Patents Issued in July 31, 2003
  • Publication number: 20030142741
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a propagated signal modulated by phase and time shift keying and a method of using the same. In one embodiment the propagated signal includes: (1) a period of time spanned by a pulse, the period of time divided into a group of time slots, each of the time slots having a unique phase/time position; and (2) the pulse encoding a data element by the phase/time position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: RF SAW Components, Incorporated
    Inventor: Clinton S. Hartmann
  • Publication number: 20030142742
    Abstract: The present invention in one embodiment provides for a propagated signal of (1) a time period divided into a group of time slots each having a unique phase/time position; and (2) multiple pulses distributed among the time slots encoding a data element by such unique phase/time position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: RF SAW Components, Incorporated
    Inventor: Clinton S. Hartmann
  • Publication number: 20030142743
    Abstract: An inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) apparatus is disclosed. The inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) apparatus can satisfy the bit accuracy of the standard recommendation and enable implementation of the ASIC by a smaller logic circuit, and simplify an interface between another sections of a video decoder. According to the present invention the image recovering performance of the video decoder installed to a digital TV receiver can be enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Jin Seok Im
  • Publication number: 20030142744
    Abstract: In accordance with certain aspects of the present invention, methods and apparatuses are provided according to a seamless bitstream switching scheme. The seamless switching scheme can be used with scalable video bitstreams, and can take advantage of both the high coding efficiency of non-scalable bitstreams and the flexibility of scalable bitstreams. Small bandwidth fluctuations can be accommodated by the scalability of the bitstreams, while large bandwidth fluctuations can be tolerated by switching among scalable bitstreams. The flexible and effective scheme for seamless switching among scalable bitstreams significantly improves the efficiency of scalable video coding over a broad bit rate range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Feng Wu, Shipeng Li, Xiaoyan Sun, Ya-Qin Zhang
  • Publication number: 20030142745
    Abstract: A system for transmitting and receiving an image signal has transmission apparatuses and reception apparatuses. Each of the transmission apparatuses includes an image pickup device for alternately outputting first and second image signals obtained by picking up images of a subject with different exposure times, a compressor for separately compressing data amounts of the first and second image signals, and a transmission interface for attaching an identification signal for identification of a transmitter and a frame number to each of compressed first and second image signals and transmitting attached compressed signals to a signal path. Each of the reception apparatuses includes a reception interface for receiving from the signal path the compressed image signals, an expander for individually expanding the received compressed image signals to reproduce the first and second image signals, and a combiner for combining reproduced first and second image signals at a desired combination ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Tomoya Osawa
  • Publication number: 20030142746
    Abstract: An encoding device (200) is comprised of a band dividing unit (201) that divides an input signal (207) into a low frequency signal (208) representing a signal in the lower frequency band and a high frequency signal (209) representing a signal in the higher frequency band, a lower frequency band encoding unit (202) that encodes the low frequency signal (208) and generates a low frequency code (213), a similarity judging unit (203) that judges similarity between the high frequency signal (209) and the low frequency signal (208) and generates switching information (210), “n” higher frequency band encoding units 205 that encode the high frequency signal (209) through respective encoding methods and generate a high frequency code (212), a switching unit (204) that selects one of the higher frequency band encoding units (205) and has the selected higher frequency band encoding unit (205) perform encoding, and a code multiplexing unit (206) that multiplexes the low frequency code (213), the high frequenc
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Naoya Tanaka, Mineo Tsushima, Takeshi Norimatsu
  • Publication number: 20030142747
