Abstract: An automated pill order filling system includes a main conveyor and track running from a first end to a second end of the main conveyor. A plurality of pucks, each configured to hold a respective pill container, travel on the track. The system includes a first array of automatic pill dispensers, configured to dispense a first number of pills into a first designated pill container at a first fill rate. The system also includes a second array of automatic pill dispensers, disposed adjacent the first array of automatic pill dispensers, configured to dispense a second number of pills into a second designated pill container at a second fill rate that is lower than the first rate. The first and second arrays of automatic pill dispensers are configured to operate independently of one another.

Abstract: Microphones are used in acoustically insulated masks, headsets, phones and personal digital assistants. Frequently, the microphone provides an input to speech recognition software. The working environment is often humid and the speaker's mouth is in close proximity to the microphone. Frequently the signal suffers from clipping and distortion caused by the large signals and nonlinear response of the microphone circuitry. The claimed invention uses a resistor connected in parallel with the signal source to reduce its sensitivity and to produce a signal suitable for use with speech recognition software. The resistor can be varied for different speakers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for filtering an optical signal by wavelength. An initially polarised signal is passed through a DGD element effective to alter the polarisation state of the components of the signal according to wavelength. A polarisation filter (polariser) is then provided to attenuate light having given polarisation states from the signal, thereby attenuating the wavelengths associated with said polarisation states. The invention finds particularly utility in the domain of vestigial sideband filtering, allowing the bandwidth of signals within a wavelength division multiplexed system to be reduced without introducing the deleterious effects associated with conventional wavelength filters.

