Abstract: A method is described for measuring the modulation error in digital modulated high frequency signal, whose amplitude and/or phase is digitally distorted according to a predetermined function, in particular limited by a given clip factor, in which the signal to be measured is compared with a locally generated reference signal that was generated by taking the predetermined distortion function into account.

Abstract: A testing apparatus for testing a device under test is provided, wherein the testing apparatus includes: a comparator for receiving a signal output from the device under test and converting the signal into a logic signal by comparing the signal with a first reference voltage; a driver for amplifying a logic signal to be output to the device under test on the basis of a second reference voltage and outputting to the device under test; a comparator setting unit for determining the first reference voltage so as to compensate for a delay amount of a reception signal received from the device under test and setting the comparator to be the first reference voltage; and a driver setting unit for determining the second reference voltage on the basis of the reference voltage of the comparator and setting the driver to be the second reference voltage.

Abstract: In the method of estimating a signal-to-interference+noise ratio (SINR), either the polarities or bit values of a plurality of received data symbol samples are estimated. Then an SINR estimate is generated based on the plurality of received data symbol samples and the estimated polarities or bit values of the plurality of received data symbol samples such that the SINR estimate is not substantially dependent on the polarities or a bit value of the plurality of received data symbol samples.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for automatic calibration of a signal path in receivers (e.g., radio frequency receivers) using a noise (and not a specific test signal) as a source and a fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the noise for correcting various parameters related to an inphase/quadrature (I/Q) imbalance in a frequency domain. The present invention (method and apparatus) can provide detecting and correcting an I/Q phase error, an I/Q amplitude error, an absolute corner frequency of the analog baseband filter, and a relative corner frequency of the analog baseband filters just by using the noise as a stimuli. This calibration can be used for a factory calibration or it can be used as an on-site calibration for base stations. Mobile devices can calibrate themselves independently of their location. This reduces the requirements for the test equipment in the manufacturing and maintenance stages.

Abstract: Various systems and methods providing high speed decoding, enhanced power reduction and clock domain partitioning for a multi-pair gigabit Ethernet transceiver are disclosed. ISI compensation is partitioned into two stages; a first stage compensates ISI components induced by characteristics of a transmitter's partial response pulse shaping filter in a demodulator, a second stage compensates ISI components induced by characteristics of a multi-pair transmission channel in a Viterbi decoder. High speed decoding is accomplished by reducing the DFE depth by providing an input signal from a multiple decision feedback equalizer to the Viterbi based on a tail value and a subset of coefficient values received from a unit depth decision-feedback equalizer. Power reduction is accomplished by adaptively truncating active taps in the NEXT, FEXT and echo cancellation filters, or by disabling decoder circuitry portions, as channel response characteristics allow.

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: A method of selecting a method from a set of methods of transcoding digital multimedia data, the data being transferrable between at least two communication apparatuses via a communication network. The method includes, for each transcoding method, obtaining a distortion value from a mathematical model for establishing the distortion taking into account the transcoding method, the distortion model being applied to information representing digital data. The method also includes selecting a transcoding method as a function of the different distortion values obtained for the set of transcoding methods.

Abstract: A rate control system is disclosed for video coding applications. The rate controller assigns a quantization parameter for video data in a picture in response to complexity indicators indicative of spatial complexity, motion complexity and/or bits per pel of the picture. A virtual buffer based quantizer parameter is proposed based on a virtual buffer fullness analysis and a target rate estimate, which is derived from the complexity indicators. A second quantizer parameter is proposed from a linear regression analysis of quantizer parameters used to code previously coded pictures of similar type (e.g., I pictures, P pictures or B pictures). A coding policy decision unit defines a final quantizer parameter from a comparison of the two proposed quantizer parameters.

Abstract: Automatic video object extraction that defines substantially precise objects is disclosed. In one embodiment, color segmentation and motion segmentation are performed on a source video. The color segmentation segments the video by substantially uniform color regions thereof. The motion segmentation segments the video by moving regions thereof. The color regions and the moving regions are then combined to define the video objects. In varying embodiments, pre-processing and post-processing is performed to further clean the source video and the video objects defined, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for motion estimation generally including a memory and a circuit. The circuit may be configured to (i) search for a first motion vector for a first current block among a plurality of first reference samples, (ii) copy a plurality of second reference samples from the memory and (iii) search for a second motion vector for a second current block among the second reference samples copied from the memory and at least a portion of the first reference samples.