    Abstract: A bit stream generated in a first encoding process is supplied to an MPEG decoder. The MPEG decoder outputs decoded pictures. The decoded pictures are supplied as input decoded pictures to a frame memory through a recording/reproducing system. The frame memory supplies the input decoded pictures to an MPEG encoder and an MAD calculating circuit at a predetermined timing. The MAD calculating circuit calculates a MAD value (the sum of the differences between a mean value and each pixel value). A high pass filter extracts high frequency components from the input decoded pictures corresponding to the calculated result. The extracted high frequency components are supplied to a B picture determining circuit. The B picture determining circuit determines the picture type of the input decoded pictures corresponding to the high frequency components and supplies the determined result to the MPEG encoder. The MPEG encoder locks GOP phases of the input decoded pictures corresponding to the determined result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 1999
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: KOJI OBATA, NOBUHIRO IGI, MOTOKI KATO
  • Publication number: 20030142748
    Abstract: Video coding methods and apparatuses are provided that make use of various models and/or modes to significantly improve coding efficiency especially for high/complex motion sequences. The methods and apparatuses take advantage of the temporal and/or spatial correlations that may exist within portions of the frames, e.g., at the Macroblock level, etc. The methods and apparatuses tend to significantly reduce the amount of data required for encoding motion information while retaining or even improving video image quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Alexandros Tourapis, Feng Wu, Shipeng Li
  • Publication number: 20030142749
    Abstract: An adaptive decision method of a motion vector search range is disclosed in which motion vector values of blocks adjacent to a block where a motion vector is to be decided are decided and then a motion vector search range of the specific block is decided on the basis of the decided motion vector values of the adjacent blocks. Therefore, the present invention provides that complexity of motion vector estimation can be considerably reduced for a moving picture service on a real time basis, and complexity of motion vector estimation can be also considerably reduced without affecting a compression efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Min Cheol Hong
  • Publication number: 20030142750
    Abstract: Edges are detected in block coded video by a threshold comparison upon the lengths of variable-length codes used for encoding the differential DC coefficients of the pixel blocks. A thinning filter compares the code lengths of the differential DC coefficients of adjacent blocks in order to retain the edge indications of more significant edges and to exclude the edge indications of less significant edges. The edge indications can be split into substantially independent channels for luminance or chrominance, for edges having positive or negative horizontal gradient components, and for edges having positive or negative vertical gradient components. The edge indications for successive frames in an MPEG sequence are compared to each other in various ways in order to detect scene changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Seyfullah H. Oguz, Ugur Sezer
  • Publication number: 20030142751
    Abstract: A method of generating a scene transition in a video sequence between a first and a second scene. One of the scenes comprises independently decodable video frames coded according to a first frame format, and video frames coded according to a second frame format, one of the video frames according to the second frame format being predicted from one other video frame. The presentation time of one video frame of the first scene is determined to be equal to that of one scene transition video frame of the second scene during the scene transition. Scene transition information is determined for one video frame of one scene for generating a scene transition with a decoder. One scene transition video frame of the first scene, one scene transition video frame of the second scene, and the scene transition information are coded in the encoder into the video sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Miska Hannuksela
  • Publication number: 20030142752
    Abstract: Error concealment for motion picture expert group (MPEG) decoding with personal video recording functionality. The present invention is operable to perform error concealment of MPEG data within various components within playback, recording, reading and writing data systems. The present invention is operable within existing systems whose components may not be capable of accommodating errors within MPEG data. Whereas prior art systems typically cannot deal with any corruption without either losing the data or suffering some operational failure, the present invention is able to conceal these errors and to continue decoding and presentation of the MPEG data. In certain embodiments, this involves maximizing the available data that contain no errors to conceal those portions of the data that do include errors. The present invention is operable to accommodate various layers while performing error concealment, including the MPEG transport stream layer, the video layer, and the audio layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Jason C. Demas, Sandeep Bhatia, Xuemin Sherman Chen, Srinivasa Mogathala Prabhakara Reddy, Girish Raghunath Humlani, Marcus Kellerman, Ramanujan Valmiki, Lakshmikanth Pai, Pramod Chandraiah, Mahadevan Sivagururaman, Glen A. Grover, Bhaskar Sherigar, Vivian Hsiun, Benjamin S. Giese
