Abstract: Systems and methods for error resilient transmission and for random access in video communication systems are provided. The video communication systems are based on single-layer, scalable video, or simulcast video coding with temporal scalability, which may be used in video communication systems. A set of video frames or pictures in a video signal transmission is designated for reliable or guaranteed delivery to receivers using secure or high reliability links, or by retransmission techniques. The reliably-delivered video frames are used as reference pictures for resynchronization of receivers with the transmitted video signal after error incidence and for random access.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention discloses a simple low cost framework for robust operational control of video encoders. The framework comprises a two-layer architecture that effectively decouples the processes of video bit rate control and video quality/distortion control. The upper layer includes a video bit rate controller that operates on a single picture/picture-slice, or a set of pictures/picture-slices, and is based on feedback control techniques used in automatic control systems. The lower layer includes a video quality/distortion controller that operates at the level of blocks of pixels, and reduces distortion artifacts. The decoupled nature of the encoder control architecture of the present invention provides the flexibility of combining various feedback control algorithms and various distortion reduction schemes.

Abstract: A video decoding device that performs decoding processing on blocks of a compressed video, the decoding processing including motion compensation processing for any blocks compressed based on one or more reference pictures, the device comprising: a memory that stores reference pictures; a compensation unit including an input buffer for storing one or more of the reference pictures and sequentially motion compensates block by block with reference to the stored reference pictures; a reference picture transfer unit reads, for one block in each time slot, all of the reference pictures corresponding to the one block, and write the read reference pictures to the input buffer; a judgment unit judges whether a total amount of the reference pictures read in each time slot is more than a predetermined amount; and a suppression unit suppresses, in a time slot for which the judgment unit judges affirmatively, access to the memory except read access.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus has: a decoding interval detecting unit detecting a second interval according to coding order of frames necessary to decode a first interval which is designated by display order of the frames in video data which has been compression-encoded by using an inter-frame compression according to a predictive coding; and a file forming unit forming a file to store the video data in the second interval detected by the decoding interval detecting unit. The file forming unit adds information showing the first interval by the frame display order to the file.

Abstract: This disclosure is related to a fast motion estimation method for implementing in a video encoder. A particular method includes determining early termination based on the value of a sum of absolute difference (SAD0). The method also includes performing motion prediction using a motion vector from a previous frame as a prediction point. The method further includes using the prediction point as the center to obtain the integral motion vector by conducting a 3×3 cross searching until a minimum sum of absolute difference (minSAD) is located at the center of the cross and predicting a location of a half-pixel point based upon a point corresponding to the integral motion vector, values of the minimum sum of absolute difference of other four cross points.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing device which is able to reconstruct a high-resolution (HR) picture from low-resolution (LR) pictures, by modifying instability in the pictures due to movement of hands in capturing the images, and also by preventing increase of a circuit size and processing amounts required for motion estimation between the pictures. In the image processing device, a motion estimation unit reads the LR pictures from a memory, and estimates respective motion vectors between the pictures. A stabilization parameter calculation unit calculates a stabilized global motion parameter based on the motion vector. A motion vector compensation unit stabilizes the motion vectors calculated by the motion estimation unit, using the stabilized global motion parameter. A picture integration unit combines (integrates) a target picture and reference pictures with sub-pixel precision, using the stabilized motion vectors.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a video coding method and a video decoding method which allow enhancement of coding efficiency and improvement in video quality. A video coding apparatus (100) includes: a mode determination unit (111) which determines a notification method for notifying a transform block size to be used in orthogonal transform of a current block to be either the implicit mode or the explicit mode, and outputs the ABT mode indicating the determined notification method; an orthogonal transformation unit (104) which transforms the difference values between the input image and predicted image into frequency coefficients based on the transform block size determined in accordance with the determined notification method; a quantization unit (105) which quantizes the frequency coefficients and output the quantized values; and a variable length coding unit (110) which performs variable length coding on the quantized values, the ABT mode, and the like, so as to output a coded stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of down-sampling data values, said method comprising the step of: -determining a first set of data values comprising an original current data value and values of original data spatially surrounding said current data; -creating a second set of data values based on the first set by clipping an original data value of the first set when a difference between the current data value and said original data value is higher than a threshold; and -low pass filtering the current data value based on the second set of data values. It may be used in, for example, video encoders, video decoders, or portable apparatuses, such as personal digital assistants or mobile phones, said apparatuses being adapted to encode, to decode pictures, to store or to display pictures at a lower spatial resolution.