Abstract: An encoding method, which achieves encoding efficiency, and good picture quality encoding even when there exists a picture in which a scene change occurs within an interlaced frame, is provided. A moving pictures encoding method treats a frame of interlaced image input signals as a picture, and performs prediction and encoding for this picture in macro-block units from a picture of both a forward picture, which is temporally in the past, and a backward picture, which is in the future.

Abstract: A method and unit for substracting quantization noise from a pulse code modulated PCM signal being segmented into frames. For achieving this it is proposed to first calculate for each frame of the PCM signal a quantization noise level Bq according to an equation having parameters including n which indicates a specific sample of the PCM signal, S*min[n] which represents the minimum quantization noise level for a specific sample value s*[n] of the PCM signal, S*max[n] which represents the maximum quantization noise level for the specific sample value s*[n] of the PCM signal, w[n] which represents a window-function and W which represents the number of samples per window. Subsequently, the quantization noise as represented by the quantization noise level Bq has to be substracted from the PCM signal, preferably with the help of a suitable background noise substracting system.

Abstract: A hybrid circuit that decouples gains for a transmit signal and a receive signal of a broadband modem that is coupled to a telephone line is provided. The hybrid circuit includes a multi-port transformer, a pair of line matching resistors, and a bridge circuit. The multi-port transformer includes a line coil electrically coupled to a telephone line, a linedriver coil magnetically coupled to the line coil and a receive coil that is also magnetically coupled to the line coil. In an alternate embodiment, a hybrid circuit is provided that includes a multi-port transformer in which the line coil, linedriver coil and receive coil include two coil segments. A broadband modem incorporating a hybrid circuit of the present invention is also provided.

Abstract: A signal modification circuit is provided for use with multi-mode formatted data in accordance with a common mode component and a high frequency component formatted in accordance with a differential mode. The circuit includes an active module that modifies the high frequency component to generate a modified and enhanced high frequency component at an output thereof. A bypass line interconnects the inputs and outputs of the active module to bypass the active module. A low pass filter is provided along the bypass line blocking passage of the high frequency component along the bypass line.

Abstract: The input (and output) power of a multi-carrier amplifier can be controlled to allow the amplifier to operate at high RF power levels and still remain within a power rating profile. The amplifier (or amplifiers) power is controlled using an aggregate scaling factor. The aggregate scaling factor is generated from a plurality of amplifier scaling factors. Each amplifier scaling factor is generated based on a comparison of a time-averaged total power and a corresponding threshold.

Abstract: A communication node of a wireless local area network utilizes a multi-element array antenna to estimate an angle-of-arrival for one or more signal sources which may communicate on symbol-modulated orthogonal subcarriers. Channel coefficients may be estimated from the angle-of-arrival for the one or more signal sources to increase channel capacity, improve channel equalization and reduce the effects of multipath fading. Beamforming based on the angle-of-arrival may also be performed for directional reception and/or transmission of communications with the one or more signal sources.

Abstract: An apparatus for adaptively modulating/demodulating signals in a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) system having a layered time-space architecture detector and a method thereof is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a bit and power allocation information calculator for deciding an equivalent channel gain in a reverse order of Vertical-Bell laboratories Space Time (V-BLAST) based on MIMO channel information feedbacked from a receiver and determining the number of bits and transmission power to be transmitted to each transmitting antenna by using the equivalent channel gain; and adaptive modulation means for modulating signal of each layer with corresponding modulation method based on the determined number of bits and transmitting power, controlling the transmitting power and transmitting the adaptively modulated signal through each transmitting antenna.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving data using a multiple antenna scheme in a mobile communication system are provided. First and second code symbol sequences are generated by encoding a data symbol sequence for transmission in a predetermined encoding method. Transmission of the two code symbol sequences through the first and second transmit antennas is controlled such that if the data symbol sequence is initially transmitted, the first code symbol sequence is transmitted through the first transmit antenna and the second code symbol sequence is transmitted through the second transmit antenna and, if the data symbol sequence is retransmitted, the first code symbol sequence is transmitted through the second transmit antenna and the second code symbol sequence is transmitted through the first transmit antenna.