  • Publication number: 20030142753
    Abstract: An endoscopic imaging system providing for correction of image signals characteristic of non-uniform illumination. The system also enabling correction of an image signal in the event of the failure, or performance degradation, of one or more imaging elements. The system also enabling correction moderation addressing dynamic range issues, centering, counter-rotation, alignment and orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: ACMI Corporation
    Inventor: Erhan Gunday
  • Publication number: 20030142754
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for reducing a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) due to multiple subcarriers in an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) mobile communication system. In the OFDM mobile communication system, a transmitter pre-emphasizes an output signal of an IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier Transform) block, and a receiver de-emphasizes a received signal before FFT (Fast Fourier Transform), thereby efficiently reducing PAPR due to multiple subcarriers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki-Ho Jung, Heung-Gyoon Ryu, In-Bae Kim, Byoung-il Jin
  • Publication number: 20030142755
    Abstract: Techniques for closed loop transmit diversity antenna verification are disclosed. In one aspect, a trellis decoder is used to determine the most likely transmitted phase in response to previously requested phase adjustments and observed transmitted symbols. In another aspect, maximum a posteriori (MAP) decoding is used. In yet another aspect, the identified likely transmitted phase is used for data demodulation. Various other aspects of the invention are also presented. These aspects have the benefit of decreasing the effect of phase discrepancies introduced by erroneous reception of phase adjustment information, resulting in improved error rates, and a corresponding increase in system capacity, data throughput, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Richard Chi, Jittra Jootar, Parvathanathan Subrahmanya
  • Publication number: 20030142756
    Abstract: To provide a transmission apparatus and a communication system that transmit a plurality of transmission signals riding on different interfering transmission beams, separate and receive the transmission signal at the receiving side, and estimate the original transmission signal by maximum likelihood estimation based on the correlation among the received signals. A transmission apparatus which encodes the transmission signal by an encoding means to generate at least two transmission signals S1 and S2, modulates the signals to the carrier frequencies, weights them and supplies them to the antenna elements, and controls the weights to transmit the modulated output signals by beams partially overlapping each other in space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Ryuji Kohno, Kazunori Watanabe, Kouji Ishii
  • Publication number: 20030142757
    Abstract: [Problem] How to record and play back data at a high line density. [Means for Solving the Problem] A DSV control bit determining/inserting unit 11 inserts DSV control bits for execution of DSV control into an input data string and outputs the data string including the DSV control bits to a modulation unit 12. The modulation unit 12 converts the data string with a basic data length of 2 bits into variable length code with a basic code length of 3 bits in accordance with a conversion table and outputs the code resulting from the conversion to a NRZI encoding unit 13. The conversion table used by the modulation unit 12 includes substitution codes for limiting the number of consecutive appearances of a minimum run to a predetermined value and substitution codes for keeping a run length limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Josephus A. H.M. Kahlman, Kornelis A. Schouhamer Immink, Gijsbert J. Van Den Enden, Toshiyuki Nakagawa, Yoshihide Shinpuku, Tatsuya Narahara, Kosuke Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20030142758
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a radio transmitter-receiver and its object is to provide a frequency diversity communication device which can synthesize two carrier waves by one demodulation circuit without requiring any means for changing over the carrier waves and judging the receiving conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Mikio Sakaue, Hidenori Tomishima
  • Publication number: 20030142759
    Abstract: The invention is a novel method and transmission system for mitigating the adverse effects of amateur (HAM) radio interference on digital signals transmitted across a twisted pair and reducing the interference caused by the digital signals to amateur radio communications. At the heart of the invention is strategical placement of the frequency spectrum of the transmitted signal relative to the center frequency of the HAM bands. In particular, the signal spectrum is permitted to straddle one or more HAM bands, which permits the transport of high data rates with a single carrier. At the transmitter, the signal is filtered with a real-valued symmetric baseband filter in order to remove signal content in the HAM bands. At the receiver, the signal undergoes adaptive interference cancellation, followed by processing through a decision feedback equalizer. In some cases, the signal is filtered at baseband with a real-valued filter to remove interference in the HAM bands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Carl William Anderson, Guy M.A.F. Duxbury