Abstract: A method and system for selecting modes for encoding macroblocks in a sequence of frames of a video is presented. For each current macroblock in each frame, an amount of correlation with a previous corresponding reference macroblock encoded according to an encoding mode associated with the corresponding reference macroblock is measured. Then, the encoding mode associated with the corresponding reference macroblock is selected as the mode for encoding the current macroblock if the amount of correlation is greater than a predetermined threshold, and otherwise a new mode a new mode is selected.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for coding information (FIG. 5) that is specially adapted for smaller presentation formats, such as in a hand held video player (FIG. 1). The invention addresses, inter alia, reducing the complexity of video decoding (55), implementation of an MP3 decoder (56) using fixed point arithmetic, fast YcbCr to RGB conversion, encapsulation of a video stream and an MP3 audio stream into an AVI file, storing menu navigation and DVD subpicture information on a memory card, synchronization of audio and video stream, encryption of keys that are used for decryption of multimedia data (FIG. 3), and very user interface (UI) adaptations for a hand held video player that implements the improved coding invention herein disclosed.

Abstract: A method for outputting a digital video broadcast data, applicable in a digital video broadcast receiver with a data buffer, is provided. The method comprises receiving a digital video broadcast data according to an input clock, storing the digital video broadcast data temporarily into the data buffer, outputting the digital video broadcast data temporarily stored in the data buffer according to an output clock, and adjusting the frequency of the output clock dynamically according to the remainder of the digital video broadcast data in the data buffer. The method dynamically adjusts the frequency of the output clock and be able to output the digital contents smoothly without a large number of data buffer memories.

Abstract: An analog/digital gain control device avoid some of the requirements associated with the nature of a closed-loop AGC circuits and which meets the remaining requirements without much difficulty uses an analog to digital conversion method that increases the number of effective ADC bits by compressing the baseband input analog signal using a logarithmic circuit. After the compressed analog signal is converted into a digital signal, a digital anti-log process or look-up table (LUT) is used to expand the digital signal back to the original linear scale. The word size of the output of the anti-log process is larger than the input word size due to the nature of the anti-log function. To reduce the word size of the digital signal an open loop normalization technique can be applied.

Abstract: A noise free transceiver circuit includes a communication line, a power source line, a ground line, an output transistor having output terminals connected between the communication line and the ground line for outputting a communication signal to the communication line, a first circuit for applying a trapezoidal signal to the input terminal of the output transistor to turn on in synchronism with a transmission signal and a second circuit for turning off the output transistor when the level of the transmission signal is high. The output transistor is turned off when the communication signal is outputted. Therefore, noises of the power line are shut out of the output transistor.

Abstract: Cyclic-shift diversity transmission and optional per-subcarrier transmit beamforming within a same time interval (e.g., OFDM symbol interval) takes place. The CSD transmission technique circularly shifts the IFFT output prior to any cyclic prefix insertion and has the effect of putting a subcarrier and antenna dependent phase shift in the effective channel response from each transmit antenna. To properly perform transmit adaptive array (TXAA) transmission within an OFDM symbol interval that is being circularly shifted by the CSD transmission technique, the TXAA weights will account for the frequency domain phase shift created by the CSD circular shift operation.

