Abstract: A seal analysis system for measuring and analyzing a seal and a mating hardware configured to detect a defect and to analyze a condition of at least one of the seal and the mating hardware and includes a sensor and an electrical processing circuit. The sensor may be in a form of an optical inspection device, a laser scanner, a phone, or an ultrasound scanner. Additionally, the sensor may be provided to take a photo or video. The electrical processing circuit may be built in to the sensor or it may be a separate unit configured to communicate with the sensor. The electrical processing circuit may be configured to compare a condition of a seal and/or mating hardware against pre-set criteria.

Abstract: A technique to assess or analyze cap removal or opening torque or rotational position is provided. In at least one form, a high speed, on-line machine vision system measures or determines the rotational position of a cap on a bottle, measures or determines the rotational position of the finish or neck of the same bottle, and then optionally uses such positional information to predict the opening or removal torque that will be required for a consumer to remove the bottle cap from the bottle.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with producing spatially varying spectral response calibration data are described. One example method includes controlling a digital camera to capture characteristic data arrays from light sensors in the digital camera in response to the digital camera being exposed to light stimuli from a multi-spectral reference display. The data arrays will be acquired multiple times at multiple locations in multiple stimuli provided from the multi-spectral reference display. The method also includes controlling a calibration logic to manipulate characteristic data arrays to produce spatially varying spectral response calibration data as a function of using characteristic data arrays and known wavelengths of the light in light stimuli. The method may also include providing the spatially varying spectral response calibration data to a downstream consumer (e.g., correction process, quality control process), displaying the data, or storing the data.

Abstract: A method is for monitoring the electrical integrity of lines of photosites of an imaging device with matrix array of photosites. The control lines of photosites may include for each line of photosites an emission of elementary electrical control signals for the photosites of the line. The method may include diagnosis of the elementary electrical control signals emitted.

Abstract: A computer system generates video based cohorts. Digital video data is processed to identify a set of color and texture based attributes associated with clothing worn by a set of objects. The digital video data comprises metadata describing the set of objects. The set of color and texture based attributes are analyzed using cohort criteria to form a result. The cohort criteria specify attributes that are associated with members of a given cohort. A set of cohorts is generated based on the result. Each cohort in the set of cohorts comprises a subset of objects from the set of objects that share at least one color and texture based attribute in common.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating video based cohorts. Digital video data is processed to identify a set of color and texture based attributes associated with the set of objects. The digital video data comprises metadata describing the set of objects. The set of color and texture based attributes are analyzed using cohort criteria to form a result. The cohort criteria specify attributes that are associated with members of a given cohort. A set of cohorts is generated based on the result. Each cohort in the set of cohorts comprises a subset of objects from the set of objects that share at least one color and texture based attribute in common.

Abstract: In a method for evaluating mechanical tests of a coating on a substrate, in a first step a mechanical stress is applied onto the coating, in a second step the substrate having the coating is isothermally clamped, in a third step an infrared photograph is generated of the region in which the mechanical stress is applied onto the coating in the first step, and in a fourth step the infrared photograph is evaluated. A device is arranged for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A multi-camera skin inspection system for inspecting the outer skin and the skin perimeter of extruded ceramic honeycomb structures is disclosed. The system has a camera that captures first digital line images of a line-illuminated portion of the outer skin as the ceramic honeycomb structure rotates to form a scanned digital image of the outer skin. The system also has second and third cameras that respectively capture second and third digital line images of illuminated first and second endfaces, including the corresponding first and second skin perimeters, as the ceramic honeycomb structure rotates to form scanned digital images of the ceramic honeycomb structure perimeters. The system also forms a composite image from the three scanned images and identifies at least one defect in the ceramic honeycomb structure from the composite image.

Abstract: A system and method for populating a map database for a vehicle navigation system with the location and type of wireless access points that can be used to update or service wireless systems on the vehicle. The map database can be initially populated with the known wireless access points at the time of manufacture of the vehicle, and then the vehicle communications system can detect new wireless access points as the vehicle travels, which can be stored on the map database. By storing the location and type of the access points in the map database, the vehicle will know the direction of the access point relative to the vehicle, and can compensate for the Doppler shift as a result of the relative movement of the vehicle to the access point.

