Abstract: A sealing member is provided, including a plurality of nodes and a plurality of antinodes. Each sealing member can be rotated to expose nondamaged lobes for sealing, and prevents the sealing member from falling out of the lobed groove. A chamber is provided, including a groove that the sealing member is placed in. A method of rotating and placing the sealing member is provided, including a rotation to expose nondamaged portions of the sealing member.

Abstract: A sealing member is provided, including a plurality of nodes and a plurality of antinodes. Each sealing member can be rotated to expose non-damaged lobes for sealing, and prevents the sealing member from falling out of the lobed groove. A chamber is provided, including a groove that the sealing member is placed in. A method of rotating and placing the sealing member is provided, including a rotation to expose nondamaged portions of the sealing member.

Abstract: A system for wireless communication comprising a plurality of wireless stations; each station configured to receive and transmit communications on at least one channel, each station comprising at least one processor and at least one memory operatively connected to the at least one processor; the at least one processor being configured to sense communications on the at least one channel and to wait a predetermined number of units of delay before transmitting a communication on the channel; the predetermined number of units of delay before transmission of the next communication being operatively associated with communications by the respective units.

Abstract: A system for wireless communication comprising a plurality of wireless stations; each station configured to receive and transmit communications on at least one channel, each station comprising at least one processor and at least one memory operatively connected to the at least one processor; the at least one processor being configured to sense communications on the at least one channel and to wait a predetermined number of units of delay before transmitting a communication on the channel; the predetermined number of units of delay before transmission of the next communication being operatively associated with communications by the respective units.

Abstract: A methodology is provided for optimizing circuit parameters of circuits including carbon nanotube transistors. The method comprises mapping (122) selected transistor design parameters (118), based on carbon nanotube process parameters (120) and selected circuit topologies (114), into carbon nanotube physical attributes. A circuit layout is generated (124) from the carbon nanotube physical attributes and simulated (128). The steps are repeated until circuit specifications (130) are met. The carbon nanotube physical attributes may include, for example, the catalyst width (74) for growing a plurality of carbon nanotubes (72) or number of segments in a serpentine electrode structure (88, 89, 90) contacting a single carbon nanotube (81).

Abstract: Energy consumption in a network is reduced by a first node transmitting a message at a first power level and determining if the message is received by a neighboring node of the network. The message is retransmitted at a higher power level if the message is not received by a neighboring node. A second node, in a neighborhood of the first node, selects one of two or more receiver sensitivity levels and senses the received signal strength of the message. The second node activates an energy-consuming functional element to decode the first message only if the received signal is above the selected receiver sensitivity level. The receiver sensitivity levels are selected in accordance with a selection process, such as a random process, that may be adapted.

Abstract: A current and/or voltage band gap reference circuit includes a current mirror circuit having first, second and third current outputs, a first resistive element, and first and second nanotube transistors. The nanotube diameter of the first transistor is different to the nanotube diameter of the second transistor, allowing variable band-gaps to be achieved. A method for designing the circuit includes selection of the nanotube diameters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for object-of-interest image de-blurring includes functions that determine (305, 310) an object region of an object-of-interest in an image that may be generated by image capture device (805), that determine (315, 825) a motion vector of the object-of-interest, that determine (325, 830) a scaling factor, and that generate (330) a de-blurred object region by processing the object region using a deconvolution filter (835) formulated from the motion vector and the scaling factor.

Abstract: An electronic device (1100) and a method for character segmentation (100) includes an image analyzer (1110) that generates individual character images. The image analyzer binarizes (115) a gray scale image (200) of a horizontal row of characters by using a general threshold method to generate a first image (300). The image analyzer also binarizes (120) the gray scale image using an edge detection method to generate a second image (405). The image analyzer determines (125) a character row region (425) of the second image by using horizontal projection analysis. The image analyzer isolates (130) the character row region of the first image using the character row region of the second image. The image analyzer uses the character row region to generate (135) individual character images. The electronic device may include an image capture device (1105) and a character recognition program (1115).

Abstract: A photodiode structure (300) includes a first plurality of co-located light band detectors that generate analog detector signals, a first multiplexing circuit (440) coupled to the first plurality of analog detector signals, which sequentially generates each of the first plurality of analog detector signals at a first multiplexed output (444), a second multiplexing circuit (445) coupled to a first plurality of reference signals, which sequentially generates at a second multiplexed output (449) each of the first plurality of reference signals in synchronism with the first multiplexed output (444); and a single digital pixel sensor circuit (315) having inputs coupled to the first and second multiplexed outputs, which sequentially generates a series of digital outputs based on the first and second multiplexed outputs (444. 449).

