Abstract: A method is provided for designing a broad band constant directivity beamformer for a non-linear and non-axi-symmetric sensor array embedded in an obstacle having an odd shape, where the shape is imposed by industrial design constraints. In particular, the method of the present invention provides for collecting the beam pattern and keeping the main lobe reasonably constant by combined variation of the main lobe with the look direction angle and frequency. The invention is particularly useful for microphone arrays embedded in telephone sets but can be extended to other types of sensors.

Abstract: A method for reproducing audio signals of at least two different sources, a first volume for reproducing audio signals of a first source being able to be preselected, in which, during simultaneous reproduction of the audio signals of the first and the at least second source, the reproduction of the audio signals of the at least second source occurs at a volume that is raised compared to the first volume at least by a differential volume. This allows for a comprehensible reproduction of prioritized audio signals of the second source even against the background of a continuous reproduction of audio signals of a first source.

Abstract: The method and apparatus are provided for several audio signal processing apparatuses to share at least one audio output device. Several audio signals sent from the audio signal processing apparatuses are received. The DC levels of the audio signals are shifted to a predetermined value. One of the adjusted audio signals is then selected for signal-transmitting to the audio output device. Afterwards, the DC level of the selected audio signal is re-adjusted to the predetermined value.

Abstract: A tooth microphone apparatus worn in a human mouth that includes a sound transducer element in contact with at least one tooth in mouth, the transducer producing an electrical signal in response to speech and a means for transmitting said electrical signal from the sound transducer to an external apparatus. The sound transducer can be a MEMS accelerometer, and the MEMS accelerometer can be coupled to a signal conditioning circuit for signal conditioning. The signal conditioning circuit can be further coupled to a transmitter. The transmitter can be an RF transmitter of any type, an optical transmitter, or any other type of transmitter. In particular, it can be a bluetooth device or a device that transmits into a Wi-Fi network or any other means of communication. The transmitter is optional.

Abstract: A condenser microphone and a method of mounting a condenser microphone on a main PCB are provided. The method includes assembling the condenser microphone by assembling elements of the condenser microphone such that a vibration plate including a diaphragm and a backplate is directed toward an opened surface of a casing of the condenser microphone. The casing has a closed bottom surface and an opened surface opposite to the closed bottom surface. A PCB includes a sound hole. The assembled condenser microphone is positioned on a main PCB such that the sound hole of the PCB is aligned in accordance with a through hole formed in the main PCB. According to the present invention, if necessary, the main PCB can be mounted such that its elements surface is directed toward an inside of an electronic product, thereby maintaining good sound quality due to a short delivery path of sound waves.

Abstract: A surface mounted device (SMD) type biased condenser microphone includes two terminals for a surface mounting process. The SMD type biased condenser microphone includes a grounding terminal for connecting with an external circuit, a diaphragm/backplate set, one end of which is connected to the grounding terminal, for varying a capacity according to an intensity of sound pressure and converting sound into an electric signal, a DC-DC converter for providing a bias voltage so as to form an electrostatic field at one side of the diaphragm/backplate set, a buffer IC for amplifying the electric signal from the diaphragm/backplate set, and a decoupling capacitor for preventing the bias voltage output from the DC-DC converter from being directly applied to the buffer IC and transferring the electric signal from the diaphragm/backplate set to the buffer IC.

Abstract: An adjustment of hearing device systems is achieved by an interactive adaptation that is undertaken during the operation. A classifier recognizes various auditory situations and starts interactive adaptation procedures, in the framework of which various settings are to be evaluated. Only settings that fit the auditory situation are thereby offered. As a result of the evaluations, an optimal hearing aid settings results for the respective auditory situation.

Abstract: The frequency at which standing waves occur in a loudspeaker enclosure may be reduced by the addition of an internal barrier to the enclosure in order to lengthen the effective length of an internal dimension of the enclosure. Additionally, the internal barrier may be configured such that it forms a resistive coupling between two sides of the barrier. By configuring the internal barrier to form a resistive coupling, aberrations in the frequency response of the loudspeaker caused by certain standing waves may be dampened.