  • Publication number: 20030142760
    Abstract: A carrier recovery apparatus includes a first LPF calculating a carrier changing in accordance with a frequency offset, by using a pilot tone included in an I-signal of a VSB broadcasting signal, a limiter limiting a size of the carrier calculated by the first LPF and outputting the limited size of the carrier, a multiplier multiplying the limited size of the carrier from the limiter by a Q-signal of the VSB broadcasting signal, a second LPF extracting a DC-property corresponding to a frequency error of the carrier from a product output from the multiplier, a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) generating a complex carrier corresponding to the DC-property from the second LPF, and a frequency error providing unit arranged between the second LPF and the NCO, storing the DC-property from the second LPF, and when the pilot tone is distorted by a damaged pilot in the I-signal, providing the NCO with the DC-property that is previously input and stored therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon-soo Kim, Ki-bum Kim
  • Publication number: 20030142761
    Abstract: A frequency offset estimation apparatus for intersymbol interference channels. A storage area having M elements is provided to shift a received sample sequence by M samples to generate a lagged sample sequence. A sequence of preliminary values is calculated by differential operation between the received sample sequence and the lagged sample sequence. Next, a summation of the power of the preliminary value sequence over M′ samples is taken to obtain an accumulative sum. Finally, the angle of the accumulative sum is derived and then scaled by a factor. A frequency offset estimate for the received sample sequence is thus obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Hung-Kun Chen
  • Publication number: 20030142762
    Abstract: A receiver method and apparatus for performing equalization in the cover domain are disclosed. A receiver includes a cover equalizer that minimizes co-channel interference (CCI) between signals transmitted using different covers. The receiver includes at least one recorrelator which recorrelates received samples using a non-reference cover and a reference cover, producing recorrelated samples. After recorrelation, signals received from the non-reference transmitter can be treated in much the same way as a multipath signal received from the reference transmitter, or as a signal received through another receive antenna from the first transmitter. Such signals can be weighted in a weight generator using any of a variety of combining methods. Other types of equalization, for example in the time domain or in the space domain, may be performed before, after, or in conjunction with cover equalization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Joseph P. Burke
  • Publication number: 20030142763
    Abstract: A demodulation apparatus includes an A/D converter for sampling and quantizing a baseband signal, and a demultiplexer for multiple-separating output signals of the A/D converter into two outputs. A first branch unit splits one of the two outputs of the demultiplexer into M outputs, where M is an integer equal to or greater than 2. Also, M/2 delay units delay M/2 outputs of the first branch unit. A second branch unit splits the outputs of the demultiplexer into M. The demodulation apparatus further includes first M/2 transversal filters, second M/2 transversal filters, and third M transversal filters. First M/2 adders each adds one of the output signals of the first transversal filters and one of the output signals of the third transversal filters, and second M/2 adders each adds one of the output signals of the second transversal filters and one of the output signals of the third transversal filters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Yoshinori Kunleda, Kazuo Tomida, Hidekuni Yomo
  • Publication number: 20030142764
    Abstract: The invention provides a single chip implementation of a digital receiver for multicarrier signals that are transmitted by orthogonal frequency division multiplexing. Improved channel estimation and correction circuitry are provided. The receiver has highly accurate sampling rate control and frequency control circuitry. BCH decoding of tps data carriers is achieved with minimal resources with an arrangement that includes a small Galois field multiplier. An improved FFT window synchronization circuit is coupled to the resampling circuit for locating the boundary of the guard interval transmitted with the active frame of the signal. A real-time pipelined FFT processor is operationally associated with the FFT window synchronization circuit and operates with reduced memory requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Peter A Keevill, Dawood Alam, John M Nolan, Matthew J Collins, Thomas Foxcroft, David H Davies, Jonathan Parker
  • Publication number: 20030142765
