Abstract: In one embodiment of a method of decoding a first frame sequence layer, at least one motion vector of an image block in a frame of the first frame sequence layer is determined based on a motion vector for an image block in a frame of a second frame sequence layer and a temporal difference between the frame in the second frame sequence layer and the frame in the first frame sequence layer. Here, the second frame sequence layer does not include a frame temporally coincident with the frame of the first frame sequence layer. The image block in the frame of the first frame sequence layer is decoded based on the determined motion vector.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to techniques for selective video frame rate upconversion (FRUC) in a video decoder. A video decoder selectively enables or disables FRUC based on one or more adaptive criteria. The adaptive criteria may be selected to indicate whether FRUC is likely to introduce spatial artifacts. Adaptive criteria may include a motion activity threshold, a mode decision threshold, or both. The criteria are adaptive, rather than fixed. When the criteria indicate that a frame includes excessive motion or new content, the decoder disables FRUC.

Abstract: An image frame of a video stream is compressed area by area with at least two areas having different bit rates. When compressing an area of the current frame pixels, the bit rate information of the corresponding area of previous frame which is referred which is saved in a temporary storage device. The bit rate information of each area is inserted into the predetermined location of the compressed image bit stream to allow fast random accessing and pipelining decompressing pixels in any area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, a device, and a computer programme product for calculating a motion vector from an interlaced video signal with interpolating a first pixel sample from a first set of pixels and a second set of pixels using a first motion vector, and interpolating a second pixel sample from the first set of pixels and a third set of pixels using a second motion vector. To improve motion estimation and de-interlacing, the invention provides interpolating pixels of the first set of pixels to calculate a third pixel sample as an average of at least two pixels within the first set of pixels, calculating a first relation between the first pixel sample and the third pixel sample, calculating a second relation between the second pixel sample and the third pixel sample, and selecting an output motion vector from a set of motion vectors by minimising the first and second r elation using the set of motion vectors.

Abstract: A decoding section generates decoded data from image data that is coded by using N×N orthogonal transform bases on image data of moving picture in pixel number blocks that are divided into N in horizontal and vertical directions. An inverse orthogonal transforming section performs inverse orthogonal transform processing on Nx×Ny pieces of decoded data generated by a decoded data generating section by using Nx×Ny inverse orthogonal transform bases corresponding to the low frequency side in association with downsizing scaling factors Nx/N, Ny/N in the horizontal and vertical directions to generate downsized image data. A position correction section performs position correction on a motion vector that represents a relative position of difference image data, if downsized image data is the difference image data corresponding to a difference from the downsized image data at a different time.

Abstract: A motion-vector searching method is provided. The motion-vector searching method includes the steps of: reading out observed processing blocks and reading out reference processing blocks; concurrently computing partial evaluation values for each of a plurality of position vectors; obtaining a total evaluation value for each particular one of the position vectors; and finding the motion vector as an optimum position vector determined by comparison of the total evaluation values each obtained for one of the position vectors with each other.

Abstract: Provided is a coding and decoding method and apparatus using a plurality of scanning patterns. The method for coding image data includes: (a) obtaining N×M data by firstly source-coding the image data; (b) scanning the N×M data using a predetermined scan pattern selected from a plurality of scan patterns in response to the obtained N×M data; and (c) firstly source-coding the scanned data. Accordingly, coding and decoding image data having various characteristics can be implemented efficiently. Particularly, even for the image data having an interlaced scanned frame format, more efficient coding and decoding can be achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing data for a digital broadcasting system, the digital broadcasting system including an interleaver, includes a data extractor that receives a data stream from the interleaver and extracts specified data from the data stream to obtain extracted data, a data processor that processes the extracted data according to a specified data process to obtain processed data, and a data stuffer that reconstructs the data stream by inserting the processed data into a portion of the data stream from which the specified data was extracted.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for bi-directional communications of voice, data, and alarms, and simultaneous transmission of video signals over a single cable such as coax. In more particular, it applies to a communications system that utilizes coax-type cabling to offer computer related in-room guest services such as on-television screen display of their bills, etc. The instant invention utilizes a digital communications protocol, preferably PCM, to fit a plurality of general purpose communications channels within conventional broadcast television frequencies. These communication channels might variously be used to carry telephone voice data, thereby obviating the need for a separate phone network, or, more generally, they might be used to transport any sort of digital data (e.g., room billing information, outgoing faxes, etc.) The instant invention also provides a means for directing broadcast video information to specific rooms within the structure.