Abstract: A first digital image is combined with a transformed first digital image to authenticate and reconstruct the first digital image. When viewed in the standard manner, the combined image appears to be the first digital image. The transformed first digital image cannot be seen. When the bits within each pixel of the combined image are reversed, i.e. the least significant bit (LSB) is exchanged with the most significant bit (MSB), and the resultant image is viewed, then the transformed first digital image is seen. In this way, the transformed first digital image can be hidden inside the noise bits of the first digital image. The method is applied to color pixels by treating each color byte independently. The transformed first digital image can be encrypted before combining with the first digital image. The transformed first digital image can be inversely transformed back to the first digital image for authentication and reconstruction.

Abstract: This invention can multiplex noise in multilevel image data to reversibly embed visible additional information with a noise-multiplexed distribution while maintaining the atmosphere of the multilevel image data subjected to embedding. For this purpose, when noise is multiplexed on multilevel image data to embed visible additional information with a noise-multiplexed distribution, information representing whether or not to multiplex noise for each pixel is input as the additional information. Whether a pixel of interest in the multilevel image data is located at a position where noise is to be multiplexed is determined on the basis of the additional information (S106). When the pixel of interest is determined to be located at the position where noise is to be multiplexed, a bit region where noise is to be multiplexed in the pixel of interest is specified on the basis of data in a region near the pixel of interest (S110).

Abstract: This invention can multiplex noise on multilevel image data to reversibly embed visible additional information with a noise-multiplexed distribution while maintaining the atmosphere of the multilevel image data subjected to embedding. For this purpose, in this invention, when noise is multiplexed on multilevel image data to embed visible additional information with a noise-multiplexed distribution, information representing whether or not to multiplex noise for each pixel is input as the additional information. Whether a pixel of interest in the multilevel image data is located at a position where noise is to be multiplexed is determined on the basis of the additional information (S106). When the pixel of interest is determined to be located at the position where noise is to be multiplexed, the second bit region where noise is to be multiplexed is specified on the basis of the first bit region in a bit configuration which constitutes the pixel of interest (S110).

Abstract: An apparatus for embedding a digital watermark in a document image detects circumscribing outer shapes of characters in the document image and sets a plurality of reference lines that extend in the column direction and are spaced apart in the row direction by a basic pitch. The outer shapes include a first outer shape, a second outer shape that neighbors the first outer shape, and a third outer shape that neighbors the second outer shape, and the reference lines include a first reference line located between the first outer shape and the second outer shape, and a second reference line located between the second outer shape and the third outer shape. Control is performed for at least one of the second and third outer shapes so that a distance between the first reference line and an edge of the second outer shape is different from a distance between the second reference line and an edge of the third outer shape, in accordance with digital watermark information to be embedded.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to validating and providing physical objects. In one implementation, a physical object includes a first digital watermark carried thereon. The first digital watermark includes a first plural-bit message representing at least a reduced-bit representation of a biometric corresponding to an authorized bearer of the physical object. The physical object further includes semantic information carried thereon. At least a portion of the semantic information corresponds to the authorized bearer of the physical object. In another implementation, an apparatus is provided to validate physical objects. In some cases the objects include identification documents.

Abstract: Text, images, and/or graphics of electronic documents should be organized and laid out in a two-dimensional format for presentation to the viewer. The best such layout depends upon the content present, the creator's intent, the output device, and the viewer's interests. To analyze the qualitative nature of the layout in quantifiable terms, the electronic document is measure using various quantifiable factors; such as, balance, uniformity, white space management, alignment, consistency, legibility, etc.; that impact a qualitative nature of a document. Such quantifiable factors are then used to quantize the aesthetics, ease of use, eye-catching ability, interest, communicability, comfort, and convenience of the document.