    Abstract: A quadrature vestigial-sideband (QVSB) method and system with correlated noise removal are embodied in a QVSB receiver with a correlated-noise estimator-subtractor configured to obtain I/Q channel correlated noise estimates for receive-filtered I/Q signals in the QVSB receiver, and to subtract the I/Q channel correlated noise estimates from the receive-filtered I/Q signals to whiten noises entering a quadrature-crosstalk, maximum-likelihood-sequence-estimator (QC-MLSE) of the QVSB receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: John J. Poklemba, Gregory S. Mitchell, Ronald F. Smith
  • Publication number: 20030142766
    Abstract: A method for detecting a boundary between two sequences in a wireless local area network is presented that permits rapid detection of the boundary. The method includes provisions for proper operation when significant interference and multi-path can degrade the received transmission significantly. Additionally, when a modification is made to the signaling format to signal a special enhanced mode with performance and features above those that are specified in a single technical standard, the method detects the boundary between sequences regardless of whether they have the standard format or the modified format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Golanbari, Richard Williams
  • Publication number: 20030142767
    Abstract: A base band circuit of a receiver and a lowcut-off frequency control means can quickly converge transition state due to gain fluctuation with setting a low cut-off frequency of a high-pass filter as low as possible. The base band circuit of a receiver has a variable amplifier variably amplifying a base band signal depending upon a gain control signal, a high-pass filter provided in a path of the base band signal, and a controller detecting variation magnitude of the gain control signal and controlling variation of a low cut-off frequency of the high-pass filter means depending upon the detected variation magnitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaki Ichihara
  • Publication number: 20030142768
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for adjusting the headroom for a received signal in a radio receiver when the received signal includes a target signal and an interference signal. An amplifier coupled with the received signal outputs an amplified signal, and the amplification level of the amplifier is set by an amplification control signal. An analog-to-digital converter converts the amplified signal to a digital signal. A first digital filter is used to filter the digital signal at a first attenuation factor and produces a first filter output coupled with the amplification control signal. The first filter output is proportional to the magnitude of the interference signal when the interference signal is greater in magnitude than the target signal. A second digital filter is used to filter the digital signal at a second attenuation factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Jyri Sintonen
  • Publication number: 20030142769
    Abstract: A known pipeline interference cancellation apparatus comprises a plurality of channel estimators. The channel estimates produced are filtered in order to reduce the effects of noise. However, in order to avoid the loss of symbols from weaker users, further filtering is required. The present invention simplifies the above described filtering processes by providing channel estimate and means (516) for generating a signal indicative of the accuracy of the channel estimate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Leo Rademacher
  • Publication number: 20030142770
    Abstract: Method for sampling phase control for clock and data recovery of a data signal includes sampling a received data signal with a first sampling signal comprising equidistant sampling pulses, minimizing phase deviation between the first sampling signal and the phase of the received data signal to generate an adjusted second sampling signal, and sampling the received data signal with the adjusted second sampling signal to generate sampling data values. The method also includes integrating the sampling data values of the sampled data signal to form a summation value, and altering the phase of sampling pulses of the adjusted second sampling signal until the integrated summation value exceeds a threshold value that can be set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Engl, Peter Gregorius
  • Publication number: 20030142771
    Abstract: A communication unit (30) arranged to send transmit data includes a receiver (32) arranged to recover input data transmitted at a downstream transfer rate in response to a symbol clock (20) signal. A transmitter (40) is arranged to transmit the transmit data at an upstream transfer rate in response to an upstream transmit clock signal (TX_CLKA) that is coordinated with the symbol clock signal. The frequency or repetition rate of the upstream transmit clock signal is defined at least in part by a predetermined relationship between the downstream transfer rate and the upstream transfer rate, such as a ratio of the downstream transfer rate and the upstream transfer rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Martin Kuhlmann, Robindra B. Joshi
  • Publication number: 20030142772