Abstract: In a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) system, a receiver is implemented with at least one additional receive path beyond the number of transmit antennas used to transmit the signals (e.g., wireless OFDM signals) received at the receiver. In one embodiment, the additional receive path is used to reduced co-channel interference (CCI) in the recovered OFDM signals. In particular, each receive path applies recursive filtering to generate separate subcarrier signals. A processor converts the separate subcarrier signals from the different receive paths into a first set of subcarrier signals corresponding to each transmitted OFDM signal, where each first set of subcarrier signals has desired signal and possibly CCI. The processor also generates a second set of subcarrier signals corresponding to the CCI. The processor subtracts portions of the second set of subcarrier signals from each first set of subcarrier signals to generate recovered OFDM signals having reduced CCI.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to improve modulation efficiency. A symbol is created in which the relative position of a second pulse is a symbol period encode at least one bit. The symbol is transmitted across a communication channel. The one or more bits modulated by the position of the second pulse are recovered such that high bit rate communication may occur without channel compensation.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting an analog signal. The analog signal is converted into complex numbers such that two successive audio samples respectively form a real part and an imaginary part of a respective complex number. The complex numbers are then dispersed in a time-frequency space. The complex numbers are then modulated through a digital modulator into temporal signals and the temporal signals are output for transmission. Thereby, a digital modulator conventionally used for modulating digital input signals can operate for the transmission of an analog signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to amplifier systems which use a predistortion subsystem to compensate for expected distortions in the system output signal. A predistortion subsystem receives an input signal and applies a predistortion modification to the input signal. The predistortion modification may be a phase modification, a magnitude modification, or a combination of both. The predistorted signal is then received by an amplifier subsystem. The amplifier subsystem decomposes the predistorted signal into separate components, each having a constant envelope phase modulation, and separately amplifies each component. The phase modulated and amplified components are then recombined to arrive at an amplitude and phase modulated and amplified output signal. The predistortion modification is applied to the input to compensate for distortions introduced in the signal by the amplifier subsystem.

Abstract: A system and a method to enlarge the minimum signal of a linear modulation signal (115) including multi-carrier modulation, such as Scalable advanced Modulation or Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, are disclosed. A minimum enlarger (120) exploits a simple amplitude limiter (220) so as not to interfere with an existing peak suppression scheme. The amplitude limiter (220) enlarges local minimum amplitude values to a predetermined minimum amplitude threshold if the local minimum amplitude values are less than the predetermined minimum amplitude threshold. While the amplitude limiter (220) adjusts the local minimum amplitude values in the linear modulation signal (115), the phase of the linear modulation signal (115) is maintained. The conditioned linear modulation signal (125) increases the efficiency of a linear power amplifier (130). The spectral change of the linear modulation signal due to the disclosed scheme is negligible because the adjusted signal power is negligible.

Abstract: The present invention is related to methods and apparatus that can advantageously reduce a peak to average signal level exhibited by single or by multicarrier multibearer waveforms. Embodiments of the invention further advantageously can manipulate the statistics of the waveform without expanding the spectral bandwidth of the allocated channels. Embodiments of the invention can be applied to either multiple carrier or single carrier systems to constrain an output signal within predetermined peak to average bounds. Advantageously, the techniques can be used to enhance the utilization of existing multicarrier RF transmitters, including those found in third generation cellular base stations. However, the peak to average power level managing techniques disclosed herein can apply to any band-limited communication system and any type of modulation. The techniques can apply to multiple signals and can apply to a wide variety of modulation schemes or combinations therof.

Abstract: Baseband input units input baseband received signals. An initial weight data setting unit sets weighting coefficients to be utilized in the interval of a training signal as initial weighting coefficients. A gap compensating unit compensates control weighting coefficients with a gap error signal and outputs the updated weighting coefficients acquired as a result of the compensation. A weight switching unit selects the initial weighting coefficients in the interval of the training signal and selects the updated weighting coefficients in the interval of the data signal. Then the weight switching unit outputs the selected initial weighting coefficients and updated weighting coefficients as the weighting coefficients. A synthesizing unit weights the baseband received signals with the weighting coefficients and then sums them up.