Abstract: A passive biometric identification and authentication system. An index generation routine is performed which generates one or more indices. During enrollment indices are created and linked to the user's record and/or identity. Indices are generated so that in future readings of the same user, which are similar but not necessarily equal to the enrollment reading, at least one of the indices will be the same. Indices are also used to provide for additional privacy of the user's template.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for the analysis of images of cells and extraction biologically-significant shape-related features from the cell images. The extracted features may be correlated with particular conditions induced by biologically-active agents with which cells have been treated, thereby enabling the automated analysis of cells based on cell shape parameters. In particular, the invention provides methods for segmentation of cells in an image using a combination of a reference component image data and cell shape-indicative marker image data in a watershed technique. Further, the invention provides a skeletonization and skeleton analysis technique for extracting biologically-relevant features from cell shapes.

Abstract: An integrated system for processing currency bills, coins, and other media includes a compact currency bill processing device, a coin scale, a keyboard, and a processor integrated into a housing as a single unit. The bill processing device is used for counting currency bills of a plurality of denominations and includes an input receptacle and a transport mechanism. The coin scale is adapted to determine a coin total for at least one group of coins. The keyboard is adapted to manually receive from an operator information related to at least one of the currency bills and the coins. The processor is communicatively linked to the currency bill processing device, the coin scale, and the keyboard and is adapted to determine an aggregate total corresponding to the sum of a received currency bill total, the coin total, and an other-media total.

Abstract: In a pattern inspecting apparatus, images of places which can be expected to be the same pattern are compared with one another. However, a comparison of images obtained by different stage scans and the occurrence of a place capable of being inspected only once lead to a deterioration in the performance of detecting various error defects and an area incapable of being inspected, respectively. For solving this problem, defects detected in a high sensitivity condition are regarded as defect candidates and a critical threshold value, used as a boundary to detect a smaller value as a defect, of a defect candidate portion is obtained by an image processing circuit or an image of the defect candidate portion is obtained by processing with software. Further, the critical threshold value thus obtained is compared with plural threshold values, thereby permitting plural inspection results to be obtained in a single inspection.

Abstract: A method is provided that can conduct accurate correspondence of images in measuring an object based on images obtained by plural cameras so that measurement of the object is conducted precisely. The method includes the steps of capturing plural images by plural cameras, using an image in a photographing area common to the images, ex. image information obtained from an area that is set as a specific area to set camera parameters, using the set camera parameters to photograph the same photographing areas as those when the camera parameters are set so as to capture images anew, the photographing being performed by the plural cameras, determining corresponding points in the newly captured images, and obtaining three-dimensional information of the object included in a photographing area.

Abstract: Data on a target film image is developed so as to correspond to a predetermined X-Y two-dimensional coordinate system representing a relationship between RGB average data on each constituent pixel and respective color component data, developed pixels are divided to a plurality of groups so that pieces of the RGB average data on the respective pixels are arranged equidistantly, an average of dissociations of the respective pixels relative to a reference line representing characteristics of a film image photographed by a standard light is operated and derived as a group difference sum for each of the divided groups, for each of R, G, and B, a thickness factor for normalizing a distribution thickness of a pixel distribution in a direction in which the pixel distribution is distanced from the reference line is operated and derived, for each of the divided groups, an image difference sum is operated and derived by a product-sum operation between the group difference sum and the thickness factor, and if the image d

Abstract: A method for differentiating dynamic range of image is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps. First of all, pixel numbers with the same level value of Density units Dn?1 and Dn are compared. Next the minimum pixel numbers of each level value of Density units Dn?1 and Dn are counted. Then the minimum pixel numbers of each level value of Density units Dn?1 and Dn are summed. Next the ratio of total minimum pixel number and total pixel number R and a specification value Rs are compared. Then whether R is smaller than Rs or not is determined so as to recognize whether Density units Dn?1 and Dn could be differentiated or not.