Abstract: Microphones are used in acoustically insulated masks to prevent the speaker's voice from being overheard by others. Frequently, the microphone provides an input to speech recognition software. The environment inside the mask is often humid and the speaker's mouth is in close proximity to the microphone. The shape of the mask's shell and the restricted volume within the shell introduce distortion and the signal suffers further from clipping and distortion caused by the large signals and nonlinear response of the microphone circuitry. The use of an electret microphone is particularly troublesome due to its high sensitivity. This invention uses a resistor connected in parallel with the microphone to reduce the sensitivity of an electret microphone used in these conditions and produces a signal suitable for use with speech recognition software. The resistor can be varied for different speakers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to projection systems where one or more projectors are utilized to project a video, a still image, or combinations thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods of calibrating and operating such systems. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of operating an image display system is provided. According to the method, one or more image sensors acquire respective overlapping portions I1, I2 of a projected image. Screen position coordinates for image fiducials in the first and second portions I1, I2 of the projected image are identified and used to establish first and second sets of distance metrics D1, D2 for the first and second portions of the projected image. A global point set is constructed from the first and second sets of distance metrics D1, D2. Global points within a region where the first and second portions I1, I2 of the projected image overlap are derived from only one of the first and second sets of distance metrics D1, D2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to projection systems where one or more projectors are utilized to project a video, a still image, or combinations thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods of calibrating and operating such systems. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of calibrating an image display system is provided. The system comprises one or more projectors oriented to project an image on a projection screen and one or more image sensors oriented to acquire an image projected on the projection screen. According to the method, the projector is operated to project a calibration image comprising one or more image fiducials on the image projection screen. The image sensor acquires the projected calibration image including the image fiducials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to multi-projector image rendering systems and methods for their operation. According to the present invention, a plurality of image projectors are coupled to an image processor and the system utilizes specialized image processing methodology to render an output image that is composed of pixels collectively rendered from the plural image projectors. As a result, the resolution of the rendered video can exceed the video resolution that would be available from a single projector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to projection systems where multiple projectors are utilized to create respective complementary portions of a projected image. More particularly, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of calibrating a multi-projector image display system is provided. According to the method, non-parametric calibration data for the display system is recovered and used to generate a non-parametric model of the display system. Local parametric models relating to the display surface of the projection screen are generated using canonical surface data representing the image projection screen. The local parametric models are compared with data points defined by the non-parametric calibration data to identify one or more local errors in the non-parametric calibration data.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to using methyl acetate from a vinyl acetate-based or a vinyl-or ethylene-alcohol based polymer or copolymer process directly for use in a methanol carbonylation production process to produce acetic acid, acetic anhydride, or a coproduction of each. Methyl acetate is a by-product of commercial polyvinyl-alcohol or alkene vinyl alcohol copolymer-based processes. Generally, this material is processed to recover methanol and acetic acid. Discussed herein is a cost-saving scheme to by-pass the methyl acetate processing at production or plant facilities and utilize the methyl acetate in an integrated methanol carbonylation unit. The scheme discussed eliminates an expensive hydrolysis step often associated with the polymer process.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to using methyl acetate from a vinyl acetate-based or a vinyl-or ethylene-alcohol based polymer or copolymer process directly for use in a methanol carbonylation production process to produce acetic acid, acetic anhydride, or a coproduction of each. Methyl acetate is a by-product of commercial polyvinyl-alcohol or alkene vinyl alcohol copolymer-based processes. Generally, this material is processed to recover methanol and acetic acid. Discussed herein is a cost-saving scheme to by-pass the methyl acetate processing at production or plant facilities and utilize the methyl acetate in an integrated methanol carbonylation unit. The scheme discussed eliminates an expensive hydrolysis step often associated with the polymer process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to projection systems where multiple projectors are utilized to create respective complementary portions of a projected image. The present invention also relates to methods of calibrating and operating individual image projectors. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an attenuation map is generated for the projectors and pixel intensity values are established for the projectors by applying one or more intensity transfer functions to the attenuation maps. The intensity transfer functions are configured to at least partially account for the non-linear response of the output intensity of the projectors, as a function of an input intensity control signal applied to the projectors. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: An optical communications system comprising: an optical input and an output, a source of input signals in an asymmetric format and having a duty cycle, a modulator for modulating the input signals, to produce an asymmetric signal, the modulator comprising a Mach-Zehnder interferometer; drive means for driving the modulator at a predetermined modulator drive voltage; bias means for applying a bias voltage to the modulator; adjustment means for adjusting a first variable chosen from one of the bias voltage, gain voltage, or duty cycle in response to the relationship existing between changes in the amplitude of the asymmetric signal and changes in the first variable, characterised in that the system further comprising varying means for varying a second variable, different to the first variable and chosen from one of the bias voltage, gain voltage or duty cycle in response to adjustments made to the first variable; and a monitor for recording the average optical output power.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for optimising the pulse shape of optical signals output from an optical transmitter. The optical transmitter includes an optical modulator controlled by a bias voltage and a signal drive level, wherein the bias voltage and signal drive level are controlled automatically in a systematic way in dependence on one another to adapt the pulse shape of an optical output signal for optimal transmission over a transmission line.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system for obtaining an enhanced estimate of bit error rate performance. A receiver module counts a predetermined number of bit errors and concurrently measures the time taken for the predetermined number of bit errors to occur. In this way an estimate of the bit error rate (BER) is obtained which has the same statistical weight regardless of the numerical value of the BER. The estimate of BER can subsequently be used to optimise the parameters of the system such that the true value of BER is at a minimum.

Abstract: When a door is open, at a hinge side of the space between the door and door frame a gap appears and this presents an opening into which a young child's hand or fingers can very easily be inserted. The invention provides a cover for this space which can help to reduce risk of injury if the door should be closed accidentally when a child's hand is present. A door safety device comprises a cover for the gap at the hinge side of a door (2) and door frame (4) combination, the cover comprising a strip of a rigid material which is flexible about its major axis, the strip having attachment means at its long edges so that one edge may be secured to the door (2) and the other edge to the door frame (4) of the combination, and the cover including fastener means (13) adjacent to one of its long sides such that the cover may be secured to a second similar cover in order to increase the effective width of the safety device.