Abstract: A SYNC bit inserting section 14 adds a sync signal to a train of codes, after adding a minimum run, said sync signal having a pattern that breaks a maximum run. It is thereby possible to provide a reliable sync signal pattern.

Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses, and systems are described in which devices having no common electrical ground communicate. In at least certain embodiments, an apparatus includes a transformer block to communicate a plurality of data signals and a synchronous clock signal between a first device with a first ground reference and a second device with a second ground reference over a data communication link. The first device sends the plurality of data signals to a modulator block having one or more Boolean logic gates that receive each data signal in combination with the synchronous clock signal. The modulator block sends a plurality of modulated data signals corresponding to the plurality of data signals to the transformer block. The transformer block sends the plurality of modulated data signals and the synchronous clock signal to the second device to provide the data communication link between devices having different ground references.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated method for identifying defects on objects provide for—under computer driving—the AC voltage energization of at least one transmitting coil to be simultaneously effected by a carrier signal, and for an essentially amplitude-modulated received signal to be received by means of at least one receiving coil; what is carried out, furthermore, is a demodulation not only of the carrier signal contained in the received signal by means of magnitude and phase formation, but also a demodulation of the harmonics of the carrier which are contained in the received signal, likewise by means of respectively associated magnitude and phase formation, to be precise preferably by using a Fourier or wavelet transformation method.

Abstract: A transmitter including a plurality of transmitting antennas and a processor operably coupled to the plurality of transmitting antennas. The processor is configured to select a first antenna from the plurality of transmitting antennas for transmission of a frame of data, determine if the frame is successfully received by a receiver, and select a second antenna different than the first antenna from the plurality of transmitting antennas for retransmission of the frame if it is determined that the frame was not successfully received by the receiver. The processor is configured to select a different antenna than a previous antenna for retransmission of the frame each time it is determined that the frame was not successfully received by the receiver. The processor is configured to discard the frame from further transmission if it is determined that the frame was not successfully received by the receiver after a number of transmission attempts.

Abstract: A speed estimation method is provided, detecting relative speed of a transmitter and a receiver transmitting symbols by OFDM sub-carriers through a channel. First, a first correlation table is established, indicating conceptual relationships between the relative speed and the channel characteristic based on Doppler shift theory. Thereafter, channel characteristic caused by movement is estimated. The first correlation table is checked to determine the relative speed according to the estimated channel characteristic. The channel characteristic is a correlation value generated by auto-correlating received symbols with a delay factor. The first correlation table is established with a first delay factor, associating correlation values to a first plurality of presumed shift frequencies in view of the first delay factor. The first presumed shift frequencies scale from zero to a first maximum value, and the relative speed is proportional to the shift frequencies.

Abstract: The invention relates to DVB-T system, and in particular, to a channel estimation method for OFDM symbols. A plurality of symbols are received to generate a pilot response. A finite impulse response is generated from the pilot response. A coefficient table is selected based on the characteristics of the finite impulse response. The channel is estimated by interpolating the pilot response based on the coefficient table.

Abstract: An improvement to multi-carrier communication, such as an OFDM and MC-CDMA system, where in a multipath or phase distorted channel, the received signal is flat with respect to frequency and linear with respect to phase. A first unit transmits a plurality of multi-carrier signals, which include unmodulated carrier signals. A second unit receives the plurality of multi-carrier signals, and determines the in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers of the unmodulated carrier signals of the received multi-carrier signal. The second unit compares the measured in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers of the unmodulated carrier signals to predetermined criteria, and generates adjusting data from the compared in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers. The first unit uses the adjusting data to pre-distort the next plurality of multi-carrier signals to be transmitted, the in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers of the plurality of multi-carrier signals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for allocating tones for communications in the strip-symbol periods in an OFDM system are described. In a strip-symbol, the signal is transmitted using the tones in a tone subset, which is selected from a predetermined set of tone subsets according to a fixed schedule sequence. Adjacent base stations and sectors use the same set of tone subsets but different schedule sequence to minimize the number of collisions between the tone subsets used in adjacent sectors and neighboring cells.