Abstract: A target modulation is detected in a signal, e.g., a radio signal received by a device such as a mobile communications terminal. Respective target modulation correlations for respective carrier timing hypotheses are determined by demodulating signal values corresponding to the signal for the respective carrier timing hypotheses using a common carrier demodulation template and detecting the target modulation from the target modulation correlations. The target modulation may be, for example, a pseudonoise (PN) code, such as a GPS code or a CDMA communications system code, and the carrier timing hypotheses may correspond to various potential Doppler shifts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of high speed multi-dimensional signaling via a modem has a processing method of utilizing prolate pulses to optimize the transmission capacity of the channel. The modem includes a process that segments the channel bandwidth and allocates the power and bit loading in relation to a measure of the noise in each spectral bin. Data are carried over a plurality of frequencies across the channel, and within each spectral bin, a plurality of orthogonal signaling dimensions.

Abstract: A device for extracting a clock frequency underlying a data stream includes means for controlling a controllable oscillator, coarse-tuning means and fine-tuning means, wherein coarse-tuning means responds to a second data pattern present in the data stream and sets the oscillator coarsely based on its length. Fine-tuning means responds to temporally consecutive first data patterns present in the data stream with a higher accuracy in order to perform a fine tuning of the oscillator on the basis of the temporal length between the two first data patterns and on the basis of the number of clock cycles of the controllable oscillator occurring in this temporal length.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for erasure detection and soft-decision decoding in a cellular system receiver. In the present invention, a complex channel gain and a noise variance of a received symbol from a cellular system transmitter are estimated, and an erasure symbol (a symbol with high power interference) is detected by comparing a threshold value according to the estimated complex channel gain or noise variance with power of the received symbol. Log-likelihood ratios corresponding to constituent bits of the detected erasure symbols are allowed to be 0, and the log-likelihood ratios of the constituent bits of the other received symbols are calculated. A soft-decision decoding operation of received bits is performed with the calculated log-likelihood ratios.

Abstract: A decoder for decoding low-density parity-check codes comprises a first calculator to calculate LLrRml, for each parity check equation, at iteration i?1. A detector detects LLrRml, at iteration i, in response to the first calculator. A second calculator calculates LLrQLm, for each parity check equation, at iteration i in response to the detector. LLrQLm represents information from bit node l to equation node m, one for each connection. LLrRml represents information from equation node m to bit node l, one for each connection. The first calculator is responsive to the second calculator.

Abstract: A technique is described for determining the timing of a received signal that includes one or more time-delayed versions of a reference signal traveling over respective different signal paths. The technique includes correlating the received signal with the reference signal to produce a correlated signal; determining whether the correlated signal includes a signal peak that corresponds to the direct path of the received signal; and iterative repeating these operations until a signal peak is determined to correspond to the direct path of the received signal. In each successive iteration, the reference signal corresponding to at least the greatest signal peak in the correlated signal is regenerated, and contributions from each regenerated reference signal are removed from the received signal prior to correlating the received signal in the next iteration.

Abstract: The adaptive frequency control apparatus includes: a frequency downstreamer for converting the frequency of the radio frequency signal to a frequency of a defined band according to a reference signal; a frequency error measurer for measuring a frequency error between a frequency of the output signal of the frequency downstreamer and a defined frequency; a loop filter for filtering the frequency error output from the frequency error measurer based on a plurality of operational parameters, the operational parameters being changeable; a differential amplifier for generating a control signal for a voltage control based on the output signal of the loop filter; and a voltage-controlled oscillator for changing the frequency of the reference signal according to the control signal of the differential amplifier.

Abstract: A common problem in audio processing is that a useful signal is disturbed by one or more sinusoidal noises that should be suppressed. One embodiment of the invention provides a method of canceling a sinusoidal disturbance of unknown frequency in a disturbed useful signal. The method comprises the steps of estimating parameters of the sinusoidal disturbance including amplitude, phase and frequency; generating a reference signal on the basis of the estimated parameters; and subtracting the reference signal from the disturbed useful signal. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the estimation is performed by an Extended Kalman filter.

Abstract: A wireless communication apparatus which uses fast Fourier transforms (FFTs) in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) receiver which incorporates a beam space antenna array. The beam space antenna array may be implemented with a Butler matrix array. The beam space antenna array may be a circular array, vertical array, or a combination of both circular and vertical arrays, for providing the desired angular antenna coverage. In one embodiment, the antenna array is optimized because the FFTs are linear invariant transform operators, whereby the order of operations in the OFDM receiver can be interchanged.