Abstract: A frequency domain diversity DVB receiver device includes multiple antenna ports for receiving radio signals, and radio signal processing circuits connected to the antenna ports that convert the received radio signals into digital samples. The digital samples from the different antenna ports time-share a front-end processor which processes the digital samples to provide time-domain symbols. The time-domain symbols are stored in time-domain symbol buffers according to which of the antenna ports the time-domain symbols are received. A fast fourier transform circuit then retrieves the time-domain symbols and converts them frequency-domain symbols, which are then stored one or more frequency-domain symbol buffers according to the antenna ports the corresponding radio signals are received. A diversity processor which combines the frequency-domain symbols from the frequency-domain symbol buffers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving inter cell interference cancellation in an cellular radio communication system, said cellular radio communication system sending OFDM frames on an air interface, each OFDM frame comprising a pilot tones part and a payload part comprising a plurality of bursts. According to the present invention, the method comprising the step of: Sending on a sub channel a first set of pilot tones by the station sending a burst on said sub channel; Sending additionally in said frame and on said sub channel a second set of pilot tones by an additional station when a burst sent by said additional station starts on said sub channel.

Abstract: In an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system, a frequency domain channel estimate for non-nullified subcarriers is converted to a time domain channel estimate. The number of taps L of a channel model is determined based on the time domain channel estimate. An improved time domain channel estimate is obtained by computing L tap coefficients of the channel model from the frequency domain channel estimate. An improved frequency domain channel estimate is obtained by performing a Fourier transform on the improved time domain channel estimate. Alternatively, a time domain truncation method may be performed selectively only if the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is below a threshold. Alternatively, a frequency domain channel estimate for pilot subcarriers are converted to a time domain channel estimate and an improved frequency domain channel estimate is obtained based on the number of pilot subcarriers and a delay spread.

Abstract: For flexibly signaling a synchronous mode or an asynchronous mode in the multi-channel parameter reconstruction, a parameter configuration cue is inserted in the data stream, which is used by a configurator on the side of a multi-channel decoder to configure a multi-channel reconstructor. If the parameter configuration cue has a first meaning, the configurator will look for further configuration information in its input data, while, when the parameter configuration cue has another meaning, the configurator performs a configuration setting of the multi-channel reconstructor based on information on a coding algorithm with which transmission channel data have been coded, so that it is ensured efficiently on the one hand and flexibly on the other hand that there will always be obtained a correct association between parameter data and decoded transmission channel data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for transmitting an uplink signal by a mobile station in a mobile communication system using an OFDMA scheme. The method includes estimating a downlink channel status by using a signal received from a base station; determining a precoding matrix by using the estimated downlink channel status; and transmitting a signal obtained by multiplying an uplink signal to be transmitted by the precoding matrix to the base station.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting a frequency offset in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system. The method includes determining a first frequency index based on autocorrelation values calculated according to a frequency index for a pilot signal of a received symbol, accumulating the autocorrelation values calculated according to the frequency index for the pilot signal of the received symbol depending on a symbol count, and determining a second frequency index based on the accumulated autocorrelation values, and determining at least one of the first frequency index and the second frequency as a frequency offset according to channel quality.

Abstract: Systems for adaptive modulation in multipoint-to-point communication using orthgonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) are provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises: a host unit; and a plurality of remote units using a multiple access scheme to communicate at the same time with the host unit using OFDM; wherein the host unit sends an adjustment signal to at least one of the remote units instructing the at least one remote unit to adjust the timing of transmissions from the remote unit to improve orthogonality of an OFDM waveform received at the host unit; wherein the host unit allocates tones within the OFDM waveform to the plurality of remote units; wherein different modulation schemes are used on different tones within the OFDM waveform; and wherein the host unit allocates tones within the OFDM waveform based on at least one of type of data to be transmitted and error rate requirement.

Abstract: A signal is modified according to a current diversity parameter adjustment, and is transmitted from a modifying communication device to a feedback communication device. A feedback signal reflecting feedback information describing the signal as received by the feedback communication device is received. The feedback signal comprises frames, and a frame comprises slots, where a slot has a slot power value. The frame timing of the frames is established from the slot power values. The signal is modified according to a next diversity parameter adjustment in accordance with the frame timing.

