Abstract: A device contains a memory that stores a WOM codeword that encodes successive generations of data values. When the codeword must be updated to represent a new data value, the device determines which updates of the dataword can be realized by feasible single bit updates to the WOM (Write Once Memory) codeword. If no feasible single bit update is possible, feasible two-bit updates are considered. Under control of the new data values a connection circuit routes feasibility signals for various updates, that signal the single-bit feasibility of the updates. Routing brings together pairs of feasibility signals for updates that together produce a WOM codeword that encodes the new data value. A pair is selected in which both feasibility signals indicate feasibility and the codeword is updated according to the updates involved in the pair.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a thermoelectric device (10), in particular a thermoelectric generator (10), comprising a flexible foil (1) on which two groups (2, 3) of series-connected strip-shaped parts (2A, 3A) are formed, where the materials chosen for the two groups of parts (2A, 3A) are materials with a different thermoelectric coefficient and said two groups of parts are formed in a pattern (100) such that the connections (4) between one part (2A) of one group (2) and another part (3A) of the other group (3) are alternately positioned in two spaced apart areas (G1, G2) of the foil (1), and after the formation of the parts (2A, 3A) on a substrate (5), the foil (1) is attached to the stripshaped parts (2A, 3A), after which the substrate (5) is removed.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of searching for a final number of result strings (30-33) having a partial or an exact match with a query string (34) in a database (80) comprised of many long strings or a long string, said method includes the steps of partitioning the query string in a first number of input query strings (35, 36, 37); determining a second number of neighboring strings (38-41, 42-45, 44-49, respectively) for each string in said first number of input query strings, wherein each string in said second number of neighboring strings has a predetermined first number of errors; searching the database for a third number of exact matches (50-61, 70-74) for each string in said second number of neighboring strings based on a search method; concatenating said searched exact matched strings from the database into a fourth number of intermediate strings (29, 30, 32, 33, 34) wherein said searched exact matched strings (50-61, 70-74) comprised in each of said intermediate strings are in succession to one an

Abstract: This invention relates generally to devices for location positioning and more particularly relates to a system for identifying an environmental source emitting a base frequency and waveform signal. A sensor (101) records an environmental source (105) emitting a base frequency and waveform signal, the signal being amplified (102), digitized (103), processed and compared (104) with a stored unique waveform characteristic. On the basis of the comparison result(s), location positioning and/or a device orientation may be determined. The invention further relates to a method and a computer readable medium containing a program for making a processor carry out the method.

Abstract: A record carrier (1) is described which has a servo track (4) indicating an information track (9) intended for recording information blocks, which servo track (4) has a variation of a physical parameter, a so called wobble. The wobble is modulated for encoding record carrier information, such as addresses. The servo track is subdivided in modulated parts in which the frequency and/or phase of the variation deviates from the wobble frequency, and non-modulated parts. The slope of the wobble is substantially continuous at transitions between the modulated and non-modulated parts by using wobbles (25,26,27,28) starting at the maxima or minima of the wobble in the first part of the modulated parts.

Abstract: A device contains a memory that stores a WOM codeword that encodes successive generations of data values. When the codeword must be updated to represent a new data value, the device determines which updates of the dataword can be realized by feasible single bit updates to the WOM codeword. If no feasible single bit update is possible, feasible two-bit updates are considered. Under control of the new data values a connection circuit routes feasibility signals for various updates, that signal the single-bit feasibility of the updates. Routing brings together pairs of feasibility signals for updates that together produce a WOM codeword that encodes the new data value. A pair is selected in which both feasibility signals indicate feasibility and the codeword is updated according to the updates involved in the pair. Preferably, the routing is realized with a connection circuit that comprises a number of layers of subcircuits, each routing the feasibility signals dependent on a respective bit of the new dataword.

Abstract: A device contains a memory that stores a WOM codeword that encodes successive generations of data values. When the codeword must be updated to represent a new data value, the device determines which updates of the dataword can be realized by feasible single bit updates to the WOM codeword. If no feasible single bit update is possible, feasible two-bit updates are considered. Under control of the new data values a connection circuit routes feasibility signals for various updates, that signal the single-bit feasibility of the updates. Routing brings together pairs of feasibility signals for updates that together produce a WOM codeword that encodes the new data value. A pair is selected in which both feasibility signals indicate feasibility and the codeword is updated according to the updates involved in the pair. Preferably, the routing is realized with a connection circuit that comprises a number of layers of subcircuits, each routing the feasibility signals dependent on a respective bit of the new dataword.

Abstract: A system (100) has a storage medium (110) that contains a number of storage units (108). A multimedia title is stored in the storage medium (110) as a number of blocks, whereby some of the blocks are stored multiple times such that different storage units (108) contain a copy of that block. Retrieving blocks from the storage medium (110) for supply to a user is executed in cycles and the system has for some of the blocks the freedom to choose from which of the storage units (108) the block is retrieved in order to balance the load on the storage units (108). Furthermore, the system (100) is arranged to look ahead a number of cycles to determine what blocks in the near future are necessary and to retrieve these future blocks earlier if the storage units are not yet fully occupied. The additional freedom to schedule retrieval of a block at earlier moments in time provides a further mechanism to balance the load on the storage units.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating a serial bitstream comprising information for synchronizing the serial bitstream internally and/or to another serial bitstream and/or for determining the position in the serial bitstream wherein a fixed code pattern is embedded in the serial bitstream. In order to retrieve a synchronization information or to determine the position in the serial bitstream very fast after the start of reading the serial bitstream and at any time during reading the serial bitstream it is provided according to the invention that the code pattern is periodically repeated in the serial bitstream and that any sequence of a fixed number of successive bits of the code pattern forms a unique code word allowing for synchronization and/or position determination, even under the occurrence of bit errors.

Abstract: A device contains a memory that stores a WOM codeword that encodes successive generations of data values. When the codeword must be updated to represent a new data value, the device determines which updates of the dataword can be realized by feasible single bit updates to the WOM codeword. If no feasible single bit update is possible, feasible two-bit updates are considered. Under control of the new data values a connection circuit routes feasibility signals for various updates, that signal the single-bit feasibility of the updates. Routing brings together pairs of feasibility signals for updates that together produce a WOM codeword that encodes the new data value. A pair is selected in which both feasibility signals indicate feasibility and the codeword is updated according to the updates involved in the pair. Preferably, the routing is realized with a connection circuit that comprises a number of layers of subcircuits, each routing the feasibility signals dependent on a respective bit of the new dataword.

Abstract: A system (100) has a storage medium (110) that contains a number of storage units (108). A multimedia title is stored in the storage medium (110) as a number of blocks, whereby some of the blocks are stored multiple times such that different storage units (108) contain a copy of that block. Retrieving blocks from the storage medium (110) for supply to a user is executed in cycles and the system has for some of the blocks the freedom to choose from which of the storage units (108) the block is retrieved in order to balance the load on the storage units (108). Furthermore, the system (100) is arranged to look ahead a number of cycles to determine what blocks in the near future are necessary and to retrieve these future blocks earlier if the storage units are not yet fully occupied. The additional freedom to schedule retrieval of a block at earlier moments in time provides a further mechanism to balance the load on the storage units.