Abstract: User specific modulation-symbol scrambling is implemented for various uplink segments, e.g., uplink traffic acknowledgement channel (ULTACH), uplink state request channel (ULSRCH), and uplink dedicated control channel (ULDCCH) segments. A wireless terminal is assigned a wireless terminal scrambling identifier. A set of ordered input modulation symbols are determined for an uplink dedicated segment to which user specific scrambling is to be applied. One bit of the assigned wireless terminal scrambling identifier is associated with each of the ordered input modulation symbols of a segment in accordance with a predetermined mapping. For each input modulation symbol a scrambling operation, e.g., a phase rotation of the input modulation symbol, is performed as a function of the associated user specific scrambling identifier bit to obtain a corresponding output modulation symbol. A value of (0,1) for a scrambling ID bit is associated with a (first, second) amount of phase rotation, e.g.

Abstract: A composite signal includes a high power beacon signal and low power corresponding wideband synchronization signal and is communicated over a time interval exceeding a single OFDM transmission time interval. A base station transmits one or more different such composite broadcast signals in a recurring timing structure. Each different potential beacon signal, e.g., a single tone signal, is paired with a unique wideband synchronization signal. A wideband synchronization signal includes at least some predetermined null tones and at least some predetermined non-null tones. For a given wideband synchronization signal, the predetermined null tones carry predetermined modulation symbol values, A wireless terminal receives a composite signal, identifies a beacon, determines a corresponding known wideband synchronization signal, compares received to known wideband synchronization signals, and determines at least one of a timing adjustment, frequency adjustment and channel estimation.

Abstract: Various methods and systems for determining reverse-link data rates in a multi-user communication system are disclosed. For example, an apparatus for controlling a data rate of at least a first UE in a multi-user communication system is disclosed. The apparatus may include a channel estimation device configured to determine channel estimates for a plurality of different reverse-link signals to produce a plurality of channel estimates, a demodulation device configured to determine a first signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio for the first UE using the plurality of different channels estimates, and a data rate determining device configured to determine a first reverse-link data rate for the first UE using the first SNR.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing joint channel equalization (JCE) are disclosed. JCE is implemented to reject inter-cell and intra-cell interference in a receiver. The JCE only requires the channel responses of a desired signal and interferers with respect to different antennas. In order to implement JCE, a number of discrete Fourier transforms (DFTs) and an inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) are performed and a number of independent linear systems are solved. With M antennas, the JCE is capable of completely rejecting M?1 interferers. Over-sampling with diversity may be used to increase observation dimensions to a certain extent so that a receiver with M antennas may be able to reject more than M?1 interferers.

Abstract: Techniques for deriving and using noise estimate for data reception in a wireless communication system are described. A noise estimate may be derived for each packet received in a data transmission. Data detection may then be performed for each packet using the noise estimate for that packet. For noise estimation, a first sample sequence and a second sample sequence may be obtained from each receiver used for data reception. A phase offset between the first and second sample sequences may be determined and applied to the first sample sequence for each receiver to obtain a third sample sequence for that receiver. A noise estimate may then be derived based on the power of the differences between the second and third sample sequences for the at least one receiver.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, system and apparatus for implementing soft frequency reuse in a wireless communication system, the method includes: selecting for a cell or sector at least one carrier as a primary carrier and at least one carrier as a secondary carrier, the primary carrier and the secondary carrier are different; setting a first transmit power threshold for the primary carrier; setting a second transmit power threshold for the secondary carrier; the primary carrier selected for the cell or sector and a primary carrier selected for another cell or sector adjacent to the cell or sector are non-overlapped, and the first transmit power threshold is higher than the second transmit power threshold. The method, system and apparatus may reduce inter-cell interference and fully utilize frequency resources.

Abstract: Techniques for efficiently sending channel state information using differential encoding are described. Differential encoding may be performed across space, across frequency; across space and frequency, across space, frequency and time, or across some other combination of dimensions. In one design, spatial state information may be determined for multiple spatial channels on multiple subbands. The spatial channels may correspond to different antennas, different precoding vectors, etc. Channel quality indicator (CQI) values may be obtained for the multiple spatial channels on the multiple subbands. The CQI values may be differentially encoded across the multiple spatial channels and the multiple subbands to obtain differential CQI information. In another design, CQI values may be obtained for multiple spatial channels on the multiple subbands in multiple time intervals and may be differentially encoded across space, frequency and time.

