Abstract: Driver circuits of the present invention provide current to drive laser diodes. The output current of the driver circuit includes a data signal and a low frequency tone signal. The low frequency tone signal is within the bandwidth of a power control feedback loop. The tone signal introduces low frequency noise into the output signal of the driver circuit. The low frequency noise causes jitter at the zero crossing points of the driver circuit output signal. A laser driver circuit of the present invention provides a compensation current to a laser diode. The compensation current is out of phase with the tone signal. The compensation current eliminates the low frequency noise in the output signal of the laser driver circuit.

Abstract: In an intersubband light emitter, at least two injection/relaxation (I/R) regions contiguous with the same RT region have different doping levels. Preferably, one I/R region has a doping level that is at least 100 times lower than that of the other I/R region. In one embodiment, one I/R region is undoped, whereas the other I/R region is doped.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved semiconductor laser device (10). Previous high power (greater than a few hundred milliwatts output) semiconductor lasers suffer from a number of problems such as poor beam quality and low brightness. The invention therefore provides a semiconductor laser device (10) including at least one portion which has been Quantum Well Intermixed (QWI) and means for providing gain profiling within an active portion of the device (10). In a preferred implementation the device (10) provides a Wide Optical Waveguide (WOW).

Abstract: A diode pumped, high power (at least 20W), short pulse (up to 2 ps), chirped pulse amplified laser using Yb:YAG as the gain material is employed for material processing. Yb:YAG is used as the gain medium for both a regenerative amplifier and a high power 4-pass amplifier. A single common reflective grating optical device is used to both stretch pulses for amplification purposes and to recompress amplified pulses before being directed to a workpiece.

Abstract: A vertical cavity apparatus includes first and second mirrors, a substrate and at least first and second active regions positioned between the first and second mirrors. At least one of the first and second mirrors is a fiber with a grating. At least a first tunnel junction is positioned between the first and second mirrors.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting an orientation of an optical component mounted within a laser resonator with suppressed hysteresis includes an electromechanical device, a drive element, and a mechano-optical device coupled to the mounted optical component. The drive element is configured to contact and apply a force to the mechano-optical device in such a way as to adjust the orientation of the mechano-optical device, and thereby that of the optical component, to a known orientation within the laser resonator. The optical component is mounted such that stresses applied by the mount to the optical component are homogeneous and substantially thermally-independent.

Abstract: A laser system comprises a laser diode with an active region and reflectors at both ends. An outcoupling aperture is located between the reflectors to couple light out of the device through the surface. The gain region increases in width as it nears the outcoupling aperture.

Abstract: A received signal averaging apparatus which includes an average operating section which averages input signals and outputs a filtered data, a data encoding section which encodes data lower than a threshold level and generates an encoded data, and an encoded data storing section which stores therein the encoded data outputted from the data encoding section, and the received signal averaging apparatus further includes a filtered data storing section for storing therein the filtered data and a data decoding section for decoding the encoded data stored in the encoded data storing section and outputs the data to the filtered data storing section.

Abstract: A special coding scheme is disclosed for more effectively acquiring a long code and frame timing during a cell search in a CDMA communications system. A code set of length M Q-ary code words including symbols from a set of Q short codes is defined with certain properties. The primary property to be satisfied is that no cyclic shift of a code word yields a valid code word. The other properties to be satisfied are that there is a one-to-one mapping between a long code message and a valid code word, and a decoder should be able to find both the random shift (thereby implicitly finding the frame timing) and the transmitted code word (i.e., its associated long code indication message) in the presence of interference and noise, with some degree of accuracy and reasonable complexity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to dynamically adjust parameters of a filter for a pilot signal. An incoming signal containing a pilot signal is filtered using non-identical filters, and the magnitudes of the filtered signals are compared to estimate a bandwidth of the pilot signal. Noise in the incoming signal may also be estimated, preferably from a portion of the incoming signal not expected to contain the pilot signal. Based on the comparison of the filtered signal magnitudes, which may be compensated to remove the noise contribution, the parameters of a filter applied to the incoming signal to isolate the pilot signal are varied. The parameters may vary the bandwidth of a pilot signal filter. The non-identical filters used in the pilot signal bandwidth estimation may be IIR or FIR filters having different passbands, or may be a correlation of the incoming signal with sinusoids of different frequencies.