    Abstract: Signal processing apparatus, including a circuit which processes signals received on multiple channels so as to extract therefrom at least first and second sequences of symbols, and a FIFO, which receives and stores at least one bit of each of the symbols in a first interval of the first sequence and a second interval of at least the second sequence, the second interval at least partially overlapping the first interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Rami Weiss, Baruch Bublil, Israel Greiss
  • Publication number: 20030142773
    Abstract: A data/clock recovery circuit can recover high-rate data using the data as a clock signal. It includes an edge detector, a clock selection signal generating circuit, a clock selection circuit and a synchronizing circuit. The edge detector generates edge position information using a receiver output as a clock signal. The clock selection signal generating circuit generates a clock selection signal in response to the edge position information using the receiver output as the clock signal. The clock selection circuit selects a recovered clock signal from a clock signal group in response to the clock selection signal. The synchronizing circuit synchronizes the receiver output using the recovered clock signal, and outputs it as a synchronized data signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shirota, Ryosuke Okuda, Katsuya Mizumoto, Kazuaki Tanida
  • Publication number: 20030142774
    Abstract: A phase detector capable of operating at a half rate in a half-rate clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit includes a first latch circuit which receives an input signal, an inverted input signal and a half-rate clock, a second latch circuit which receives a first output signal and an inverted first output signal from the first latch circuit and an inverted half-rate clock, a further first latch circuit which receives the input signal, the inverted input signal and the inverted half-rate clock, a further second latch circuit which receives a further first output signal and an inverted further first output signal form the further first latch circuit and the half-rate clock, a selector circuit which receives the first output signal and the inverted first output signal and the further first output signal and the inverted further first output signal, the half-rate clock and the inverted half-rate clock so as to output a retimed signal and an inverted retimed signal and an exclusive OR circuit which receives a secon
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Takasoh, Kimio Ueda
  • Publication number: 20030142775
    Abstract: A clock generator is configured to generate, on the basis of an oscillation frequency clock of a voltage-controlled oscillator, a first signal having a phase the same as the oscillation frequency clock, a second signal having a phase delayed by a first phase amount to the first signal and a third signal having a phase delayed by a second phase amount to the first signal. A phase detection circuit is configured to provide a phase control on the basis of a phase difference between the third signal and an input signal. A frequency detection circuit is configured to sample the first and second signals in synchronism with the input signal, thereby performing a frequency control for the voltage-controlled oscillator on the basis of the sampled signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Toru Takeshita, Takashi Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20030142776
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of monitoring the neutron sensitivity of a neutron detector. Voltage having a predetermined potential difference is applied between an anode and a cathode without irradiating the neutron detector with neutrons to permit an &agr;-ray to be emitted from the nuclear fission substance. The &agr;-ray ionizes the ionizing gas to form an &agr;-ray current (I&agr;) flowing between the anode and the cathode. The current (I&agr;) thus formed is monitored. Also, with the monitoring region in which the applied voltage and the &agr;-ray current (I&agr;) bear a substantially proportional relationship, obtained is an extrapolated zero-volt &agr;-ray current (I&agr;0) at 0V of the applied voltage between the anode and the cathode from the proportional relationship by an extrapolating method, and the extrapolated zero-volt &agr;-ray current (I&agr;0) is correlated with the neutron sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Masato Shibazaki, Yutaka Tanaka, Shigehiro Kono, Atsushi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20030142777
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus for inspecting jet pump beams of nuclear reactors is provided. The inspection apparatus includes a base straddlingly mountable on a jet pump beam. The base includes a beam bolt opening sized to receive a jet pump beam bolt. A first transducer holder is coupled to a first side portion of the base, and a second transducer holder coupled to a second side portion of the base. The first side portion is opposed to the second side portion. Each holder includes an adjustment cylinder configured to contact the jet pump beam when activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Rodolfo Paillaman, Trevor Davis
