers (FIG. 9). In addition, conventional fixed or variable orifices may be used in combination with the flow control elements for balancing primary air flow rates. The device allows fine-adjustment control of coal flow rates when used in combination with the slotted riffler, yet it has negligible effect on the distribution of primary air.

Abstract: An adjustable device installed at the inlet of conventional junctions/splitters (116) for on-line control of the distribution of coal among the outlet pipes is herein disclosed. The device includes a plurality of flow control elements (60) each positioned upstream of a plurality of flow channels in the riffler (50) for directing coal flow to the outlet pipes. Each flow control element preferably comprises a rounded convex edge leading to straight tapered sides (FIG. 9). The surfaces of the sides may be roughened or textured (63) for promoting turbulent boundary layers (FIG. 9). In addition, conventional fixed or variable orifices may be used in combination with the flow control elements for balancing primary air flow rates. The device allows fine-adjustment control of coal flow rates when used in combination with the slotted riffler, yet it has negligible effect on the distribution of primary air.

Abstract: A process for removing ammonia from fly ash during processing on an inclined fluidized bed. The process begins by introducing a mixture of particulates having ammonia adsorbed therein into an inclined fluidized bed. Concurrently, a fluidizing gas is pre-heated and is also introduced into the fluidized bed. The mixture is then processed along the fluidized bed with the pre-heated fluidizing gas to achieve bubbling fluidization of the particles. This causes segregation by which a dense fraction settles downward and a light fraction rises upward in the bed. Ammonia in the particles is desorbed by the pre-heated fluidizing gas. The fluidizing gas is then scrubbed after the processing step to remove the desorbed ammonia. The process may also include the use of acoustic enhancement whereby an acoustic field is imposed on the fluidized bed to improve fluidization and segregation of the particles and to increase the efficacy of ammonia removal.

Abstract: A process and device for separating different types of particulates from a mixture, which is especially suited for separating unburned carbon from raw fly ash. The process entails separating raw fly ash by size into a fine component and a coarse component (the coarse component having typically higher levels of unburned carbon). The coarse, high carbon, fly ash component (or optionally both components) are processed through an inclined fluidized bed to produce an upgraded coarse component with reduced unburned carbon. An acoustic field is imposed on the inclined fluidized bed(s) in order to enhance the bed's ability to fluidize and segregate the unburned carbon. The upgraded coarse and fine components are then mixed to yield a final product.

Abstract: A system for automatic micro and macro inspection of patterned wafers, including a X-Y stage for supporting and positioning a wafer at a macro inspection station and a micro inspection station, a plurality of cassettes for storing a plurality of patterned wafers before and after inspection, a transfer arm and apparatus for transferring a wafer from the cassettes to a predetermined location on the X-Y stage, apparatus for centering the wafer on the macro inspection station, apparatus for aligning the wafer to obtain a preselected orientation for macro inspection, an optical system for effecting macro inspection of the wafer and storing a unique image thereof, apparatus for moving the wafer from the macro inspection station to the micro inspection station so that the area of the wafer corresponding to the stored unique image is in a micro optical path, autofocus apparatus for automatically focusing the lowest magnification objective lens on the area of the wafer to derive a real time image, a comparitor for com

Abstract: Apparatus 20 for inspecting photomasks 26 and the like by comparison of duplicate die patterns, including improved defect detection. Two-dimensional pixel representations of two die patterns are formed, with pixels having values or black or white or shades or grey, depending upon the features of the die patterns. Defects in the die patterns are found by a defect detector circuit 60 at points of non-agreement between the pixel representations. Two window matrices 130 and 134 of adjacent pixels are defined for corresponding areas of the two die patterns. The center matrix of each window matrix is defined as a comparison matrix 132 and 136. An error value is computed for subsets of the window matrix by summing the squares of the differences between each of the pixel values of each subset and the corresponding pixel values of the opposite comparison matrix. If there is no defect and any misalignment between the two representations minimal, at least one error value will be less than a threshold error value.

Abstract: Optical inspection apparatus for detecting differences between two dies in a photomask and including a carriage for supporting the objects to be inspected and for simultaneously moving such objects along an inspection path, an illuminator for illuminating corresponding portions of the objects as they are moved along the inspection path, electro-optical detectors for individually inspecting the illuminated portions and for developing first and second electrical signals respectively corresponding thereto, electronic memories for storing the first and second electrical signals, a computer for scanning the memories and for electronically aligning a readout of the first signal relative to a readout of the second signal, and a comparator for comparing the electronically aligned signals and for indicating any differences therebetween.

Abstract: Optical inspection apparatus for detecting differences between two dies in a photomask and including a carriage for supporting the objects to be inspected and for simultaneously moving such objects along an inspection path, an illuminator for illuminating corresponding portions of the objects as they are moved along the inspection path, electro-optical detectors for individually inspecting the illuminated portions and for developing first and second electrical signals respectively corresponding thereto, electronic memories for storing the first and second electrical signals, a computer for scanning the memories and for electronically aligning a readout of the first signal relative to a readout of the second signal, and a comparator for comparing the electronically aligned signals and for indicating any differences therebetween.

Abstract: An automatic wafer loading and pre-alignment system for integrated circuit wafer-mask Aligners. A belt feed track system is employed to transport wafers from a "send" wafer storage carrier to a wafer pre-alignment station. The wafer is machanically pre-aligned with respect to the wafer chuck of the Aligner by means of a roller arm and flat-finder system. After completion of the pre-alignment process, the Aligner turntable is rotated to carry the pre-aligned wafer and chuck to the home position of the turntable and at the same time position another chuck at the pre-alignment station. If the new chuck at the pre-alignment station contains a wafer, the wafer is transported from the chuck to a "receive" wafer storage carrier by means of a belt return track system. The feed and return wafer belt track systems have a common portion between the pre-alignment station and the respective "send" and "receive" wafer storage carriers.