Abstract: A method and apparatus using dual bounding boxes as dynamic templates for cartridge rack identification and tracking is disclosed. An imaging tape cartridge picker system includes a picker assembly, illumination sources disposed at the front of the picker assembly for illuminating an object, an imager disposed on the front of the picker assembly for gathering image data of the object and a processor, coupled to the imager and illumination sources, for thresholding the image data obtained from the imager and for controlling the illumination sources, wherein the processor uses bounding boxes to identify the location of a desired physical feature in the thresholded image.

Abstract: A method of representing an object appearing in an image, the method comprising deriving a plurality of view descriptors of the object, each view descriptor corresponding to a different view of the object, and associating the two or more view descriptors, the method comprising indicating for each view descriptor when the respective view corresponds to a view of the object appearing in the image.

Abstract: System and method for detecting symmetries of discrete curves. A mapping operator is applied to a first discrete curve to amplify its features, generating a first mapped discrete curve. A correlation of the first mapped discrete curve with each of a plurality of rotationally shifted versions of a second mapped discrete curve is computed, generating a corresponding plurality of correlation values. A minimum period of the two curves is determined based on the correlation values, and, based on the minimum period, a symmetry group (SG) of the two curves is determined and output. If the two curves are the same curve, the SG is the rotational SG of the discrete curve. If the second curve is a reflection of the first, the SG is the mutual reflection SG of the first. If the first and second curves are different curves, the SG is the mutual SG of the two curves.

Abstract: Disclosed is a scanning electron microscope (SEM) for realizing high-precision dimension measurement of a sample, such as an ArF exposure photoresist, that requires the measurement of a dimension by a low S/N signal waveform. To this end, partial waveforms (or partial images) of sample signal waveforms (or an images) acquired from a dimension measurement target sample and a sample material of the same kind are registered in advance, a measurement target signal waveform (or an image) obtained from the dimension measurement target sample and the sample registration waveform are combined, and a dimension of the dimension measurement target pattern is calculated based on the combination result.

Abstract: A storage device stores rows of bits including a D0 bit, an X0 bit, an X1 bit, a Y0 bit, a Y1 bit and a spatially predicted coded block pattern having an A0 bit, an A1 bit, an A2 bit, and an A3 bit. A first circuit is connected to the storage device for setting the A0 bit. A second circuit is connected to the storage device for setting the A2 bit and operates in parallel to the first circuit. In a second clock cycle, the bits in the storage device are shifted and the first circuit and the second circuit are reused to calculate the A1 bit and the A2 bit in parallel. Alternatively, a third circuit and a fourth circuit can be connected to the storage device to calculate the A1 bit and the A2 bit in parallel during the first clock cycle.

Abstract: A video encoding scheme employs progressive fine-granularity layered coding to encode video data frames into multiple layers, including a base layer of comparatively low quality video and multiple enhancement layers of increasingly higher quality video. Some of the enhancement layers in a current frame are predicted from at least one lower quality layer in a reference frame, whereby the lower quality layer is not necessarily the base layer.

Abstract: A moving image data management apparatus which manages one or plural representative images in correspondence with a moving image recorded on a storage medium. The apparatus generates a thumbnail based on a frame image selected in a desired selection base in an arbitrary section designated in the moving image, in correspondence with the section, and records the thumbnail. The thumbnail, corresponding to the moving image, is stored in correspondence with section information indicating the designated section, position information indicating the position of the selected frame image, and Type ID indicating the selection base. Among the thumbnails registered in this manner, a thumbnail is selected by referring to the Type IDs in correspondence with a processing purpose and is presented to a user.

