Abstract: A microfluidic detection unit comprises at least one fluid injection section, a fluid storage section and a detection section. Each fluid injection section defines a fluid outlet; the fluid storage section is in gas communication with the atmosphere and defines a fluid inlet; the detection section defines a first end in communication with the fluid outlet and a second end in communication with the fluid inlet. A height difference is defined between the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet along the direction of gravity. When a first fluid is injected from the at least one fluid injection section, the first fluid is driven by gravity to pass through the detection section and accumulate to form a droplet at the fluid inlet, such that a state of fluid pressure equilibrium of the first fluid is established.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems that perform VC-2 decoding are disclosed. In an embodiment, a VC-2 decoder includes three parallel data paths including top-band, current-band and bottom-band data paths. The top-band data path performs variable length decoding (VLD), inverse-quantization (IQ) and inverse-DC-prediction (IDCP) processing of a top compressed data-band. The current-band data path performs VLD, IQ and IDCP processing of a current compressed data-band. The bottom-band data path performs VLD, IQ and IDCP processing of a bottom compressed data-band. Additionally, the decoder includes a three-level inverse discrete wavelet transform (IDWT) module to perform IDWT processing to synthesize decoded source pixel values in dependence on partially-decompressed top, current and bottom data-bands produced using the three parallel data paths.

Abstract: A data de-shuffler includes a buffer having a set of addressable locations for storing data and control circuitry for de-shuffling a sequence of shuffled data samples. The control circuitry stores a first data sample of the sequence of shuffled data samples at a first location in the buffer with a first address generated from an entry in a look up table and stores a second data sample at a second location in the buffer with a second address generated by incrementing from the first address by a selected incrementation value. The first and second locations in the buffer place the first and second samples in corresponding positions in an un-shuffled sequence of samples.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety paper table includes two first table feet, two second table feet and a table top. The first table feet each have a main plate to both sides of which two attachment flaps with half the width of the main plate and with the same locking structure created in a manner of mirror activities are connected, respectively. Besides, Long and short locking slots with openings directed downwardly are symmetrically disposed at both sides of the main plate. In addition, indentations are formed at the bottom of the main plate adjacent to the long locking slots such that locking heads are created at the outer side of the indentations. Moreover, a pair of locking members are disposed at the center of the top of the main plate. Each locking member has a mounting slot with an opening directed downwardly. Meanwhile, the locking member is connected with the main plate through side interconnection members.

Abstract: Digital video signal processor scales in spatial and temporal domains. Linear, time-varying filter provides variable-size scaling of progressive and interlace-scan formats. Temporally, frame-rate conversion is accomplished using motion compensation. Vertical line-doubling and de-interlacing is achieved with line-based motion estimation. Bilinear interpolation provides low filtering distortion; other linear and spline functions are implemented using equivalent control functionality and arithmetic datapaths.

Abstract: A digital signal processor encodes video signals per MPEG standard to achieve multi-stage, low-complexity motion estimation for interframe video coding. A dual-stage motion prediction module processes a compressed bitstream through pixel-averaging, and then applies a Sum-Of-Absolute-Difference (SOAD) function to the bitstream. A minimum motion vector signal is thereby generated over a search range initially for rough determination, then to provide a more refined estimation, the SOAD function is re-applied to the surrounding 16.times.16 blocks, preferably by full and half-pel vertical and horizontal offsets.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for combining video signals from multiple users in a continuous presence video conferencing system. Video signals are received from each of a number of different system users. The signals include input frames each having a number of different groups-of-blocks (GOBs). The GOBs correspond to hierarchically organized video data and header information. The input frame GOBs are used to form a composite output video signal suitable for transmission to each of the system users. An output frame of the composite output signal incorporates at least one of the GOBs from the input frames of each of the users and less than all of the GOBs from the input frame of at least one of the users. The resulting output video signal provides flexible continuous presence video conferencing in which video signals from multiple users may be simultaneously displayed to all users in a selected divided-screen format.

Abstract: Four QCIF video input signals generated by participants in a multiparty video conference are combined in the coded domain to produce a merged CIF video output signal. When the CIF video output signal is transmitted back to each party's video terminal, a combined 2.times.2 image is displayed. A video signal combiner (700) combines the input video signals in the coded domain by time-division multiplexing the inputs at the GOB level. In order to maintain frame synchronization between the inputs which may be arriving at different frame repetition rates, the combiner stores the inputs in buffers (706-709) and processes (710) the temporal reference (TR) numbers associated with each frame in each input before merging the GOBs from each input in accordance with the processed TR number. Specifically, the TR of each input is offset by an initial TR number associated with each input and determined at turn-on. The offset TR in each input is then mapped onto a scale of TR numbers that is common to each input.

Abstract: A sub-band coder for video signals is disclosed, which is easily realizable in VLSI due to its simple structure. The coder uses sets of two-tap finite impulse response (FIR) filters having equal-magnitude coefficients to decompose the video signal at multiple stages. In the preferred embodiment the sub-band coder has an asymmetrical structure. With the arrangement, the sub-band decomposition effects what is equivalent to a multiple block-size Hadamard transform of the video signal in which coefficients are transmitted from various block-sized transforms of larger blocks of pixel data.