Abstract: Input signals of each frame are encoded by mapping the signals onto a coordinate system dictated by the symbols of the previous frame, and symbols from a constellation are selected based on the results of such mapping. Received signals are detected by preprocessing the signals detected at each antenna with signals detected by the antenna at the immediately previous frame, and then applied to a maximum likelihood detector circuit, followed by an inverse mapping circuit.

Abstract: In one aspect thereof this invention provides a method to increase data throughput in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) wireless communications system. The method includes modeling data throughput as a function of received Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) with a sigmoid function to produce a throughput curve characterized as having a lower knee region and an upper knee region; and performing a gradient ascent search along the throughput curve by varying the power of a plurality of sub-carriers so as to remove power from any sub-carrier having a received SNR to the left of the lower knee region, and to re-allocate the removed power to sub-carriers having a received SNR to the right of the lower knee region.

Abstract: A self-adaptable transmission line (SATL) according to the present invention is implemented as a single signal path coupled between an SATL transmitter and an SATL receiver. The SATL transmitter controls the process of transmission in an SATL architecture. Data to be sent by the SATL transmitter are first encoded to the appropriate symbol before being serialized and transmitted on the SATL. A symbol transfer starts with an event known as a start-of-symbol (SOS) event, which can be, for example, a low-to-high transition. The SATL receiver samples and deserializes the incoming bitstream, and then decodes the symbol thus received. Upon detection of an SOS by the SATL receiver, the SATL receiver's logic is reset to its initial state, ready to receive the next symbol.

Abstract: Dynamic phase alignment circuitry selects from among several, phase-distributed, candidate clock signals the one of those signals that is currently best for use in controlling the timing of sampling of a serial data signal to recover the data from that signal. The circuitry selects two phase-adjacent ones of the candidate clock signals that are currently the two best candidates for final selection. The circuitry makes a final selection of the generally better one of these two best candidates in a way that avoids unproductive switching back and forth between these two best candidates.

Abstract: A PLL circuit having a phase build-out function and a phase control method of the PLL circuit, in which a phase build-out detector monitors the input phase of a PLL device and detects a transient wander component and a cycle wander component at the same time. When only the transient wander component is automatically detected, a phase build-out actuator resets a phase detector, a digital amp-1 and a digital filter to restructure an output phase as before an input phase change. As to the cycle wander component detected at the same time, no phase restructuring is carried out.

Abstract: Provided are a clock signal selecting apparatus and method that can guarantee the continuity of an output clock signal. The clock signal selecting apparatus and method can synchronize the phases of at least two clock signals by continuously controlling the phases of the clock signals. Accordingly, even when an active clock signal and a standby clock signal have different frequencies, it is possible to guarantee the continuity of the output clock signal regardless of whether the clock signals are switched from one to another. In addition, it is possible to guarantee the stability of the output clock signal.

Abstract: A sampling-error phase compensating device and a method thereof for sequentially sampling data signals and outputting sampled data signals.

Abstract: A secure connection between the bottom nozzle of a nuclear fuel assembly and the control rod guide thimbles having two or four crimped pockets in the side wall of a bottom nozzle leg counterbore which are formed by drilling two or four blind holes through the top surface of the bottom nozzle. After attaching the bottom nozzle to the fuel assembly with a crimp bolt a pneumatic tool is then inserted into a flanged cup feature on the crimp bolt head and the flanged portion of the cup feature of the crimp bolt is deformed into the crimp pockets. The crimp pockets are contained within the leg counterbore and prevent the screw from rotating or falling out of the assembly in the event of preload loss or screw fracture.

Abstract: The invention provides a circuit that can observe data within shift registers without altering the data. The circuit includes selectors connected to the inputs and outputs of the shift registers. The selectors selectively connect the input with the output of a selected shift register to form a wiring loop for the selected shift register. A control device connected to the wiring loop uses the wiring loop to cause the data to be continually transferred from the output of the selected shift register to the input of the selected shift register and back through the selected shift register in a circular manner. The control device includes a counter used for determining the length of a selected shift register and a set of registers to store, for future use when rotating data in the shift registers, the length of each shift register. The control device also includes a data output accessible from outside the circuit.