Abstract: An image display apparatus and a method for providing an Xlet of the image display apparatus, are provided. The image display apparatus operated by a remote controller having a plurality of function keys, the image display apparatus comprises: an Xlet unit which performs Xlet included in a data broadcast signal; and a display unit which displays the preoccupied state of the plurality of function keys by the performed Xlet. Accordingly, a user may easily recognize the performed state of the Xlet.

Abstract: Ship (1) of the type comprising a control bridge (2) with a direct view of the ship's environment, and an operations control room (3) receiving information in real time on the situation of the environment of the ship, prepared by analysis means (4) for analysing the environment of the ship, of which the operations control room (3) comprises means for the panoramic display of the ship's environment.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for recognizing a defect image associated with a semiconductor substrate. In one example, the method includes collecting defect data of the defect image by testing and measuring the semiconductor substrate, extracting a pattern from the defect data, normalizing a location, orientation, and size of the pattern, and identifying the pattern after the pattern is normalized.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wireless remote controller having a navigation function and method of providing the navigation function to the same. The remote controller of the present invention includes a wireless transmission/reception unit, a display unit, a storage unit, at least tow function keys, a mode switching element, a device information selecting key, and a control unit. The function keys selectively operate in a first mode in which remote control key code information is transmitted through the wireless transmission/reception unit to devices and a second mode in which the device information is navigated. The device information selecting key selects information of one or more devices. The control unit controls the remote control key code information to be transmitted through the wireless transmission/reception unit in the first mode, and in the second mode controls the information of the device to be provided to the display.

Abstract: A video surveillance camera capable of operating with flickering illumination is formed from a time-delay-integration linescan camera in conjunction with a mechanical scanner. The line rate of the camera is adjusted to provide an integration time substantially equal to an integer number of periods of the lighting flicker.

Abstract: For computing the absolute height, in a field of view of a CCD-based acquisition system, of the profile of an object moving on an assembly line, two CCD-based image acquisition devices are used. The consecutive acquired images of the two CCD-based image acquisition devices are shifted by a predefined number of lines. Using two relative heights, the absolute height of a feature located in the acquired images is computed.

Abstract: A universal remote control apparatus that is programmable with software supplied by manufacturers of controllable devices so that a single remote control apparatus has a broad spectrum application capable of operating many different controllable devices. The remote control apparatus is based in a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) having sufficient memory to store the requisite software from a multitude of controllable devices and is operable to send or receive signals to the controllable devices by radio signal or by infra red beam. The remote control apparatus can be coupled to a personal computer to download the requisite software into the memory of the PDA, which can come via software supplied with the controllable device or by accessing the manufacturer's web site and downloading the necessary software therefrom. The display screen of the PDA can then be customized to replicate any control functions with a touch screen actuation control buttons.

Abstract: A system comprises an apparatus which is capable of personalizing its behavior in accordance with a user profile, and a gatekeeper device which comprises control means for allowing a user to control said personalization of the apparatus. The gatekeeper device is capable of detecting apparatuses which have personalization capabilities and of notifying the user upon such detection. The user may then decide to establish a relationship with the apparatus, which relationship specifies the extent of personalization which the apparatus is allowed to exhibit and whether confirmation by the user is required at fixture occasions. The user is allowed to change the relationship at any time. The system enables the user to build up anonymous relationships with various apparatuses, providing the user with personalized services while privacy is guaranteed.

Abstract: The present invention is related to methods and systems for detecting defective imaging array pixels and providing correction, thereby reducing or eliminating visible image artifacts. One embodiment of the present invention provides an on-line bad pixel detection and correction process that compares a first pixel readout value with a first value related to the readout values of other pixels in first pixel's local neighborhood. When the first pixel readout value varies by more than a first amount as compared with the first value, a second value related to the readout values of the neighboring pixels is used in place of the first pixel readout value.

Abstract: An extended functionality remote control (EFRC) provides a hardware/software implementation of an integrated interface for remote control emulation. A PDA or other portable computing device is used as a platform for the EFRC application software and peripheral hardware. The EFRC also merges information services into remote controls. Implementation of these information services takes the form of, e.g., electronic program guides (EPGs) merged with the functioning of remote controls. In addition to the portable computing device, the hardware portion of the invention according to a preferred embodiment includes a keypad and an infrared transmitter subsystem which are managed by a microcontroller. The microcontroller also exchanges data with application software of the computing device via a serial communications link.