Abstract: An accurate total error rate performance can be measured using a computed error vector magnitude (EVM) per stream. Using this EVM, the receiver or the transmitter can advantageously generate an optimized modulation and coding scheme (MCS) that corresponds to a specific number of streams, modulation and coding rate for the transmitter. For example, the receiver can compute an SNR from the EVM and then use an SNR vs. MCS table to determine the optimized MCS. In contrast, the transmitter can receive an EVM-to-RSSI mapping and an EVM-to-MCS mapping from the receiver. These mappings and an EVM can facilitate selecting the optimized MCS.

Abstract: Various aspects of a system for an adaptive VBLAST receiver for wireless MIMO detection may comprise utilizing log likelihood ratios (LLR) to selectively cancel interference in a received signal when information contained in one or more layers is encoded. Following the selective cancellation of interference, further computations may be performed on the residual received signal. Various aspects of the invention may comprise a linear detector with improved performance in comparison to some conventional VBLAST receivers. Performance may be measured by, for example, a packet error rate (PER) for a given signal to noise ratio (SNR) associated with the received signal.

Abstract: In a multiple input/multiple output wireless communication system, a receiving signal is compensated based on a wireless channel state information matrix converted by lattice reduction. The distortion of the modulation constellation diagram of a signal is considered, a detection signal is processed, and an intermediate signal table containing at least two intermediate signals is obtained to increase the area for the detection signal to be decided correctly, thereby to improve the possibility of the correct detection of the signal. Then a candidate signal table is obtained from the intermediate signal table and, based on the candidate signal table, a decision signal for a transmitting signal is obtained, thereby improving the accuracy of the detection of the transmitting signal. When at a high signal-to-noise ratio, the bit-error performance approaches the bit-error performance of a system using maximum likelihood detection algorithm, while causing no significant increase in computation complexity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for allocating dedicated pilots for supporting MIMO and setting MIMO-only interlace slots in a CDMA 2000 Nx-EV-DO compatible system. The method includes determining whether a current interlace is a particular interlace in which a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) signal for channel estimation in a receiver is inserted; and inserting the MIMO signal into the particular interlace when the current interlace is the particular interlace and then transmitting the MIMO signal according to a predetermined transmission scheme. By the apparatus and method, it is possible to effectively use the MIMO in a system in which EV-DO users, MIMO EV-DO users, OFDM users, MIMO-OFDM users co-exist.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provides an adaptive space-time coding and modulation method and a transmitter. In one embodiment, the method includes: obtaining a curve corresponding to a modulation mode, a channel coding rate, a coding mode of a space-time code, a parameter indicating signal transmission quality and SNR by simulating or measuring at transmit-side and making a table with correspondences between the SNR, the modulation mode and the coding mode of the space-time code according to a SNR range corresponding to a predefined signal transmission quality. Higher frequency spectrum efficiency can be achieved with the quality of service guaranteed.

Abstract: A Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) receiver is provided to demodulate received symbols into a constellation, and comprises a radio frequency (RF) module, an analog to digital converter (ADC), an auto gain controller (AGC), a digital modulator, a distribution analyzer and a system controller. The RF module receives and demodulates radio signals into received symbols. The ADC coupled to the RF module generates digital signals from the received symbols. The AGC normalizes signal amplitudes in the RF module. The digital demodulator performs synchronization and equalization to decode the digital signals, whereby a constellation is generated. The distribution analyzer coupled to the output of the ADC and the digital demodulator provides a decision grid to analyze the constellation. The system controller is coupled to the distribution analyzer, adjusting the AGC and digital demodulator according to the constellation analysis.