Abstract: A receiving processing unit receives identical SD pictures transmitted a plurality of number of times, and performs addition for weighting an SD picture stored in a storage and the received SD pictures. The receiving processing unit stores the obtained values as a new SD picture in the storage. A picture-quality determining unit determines the picture quality of the new SD picture stored in the storage, and based on the determined picture quality, a request-signal transmitting unit requests class codes representing classes obtained by classifying the pixels of an HD picture in which the quality of an SD picture is increased. A receiving-control unit receives class codes which are transmitted in response to the request, and based on the SD picture and the class codes, an adaptive processing unit calculates predicted values of an HD picture corresponding to the SD picture.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for precorrecting a constant envelope input signal. A phase precorrection component generates a precorrected input signal by applying a phase precorrection to the input signal. The applied phase correction alters an associated phase of the input signal without applying amplitude modulation to the signal. A linear distortion source applies amplitude distortion and phase distortion to the precorrected input signal. The applied phase correction mitigates the phase distortion applied by the linear distortion source.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing hybrid automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication system are disclosed. A transmitter transmits at least two data packets via two or more antennas. If at least one of the data packets is not successfully transmitted, the transmitter retransmits the data packets while rearranging the data packets in an orthogonal spreading manner. Alternatively, the transmitter may retransmit only the unsuccessfully transmitted data packet along with a new data packet which replaces a successfully transmitted data packet. The unsuccessfully transmitted data packet may simply be repeated without changing its format. When only the unsuccessfully transmitted data packet is retransmitted along with the new data packet, the transmissions may be combined to recover the retransmitted data packet and the new data packet simultaneously.

Abstract: An arrangement where a transmitter has a plurality of transmitting antennas that concurrently transmit the same symbol, and where the signal delivered to each transmitting antenna is weighted by a factor that is related to the channel transmission coefficients found between the transmitting antenna and receiving antennas. In the case of a plurality of transmit and a transmit antenna I is hi, the weighting factor is hi* divided by a normalizing factor, a, which is ( ? k = 1 K ? ? h k ? 2 ) 1 / 2 , where K is the number of transmitting antennas. When more than one receiving antenna is employed, the weighting factor is 1 a ? ( gH ) H , where g=[g1 . . . gL), H is a matrix of channel coefficients, and a is a normalizing factor ( ? p = l L ? ? q = l L | ? k = l K ? h p ? ? ? k ? h qk * ) 1 / 2 .

Abstract: A harmonic-rejection modulation device is provided, which includes a phase splitter, a low pass filter, and a modulator. Based on a square wave, the phase splitter generates a plurality of unfiltered local oscillating signals having phase angles of 0°, 30°, 90°, 120°, 180°, 210°, 270° and 300°, respectively. The low pass filter filters the high frequency components of the unfiltered local oscillating signals to generate a plurality of local oscillating signals having phase angles of 0°, 30°, 90°, 120°, 180°, 210°, 270° and 300°, respectively. The modulator modulates a baseband signal with the local oscillating signals, wherein the third harmonics of the local oscillating signals are eliminated by the modulation process of the modulator. The invention also provides a method of modulating a baseband signal.

Abstract: A Global Positioning System (GPS) acquisition method is provided. A GPS signal is first received, comprising a plurality of data bits, each repeating for a bit period. A search space is then formed, comprising a plurality of elements each associated with a presumed offset and a presumed code phase. Before bit-transition of each bit period, element values of the elements are accumulated by substituting the data bits into a coherent-combination algorithm. After bit-transition of each bit period, the element values are accumulated by substituting the data bits into a differential-coherent combination algorithm.

Abstract: A digital amplifier including a clock generation unit configured to output a clock signal, a pulse width modulation unit configured to pulse width-modulate the clock signal based on an input signal, a driving unit configured to alternately drive at least two switching elements which convert the output of the pulse width modulation unit, an analysis unit configured to analyze characteristics of the input signal, and a control unit configured to control frequencies of the clock signal based on an output of the analysis unit.

Abstract: A clock recovery circuit comprising an initial delay select circuit, a delay locked loop and a clock synthesizer circuit is provided. The initial delay select circuit comprises an initial timing generator, a first multiplexer and an initial value generator. The delay locked loop comprises a delay chain, a phase detector, a counter, and a decoder circuit. The delay locked loop delays an input clock signal to generate a first delay signal and several unit delay signals. The initial value generator receives the unit delay signals to generate an initial value used as an initial counting value of the delay locked loop to prevent harmonic lock. The delay locked loop controls the phase difference between the input clock signal and the first delay signal. The output clock signal of the clock recovery circuit is generated by the clock synthesizer circuit based on the input clock signal and the first delay signal.