Abstract: A correlation method and a digital correlation device allowing detection of the occurrence of a coded reference sequence including N code elements or chips in a sampled reception signal are described. The reception signal is sampled at a frequency equal to d times the chip rate of the reference sequence, and d×Nd correlation values are generated for d×Nd successive delays of the reception signal, Nd being a lower number than the number N of chips. Each correlation value, for a given delay of the reception signal, is obtained, according to the present invention, at the end of a plurality of correlation operations during which partial correlation values covering code portions including Nd successive chips of the reference sequence are generated.

Abstract: A GPS receiver system determines the presence of trackable signals at code delays less than the prompt delay being tracked for a particular signal and changes the prompt delay to correspond to the smallest code delay having a trackable signal. Trackable signals at large code delays are multipath signals and may be separately tracked to aid in dead reckoning. The trackable signals at code delays not adjacent to the current tracked prompt delay may be tracked in the same channel as the prompt delay so that all satellite channels are continuously evaluated for multipath signals being tracked or a non-satellite specific channel may be used to sequentially step through the satellite signals to evaluate multipath on a satellite by satellite basis.

Abstract: A User Equipment (UE) has a circuit that performs the acquisition for the low chip rate option of the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Time Division Duplex (TDD) standard as formulated by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The present invention implements the detection of the basic SYNC code; the determination of the midamble used and the detection of the superframe timing based on SYNC code modulation sequence. This enables reading of a full Broadcast Channel (BCH) message.

Abstract: The present invention includes a cellular pilot signal detector or searcher for use in a cellular mobile communications unit. The signal detector uses a matched filter to detect a pilot signal transmitted from a cellular base station. The matched filter includes a plurality of taps and a plurality of delays located between adjacent taps. The signal components of a received digital signal are held on the taps of the matched filter by the delays. The matched filter compares the signal components of the received signal to an expected or searched for digital pattern. The matched filter puts out a relatively large signal if the received digital signal matches the expected digital pattern. The matched filter can also be used in parallel with a correlator.

Abstract: A data communication system and method is presented for communicating data between the internal assemblies of a material processing system. The data communication system includes at least two digital communication ports for communicating data between internal assemblies of the material processing system. A first digital communication port associated with a first internal assembly in interconnected via a physical link to a second digital communication port associated with a second internal assembly. The first digital communication port includes a serial transmitter for converting the data to a transmit serial stream having at least one information frame. A signal generator formats the transmit serial stream as a transmit signal to be transmitted over the physical link to the second digital communication port. The second digital communication port includes a signal converter for receiving the transmit signal from the first digital communication port and generating a receive serial stream therefrom.

Abstract: The process in an xDSL transceiver transfers into a fast retraining sequence when the cause of an error on a telephone circuit is a change from an off hook state to an on hook state of a telephone instrument, a signal indicating an inversion of polarity of a signal on the telephone circuit, a change from an on hook to an off hook and when a handshake waiting time has passed without detecting a predetermined signal on the telephone circuit, or when the predetermined signal is detected within the handshake waiting time. The handshake waiting time can be updated in accordance with a dial pulse width, the maximum number of digits in the dial pulse signal, and the maximum number of pulses in one digit, or depending on whether or not the dial pulse comes from NTT.

Abstract: When the power source of a personal computer is on (S22:ON) and when the communication software of the personal computer is running (S23:YES), then the reception speed of transmission data serially transmitted from a remote device is written in the reception speed counter in S24. The size of a single packet of transmission data, to be transferred to the personal computer, in changed based on the value stored in the reception speed counter. Accordingly, for any value of the reception speed, a transfer interval can be maintained in a fixed value so that the communication software in the personal computer will generate no time-out error signal.

Abstract: A method for estimating signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) using a method with low bias that is effective for both positive SNRs and small to negative SNRs. The method is based on an iterative solution for the maximum likelihood estimate of the amplitude from which the SNR can be computed. The method is applicable for various modulated systems, including BPSK, QPSK and MPSK.

Abstract: An equalizing apparatus includes an equalizer which has a plurality of adjustable tap weights that equalizes a received signal based on values of the adjustable tap weights, a tap weight update calculation unit coupled to the equalizer and which determines tap weight updates for use in adjusting the tap weights during operation of the equalizer, an offset memory that stores one or more tap weight update offset values and a summer coupled to the tap weight update calculation unit and to the offset memory. The summer combines each of the tap weight updates with one of the tap weight update offset values to produce modified tap weight updates which, in turn, are provided to the equalizer to adjust the tap weights.