Abstract: A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a first microprocessor acting as a controller, and a second microprocessor, e.g., DSP, in communication with the first microprocessor, the second microprocessor generating a digitally synthesized waveform. A converter converts the digitally synthesized waveform to an analog waveform. A modulator combines the analog waveform with a carrier signal for generating an outgoing signal. The waveform may have rising and falling edges of varying shape. Methods are also presented.

Abstract: A modulation device includes a signal input for receiving a data stream to be modulated and a first and a second signal output. At least one first complex component is derived from the data stream in a coding device. A first and a second high-frequency signal are output via the signal outputs. The first and second high-frequency signals are derived from the at least one first complex component and are distinguished by the fact that the second high-frequency signal has a phase shift of substantially 90° with respect to the first high-frequency signal.

Abstract: A signal processing system and method which operates to reduce a crest factor of an input signal without increasing the signal bandwidth. An embodiment provides for identifying peaks in the input signal which exceed a clipping threshold. The characteristics of such identified peaks can then be used to determine a clipping wavelet which can be added to a waveform of the input signal so that the peak will not exceed the clipping threshold. The addition of the wavelet is a linear operation, and the clipping wavelet is limited in terms of bandwidth and time, such that it does not increase the out-of-band spectral content of the input signal.

Abstract: An RFID reader includes first and second mixers receiving an incoming signal, circuitry for adding a portion of an outgoing signal to an incoming signal, first and second analog feedback loops coupling outputs of the first and second mixers to the circuitry for adding the outgoing signal to the incoming signal. An amount of outgoing signal added to the incoming signal depends on signals in the feedback loops. An RFID reader in another embodiment of the present invention includes a first mixer receiving an incoming signal, a second mixer receiving the incoming signal, an AC-coupled section coupled to the mixer outputs, and a DC-coupled section coupled to the mixer outputs. An RFID reader in another embodiment of the present invention includes an analog loop for adaptive carrier signal cancellation from an incoming signal, and a digital loop for controlling a gain of the incoming signal. Methods are also presented.

Abstract: A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader in one embodiment of the invention includes an amplifier for amplifying an incoming RF signal, a switchable filter receiving an amplified signal from the amplifier, and mixers receiving a filtered signal from the filter. An RFID reader in another embodiment of the invention includes an RF section with an RF signal level control. A baseband section with baseband signal level control receives a signal from the RF section. The RF signal level control and the baseband signal level control are dynamically adjustable independently of each other. An RFID reader in another embodiment of the invention includes RF signal level control, and mixers receiving a signal from the RF signal level control. A level of a signal between the RF signal level control and the mixers is monitored. The RF signal level control is adjusted based on the monitored signal for preventing saturation of the mixers. Methods are also presented.

Abstract: An AM receiving circuit is disclosed which comprises an intermediate frequency amplifying unit that generates an intermediate frequency signal from a broadcast wave signal received by an antenna to amplify and output the intermediate frequency signal; an AGC (Automatic Gain Control) unit that sets gain of the intermediate frequency amplifying unit depending on electric field intensity of the broadcast wave signal; and an AM detecting unit that detects the intermediate frequency signal output from the intermediate frequency amplifying unit, wherein the AM receiving circuit comprises a sound quality compensating unit including: a filter unit that extracts a predetermined frequency band of the audio signal; an amplifying unit that boosts or attenuates the audio signal in the predetermined frequency band extracted from the filter unit; and a controlling unit that controls filter characteristics of the filter unit and sets a boosting function or an attenuating function of the amplifying unit, depending on the elec

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for blind equalizers with multiple constant modules. In one embodiment, a circuit, includes: a filter to produce an output based on an input that represents a symbol being received, the symbol being one of a Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) constellation; a decision engine coupled to the filter to generate a result indicating one region of a plurality of regions in a QAM constellation diagram, the output of the filter being in the indicated region which includes a plurality of symbols of different radii in the constellation diagram; and an error reduction engine coupled to the decision engine and the filter to reduce a difference between a selected one of a plurality of constants and a modulus of the output; where each of the plurality of constants correspond to one of the plurality of regions; and the selected one of the plurality of constants is selected according to the result of the decision engine.

