Abstract: A method for enhancing solid state polymerization of polyethylene terephthalate is disclosed in which at least one monomeric unit of diacid and/or dimethyl ester comprising at least one pendant chemical side group is copolymerized with a diol and a diacid or a dimethyl ester. The at least one pendant chemical side group may include groups chosen from tertiary butyl, hexyl, pentyl, butyl, propyl, ethyl, methyl, nitrosyl (NO2) and sulfonyl (SO2) groups.

Abstract: An electrical control unit preferably can control operation of a paintball gun having a solenoid valve with an input port that receives compressed gas from a compressed gas supply and an output port connected to a pneumatic mechanism. For instance, the electrical control unit can contain a network of electronic components configured to receive an input signal from a trigger-actuated switch and send a signal to the solenoid valve. The solenoid valve can, for instance, direct compressed gas to and/or from the pneumatic mechanism to operate a bolt or firing valve connected to the pneumatic mechanism in response to the signal from the electrical control unit.

Abstract: A method for removing streaks from a scanned image includes performing a scanner light source OFF scan to generate a dark image having M rows of pixels and N+W columns of pixels; generating a line noise profile for the N columns of pixels of the dark image; performing a scanner light source ON scan to generate a regular image having M rows of pixels and N+W columns of pixels; processing the W columns of pixels of the regular image to detect a magnitude of the streak in the regular image; use the magnitude of the streak and the line noise profile to predict an amount of dark noise removal for each of the N columns of pixels of the regular image at the location of the streak; and subtracting the predicted amount of dark noise removal for each of the N columns of pixels from the respective N columns of pixels of the regular image.

Abstract: A method of bit depth reduction for an apparatus includes establishing a human visual response versus relative luminance, the human visual response being defined by 2M levels; determining a scanner response versus the relative luminance for at least one channel of scanner data, the scanner response being represented by N-bit per channel data, wherein N is greater than M; relating the human visual response to the scanner response; and quantizing the N-bit per channel data to M-bit per channel data according to the human visual response.

Abstract: A volume restrictor can be provided for a pneumatic paintball gun to reduce the volume of compressed gas available within a compressed gas storage area for a firing operation of the paintball gun. In one embodiment, the volume restrictor includes a body having a forward end and a rearward end. A forward sealing member can be arranged on the forward end to seal around a bolt of the paintball gun. A rearward sealing member can be arranged on the rearward end of the body to seal against a rearward endwall of the compressed gas storage area. By placing the volume restrictor within the compressed gas storage area of the paintball gun, the volume of compressed gas available for a firing operation is reduced, thereby requiring an increased operating pressure to achieve the same paintball velocity. The increased chamber pressure can result in a shorter recharge time and less velocity drop off in successive shots.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for controlling the data rates for communications to and from a base station and a plurality of remote users. The usage of the communications resource whether the forward link resource (from base station to remote users) or reverse link resource (from remote users to base station) is measured. The measured usage value is compared against at least one predetermined threshold value and the data rates of communications or a subset of communications on said communications resource is modified in accordance with said comparisons.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively producing one or more of a plurality of wavelength distributions of radiation. The apparatus comprises a primary UV radiation source and one or more wavelength transforming materials separated from the primary UV radiation source, that in response to irradiation by the primary UV radiation source, produce transformed radiation having a wavelength distribution that is different from the wavelength distribution of the primary UV radiation source. None, one, or more than one of the various WT materials can be selected by the apparatus, to allow the primary UV radiation, any individual transformed radiation, or any combination of the various radiations to be to be emitted from the apparatus.

Abstract: A method for processing a duplexed document having a first side with a first image and a second side with a second image includes scanning only the first side of the document under a first imaging condition to retrieve first information relating to each of the first image and the second image; scanning only the first side of the document under a second imaging condition to retrieve second information relating to each of the first image and the second image; and determining from the first information and the second information a show-through contribution of the second image with respect to the first side of the duplexed document.

Abstract: A method for processing a duplexed document having a first side with a first image and a second side with a second image includes scanning only the first side of the duplexed document under a first imaging condition to retrieve first information relating to each of the first image and show-through contribution of the second image; scanning only the first side of the duplexed document under a second imaging condition to retrieve second information relating to each of the first image and show-through contribution of the second image; and comparing the first information and the second information to reduce an amount of the show-through contribution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the variable rate coding of a speech signal. An input speech signal is classified and an appropriate coding mode is selected based on this classification. For each classification, the coding mode that achieves the lowest bit rate with an acceptable quality of speech reproduction is selected. Low average bit rates are achieved by only employing high fidelity modes (i.e., high bit rate, broadly applicable to different types of speech) during portions of the speech where this fidelity is required for acceptable output. Lower bit rate modes are used during portions of speech where these modes produce acceptable output. Input speech signal is classified into active and inactive regions. Active regions are further classified into voiced, unvoiced, and transient regions. Various coding modes are applied to active speech, depending upon the required level of fidelity. Coding modes may be utilized according to the strengths and weaknesses of each particular mode.