  • Publication number: 20030142778
    Abstract: The invention relates to a computed tomography apparatus in which measuring data of a patient is acquired along a helical trajectory by means of a conical radiation beam. The size of the detector window is then a factor of 3, 5, 7 . . . larger than the distance between neighboring turns of the helix. In order to select from among the acquired redundant data the data which is suitable for completely filling the Radon domain so as to achieve exact reconstruction, in accordance with the invention it is proposed to provide a cardiac motion signal detection device for the detection of a cardiac motion signal representing the cardiac motion and to arrange the reconstruction unit so as to select such measuring data from among the measuring data regionally redundantly filling the Radon domain that the Radon domain is completely and homogeneously filled with measuring data from cardiac motion phases with as little motion as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Roland Proksa
  • Publication number: 20030142780
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radiation device that includes a device for retaining therein the body part in a uniform position. In addition, at least two reference materials that have attenuation characteristics are used and retained in the retaining device. The reference materials are being positioned for the comparative determination during a simultaneous irradiation of the body part and the reference materials. The attenuation characteristics of the reference materials are selected in correspondence to the attenuation characteristics of the body materials in the body part. A radiation device for simultaneously irradiating the body part and the reference materials is used to create attenuated beams. A detector is used to detect the attenuated beams as attenuated values. A calculating device is included for calculating the proportion of the body materials that define a particular body part of interest based on the attenuated values of the materials and the body part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: John A. Shepherd, Steven R. Cummings, Karla Kerlikowske
  • Publication number: 20030142781
    Abstract: To provide an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer capable of analyzing a semiconductor sample at inexpensive costs non-invasively without incurring damage to the patterned circuits on the semiconductor sample, the X-ray fluorescence spectrometer includes a point source of primary X-rays 3a for emitting primary X-rays B1 used to irradiate a semiconductor sample 1 having circuit patterned areas 1a and scribe line 1b so as to separate the neighboring circuit patterned areas 1a, and a detecting unit 5 for detecting fluorescent X-rays emitted from the semiconductor sample 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Naoki Kawahara, Hisayuki Kohno, Takashi Yamada, Keisuke Ogura
  • Publication number: 20030142782
    Abstract: The present invention includes a system for efficient and effective detection and characterization of dishing and/or erosion. An x-ray emission inducer is used to scan a target on a sample. The target can be scanned at an acute incident angle to allow characterization of the dishing and/or erosion and analysis of the metallization or thin film layer topology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: KLA-Tencor Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Mehran Nasser-Ghodsi, Phil Wood
  • Publication number: 20030142783
    Abstract: An x-ray radiography tomography device for a flexible riser, particularly a riser end fitting on a riser hangoff block on a petroleum platform, the x-ray radiography device comprising the following features:
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: STATOIL ASA
    Inventors: Alf Daaland, Charles R. Smith, Christian Frederik Otto Hagemann
  • Publication number: 20030142784
    Abstract: The X-ray inspection system 10 comprises an X-ray electron conversion face 42 for converting an entered X-ray image transmitted through the measurement object into an electronic image, an output fluorescent face 46 for emitting fluorescence when an electronic image is entered, and deflecting means 44 which is installed between the X-ray electron conversion face 42 and output fluorescent face 46, wherein the electronic image which was entered and converted at the X-ray electron conversion face 42 is converged into a predetermined area on the output fluorescent face 46 by the deflecting means 44 so as to make the X-ray fluoroscopic image of the moving measurement object stand still on the output fluorescent face 46. By this, the image of the measurement object can be captured during the time when the X-ray fluorescence image is standing still, so sensitivity can be secured while increasing the resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Makoto Suzuki, Hiroshige Mori, Tomikazu Yonezawa
  • Publication number: 20030142785