Abstract: A channel equalizer includes an overlap unit, an estimator, a calculator, a compensator, and a save unit. The overlap unit overlaps a group of data packets in a broadcast signal. The group data packets include a head, a body, and a tail, and a known data sequence is periodically included in the body. The estimator estimates a CIR of each data region the body using the known data sequence, and it further estimates CIRs of data regions in the head or tail using the CIRs obtained for the data regions in the body. The calculator calculates equalization coefficients based on the CIRs estimated by the estimator, and the compensator compensates channel distortion of the overlapped data using the equalization coefficients. The save unit saves the compensated data.

Abstract: The present invention discloses devices and methods for improving data correlation using a multiple-correlation state-machine, the method including the steps of: (a) pre-processing a data frame having a plurality of symbol sets, wherein each symbol set demarks a respective frame field of the frame, to provide a threshold-compared hamming-distance indicator; (b) comparing the threshold-compared hamming-distance indicator with at least one multiple-correlation threshold to provide a threshold-compared multiple-correlation indicator; and (c) combining the threshold-compared hamming-distance indicator and the threshold-compared multiple-correlation indicator to determine a match/no-match comparison indicative of the respective frame field. In some embodiments, the step of combining includes forming a logical-AND of the threshold-compared hamming-distance indicator and the threshold-compared multiple-correlation indicator.

Abstract: In general, circuit scale in a DAE is large. The proposed DAE includes First multipliers (400 to 418), Unit processing circuits (420 to 430) and Combined circuits (432 and 434). First multipliers (400 to 418) use temporary estimated values (x0 to x9) to respectively compute signals (u0 to u9). Unit processing circuits (420 to 430) use the signals (u0 to u9), which are multiplication results of the first multipliers (400 to 418), to respectively compute signals (v4 to v9). Combined circuits (432 and 434) use the signals (v4 to v9), outputted from the unit processing circuits (420 to 430), to compute respective logarithm likelihood ratios ?4 and ?5. Here, in the unit processing circuits (420 to 430), by sharing part of circuits related to computing continuous ?s, the circuit scale of the DAE (338) is reduced. For example, with regard to computation of ?4 and ?5, part of four unit processing circuits (422, 424, 426, and 428) is shared.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for a clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit. A phase selection circuit (PSC) generates a signal comprising frequency and phase. A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) connected to the PSC generates a clock signal. The clock signal controls the frequency of the signal. The CDR circuit also includes a phase adjustment signal generator connected to the PSC for generating a phase adjustment signal. The phase adjustment signal controls the phase of the signal.

Abstract: To ensure that a phase-locked loop locks quickly to the pilot tone of the stereo-multiplex signal when a new transmitter is tuned in, the stereo-multiplex signal is multiplied in a multiplier M by the quadrature component of the pilot tone generated by a digital oscillator, is low-pass-filtered in a low-pass filter, and is fed as a control signal to the oscillator which is composed of a table of length N and a counter for addressing the table entries. The zero phase angle ?0 is set by a counter offset n0 by incrementing or decrementing the counter. It is advantageous to employ a virtual table of length N+ which is larger than the length N of the real table. To access the real table, however, only the corresponding MSBs of the actual count n(k) are used which match the address space of the real table of length N.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gaming machine. The gaming machine comprises symbol display means capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols, and main control means for supplying power to the symbol display means, controlling states from a beginning of the variable display of the symbols to a stopping thereof in the symbol display means and carrying out a game providing a medal based on the symbol after the stopping. Further, it comprises effect means for effecting a game, sub-control means for supplying the power to the effect means and controlling the effect, and power source means for supplying the power to the main control means and the sub-control means, respectively.