Abstract: A subband processing apparatus useful for wavelet conversion and compression-decompression operations includes a plurality of memories and a plurality of analytic filter banks. The plurality of memories store an input signal in a way such that the input signal is divided into a plurality of regional signals to correspond to the plurality of memories. The plurality of analytic filter banks analyzes in parallel the regional signals. Each analytic filter bank is configured to be in a one-to-one relationship with one of the plurality of memories. In this apparatus, each of the plurality of memories stores a corresponding regional signal and at least one other signal copied from the leading and trailing portions of other stored regional signals. Reverse processing is provided to synthesize a signal from a plurality of analyzed subband signals.

Abstract: A method of adjustable spatial and/or temporal compression of an image including a face includes identifying a group of pixels that correspond to a face within a digitally-acquired image. A first compression portion of the image including the group of pixels is determined. A second compression portion of the image other than the group of pixels is also determined. The first compression portion may be automatically compressed with higher-grade compression than the second compression portion to generate a compressed image including the face, or an option to provided the compressed image including the different grade compressions may be provided.

Abstract: A method for enhancing video data includes inputting image data, providing a first threshold, generating a first mean gray level, generating a first minimum gray level, generating a first maximum gray level, generating a second mean gray level, generating a second minimum gray level, and generating a second maximum gray level. According to the first threshold, generate a second threshold, a third mean gray level, and a fourth mean gray level. According to the third mean gray level, the first gray level, and the first minimum gray level, generate a first gain. According to the fourth mean gray level, the second mean gray level, and the second minimum gray level, generate a second gain. Finally, according to the first mean gray level, the first gain, the third mean gray level, the second mean gray level, the second gain, and the fourth mean gray level; generate enhanced image data.

Abstract: A foreground erosion method is used to meet thin (but unbroken) text requirements using linear YCC segmentation. The method uses a fixed value subtracted from a gray selector signal, thereby thinning/eroding the foreground. In cases where the pixel would be converted from foreground to background, this is only done if a neighborhood test verifies that the thinning won't result in broken lines. The foreground erosion method attempts to match a couple of templates wherein if a match is found, then the adjustment is performed.

Abstract: Digital image processing methods, digital image devices and articles of manufacture are described. According to one aspect, a digital image processing method includes providing digital image data of a plurality of colors of an image, wherein the image data comprises a plurality of sets individually comprising mosaic data of one of a plurality of colors at a plurality of pixel locations, analyzing image data of one of the pixel locations with respect to image data of another of the pixel locations, and adjusting the image data of the one pixel location responsive to the analyzing, wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting to one of denoise the image data and sharpen the image data.

Abstract: A general shoot suppression method and system for image detail enhancement that provides good suppression in shoot areas while preserving the enhancement (with less or no suppression) in non-shoot areas. Asymmetry checker checks the luminance variation of pixels around the current pixel within a filtering range. Based on the checking result, different patterns of luminance variation in the neighborhood of the current pixel are categorized. Higher suppression is applied to those patterns that are more likely to cause overshoot/undershoot. Optionally, suppression is further associated with the intensity of detail signal at each pixel position. An intensity checker checks the magnitude of the detail signal. If the detail signal is weak at a current pixel position, it is unlikely that obvious shoot artifacts appear at that position, and little or no suppression is applied. Such a method and system provide shoot suppression only in shoot areas while maintaining good enhancement in non-shoot areas.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for spectrally-encoding plural source images and for providing the spectrally-encoded plural source images in a composite image, for rendering the composite image in a physical form, or for recovering at least one of the encoded source images from the rendered composite image such that the recovered source image is made distinguishable. Source image confusion in a rendered composite image is controlled by application of a illuminant-neutral gray component replacement (GCR) technique to the darkness common to the different colorants under the multiple illuminants.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus extracts edge pixels of an input image, connects the edge pixels so as to extract a segment, extracts an inclination angle of the image based on the segment, corrects an inclination of the image based on the angle, determines that correction has ended when the corrected inclination is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, and repeats inclination extraction, inclination correction and end determination using an output image obtained after the inclination correction as a new input image until it is determined that correction has ended.