Abstract: Provided is a sub-harmonic frequency mixer having a structure in which two terminals of transistors receiving a Radio Frequency (RF) signal and a Local Oscillation (LO) signal are coupled. The frequency mixer is composed of a single-level structure of transistors and thus can be driven at a lower supply voltage compared to a common frequency mixer. A direct-conversion receiver employing such a frequency mixer needs an RF signal and an LO signal sources of single-phase. Therefore, the direct-conversion receiver has an architecture that simplifies a whole RF transceiver circuit and thus can be advantageously applied in implementing SoC (System-on-Chip) for a low power, high integration, low price and subminiature wireless transceiver circuit.

Abstract: A handheld audio system having a radio signal decoder that includes a method for adjusting a system clock. Adjusting the system clock includes receiving a signal at a rate of a receive clock, wherein the signal includes data at a transmit rate. An error term is determined between the receive rate and the transmit rate. Based on the receive clock and the error term, where the error term is non-zero, a clock signal is generated.

Abstract: A receiver is disclosed, wherein a re-ordering means comprises a multiplexer, a finite-state machine, and a plurality of buffers. The finite-state machine is arranged to control the multiplexer to load the buffers from a bus such that the output of the buffers is directly decodable by a decoder A receiving method is also disclosed, comprising the steps of: determining a transmission mode and a bus configuration; entering an initializing state of branching of a finite-state machine according to said determined transmission mode and bus configuration; performing transitions between states of said finite-state machine for each received set of soft data provided on a bus; multiplexing said soft data to a plurality of buffers in dependence on on the state of said finite-state machine; and writing said multiplexed data into said plurality of buffers.

Abstract: Channel estimation apparatus and method for interference cancellation in a mobile communication system are provided. The channel estimation method includes detecting a preamble from a received signal and estimating a primary channel using the detected preamble; calculating a short-term correlation matrix using the primary channel; and estimating a secondary channel using the calculated short-term correlation matrix according to a certain channel estimation scheme.

Abstract: There is disclosed a digital broadcast reception device capable of acquiring a broadcast wave at a current position with a high probability without using position information even when moving over a broadcast area. In this device, when reservation of recording or viewing is inputted from an input unit (104), a broadcast wave which can be received by the frequency channel for which the frequency channel station selection unit (123) is specified is selected. When it is impossible to select a broadcast wave which can be received by the specified frequency channel, a station selection control unit (122) controls the frequency channel station selection unit (123), a broadcast analysis unit (124), and a service channel station selection unit (125) so as to perform channel search and acquire a broadcast wave which can be received.

Abstract: A diversity receiver capable of receiving a CDMA system (e.g., a W-CDMA system) and a TDMA system (e.g., a GSM system), with receive diversity for at least one system, is described. W-CDMA is often referred to as UMTS. In one design, the diversity receiver includes a first receiver for GSM and a second receiver for UMTS. The first receiver may be implemented with one receiver design, may be spec-compliant for GSM, and may also support UMTS. The second receiver may be implemented with another receiver design, may be spec-compliant for UMTS, and may also support GSM. The first receiver may include a lowpass filter having a bandwidth that is adjustable for GSM and UMTS. The second receiver may include a bandpass filter used to attenuate a transmit frequency range for UMTS. Each receiver may include circuit blocks that are used for both GSM and UMTS.

Abstract: This invention relates to an antenna comprising at least one radiating device, furnished with a rejector filter associated with a frequency band of an interfering signal. In accordance with the invention, such an antenna is characterized in that this rejector filter is adaptive, so as to be active when the interfering signal is detected and its power is above a threshold, this adaptive filter being deactivated when the detected power of this interfering signal is below the threshold.

Abstract: A method of supporting operation of sleep mode in a wideband radio access system is disclosed. More specifically, a mobile subscriber station (MSS) which determines a frame offset information for synchronizing listening windows of at least one MSS that is in sleep mode, and transmits the determined framed offset information to at least one MSS.

