Abstract: A method and system for real time luminance correction and detail enhancement of a video image including the steps of extracting a luminance component from a video image, separating the luminance component into an illumination layer and a scene reflectivity layer, the illumination layer having a dynamic range, compressing the dynamic range of the illumination layer to generate a corrected illumination layer, filtering the reflectivity layer to generate an enhanced reflectivity layer; and combining the corrected illumination layer with the enhanced scene reflectivity layer to generate an enhanced luminance image, is provided. A system for real time luminance correction and detail enhancement of a video image is also provided.

Abstract: A stable, controlled release formulation for oral dosing of vitamin D compounds is disclosed. The formulation is prepared by incorporating one or more vitamin D compounds into a solid or semi-solid mixture of waxy materials. Oral dosage forms can be prepared by melt-blending the components described herein and filling gelatin capsules with the formulation.

Abstract: A gaming machine has a standard game play mode, and a bonus feature game play mode. The bonus feature mode includes a win chain counter having an integer value. During standard game play mode, the user interface randomly displays a matrix of symbols and the computer calculates the wins based on the matrix of symbols. On appearance of a predetermined number of scatter symbols, bonus feature play commences and a the win chain counter is initialized. During bonus feature play, a winning spin initializes a first win chain, and a first non-winning spin decrements the win chain counter value, after a first win chain is initialized, and prior to a non-winning spin, winning spins are added to the first win chain. Subsequent win chains are generated and terminated by a non-winning spin until the win chain counter is decremented to zero. Then bonus feature game play terminates.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a RF ion guide wherein in a mode of operation a continuous, quasi-continuous or pulsed beam of ions is orthogonally sampled from the ion guide and wherein the continuous, quasi-continuous or pulsed beam of ions is not axially trapped or otherwise axially confined within the RF ion guide. The ion guide is maintained, in use, at a pressure selected from the group consisting of: (i) 0.0001-0.001 mbar; (ii) 0.001-0.01 mbar; (iii) 0.01-0.1 mbar; (iv) 0.1-1 mbar; (v) 1-10 mbar; (vi) 10-100 mbar; and (vii) >100 mbar.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for facilitating the creation of electronic content on an editing canvas are disclosed. One example involves displaying an editing canvas on a touch screen of an electronic device, displaying a touch block object overlaying a portion of the editing canvas, wherein the touch block object blocks unintentional touches in an area of the touch screen associated with the touch block object, and changing a position of the touch block object with respect to the editing canvas responsive to receiving touch input on the touch screen to change the position of the touch block object. The touch block object may provide easy and convenient access to one or more editing tools or other feature for editing content on the canvas.

Abstract: An electromagnetic braking system of a power generation system includes an electrically conductive disc coupled to a rotatable shaft operatively coupled between a prime mover and a generator; a controller for receiving a status signal from the power generation system and for generating a control signal based on the status signal; and an inducting unit for applying an electromagnetic braking force on the electrically conductive disc when commanded by the control signal to regulate a rotational speed of the rotatable shaft.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bending transducer having a drive element and a membrane includes providing the membrane and the drive element and applying a production signal to the drive element during a bonding of the drive element to the membrane such that the drive element is pre-stressed after the bonding, wherein the production signal is of a same kind as an operation signal to operate the bending transducer.

Abstract: Sondes and sonde arrays for use with portable buried object locating systems are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides an illumination device comprising a pump light source and a phosphor wheel. The phosphor wheel comprises at least two segmented phosphor layers. The front surfaces of the phosphor layers do not form a common plane, but instead a kind of relief in which the surfaces of the phosphor layers extend in different imaginary planes. When the phosphor wheel rotates through a beam waist of the pump. light, in this way the size of the pump light spot and therefore also the power density distribution of the pump light on the respective phosphor layer are adapted.

Abstract: A technique for operating an RNC of a communication network during a soft handover process of a mobile terminal between a first BS and at least one second BS that are connected to the RNC is provided. A method implementation of the technique comprises receiving, at a MAC protocol layer of the RNC, a first data frame stream from the first BS via a first data path and a second data frame stream from the second BS via a second data path. A relative delay between the data frames of the first and the second data frame stream regarding their arrival at the RNC is determined. The relative delay takes into account different systematic propagation durations from the first BS and the second BS to the RNC. At then the MAC protocol layer, data frames of the first and the second data frame stream are then merged into a third data frame stream which is transmitted to a protocol layer above the MAC protocol layer. The merging of the data frames is carried out in dependence on the relative delay.