Abstract: In CSCT, an exact reconstruction of a scattering function for each voxel is not known for polychromatic primary radiation. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a beam hardening compensation is performed prior to reconstruction allowing to perform a quasi-exact reconstruction on the basis of the primary radiation mean attenuation values are determined, from which an equivalent water thickness is derived. From the equivalent water thickness an energy shift is calculated, which is used to correct the initial mean energy of the scatter radiation. Furthermore, a CT reconstruction may be performed prior to a CSCT reconstruction allowing for a beam-hardening correction. Advantageously, this may allow for an improved image quality and an improved resolution of the scatter function.

Abstract: An operating method for an X-ray machine is disclosed for carrying out a preliminary examination by using a contrast agent, in the case of which a number of heartbeats are determined within a time interval between a first instant of a contrast agent administration and a second instant of a maximum in a concentration of the contrast agent. An operating method for the X-ray machine is also disclosed for carrying out a main examination by using a contrast agent, in the case of which the scanning of the examination region is not started until the number of heartbeats coincides with a preset value such that the scanning is performed at a high concentration of the contrast agent inside the examination region, without the need to adapt the value to the heart rate currently present.

Abstract: Systems and methods include coordinated (KV) and megaelectronvolt (MV) computerized tomography (CT) imaging. KV and MV data are combined using a normalization process in order to generate CT images. The resulting CT images can include an improved signal to noise ratio in comparison to CT images generated using either KV or MV imaging alone. The coordinated KV and MV imaging process may be accomplished in significantly less time than using KV or MV imaging alone. This time savings has advantages in treatment verification. The MV projections are optionally generated using MV x-rays configured for x-ray treatment. In these cases the combined projections will reflect the treatment volume.

Abstract: Variable-Resolution X-ray (VRX) techniques boost spatial resolution of a Computed Tomographic (CT) scanner in the scan plane by two or more orders of magnitude by reducing the angle of incidence of the x-ray beam with respect to the detector surface. A multi-arm multi-angle VRX detector for targeted CT scanning allows for “target imaging” in which an area of interest is scanned at higher resolution than the remainder of the subject, yielding even higher resolution for the target area than that obtained from prior VRX techniques. In one embodiment, the VRX-CT detector comprises four quasi-identical arms, each containing six 24-cell modules made of individual custom CdWO4 scintillators optically-coupled to custom photodiode arrays. The maximum scan field is 40 cm for a magnification of 1.4. A significant advantage of the four-arm geometry is that it can transform quickly to a two-arm or single-arm geometry for comparison studies and other applications.

Abstract: A variable-resolution x-ray (VRX) scanner apparatus forms Computed Tomographic (CT) x-ray images of a subject. The detector array comprises a plurality of detector cells that detect the x-ray radiation at a spatial resolution that is dependent at least in part on cell-to-cell spacing in the array and the orientation of the array with respect to the X-axis and Z-axis. The detector array is operable to be tilted with respect to the Z-axis. The tilt angle of the array, which is preferably 45 degrees, defines an angular relationship between the Z-axis and a pivot axis of the array, where the pivot axis passes through the origin of the XYZ coordinate system. The detector array is operable to be pivoted about the pivot axis and positioned at a pivot angle with respect to the X-axis. The pivot angle defines an angular relationship between the detector array and the X-axis.

Abstract: When radiographic images are obtained by radiography using a tomographic image obtainment apparatus, the degree of overlap of anatomical structures of a subject is obtained. Further, a condition of exposure, such as angles ? of radiography, is changed based on the degree of overlap. The angles ? of radiography are angles at which a radiation irradiation unit performs radiography at a plurality of positions to obtain a plurality of radiographic images. The tomographic image obtainment apparatus produces a tomographic image by reconstructing the tomographic image from a plurality of radiographic images obtained by irradiating the subject with radiation from various directions.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for acquiring an image of an object and its contents from a stream of objects as they are transported by a conveyor. The image of the object is acquired by projecting a beam of electromagnetic radiation through the object and converting the resultant electromagnetic radiation by a sensor. The sensor accumulates the resultant electromagnetic radiation over a period of time that is a pre-defined relationship or function of the spatial relationship between the position of the object and the beam of electromagnetic radiation. A setup means is provided which allows a user to pre-define a set of constants in the pre-defined relationship.