Abstract: The invention is embodied in an adaptive filtering system for processing a received signal, including a signal processor having plural states to generate a processed signal from the received signal in accordance with a selected one of the states. A slicer produces from the processed signal a pulse signal as an output signal of said adaptive filtering system. A eye-diagram calculator produces from the pulse signal a metric signal corresponding to a minimal separation between leading and trailing edges of a succession of n pulses in the pulse signal superimposed upon one another within a repetitive sampling window. An adaptive controller responsive to the metric signal finds the one state of the signal processor that optimizes the metric signal, and places the signal processor into that state.

Abstract: Through the use of feedback in determining frequency domain equalization, intersymbol interference can be reduced. Specifically, the determined constellation point closest to the determined received point can be fed back to aid in determining one or more other closest constellation points.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving data over a dispersive media is disclosed. The received signal is composed of an unknown data segment preceded and followed by known data segments. The communication apparatus generates a replica of the known data segments. Channel characteristics existing at the time of transmission of the known data segments are estimated by comparing the known data segments with the replica. The symbols of the unknown data segment are then determined via application of a QR factorization. Factorization can be accomplished via Householder transformation, Givens rotation or fast Givens rotation. Decisions can be made on the various unknown symbols as they are analyzed and then fed back via back substitution.

Abstract: In a reproduction apparatus, for reproducing an original signal conveyed as main data by a data medium such as a recording disk or broadcasting system, with medium protection data which are specific to the data medium being conveyed together with the main data, the apparatus includes a section for generating apparatus protection data which are specific to the reproduction apparatus, a section for combining the apparatus protection data with the medium protection data to define a protection level, and a section for applying the protection level to restrict reproduction of the original signal, with stepwise variations in restriction occurring in accordance with changes in protection level. The medium protection data may include information for specifying restricted reproduction of portions of the original signal, such as by producing degraded resolution within specified regions of specified frames of a video signal.

Abstract: For use in a video image upconversion unit of the type that uses motion compensation to generate an interpolated field using motion vectors, an improved method of motion compensation is disclosed that calculates a first correlation value from the values of corresponding neighbor pixels of a previous frame and from the values of causal neighbor pixels of a generated field. The first correlation value is compared with a first threshold value. The value of a pixel to be created within the generated field is set to be equal to the value of a corresponding pixel of the previous frame if the first correlation value is less than the first threshold value. The method also calculates a second correlation value from the values of corresponding neighbor pixels of a next field and from the values of causal neighbor pixels of a generated field. The second correlation value is compared with a second threshold value.

Abstract: Decoders A and B decode MPEG-2 bitstreams A and B. A switch (S1) switches from decoded stream A to decoded stream B to achieve a splice. The resulting bitstream is re-encoded in an encoder 4. A new GOP is defined beginning at the splice. The new GOP is defined by picture type decision rules which may the effect of changing the GOP compared to the GOPs of streams A and B. The new GOP provides a prediction of the position in stream B where the occupancy value of stream C should coincide with that of B. A target for the new number of bits in the new GOP is calculated dependent on the difference between the occupancy value of stream C at the splice and a prediction of the occupancy of stream B at the predicted position. The occupancy value of stream C is controlled in accordance with the target so that it tends towards the occupancy value of stream B at the predicted position.

Abstract: System and method for generating video frames. The system includes a frame generator which generates one or more intermediate frames based upon one base frames. Each of the base frames are comprised of a plurality of macroblocks. Furthermore, one or more of the macroblocks have a motion vector. The macroblocks are comprised of a plurality of pixels. In the frame generation process, the frame generator performs a number of steps such as: (i) determines whether frame generation is appropriate, (ii) examines the first and second base frames to check for the presence of textual characters, (iii) selects a frame generation method based upon information in the first and second frames, (iv) filters the generated frames. In one embodiment, the system includes a server computer having an encoder, a client computer having a decoder, and a network connecting the server computer to the client computer.

Abstract: In digital video, 3:4 down conversion and 4:3 down conversion are transparently cascaded. The up conversion filter is: Sup(n)=&Sgr;Sinput(k).g(3n−4k) and the down conversion filter is: Sdown(n)=&Sgr;Sup(k).h(4n−3k). The pair of up and down conversion filters are designed so that &Sgr;h(4n−3k).g(3k−4m) is equal to unity if n=m and is otherwise equal to zero.

Abstract: This invention relates to data communication equipment (DCE), more specifically, high speed transmission of electronic data between data terminal equipment (DTE). The invention sets forth a method and a device for transmitting a voltage signal waveform as a series of current pulses onto a communication line. The method requires converting an input voltage signal waveform to a current signal waveform and transmitting the resulting current pulses onto a communication line wherein a predetermined bias voltage is maintained.

