Abstract: A method for generating animated sequences of talking heads in text-to-speech applications wherein a processor samples a plurality of frames comprising image samples. Representative parameters are extracted from the image samples and stored in an animation library. The processor also samples a plurality of multiphones comprising images together with their associated sounds. The processor extracts parameters from these images comprising data characterizing mouth shapes, maps, rules, or equations, and stores the resulting parameters and sound information in a coarticulation library. The animated sequence begins with the processor considering an input phoneme sequence, recalling from the coarticulation library parameters associated with that sequence, and selecting appropriate image samples from the animation library based on that sequence. The image samples are concatenated together, and the corresponding sound is output, to form the animated synthesis.

Abstract: A face feature analysis which begins by generating multiple face feature candidates, e.g., eyes and nose positions, using an isolated frame face analysis. Then, a nostril tracking window is defined around a nose candidate and tests are applied to the pixels therein based on percentages of skin color area pixels and nostril area pixels to determine whether the nose candidate represents an actual nose. Once actual nostrils are identified, size, separation and contiguity of the actual nostrils is determined by projecting the nostril pixels within the nostril tracking window. A mouth window is defined around the mouth region and mouth detail analysis is then applied to the pixels within the mouth window to identify inner mouth and teeth pixels and therefrom generate an inner mouth contour. The nostril position and inner mouth contour are used to generate a synthetic model head.

Abstract: A method for generating photo-realistic characters wherein one or more pictures of an individual are decomposed into a plurality of parameterized facial parts. The facial parts are stored in memory. To create animated frames, the individual facial parts are recalled from memory in a defined manner and overlaid onto a base face to form a whole face, which, in turn, may be overlaid onto a background image to form an animated frame.

Abstract: The container consists of two shells which face each other and are mounted to each other at their port edges by means of wedge type fastener structures. To this end each shell includes a plurality of semi-wedges arranged distributed along the circumference. Two opposite semi-wedges of the two shells complete themselves to a complete wedge. A separately provided wedge clams is slid over every complete wedge, which wedge clamp grips around the complete wedge and presses the two semi-wedges of each complete wedge and accordingly the two port edges together.

Abstract: A multi-modal method for locating objects in images wherein a tracking analysis is first performed using a plurality of channels which may comprise a shape channel, a color channel, and a motion channel. After a predetermined number of frames, intermediate feature representations are obtained from each channel and evaluated for reliability. Based on the evaluation of each channel, one or more channels are selected for additional tracking. The results of all representations are ultimately integrated into a final tracked output. Additionally, any of the channels may be calibrated using initial results obtained from one or more channels.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention locates facial features in an image by bandpass filtering the image and then performing morphological operations followed by a thresholding operation. This initial processing identifies candidate areas where facial features may be located. The candidate areas are evaluated by classifiers to determine if a facial feature, such as an eye or mouth, has been located.

Abstract: Noisy images of graphical or pictorial records, such as hand-written postal addresses, are cleaned by a method of analyzing the shapes of pixel clusters. According to such method, a set of structuring kernels is used to extract primitive shapes. The outcome of this extraction process is used to determine whether each pixel, in turn, is to be treated as part of a image element such as an alphanumeric character.

Abstract: In a gas turbine group which consists essentially of a compressor (2), a first combustion chamber (3), a first turbine (4), a second combustion chamber (5) and a second turbine (6), the first combustion chamber (3) is configured as an annular combustion chamber. This annular combustion chamber (3) is operated by a number of premixing burners (11) which are distributed at the periphery. The first turbine (4) is designed in such a way that its exhaust gases have a temperature level which is above the self-ignition temperature of the fuel (13) used in the second combustion chamber (5). This second combustion chamber (5) consists of a burnerless, annular combustion space in which a number of vortex-generating elements (14) are integrated. The turbomachines, namely compressor (2), first turbine (4) and second turbine (6) are disposed on a rotor shaft (1), this rotor shaft (1) being supported in two bearings (9, 15).

Abstract: In a gas turbine group which consists essentially of a compressor (2), a first combustion chamber (3), a first turbine (4), a second combustion chamber (5) and a second turbine (6), the first combustion chamber (3) is configured as an annular combustion chamber. This annular combustion chamber (3) is operated by a number of premixing burners (11) which are distributed at the periphery. The first turbine (4) is designed in such a way that its exhaust gases have a temperature level which is above the self-ignition temperature of the fuel (13) used in the second combustion chamber (5). This second combustion chamber (5) consists of a burnerless, annular combustion space in which a number of vortex-generating elements (14) are integrated. The turbomachines, namely compressor (2), first turbine (4) and second turbine (6) are disposed on a rotor shaft (1), this rotor shaft (1) being supported in two bearings (9, 15).

Abstract: Vehicle passenger collision protection device comprising an inflatable air bag and an acceleration sensor for determining the event of an impending accident and triggering the inflation of the air bag. The acceleration sensor is connected to the air bag inflation pyrotechnic propellant charge which expansion for the inflation of the air bag whereby the propellant is ignited by the appropriate sensor signal. The sensor activates a fan to run at its maximum power output to remove the combustion gases and particulates which escape from the air bag into the passenger space. The fan may be operated as a blower to force fresh air in or as an exhaust fan to suck contaminated air out of the passenger compartment. The fan is preferably the conventional fan associated with the air conditioning system provided in the vehicle. Alternately, a separate fan is connected to the existing ventilation system and may substitute for or supplement the first fan.

Abstract: In a fluid machine, for instance a hydrodynamic transmission, an injector means (31) including an adjusting member (32) acting as a throttle is provided upstream of the inlet (28) to the turbine wheel (23). At the injector means (31), two fluid components having different flow velocities are combined, one of said fluid components being a part of the total fluid flow which flows into the working part (23) and which is returned through a bypass passage (30) from the outlet (27) of the working part (23) to the inlet (28) thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the thickness of a tubular plastic layer during the process of its fabrication, which includes an ultrasonic transducer which generates a signal dependent on the thickness of the shape being measured while the shape is at a non-uniform condition of temperature, and circuitry for generating at least one signal from known process parameters, and an arithmetic unit for processing the signals derived as described above to generate an error signal which compensates for the influence of temperature on the test.

Abstract: A non-mechanical printer for use in an electrographic process comprising a drum-shaped data carrier, a recording head and a gas bearing for supporting the recording head on a cushion of gas in spaced relation to the data carrier. The data carrier is drum-shaped and the surfaces of the gas bearing which face the data carrier are correspondingly curved. The gas bearing includes porous walls for issuing pressurized gas toward the surface of the data carrier to produce the gas cushion.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for holographic storage of data utilizing a light source and a number of light deflectors such that a single beam can be used to read data from a number of different holograms simultaneously.