Abstract: Methods and machine-readable mediums are disclosed for warping overlapping images. In one embodiment, the method comprises selecting a first set of points in a first image that are located in an overlap region of the first image and the second image, determining a set of tie points in the second image, each tie point correlating to a point in the first set, determining a second set of points, each point in the second set located at a position in the overlap region between a point in the first set and a tie point correlated to the point in the first set, and warping the first image and the second image by applying an algorithm using the second set of points, the algorithm to reposition at least a portion of the points in the first image and at least a portion of the points in the second image.

Abstract: A method of processing a digital image having pixels to improve the sharpness of a print generated from the digital image including determining a magnification value representing the magnification of a pixel of the digital image on the print based on the number of input digital image pixels and the output number of digital image pixels; producing a filter in response to the magnification value; using the filter to operate on the digital image to adjust the sharpness of the digital image to produce a sharpened digital image; resizing according to the magnification value the sharpened digital image to produce a resized sharpened digital image which includes the output number of digital image pixels; and producing the print based on the resized sharpened digital image.

Abstract: A system is provided for selecting a foreground region of an image, given a set of pixels defining the boundary of the foreground region of the image. The system includes a component to determine a foreground value (F) and opacity value (?) for each pixel on the set wherein ?is determined via a subpixel edge-offset to facilitate a separation the foreground region from background portions of the image. The foreground value (F) and opacity value (?) are then employed to smoothly mix the foreground region of the image with a subsequent image background region.

Abstract: An improved image data processing architecture utilizes a negotiation protocol with an information push technique to provide a more efficient and effective image data rendering pipeline. The improved image data processing architecture allows the optimization of data transfer through the use of image transfer parameters and flags. In another aspect of the invention, a selection mechanism is provided to allow a client application to easily select an image frame as the current frame in a multi-dimensional image. Image sinks within the invention may further support non-blocking behavior.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for remotely enhancing digital images by communication of the digital images over a network to a remote processing facility. More particularly, the digital image routing method includes steps of receiving a digital image packet that includes a digital image and a customer preference parameter and transmitting the digital image packet to a remote digital image editing system selected according to the customer preference parameter. In addition, the digital image routing method may include the steps of enhancing the digital image based on the customer preference parameter, and transmitting an enhanced digital image packet that includes an enhanced digital image and an enhancement description packet that describes the enhancements made for each of the digital images.

Abstract: A transcoder system for adaptively reducing frame rate is provided, which can change audio-visual stream of a GOP (group of picture). Each picture in the GOP consists of a plurality of macroblocks. The transcoder system includes a switching device, a variable length decoder, a motion vector compensation device, a memory and an encoder/decoder. The motion vector compensation device can compute output motion vectors respectively for the macroblocks in accordance with input picture types, so video data of I-, P- and B-pictures without complete reduced frame-rate transcoding in the prior art can be avoided. Therefore, video transcoding for pictures can be performed completely and quickly to thus reduce required transcoding computation and further increase transcoding speed.

Abstract: In order to provide a low-loss optical switch that is low in power consumption by providing the same as a self-holding type, and high speed and highly practicable, an optical switch of the present invention is composed of a quartz substrate (101), first and second input waveguides (102a and 102b), a first directional coupler (103), first and second arm waveguides (104a and 104b) of a Mach-Zehnder interferometric circuit, a second directional coupler (105), first and second output waveguides (106a and 106b), and a phase change material portion (100). A control light (for an amorphous to crystal transition) pulse (pulse width: 20 ns, pulse intensity: 5 mW) having a wavelength of 0.78 microns is irradiated. As a result of the control light pulse irradiation, the phase change material portion (109) changes in phase to a crystal state, and the optical switch transits to a bar condition.