Abstract: An amplifier drives a Digital-Subscriber Line (DSL) using a 12-volt power supply. Ordinary low-voltage transistors for 5-volt systems are stacked together to reduce the average voltage across each transistor to below a breakdown voltage. The output stage uses p-channel and n-channel driver transistors that are coupled to differential outputs through cascode transistors. A common-mode voltage is fed back to a second stage to adjust signals for deviations in the common-mode output bias. A first stage buffers a pair of differential inputs to the second stage. The second stage uses level shifting to generate four signals to the output stage driver transistors. A pair of high-voltage signals drives the p-channel drivers while a pair of low-voltage signals drives the n-channel driver transistors. Nested miller compensation stabilizes the amplifier using capacitors between the final outputs and the four signals from the second stage and the differential signals from the first stage.

Abstract: A digital communication system comprises a transmitter for sequentially transmitting predetermined format data; and a plurality of receivers 102 each including a data selecting apparatus 104 for selecting required data from received data group and outputting selected data. The transmitter transmits data to the receivers in one of a first transmission mode having group destination directing information indicating that the data is to be transmitted to a receiving group consisting of predetermined receivers of the plurality of receivers, group specifying information for specifying a receiving group of receiving groups to which the data is to be transmitted, and in-group identification information for identifying a receiver in an arbitrary receiving group to which the data is to be transmitted, a second transmission mode having the group destination directing information and the group specifying information are included in the data, and a third transmission mode having the group destination directing information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving longer data transmission distances in Symmetrical Digital Subscriber Lines (SDSL) systems, while providing spectral compatibility with Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Lines (ADSL) systems is disclosed. The method and apparatus enables deployment of SDSL and ADSL in any mix in a binder group of twisted pair copper wires without sacrificing performance of either system. The apparatus transmits signals from opposite ends of the twisted pair subscriber loop using first and second discrete frequency bands. The advantages include longer service reach and deployment without regard to ADSL/SDSL services mix in a binder group.

Abstract: To be able to transmit information at high bit rate in a domestic or industrial installation, it is planned to receive information at high bit rate sent by a remote sender unit to a specialized receiver. This specialized receiver playing the role of a network master is then provided with means to transmit this information by a carrier current channel made on the electrical network of the installation. In reception, a coupler is used to pick up this information from the electrical network. It is shown that, by acting in this way, it is possible to remove the need to make a specific infrastructure for this transmission at high bit rate, and that it is thus possible to enjoy the facility of having tapping points at all places since an electrical power supply network is generally distributed extensively in a building. Furthermore, several characteristics of modulation and transmission are chosen to withstand parasites and defects of transmission inherent in this type of network.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for universal decoding of both feedforward codes and feedback codes, such as decoding of a 512-state feedforward code, a 32-state feedback code and 8-state feedback code. Utilizing parallel processing, the present invention determines, for each current state of a feedforward or a feedback code, its most likely previous states, resulting in a determination of a terminating state and a penultimate terminating state. From the penultimate terminating state and terminating state, associated subset bits are determined. In the preferred embodiment, the subset bits are determined by re-encoding the most significant bit of the penultimate terminating state in an encoder having a current state equal to the terminating state. Utilizing an equalized, received signal, a closest signaling point, with an associated index, is selected from a subset of a signaling constellation corresponding to the associated subset bits.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to receivers. One embodiment relates to a digital FM receiver having multiple sensors (e.g. antennas). In one embodiment, the digital receiver includes a baseband unit having a channel processing unit. In one embodiment, the channel processing unit is capable of calculating or estimating a phase difference between the incoming signals prior to combining them. One embodiment uses phase estimation method for diversity combining the signals while another embodiment utlizes a hybrid phase lock loop method. Also, some embodiments of the present invention provide for echo-cancelling after diversity combining. An alternate embodiment of the channel processing unit utilizes a space-time unit to diversity combine and provide echo cancelling for the incoming signals.

Abstract: A system and method for determining angular offset of an impulse radio transmitter using an impulse radio receiver coupled to two antennae. The antennae are separated by some known distance, and, in one embodiment, one antennae is coupled to the radio with cable delay. Impulse signals from the antennae are measured to determine the time difference of arrival of one such signal received by one antenna compared to that of the other antenna. Time differential is measured by autocorrelation of the entire impulse radio scan period, by detecting the leading edges of both incoming signals or various combinations of these methods. Using a tracking receiver, the pulses may be continuously tracked thus providing real time position information.

