Abstract: Methods and apparatus for synthesizing images from two or more existing images are described. The described embodiment makes use of an illumination model as a mathematical model to combine the images. A first of the images is utilized as an object color or color source (i.e. the foreground) for a resultant image that is to be formed. A second of the images (utilized as the background or texture) is utilized as a perturbation source. In accordance with the described embodiment, the first image is represented by a plane that has a plurality of surface normal vectors. Aspects of the second image are utilized to perturb or adjust the surface normal vectors of the plane that represents the first image. Perturbation occurs, in the described embodiment, by determining individual intensity values for corresponding pixels of the second image. The intensity values are mapped to corresponding angular displacement values.

Abstract: An power supply apparatus for the input harmonic current suppression, input power factor compensation, and an output voltage regulation and a method thereof is provided. The power supply apparatus electrically connected to a AC power has a first power converter electrically connected in parallel with the AC power for providing a first compensating voltage and controlling the first compensating voltage to reduce harmonic components of an input current so as to cause the input current as a substantial sinusoidal wave and in phase with the input voltage, and a second power converter electrically connected in series with an output end of the power supply apparatus for providing a second compensating voltage in order to maintain the output voltage at a desired level and waveform. The related methods are also discussed.

Abstract: The described arrangements and procedures provide an intelligent media agent to autonomously collect semantic multimedia data text descriptions on behalf of a user whenever and wherever the user accesses media content. The media agent analyzes these semantic multimedia data text descriptions in view of user behavior patterns and actions to assist the user in identifying multimedia content and related information that is appropriate to the context within which the user is operating or working. For instance, the media agent detects insertion of text and analyzes the inserted text. Based on the analysis, the agent predicts whether a user intends to access media content. If so, the agent retrieves information corresponding to media content from a media content source and presents the information to a user as a suggestion.

Abstract: An power supply apparatus for the input harmonic current suppression, input power factor compensation, and an output voltage regulation and a method thereof is provided. The power supply apparatus electrically connected to a AC power has a first power converter electrically connected in parallel with the AC power for providing a first compensating voltage and controlling the first compensating voltage to reduce harmonic components of an input current so as to cause the input current as a substantial sinusoidal wave and in phase with the input voltage, and a second power converter electrically connected in series with an output end of the power supply apparatus for providing a second compensating voltage in order to maintain the output voltage at a desired level and waveform. The related methods are also discussed.

Abstract: Text features corresponding to pieces of media content (e.g., images, audio, multimedia content, etc.) are extracted from media content sources. One or more text features (e.g., one or more words) for a piece of media content are extracted from text associated with the piece of media content and text feature vectors generated therefrom and used during subsequent searching. Additional low-level feature vectors may also be extracted from the piece of media content and used during the subsequent searching. Relevance feedback can also be received from a user(s) identifying the relevance of pieces of media content rendered to the user in response to his or her search request. The relevance feedback is logged and can be used in determining how to respond to subsequent search requests, such as by modifying feature vectors (e.g., text feature vectors) corresponding to the pieces of media content for which relevance feedback is received.

Abstract: A covering lock for an automobile steering wheel includes a cover and an anti-theft rod. The cover has a circumferential U-shaped hook to hook around the steering wheel of a car and the anti-theft rod able to be locked with the cover and extending rearward to prevent the steering wheel from rotated. Then the covering lock not only locks the steering wheel but also prevents a safety air bag fixed on the steering wheel from stolen.

Abstract: A lock housing for an automobile steering lock device has a heat-treated, very hard protective cylinder between a cylindrical wall of the housing and the lock. The lock has a rod-shaped dead bolt extending in a same-shaped hollow space in the housing to extend into one of the grooves in an elongate rod member to immovably lock the rod member in an elongate tubular member in any one of a plurality of positions.

Abstract: A card lock and a punchable key card having a key card having through holes in the coordinating locatins to and the same number as long pin tumblers provided in a card lock for unlocking the lock without electric power, and a card lock having a plurality of pin tumblers--some long and some short mixed regularly or irregularly--and a dead bolt mover having through holes for the pin tumblers to fit and move is disclosed. The key card functions to push up the short pin tumblers to make the upper ends of all the pin tumblers become positioned in the same level as the upper surface of the dead bolt mover so that the dead bolt mover can be pushed further inward from the locked position to the unlocked position by the key card to retract the dead bolt to unlock the card lock.

Abstract: An anti-theft device for attachment to a steering wheel of an automobile comprising a U-shaped solid pressing rod, two vertical elongated pinching plates welded in parallel with two ends of the U-shaped rod, a socket having a passageway for an insertable lock to insert therein and a insertable lock having one or more elastically retractable projections and an extensible rod. The two vertical pinching plates are placed to pinch a portion of a steering wheel of an automobile and the lock is to be inserted in the passageway in the socket, with the projection(s) engaging the notch(es) in the end surface of the socket and the end of the extensible rod engaging the through hole in the rear pinching plate to lock this device by turning a key inserted in the lock.

Abstract: A car lock to be mounted on the steering wheel comprising a handle with a front grooved section, a tubular lock base comprising a hollow passage linked with a tube linked with a screwed rod, and a lock fixed on the lock base. A hook is fixed on the handle to be hooked on the steering wheel to keep it from turning around with help of the screwed rod. The handle has its front grooved section mounted for movement in the hollow passage and the tube of the lock base, and can be pulled down in relation to the lock base to position the hook on the steering wheel and then lock the lock, whose dead bolt then sticks in one of the grooves in the grooved section of the handle making the steering wheel impossible to turn.

Abstract: An automobile steering lock comprising an elongated tubular member having a central passage extending along an axis there-through, an elongated rod member telescopically movable in the central passage of the tubular member, a hook on the tubular member and a hook or the rod member for engaging opposed portions of a steering wheel, a lock housing for containing a key lock having a bearing to prop up a latch bolt having at least two humps for engaging any two adjacent annular grooves on the rod member to immovably lock the rod member in relation to the tubular member.

Abstract: An extensible car lock comprising a lock handle and an extensible rod assembled with the lock handle and inserted extensible in the interior of the lock handle such that the whole length of the car lock can be adjusted by pulling the extensible rod outward or inward to mount this car lock on the steering wheel with help of two hooks provided on the lock handle and the extensible rod, and then the dead bolt of the lock provided at the front end of the lock handle can be extended through a hole in the lock handle and one of the plurality of dead bolt holes in the extensible rod for locking the car lock on the steering wheel.