    Abstract: X-ray-reflective mirrors are disclosed, each including a thermal-transfer device that conducts heat (caused by absorption by the mirror of incident X-ray radiation) away from the mirror without imparting stress to the mirror. As a result, each such mirror exhibits, compared to conventional X-ray-reflective mirrors, reduced deformation and greater thermal stability during use of the mirror. A typical X-ray-reflective mirror is formed from a mirror substrate and has an “effective region” on which X-rays are incident. At least the effective region includes an X-ray-reflective coating (e.g., multilayer coating). Attached to the mirror are thermal-transfer members that function to conduct heat away from the mirror. Each thermal-transfer member is attached to a respective location outside the effective region of the mirror so as not to obstruct reflection of X-rays incident to the effective region. Distal ends of the thermal-transfer members are connected to a suitable cooling mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Motofusa Kageyama
  • Publication number: 20030142786
    Abstract: A reflective lens with at least one curved surface formed of polycrystalline material. In an example embodiment a lens structure includes a substrate having a surface of predetermined curvature and a film formed along a surface of the substrate with multiple individual members each having at least one similar orientation relative to the portion of the substrate surface adjacent the member such that collectively the members provide predictable angles for diffraction of x-rays generated from a common source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Erik Cho Houge
  • Publication number: 20030142787
    Abstract: The present technique provides a variety of processing schemes for decomposing soft tissue and bone images more accurately from low and high-energy images acquired from an imaging system, such as a dual-energy digital radiography system using flat-panel technology. In particular, a pre-decomposition process is provided for spatially matching, or registering, low and high-energy images using warping registration prior to dual energy image decomposition, which creates the soft tissue and bone images. Accordingly, the pre-decomposition process reduces motion artifacts between the low and high-energy images, thereby improving image clarity of the decomposed soft tissue and bone images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Kadri N. Jabri, Gopal B. Avinash
  • Publication number: 20030142788
    Abstract: A portable medical digital radiography apparatus includes a ruggedized transport case housing several system components, a digital X-ray image sensor and an X-ray generator. The digital X-ray image sensor is hingedly coupled to a stand that is mounted to the ruggedized transport case. The X-ray generator is preferably positioned opposite to the center of digital X-ray image sensor. A patient support unit is disposed between digital X-ray image sensor and the X-ray generator. An image acquisition unit is connected to the X-ray generator and to the digital X-ray image sensor and fixedly mounted in the ruggedized transport case. An image display unit is connected to the image acquisition unit and spaced from the X-ray generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Kenneth Cho, Michael Freckleton, Peter Martin
  • Publication number: 20030142789
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for generating X-rays (57). The device comprises a source (7) for emitting electrons (53) and a liquid metal for emitting X-rays as a result of the incidence of electrons. The device further comprises a displacing member (11) for displacing the liquid metal through an impingement position (55) where the electrons emitted by the source impinge upon the liquid metal. As a result of the flow of liquid metal through the impingement position the heat, which is generated in the impingement position as a result of the incidence of the electrons upon the liquid metal, is transported away from the impingement position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Geoffrey Harding, Bernd David, Jens Peter Schlomka, Leonardus Petrus Maria Tielemans, Willem Potze
  • Publication number: 20030142790
    Abstract: An x-ray generating device includes a field emission cathode formed at least partially from a nanostructure-containing material having an emitted electron current density of at least 4 A/cm2. High energy conversion efficiency and compact design are achieved due to easy focusing of cold cathode emitted electrons and dramatic reduction of heating at the anode. In addition, by pulsing the field between the cathode and the gate or anode and focusing the electron beams at different anode materials, pulsed x-ray radiation with varying energy can be generated from a single device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Otto Z. Zhou, Jianping Lu
  • Publication number: 20030142791
    Abstract: Operation-diagnosis apparatus having a bearing mechanism for a treatment and/or examination subject comprising a bearing plate for the treatment and/or examination subject that is adjustable at a base and is radiation-transparent in at least one region, whereby the bearing plate is seated height-adjustable at the base and adjustable around three spatial axes and is seated optionally displaceable in longitudinal and/or transverse direction in floating fashion or displaceable by means of a connectable drive device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Karlheinz Barde, Dieter Heinl, Thomas Schocklmann, Kerstin Waldbach