Abstract: Techniques for processing a data transmission at the transmitter and receiver. In an aspect, a time-domain implementation is provided which uses frequency-domain singular value decomposition and “water-pouring” results to derive time-domain pulse-shaping and beam-steering solutions at the transmitter and receiver. The singular value decomposition is performed at the transmitter to determine eigen-modes (i.e., spatial subchannels) of the MIMO channel and to derive a first set of steering vectors used to “precondition” modulation symbols. The singular value decomposition is also performed at the receiver to derive a second set of steering vectors used to precondition the received signals such that orthogonal symbol streams are recovered at the receiver, which can simplify the receiver processing.

Abstract: A shared data and clock recovery circuit including a clock synthesizer for generating sampling signals having different phases, a multiple transition detector for receiving a data stream and sampling signals, and for detecting edges in a data stream in response to the sampling signals, a counter and accumulator for detecting the time occurrences and total number of edges, and for performing weighted average calculation to select one of the phases, a decision circuit for detecting the phase difference between a source clock and a local clock such that if the PPM difference between the source clock and the local clock is at least 200 PPM, then selection of a phase is based upon stored historical information, and if the PPM difference between the source clock and the local clock is less than 200 PPM, then selection of a phase is based on a weighted averaging calculation.

Abstract: The log-add kernel operation is represented as a summation of an average and a correction factor composed of a constant and a term based on a difference between the input arguments. In a described embodiment, the correction factor is approximated using the reduction of the correction factor into a Taylor series expansion, which may be defined around the difference between the input arguments as approximately zero. The approach may be further optimized to provide the Taylor series expansion as being modified to compute the correction factor with simple additions, multiplications, and shift operations. If the input arguments are close to each other, the new computed representation may be used, and if the arguments are further apart, the max operation is used. The log-add kernel operation also may be extended to more than two arguments, for application, for example, in the kernel operation of the generalized Viterbi decoder with a branch fan-in greater than 2.

Abstract: A method and communications device for controlling the line rate used on a communications link. The method includes receiving frames of digital information, computing a measure of the number of frames received in error in a sliding time window and generating a command to change the line rate as a function of the measure. The use of a sliding time window captures variations in the line quality over an extended period of time; thus, significant disturbances which might otherwise be missed are captured. The measure of the number of frames received in error is computed by applying a many-to-one mapping to the actual number of frame errors received since a previous sampling instant; thus, insignificant short-term disturbances which might otherwise temporarily corrupt the line quality estimate are eliminated.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring data using an early response signal to indicate subsequent transmission of data after a fixed latency, wherein the signal and data are transferred from a first clock domain to a second clock domain using a clock skipping technique. In one embodiment, an early response signal is transmitted by a first device k clock pulses prior to transmission of the data. The receiving device, which is operating at a higher clock rate, receives the early response signal and delays the signal by the number of skipped pulses which will occur in the second clock domain before the occurrence of the kth valid pulse. The second device employs a skip pattern generator to generate a signal indicative of this number of skipped pulses and provides the number to a delay circuit which delays the early response signal for an this number of clock pulses. The delayed early response signal is then output to the appropriate logic to indicate the latency of the subsequent data transfer.

Abstract: A communication device includes a transmitter and receiver. The transmitter includes an M-ary encoder configured to generate an M−1 number of distinctive symbols each comprising k bits. M is equal to 2k and k is a positive integer. The transmitter also includes a code generator configured to produce spread spectrum codeword sequences based on the symbols generated by the M-ary encoder and based on a first and a second Gold code polynomials. The transmitter sends a radio signal based on the spread spectrum codeword sequences. The receiver is configured to receive the radio signal. The receiver includes a first shift register configured to receive an input signal generated based on the received radio signal and a second shift register configured to receive and circularly shift a locally generated codeword sequence that is identical to the codeword sequence used to encode the symbols.

Abstract: Method and circuitry for improving the accuracy and efficiency of a phase-locked loop. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and device for monitoring the frequency discrepancy between two signals in conjunction with at least one data signal so as to improve the accuracy and efficiency of a phase-locked loop. In one embodiment of the present invention, two counters are used to check the frequency differential between a VCO signal and an external reference or input signal. An adjustable threshold is provided to determine whether the frequencies of the two signals are considered to be in a frequency-locked mode. A pair of flip-flops is used to minimize any erroneous detection of frequency discrepancy by validating two consecutive results of the frequency differential check. In addition, a data present signal is used to control the transition between the phase-locked mode and the frequency-locked mode to minimize the potential data loss.