Abstract: The field of the invention is that of electronic devices (1) for generating secure synchronization signals operating with an external clock emitting a first frequency signal. More specifically, the technical field is that of very high resolution synchronization signals, the temporal accuracy of the signals being less than a nanosecond, thereby enabling different elements of a laser pulse chain to be synchronized. The inventive device (1) is provided with securing means comprising an internal clock (133) emitting an internal clock signal oscillating at a second frequency roughly identical to the first frequency, wherein electronic security management means (130) are arranged so that the internal clock signal replaces the external clock signal and security measures are triggered when said external clock signal is lost, thereby causing the partial or complete stop of the device to be synchronized.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for adjusting power consumption in a network system including a first communication device and a second communication device communicating with the first communication device, wherein the method includes the first communication device creating IC operation information related to the operation of a first information processing IC in the first communication device and sending the IC operation information to the second communication device; the second communication device acknowledging the sent IC operation information in whole or in part and sending the acknowledged IC operation information to the first communication device; and the first communication device adjusting the driving frequency and/or the supply voltage of the first information processing IC according to the acknowledged IC operation information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for synchronising a signal frame transmitted by a transmitter of a telecommunication system to a receiver adapted to synchronise said signal frame from a synchronisation sequence included in said signal frame.

Abstract: A neutron generator comprising a boron-10 bearing target and a low-energy accelerator, wherein said low-energy accelerator emits a plurality of particles which bombard said boron-10 bearing target to cause a 10B(d,n)11C reaction which in turn produces a plurality of neutrons having an energy value greater than about 2 MeV and less than about 8 MeV.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing pellets of a nuclear fuel based on a (U,Pu)O2 or (U,Th)O2 mixed oxide which comprises a) preparing a primary mixture of powders by co-milling a UO2 powder P1 and a PuO2 or ThO2 powder P2, b) sieving this mixture, c) preparing a final mixture of powders by diluting the undersize with a UO2 powder P3, d) pelleting this final mixture, and e) sintering the pellets, and in which at least one compound is incorporated chosen from the group consisting of the oxides of Cr, Al, Ti, Mg, V and Nb, precursors thereof and inorganic compounds capable of providing the element sulphur during step e), is incorporated in at least one of the powders P1, P2 and P3 and/or in at least one of the primary or final mixture of powders.

Abstract: The nuclear reactor comprises a lower stopper sealingly fixed to a lower end of a tubular casing of the pencil that comprises a part which is internal to the casing successively comprising a first cylindrical section having a diameter which is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the tubular casing; a second cylindrical section whose diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the tubular casing and a third cylindrical section whose inner diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the tubular casing and greater than the diameter of the second cylindrical section such that 1-2 tenths of a millimetre radial play is created in the gas passable between the outer surface of the third section and the inner surface of the casing.

Abstract: A grid strap includes a spacer grid spring that increases the conformal contact area with a fuel rod of a nuclear fuel rod assembly. The shape of the spacer grid spring of the grid strap which is in contact with the fuel rod is optimized, thereby the elasticity of the spacer grid spring contacting the fuel rod is increased, the conformal contact area with a contact portion of the spacer grid spring contacting the fuel rod when the fuel rod is inserted into each cell of a spacer grid is expanded to obtain uniform stress distribution, and excessive plastic deformation of the spacer grid spring can be reduced. Further, magnitude and distribution of contact pressure between the fuel rod and the spacer grid spring are improved, thereby reducing the possibility of fretting wear caused by contact between the fuel rod and the spacer grid spring.

Abstract: In one aspect, A method of imaging an object of interest positioned in an exposure area is provided. The method comprises obtaining projection data of the object by providing radiation to the exposure area and detecting at least some of the radiation exiting the object to form the projection data, performing a first reconstruction of the projection data to form at least one bootstrap image, obtaining first data based on information provided by the at least one bootstrap image, and performing a second reconstruction of the projection data based, at least in part, on the first data to form at least one second image.

Abstract: In a method for performing recordings for dual absorptiometry, a high-energy radiation pulse is performed before a low-energy radiation pulse. Furthermore the high-energy radiation pulse is arranged at the end of an assigned radiation window of the detector. This temporal sequence of a high-energy radiation pulse and a low-energy radiation pulse allows the total time for performing the recordings for dual absorptiometry to be minimized.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing computer tomography images from limited data of a region of interest of an image object which can be subject to changes, comprising the steps of a) producing a first computer tomography image of the region of interest (source image) by acquiring a sufficient set of projection data and using a standard CT-image reconstruction technique, b) selecting at least one transformation function depending on expected changes of the image object, c) acquiring CT-data of the image object from a limited number of projections under a limited range of observation angles, d) reconstructing a new image of the region of interest (target image) by an iterative procedure starting from the source image of the region of interest, deforming the source image by using the transformation function and optimizing the target image in view of the acquired CT-data from the limited number of projections.