Abstract: Method for extending battery life and a capsule endoscope using the method are disclosed. According to this method, a peak current in a current profile consumed by the capsule endoscope is identified, where the peak current is contributed by at least two sub-tasks associated with operations of the capsule endoscope and said at least two sub-tasks are performed overlapping in time. A running voltage indicating a battery output voltage at or near time instances of the peak current is determined. When the running voltage a condition caused by IR (battery internal-resistance) voltage drop, the sub-tasks are adjusted to reduce overlapping so as to reduce the peak current to a second peak current. According to another method, at least one sub-task is switched to another sub-task when the running voltage is below a threshold.

Abstract: Method for leveraging battery residue energy and a capsule endoscope using the method are disclosed. The capsule endoscope is capable of performing one or more functions at a first throughput or a first peak current when the battery has sufficient energy. According to this method, whether the battery energy is sufficient is determined. Upon determining the battery energy being insufficient, at least one function of the one or more functions is performed at a second throughput lower than the first throughput, or at least one function of the one or more functions is switched to another function requiring a second peak current lower than the first peak current.

Abstract: Method for leveraging battery residue energy and a capsule endoscope using the method are disclosed. The capsule endoscope is capable of performing one or more functions at a first throughput or a first peak current when the battery has sufficient energy. According to this method, whether the battery energy is sufficient is determined.

Abstract: An electrical plug for testing an electrical mains socket is provided. The plug comprises a pin for engagement with a pin receptor of the mains socket. The pin comprises first and second electrical contacts, each comprising a surface portion to engage with a different respective region of the receptor. The first and second contacts are electrically isolated from one another at the pin. An electrical testing system and a method of testing an electrical mains socket is provided. The testing system comprises the electrical plug and a first circuit connected to the contacts and configured to measure an electrical resistance therebetween. The method includes providing the electrical plug and measuring an electrical resistance between the electrical contacts. A further method is provided for testing an electrical mains plug comprising a pin, by providing an electrical socket with a pin receptor having first and second regions electrically isolated from one another.

Abstract: Method for extending battery life and a capsule endoscope using the method are disclosed. According to this method, sub-tasks associated with capturing one image using the capsule endoscope when the capsule endoscope moves through a human GI (gastrointestinal) tract after being ingested by a human subject are identified. The capsule endoscope is capable of capturing an image sequence at a first frame period, and at least two sub-tasks are performed with partial or full overlap. One or more images are captured at a second frame period by performing sub-task spreading, where the sub-task spreading spreads the sub-tasks over time to reduce or avoid the partial or full overlap for said at least two sub-tasks so as to reduce a sub-task peak current or peak current duration. The second frame period is longer than the first frame period.

Abstract: A method of blocking apps and/or features on a smart device is provided. The smart device may include a GPS receiver and one or more wireless receiver devices. The method may include: detecting, by a control app running on the smart device, movement of the smart device into or out of a predetermined region based on data received by the GPS receiver and/or one or more of the wireless receiver devices; and blocking one or more apps and/or features on the smart device when the smart device is within the predetermined region. The method may include determining a current time; and wherein the one or more apps and/or features is blocked when both the smart device is within the predetermined region and the current time is within a predetermined time period. Also provided is a smart device, a server, and a system including a smart device and a server.

Abstract: A method of processing images captured using an endoscope comprising a camera is disclosed. According to this method, regular images captured by the camera are received while the endoscope travels through a human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The regular images are mosaicked to determine any missed or insufficiently imaged area in a section of the human GI tract already travelled by the endoscope. If any missed or insufficiently imaged area is detected, information regarding any missed or insufficiently imaged area is provided. When a target area in the regular images is lack of parallax, the target area is determined as one missed area and an edge corresponding to a structure of the human lumen is highlighted. For a capsule endoscope, the endoscope can be configured to be controlled or steered to move so as to re-image the missed or insufficiently imaged area.

Abstract: A method of processing images captured using an endoscope comprising a camera is disclosed. According to this method, regular images captured by the camera are received while the endoscope travels through a human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The regular images are mosaicked to determine any missed or insufficiently imaged area in a section of the human GI tract already travelled by the endoscope. If any missed or insufficiently imaged area is detected, information regarding any missed or insufficiently imaged area is provided. When a target area in the regular images is lack of parallax, the target area is determined as one missed area and an edge corresponding to a structure of the human lumen is highlighted. For a capsule endoscope, the endoscope can be configured to be controlled or steered to move so as to re-image the missed or insufficiently imaged area.