Abstract: A memory for data accumulation includes an input on which such data are entered as a stream of input data under the control of an input timing signal and an output starting from which the data entered in memory are read as a stream of output data under the control of a reconstructed timing signal. A phase-locked loop uses this input timing signal as an input signal to generate a corresponding phase-locked output signal. Of such phase-locked loop output. A device is provided to measure residual phase wander and act on the transfer function band of the phase of phase-locked loop output which is preferably without ring filters.

Abstract: The method of protectively coating metallic uranium which comprises dipping the metallic uranium in a molten alloy comprising about 20-75% of copper and about 80-25% of tin, dipping the coated uranium promptly into molten tin, withdrawing it from the molten tin and removing excess molten metal, thereupon dipping it into a molten metal bath comprising aluminum until it is coated with this metal, then promptly withdrawing it from the bath.

Abstract: A programmable-divider provides a lower-speed transition signal to effect a synchronized load of a new divisor value during a safe-load period of the programmable-divider, such that the division occurs using either the prior divisor value or the new divisor value, only. A combination of in-phase and reverse-phase counter stages are used to position the divisor-independent period of each counter stage so that an edge of at least one of the lower-speed counter-enabling signals occurs during a period when all of the counter stages are in a divisor-independent period. The preferred selection of in-phase and reverse-phase counter stages also maximizes the critical path duration, to allow for the accurate division of very high speed input frequencies.

Abstract: The dual-modulus prescaler circuit for a frequency includes several dividers-by-two of the asynchronous type, connected in series, a phase selector unit (11) inserted between two of the dividers-by-two (10, 12a) and a control unit for supplying first control signals(S0, S1, S2, C1, C2) to the selector unit as a function of a selected mode. Said control unit receives four signals phase shifted by 90° with respect to each other from a first master-slave divider and supplies a selected one of the four phase shifted signals. The selector unit includes a first amplifying branch (21) receiving two first phase shifted signals (F2I, F2Ib), a second amplifying branch (22) receiving two second phase shifted signals (F2Q, F2Qb), and a selection element (23) connected to each branch. The first control signals (S0, S1, S2) are supplied to the first and second branches, and to the selection element for selecting one of the four phase shifted signals (F2) at one output in a determined division period.

Abstract: In a rotate rotate CT scanner a plurality of source-detector units are mounted on a gantry displaced from each other in the Z direction and the detector units are arranged to acquire data from large volumes of a subject in a single rotation so that the scanner can provide time-coherent images of large organs.

Abstract: In an exposing method reflecting synchrotron radiation, having a critical wavelength of 8.46 Å, emitted from a radiation generator (SR device) having a deflecting magnetic field of 4.5 T and electron acceleration energy of 0.7 GeV twice through rhodium mirrors having an oblique-incidence angle of 1°, transmitting the light through a beryllium window of 20 &mgr;m and through an X-ray mask prepared by forming an X-ray absorber pattern on a diamond mask substrate of 2 &mgr;m in thickness and thereafter irradiating a resist surface provided on a substrate with the light, the resist has a main absorption waveband in the wave range of at least 3 Å and not more than 13 Å and contains an element generating Auger electrons having energy in the range of at least about 0.51 KeV and not more than 2.6 KeV upon exposure.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for improved display of small dark structures such as in particular coronary blood vessels in digital X-ray images. A live image (S) is initially subjected to multiscale decomposition in which firstly multiple uses of low pass filtering with subsequent resolution reduction (RED), and secondly resolution increases using subsequent low pass filtration (EXP), give detailed images (D1, D2, D3, D4) of different resolution. In accordance with the first variant of the method, a mask (M) representative of the uninteresting image background is subtracted from the detailed image (D4) having the lowest degree of resolution. This ensures that the subtraction will only comprise correspondingly coarse structures with dimensions greater than the expected image motion. A further improvement can be achieved by applying a motion estimation (MOT EST) and motion compensation (MOT COMP) to the mask (M) and to the detailed image (D4) of the lowest degree of resolution.

Abstract: A system includes acquisition of first electronic image data representing a phantom located at a first position and irradiated by a first radiation field emitted by a radiation emitter, acquisition of second electronic image data representing the phantom located at a second position based at least on a first light field emitted by a light emitter and irradiated by a second radiation field emitted by the radiation emitter, generation of third electronic image data by correcting the second electronic image data based at least on the first electronic image data, and determination of a deviation between the first light field and the second radiation field based at least on the third electronic image data.