Abstract: A photodetector (105) generates an electrical signal that has a value that changes approximately linearly at a rate that is proportional to an amount of light intensity incident on a photodetector since a most recent reset command was received at a reset input of the photodetector. A measurement circuit (110) generates a comparison state that is based on a comparison of the value of the photodetector signal to a reference signal in response to one of a plurality a sample pulses. A control circuit (160) generates the plurality of sample pulses at non-uniform time intervals and generates an elapsed time as an accumulation of the non-uniform time intervals occurring from the reset command to a change of the comparison state. In one embodiment, the reciprocal of an accumulated duration of the non-uniform time intervals is a linear function of a number of time intervals after the reset command.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for object-of-interest image capture accomplishes the functions of capturing (120) a current image, determining (125) an object region of the object-of-interest in the current image, calculating (130) a contrast measurement of the object region, and identifying (135) the current image as having an optimized object region when an iteration measure meets a criterion. The current image is captured using a local exposure value determined from luminance readings of pixels within an object region of an object-of-interest of a previous image.

Abstract: A photodetector (105) generates an electrical signal that has a value that changes approximately linearly at a rate that is proportional to an amount of light intensity incident on a photodetector since a most recent reset command was received at a reset input of the photodetector. A measurement circuit (110) generates a comparison state that is based on a comparison of the value of the photodetector signal to a reference signal in response to one of a plurality a sample pulses. A control circuit (160) generates the plurality of sample pulses at non-uniform time intervals and generates an elapsed time as an accumulation of the non-uniform time intervals occurring from the reset command to a change of the comparison state. In one embodiment, the reciprocal of an accumulated duration of the non-uniform time intervals is a linear function of a number of time intervals after the reset command.

Abstract: A photodiode structure (300) includes a first plurality of co-located light band detectors that generate analog detector signals, a first multiplexing circuit (440) coupled to the first plurality of analog detector signals, which sequentially generates each of the first plurality of analog detector signals at a first multiplexed output (444), a second multiplexing circuit (445) coupled to a first plurality of reference signals, which sequentially generates at a second multiplexed output (449) each of the first plurality of reference signals in synchronism with the first multiplexed output (444); and a single digital pixel sensor circuit (315) having inputs coupled to the first and second multiplexed outputs, which sequentially generates a series of digital outputs based on the first and second multiplexed outputs (444. 449).

Abstract: A receiver (112, 412) and method for receiving signals within a system of space-frequency or space-time orthogonal frequency division multiplexed signals (OFDM) for transmitter diversity includes a signal processor (123, 423) for restoring a cyclic property to these signals to provide a reconstructed output signal. The signal processor (123, 423) performs cyclic reconstruction on the received signal based on channel impulse estimates and an iterative recovery process.

Abstract: A volume control circuit comprises a variable gain stage (306), having a variable gain, and an up/down counter (324) for counting. The counter (324) has a counter input (321) and a counter output (333) for providing a first word (333) for controlling the gain of the gain stage. A microprocessor interface (326) includes an interface output (323) for providing a second word. A digital magnitude comparator (333) compares the first (323) and second (333) words. The comparator having a first input (333) connected to the counter output, a second input connected to the interface output (323), and a comparator output connected to the counter input (321), provides a count signal (329) if the words do not match and for providing a non-count signal (329) if the words match. Thus, responsive to the count signal (329), the up/down counter (324), counts from the first word, in a direction approaching the second word by a least significant bit to form a new first word, for controlling the gain of the gain stage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the settling time of a switched-capacitor circuit (10) which includes at least one capacitor (20) having at least one terminal connected to a switch. The method comprises the step of clocking the switched-capacitor circuit at a switching clocking frequency. In response to a control signal (51), the at least one terminal of the at least one capacitor (20) is biased to a reference voltage potential.

Abstract: A switched capacitor circuit (10) is disclosed having reduced energy consumption. A variable bias (30) supplies an operating current (32) to the switched capacitor circuit (10). When the circuit (10) is not being utilized, the variable bias 30) supplies a lower, but non-zero current.

Abstract: Operational characteristics of a crystal reference element (10) are measured during a testing and grading process. Once determined, information representing these operational characteristics are stored in a memory means (16) within the crystal reference element. In this way, the operational characteristics particular to each crystal reference element may be readily retrieved and used to compensate an oscillator circuit (32).