Abstract: A computed tomography system is disclosed, along with a method and computer program product. An embodiment uses such a spiral acquisition to reconstruct a spatial three-dimensional image of the examination region. The method also includes establishing a topogram of the examination region by parallel projection of the image along a projection direction. An embodiment of the invention allows distortion-free acquisition of a topogram, as a reconstructed spatial three-dimensional image can simply be projected in a parallel manner along a projection direction. An embodiment also allows multiple topograms to be established easily with just one acquisition, in that the reconstructed image of the examination region is projected in a parallel manner along different directions. An embodiment of the invention also allows particularly fast acquisition of a topogram, in particular in the clinical environment, as the rotating part of the gantry does not have to be stopped for the spiral acquisition.

Abstract: A method of dicing semiconductor devices includes depositing a continuous first layer over the substrate, such that the first layer imparts a compressive stress to the substrate, and etching grooves in the first layer to increase local stress at the grooves compared to stress at the remainder of the first layer located over the substrate. The method also includes generating a pattern of defects in the substrate with a laser beam, such that a location of the defects in the pattern of defects substantially corresponds to a location of at least some of the grooves in the in the first layer, and applying pressure to the substrate to dice the substrate along the grooves.

Abstract: An electric resonant circuit is provided in a receiving part of a coupling for a fluid line, the resonant circuit interacting with a tuning device in a contactless manner. In an intermediate position of an insert part, which differs from a closed position, the resonant circuit has a resonant frequency that differs from the characteristic closure frequency, and in the closed position the resonant circuit has the characteristic closure frequency. The tuning device acts on the inductance of the electric resonant circuit. An acting part is provided that mechanically acts on the coil when the insert part is inserted into the receiving part such that the shape of the coil in the closed position differs from the shape of the coil in the intermediate position.

Abstract: Apparatus for increasing the efficiency of a starter battery for a starter motor of an internal combustion engine in a battery pack arrangement with one or more lithium based cells. The invention includes a solid state switching configuration for high powered battery systems for protecting against over-charging, over-discharging and short circuiting of batteries, especially starter batteries for internal combustion engines.

Abstract: The invention relates to chemical compounds, compositions and methods of making and using the same. In particular, the invention provides selected pyridazine compounds of the formula I wherein R1, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R12, R13 ET R14 are independently hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylene, alkenylene, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, cycloalkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, arylalkoxy, aroyl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, acyl, acyloxy, amino, imino, azido, thiol, thioallyl, thioalkoxy, thioaryl, nitro, cyano, halo, sulfate, sulfonyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, sultanate, sulfoxide, silyl, silyloxy, silylalkyl, silylthio, ?O, ?S, phosphonate, ureido, carboxyl, carbonyl, carbamoyl, or carboxamide; and X is optionally substituted pyrimidinyl or pyridazinyl, an isomer, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or derivative thereof.

Abstract: An array data processor employs a plurality of address generators for communicating between groups of the data processors and external devices. In another aspect, the data processor employs a buffer system having a plurality of pointers that allow for retransmission of data from the buffer upon transfer failure.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for increasing the transmissibility of forces produced by an actuator on a manipulandum. A haptic device, coupled to a host computer, outputs tactile sensations to a user based on interactions and events occurring in a displayed graphical environment. An actuator produces forces and a compliant suspension couples the actuator to the manipulandum. A compliance of the suspension is configured such that the suspension magnifies the forces for a particular frequency range of the forces. The magnified forces are transmitted to the manipulandum to be felt by the user.

Abstract: Herbicide combinations comprising an effective amount of components (A) and (B), where component (A) is/are one or more herbicides of the formula (I) or salts thereof, in which R1 is H or a group of the formula CZ1Z2Z3, where Z1, Z2 and Z3 are as defined in claim 1, R2 and R3 are each H, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkynyl having in each case up to 4 carbon atoms or acyl, R4 is H, (C1-C6)-alkyl or (C1-C6)-alkoxy; R5, R6, R7 and R8 are each H, (C1-C4)-alkyl, (C1-C3)-haloalkyl, halogen, (C1-C3)-alkoxy, (C1-C3)-haloalkoxy or cyano; A is CH2 or O or a direct bond, and the component (B) is one or more herbicides from the group of compounds consisting of (B1) thiencarbazone, tembotrione, SYN-523, pyroxsulam, penoxsulam, SYN-449, (B2) pyrasulfotole, trifloxysulfuron, saflufenacil, aminopyralid, ethofumesate, aminocyclopyrachlor and (B3) pyroxasulfone (KIH-485) are suitable for controlling harmful plants or for regulating the growth of plants.