Abstract: A propulsion motor is provided to motor and processes, which combined are the nanostructured materials in all motor structures (17, 17A, 18), applied to the reaction room (16), applied to exhaust vessel (13, 14, 15) and in their details, parts of trigger system (1), applied to reaction vessel (2), all with the intention to become less massive, more mechanical resistant, applied to some processes like z-pinch (2, 4, 4A, 4B), high flux compression generator (4, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D), using ultra super capacitors (4), conductors nanotubes (4A) as well as some parts of CPA laser (2), all with the intention to become less massive, more mechanical resistant and adequate to each situation.

Abstract: A practical technique for inducing and controlling the fusion of nuclei within a solid lattice. A reactor includes a loading source to provide the light nuclei which are to be fused, a lattice which can absorb the light nuclei, a source of phonon energy, and a control mechanism to start and stop stimulation of phonon energy and/or the loading of reactants. The lattice transmits phonon energy sufficient to affect electron-nucleus collapse. By controlling the stimulation of phonon energy and controlling the loading of light nuclei into the lattice, energy released by the fusion reactions is allowed to dissipate before it builds to the point that it causes destruction of the reaction lattice.

Abstract: A method for plasma containment comprises varying the system energy subject to Maxwell's equations, momentum moment equations, and adiabatic equations of state, without imposing a quasi-neutrality condition. In one embodiment, electrons are confined by magnetic forces and ions by internal, electrostatic forces that arise due to charge separation of the two fluids. In one embodiment, input parameters for the energy variation process are selected so as to satisfy a plasma beta parameter condition, thereby reducing the number of control variables by one. The radial scale length for cylindrically symmetric plasmas in one-dimensional equilibrium is characterized by the electron skin depth. Such plasmas can be confined as a high aspect ratio toroid having compact dimensions. Applications of the invention include neutron generation, x-ray generation, and power generation.

Abstract: A fuel assembly for a pressurized water reactor that includes a bottom nozzle, a plurality of elongated guide thimbles projecting upwardly from the bottom nozzle, an array of fuel rods, a plurality of support grids axially spaced along the guide thimbles, and at least two Intermediate Flow Mixing grids, which may have different configurations of mixing device formations, disposed between pairs of non-uniformly spaced, adjacent support grids at selected locations.

Abstract: A register circuit is provided with a register portion composed of a plurality of latches or flip-flops whose data input terminals are connected together and whose clock input terminals are connected together, and a coincidence checker that checks whether or not the output signals of the plurality of latches or flip-flops coincide with each other. Here, the register circuit is so configured as to send an output signal of the coincidence checker to the following stage as a final register output. With this configuration, it is possible to improve the noise immunity of the register circuit without delaying output response to an input of a normal signal.

Abstract: A method for improving a resolution of an image is provided. The method includes reconstructing an image of an initial portion of an object at an initial resolution, and reconstructing an additional portion of the object at an additional resolution.

Abstract: The present invention is a directed method and apparatus for collimating a radiation beam such that the full intensity of the radiation beam does not impinge detectors of a radiation detector assembly that are particularly susceptible to saturation or over-ranging. This collimation can be dynamically adjusted on a per view basis using empirical or scout scan data.

Abstract: A CT detector includes a first detector configured to convert radiographic energy to electrical signals representative of energy sensitive radiographic data and a second detector configured to convert radiographic energy to electrical signals representative of energy sensitive radiographic data and positioned to receive x-rays that pass through the first detector. A logic controller is electrically connected to the first detector and the second detector and is configured to receive a logic output signal from the second detector indicative of an amount of a saturation level of the first detector, compare the logic output signal to a threshold value, and output, based on the comparison, electrical signals from the first detector, the second detector, or a combination thereof to an image chain.

Abstract: A CT detector capable of energy discrimination and direct conversion is disclosed. The detector includes multiple layers of semiconductor material with the layers having varying thicknesses. The detector is constructed to be segmented in the x-ray penetration direction so as to optimize count rate performance as well as avoid saturation. The detector also includes variable pixel pitch and a flexible binning of pixels to further enhance count rate performance.