Abstract: A system for exciting flexural waves on an optical fiber (102) is provided. The system includes a substrate (114, 118), an actuator (106), and a mechanical optical fiber coupling (104). The actuator is formed of an electromechanical transducer material. The actuator is mounted on the substrate. The mechanical optical fiber coupling (for example, an adhesive media) forms a secure mechanical connection between the actuator and the optical fiber. The mechanical optical fiber coupling is configured for communicating mechanical vibrations from the actuator to the optical fiber. However, it should be understood that the mechanical optical fiber coupling is exclusive of a tapered horn.

Abstract: The present invention presents a method to enhance polarization conversion reflection from an anisotropic thin film. The total reflection effect or the high reflection at the interface of an anisotropic thin film leads to enhanced polarization conversion. Polarization conversion is an interesting phenomenon by which a fraction of p(s)-polarized light incident on an anisotropic thin film may be reflected as s(p)-polarized light.

Abstract: An optical waveguide type biochemical sensor chip includes a light beam transmittable substrate having at least a first optical element that allows light beam to be impinged to the inside and a second optical element that emits light beam from the inside, an optical waveguide layer that is formed on a main surface of the substrate on which at least one of the first and second optical elements is formed, has a thickness of 3 to 300 ?m and is made of a polymer resin material having a higher refractive index than that of the substrate material, and a sensing membrane that is formed on the optical waveguide layer and creates a reaction product having the ability of absorbing the light beam or an evanescent wave of the light beam in response to an introduced specimen.

Abstract: The spacers 3 and 4 and the recess is formed on the supporting substrate 2 to support the upper cladding layer 7. The intermediate surface 22 and 23 lower than the top surface of the spacers 3 and 4 and higher than the inner bottom surface of the recess is formed on the supporting substrate 2. Each of the height between the top surface of the spacers 3 and 4 and the intermediate surfaces 22 and 23, and the height between the intermediate surfaces 22 and 23 and the inner bottom surface of the recess of the second substrate 2 becomes thin compared with the total thickness of the lower cladding layer. Thus, when the resin for the lower cladding layer 9 is cured to shrinkage, the inner stress in the resin is dispersed and the occurrence of the wrinkle 12 and the void decreases.

Abstract: An optical connector used for inputting light to an optical element from an external optical system or outputting light from an optical element to an external optical system includes a photonic crystal having a periodic refractive index structure, and an optical waveguide to be optically coupled to the optical element and a region in which a plurality of defects are formed at intervals equal to or less than four times the refractive index period a of the photonic crystal are formed in the photonic crystal. The region has a size equal to or greater than the wavelength of the light input from the external optical system or the wavelength of the light output to the external optical system, and the external optical system and the optical waveguide are optically coupled to each other via the region. The optical connector has an improved optical coupling efficiency, can achieve optical coupling of a plurality of light components of different wavelengths, and can readily achieve alignment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a remote antenna unit and a wavelength division multiplexing network. The remote antenna unit includes: an optical circulator having a plurality of ports; an electric field absorption modulator having a first input/output end and a second reflective end, the electric field absorption modulator configured to demodulate an optical signal into a first data signal, and modulate the demodulated optical signal according to a second electric data signal; and a filter disposed between the optical circulator and the electric field absorption modulator, for the filter configured to transmit an optical signal having a particular wavelength from among optical signals input from a port of the optical circulator toward the electric field absorption modulator and reflecting the remaining optical signals into the port of the optical circulator, and inputting the optical signal from the electric field absorption modulator into the port of the optical circulator.

Abstract: An architecture that enables one to realize a FIR transversal filter with apodized, interlaced bipolar tap coefficients (an). The tap coefficients, an, are varied via the control of the optical powers emitted by an array of WDM laser sources. Also, a filter architecture where tap coefficients can be agilely reconfigured in both polarity and magnitude. One chirped fiber-grating may be used to implement a series of wavelength-dependent tap-weights. The filter designs can be utilized to eliminate the low-pass response centered at DC, allowing one to place the center frequency (fc)1 of the first passband at a targeted intermediate frequency (IF).