Abstract: A method of processing images captured using an endoscope comprising a camera is disclosed. According to this method, regular images captured by the camera are received while the endoscope is maneuvered by an operator to travel through a human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The regular images are mosaicked to determine any missed or insufficiently imaged area in a section of the human GI tract already travelled by the endoscope. If any missed or insufficiently imaged area is detected, information regarding any missed or insufficiently imaged area is provided to the operator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating or measuring a physical area or physical volume of an object of interest in one or more images captured using an endoscope are disclosed. According to the present method, one or more structured-light images and one or more regular images captured using an imaging apparatus are received. An object of interest in the regular images is determined. Distance information associated with the object of interest with respect to the imaging apparatus is derived from the structured-light images. The physical area size or physical volume size of the object of interest is determined based on the regular images and the distance information. The imaging apparatus can be a capsule endoscope or an insertion endoscope.

Abstract: Systems and methods for storing a liquid include a container including a body portion defining an internal chamber and at least one opening in communication with the internal chamber, and an insertable plug including a plug body with two rings attached to the plug body via hinges, the insertable plug configured to be inserted into the opening so that a portion of the plug body covers a lip of the opening to restrict access through the opening to the liquid contained in the internal chamber, wherein the hinges can be deformed to raise the two rings away from the plug body. An insertable plug for a container can include a cylindrical plug body, and two rings attached to the plug body by hinges, wherein the hinges can bend to orient the rings towards or away from the plug body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating or measuring a physical area or physical volume of an object of interest in one or more images captured using an endoscope are disclosed. According to the present method, an object of interest in an image or images is determined. Also, the endoscope captures one or more structured-light images to derive distance information associated with the object of interest with respect to the camera of the endoscope. The physical area size or physical volume size of the object of interest is then determined based on the image or images, and the distance information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating or measuring a physical area or physical volume of an object of interest in one or more images captured using an endoscope are disclosed. According to the present method, one or more structured-light images and one or more regular images captured using an imaging apparatus are received. An object of interest in the regular images is determined. Distance information associated with the object of interest with respect to the imaging apparatus is derived from the structured-light images. The physical area size or physical volume size of the object of interest is determined based on the regular images and the distance information. The imaging apparatus can be a capsule endoscope or an insertion endoscope.

Abstract: Systems and methods for storing a liquid include a container including a body portion defining an internal chamber and at least one opening in communication with the internal chamber, and an insertable plug including a plug body with two rings attached to the plug body via hinges, the insertable plug configured to be inserted into the opening so that a portion of the plug body covers a lip of the opening to restrict access through the opening to the liquid contained in the internal chamber, wherein the hinges can be deformed to raise the two rings away from the plug body. An insertable plug for a container can include a cylindrical plug body, and two rings attached to the plug body by hinges, wherein the hinges can bend to orient the rings towards or away from the plug body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating or measuring a physical area or physical volume of an object of interest in one or more images captured using an endoscope are disclosed. According to the present method, an object of interest in an image or images is determined. Also, the endoscope captures one or more structured-light images to derive distance information associated with the object of interest with respect to the camera of the endoscope. The physical area size or physical volume size of the object of interest is then determined based on the image or images, and the distance information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating or measuring a physical area or physical volume of an object of interest in one or more images captured using an endoscope are disclosed. According to the present method, an object of interest in an image or images is determined. Also, distance information associated with the object of interest with respect to an image sensor of the endoscope is received. The physical area size or physical volume size of the object of interest is then determined based on the image or images, and the distance information.

Abstract: A method of blocking apps and/or features on a smart device is provided. The smart device may include a GPS receiver and one or more wireless receiver devices. The method may include: detecting, by a control app running on the smart device, movement of the smart device into or out of a predetermined region based on data received by the GPS receiver and/or one or more of the wireless receiver devices; and blocking one or more apps and/or features on the smart device when the smart device is within the predetermined region. The method may include determining a current time; and wherein the one or more apps and/or features is blocked when both the smart device is within the predetermined region and the current time is within a predetermined time period. Also provided is a smart device, a server, and a system including a smart device and a server.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing an image sequence using a capsule camera are disclosed. According to the present invention, a first energy-based frame time for the special images is determined based on first light energy perceived by the image sensor and a second energy-based frame time for the regular images is determined based on second light energy perceived by the image sensor. The capsule camera captures the image sequence comprising one or more sets of mixed-type images by configuring the capsule camera to cause a mixed-frame distance between the first energy-based frame time for one special image in a target set of mixed-type images and the second energy-based frame time for one regular image in the target set of mixed-type images smaller than an average frame period.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating or measuring a physical area or physical volume of an object of interest in one or more images captured using an endoscope are disclosed. According to the present method, an object of interest in an image or images is determined. Also, distance information associated with the object of interest with respect to an image sensor of the endoscope is received. The physical area size or physical volume size of the object of interest is then determined based on the image or images, and the distance information.

Abstract: An endoscopy capsule having an image collecting capacity includes a deformable member configured to inflate when exposed to body liquid. The deformable member includes an effervescent material. When the effervescent reacts with water the resulting Carbon-Dioxide gas reduces the specific gravity of the endoscopy capsule. The capsule is contained within a shell or dome when swallowed. The shell or dome is configured dissolve in either a low or high pH environment.