Abstract: A paintball gun preferably includes an electro-pneumatic flow distribution mechanism such as a solenoid valve having a port connected to a pneumatic mechanism. For instance, the solenoid valve may include an input port receiving compressed gas from a compressed gas supply and an output port connected to the pneumatic mechanism. The solenoid valve can be enabled to direct compressed gas to and/or from the pneumatic mechanism to operate a bolt. The bolt may be coupled to the pneumatic mechanism.

Abstract: A pneumatic paintball gun preferably includes a bolt having an interior chamber. The interior chamber of the bolt is preferably arranged to communicate with a compressed gas storage area to effectively increase the volume of compressed gas stored in the compressed gas storage area without increasing the size of the paintball gun.

Abstract: Parametric equalization is accomplished by determining an error point for a section of an equalizer frequency response and applying a plurality of different parametric frequency responses to determine the best fit for that error point.

Abstract: The present invention facilitates keeping the slot cells 8 of a generator rotor from migrating during operation of the rotor. The present invention utilizes a slot cell catch 10 that hold slot cells 8, both U-shaped and L-shaped, in position within a rotor body slot 6. The catch 10 limits movement to a pre-determined amount, usually only a fraction of an inch.

Abstract: A paintball gun kit preferably includes a plurality of non-fully assembled paintball gun components packaged for retail sale to a consumer. Instructions are preferably provided to instruct the consumer how to assemble the paintball gun components into an operational paintball gun. The paintball gun components can be packaged together or separately. The paintball gun kit can include, for example, a body, a grip, and a pneumatic assembly. Various numbers and arrangements of components are contemplated. Various styles, materials, and colors of paintball gun components can also be provided consistent with the principles of the present invention.

Abstract: A pneumatic assembly preferably includes a sealing member disposed between a compressed gas storage area and a compressed gas releasing area. A piston rod is preferably arranged in communication with the sealing member and disposed longitudinally in the pneumatic assembly extending between the compressed gas storage and compressed gas releasing areas. One or more vent channels are preferably formed in the piston rod, with one or more ribs arranged longitudinally through or between the vent channels. The ribs are preferably configured to maintain the sealing member within a sealing member retaining groove while compressed gas is being released from the compressed gas storage area to the compressed gas releasing area. A grip mounted circuit board arrangement can also be provided wherein a circuit board is configured to securely mount within one or more slots arranged in a grip frame of a paintball gun. The circuit board may include a solenoid valve and a trigger-actuated switch arranged on the circuit board.

Abstract: A broadcast multimedia data stream is partitioned into two or more parts based on importance, e.g., a first part might represent more significant bits in groups of bits representing pixel colors in a video frame, while a second part might represent the less significant bits in the groups. The more important part of the stream is error correction coded at a lower rate or using a more powerful coding technique (i.e., with more error correction coding) than is the less important part of the stream.

Abstract: An improved generator rotor (30) and a method of repairing an existing generator rotor (12) are disclosed. Methods consistent with the present invention provide techniques for repairing existing stress-damaged rotors (12) to remove stress-induced cracks (29), without requiring new retaining rings (16), to significantly extend the useful life of a generator without the cost and complexity of conventional repair techniques. Improved generator rotors (30) consistent with the present invention provide a tooth-top design that is more resistant to stress-induced cracking than conventional designs, resulting in new generators with longer useful lives.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for preventing accidental disconnection of a valve fitting from a compressed gas cylinder (tank) is provided. A valve safety device preferably includes a valve stem having a first threaded section. The first threaded section is preferably configured to engage threads in an internal section of a compressed gas storage device during insertion and reside within an internal portion of the compressed gas storage device following insertion. A non-threaded section is preferably arranged proximal to the first threaded section. One or more vents are preferably provided on the non-threaded section to provide for a safe release of compressed gas from the compressed gas storage device before the first threaded section can be removed from the compressed gas storage device.

Abstract: A variable wavelength ultraviolet lamp. An apparatus for selectively producing one or more of a plurality of wavelength distributions of light is provided, comprising a primary light source having a primary wavelength distribution, at least one wavelength-transforming material that, in response to illumination by the primary light source produces secondary light having a wavelength distribution different from the primary light wavelength distribution, the wavelength-transforming material being disposed on a substrate external to the primary light source, and a wavelength-transforming material selection mechanism for placing at least a portion of one or more selected wavelength-transforming materials in front of the primary light source, in a selected preferred direction of light emission from the apparatus, such that the selected wavelength-transforming materials emit from the apparatus light having a wavelength distribution different from the primary light wavelength distribution.