Abstract: The invention concerns a video interfacing arrangement for connecting at least one display device to at least one video source composed of a module including a dedicated and programmed digital processing unit adapted to decode and descramble video flow according to a preloaded decoding or descrambling program, in order to display, in real time or delayed in time, to store, to record and/or to send over a telecommunication network, and on at least one screen interface, at least one storage or recording interface, a local or wide area network connecting interface and a user communication and controlling interface, the interfaces being linked to and driven by the processing unit and preferably mounted in or on the module. The invention also concerns a distribution system and a method for transferring encoded video programs and sequences over a wide area network.

Abstract: The remote control is constructed and arranged for direct TV operation and includes; a keyboard having keys for selecting a television channel; structure and circuitry for coupling a data storage unit or signal source to said remote control; structure and circuitry for retrieving raw data or a video signal from said data storage unit; and, circuitry for directing signals containing raw data or a video signal to a signal receiving device associated with a television set.

Abstract: After confirmation that a user is an authorized user by bringing a user certification into proximity to a user discriminating device, following the guidance of a touch panel display device, a battery is selected, and the battery, for which a lock thereof is unlocked, is taken out from a battery supply device. Thereafter, the battery is installed in a two electric wheeled vehicle in a parking apparatus, and the two wheeled electric vehicle is unlocked and used.

Abstract: A surface mount component outer surface inspection system comprising a loader for assembling an inventory of surface mount components and feeding them outward in controlled rectilinear manner and in a timed sequence, a first transfer assembly including a first moving endless belt in racetrack pattern, the belt having a partially perforated outer surface and a vacuum pulled through the perforations from the outer surface along a portion of the belt, for receipt of and retaining the surface mount components from the loader in spaced-apart arrangement on the belt, a surface-mount component, upper-surface viewing device for bringing the exposed surfaces of the moving components into focus at an area for inspecting them for visual defects, a second transfer assembly including a second moving endless belt in racetrack pattern, the belt having a partially perforated outer surface and a vacuum pulled through the perforations from the outer surface along a portion of the belt, the second assembly adjacent the first en

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition contains a mesomorphic compound represented by the following formula (A): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently denote a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms; X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 independently denote a single bond, --O--, --CO--O-- or --O--CO--; and A.sub.1 denotes a single bond, ##STR2## or ##STR3## and A.sub.2 denotes ##STR4## or ##STR5## and a mesomorphic compound represented by the following formula (B): ##STR6## wherein R.sub.3 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms; X.sub.3 and X.sub.4 independently denote a single bond, --O--, --CO--O-- or --O--CO--; m is an integer of 3-16; and A.sub.3 denotes ##STR7## or ##STR8## The liquid crystal composition may preferably be formulated as a chiral smectic liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a CCD camera comprising those sequential processes comprises steps of shifting a spot light source held by a positioning device, in front of a fixed CCD camera between two remote points on a visual line in order that light beam in the center of the light source can be incident upon predetermined picture element of a solid sensor built in the CCD camera, computing angles between a plurality of visual lines generated by shifting the light source and the optical axis of the CCD camera based on position data related to the positioning device, and calibrating the corresponding relationship between the angle of light beam incident upon the CCD camera and the predetermined picture elements built in the solid sensor.

Abstract: A universal remote control device which is programmed to operate a variety of consumer products is disclosed. The device is connected over a bidirectional link to either a cable converter or a telephone interface for receiving programming information. A touch screen display is employed on the programmable remote control device for displaying icons of functions to be selected. By selecting a particular displayed icon, a command can be decoded and sent via an infrared link to one or more appliances. Infrared codes for operating a virtually unlimited number of devices can be supplied to the device over the bidirectional communications link. Further, a provision is provided to permit a telephone connection to be set up between the user's home and a facility advertising products or services over a cable television broadcast. The touch screen display will permit the actual display of these advertisements as messages received from the cable head end system.

Abstract: A universal remote control apparatus that is programmable with software supplied by manufacturers of controllable devices so that a single remote control apparatus has a broad spectrum application capable of operating many different controllable devices. The remote control apparatus is based in a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) having sufficient memory to store the requisite software from a multitude of controllable devices and is operable to send or receive signals to the controllable devices by radio signal or by infra red beam. The remote control apparatus can be coupled to a personal computer to download the requisite software into the memory of the PDA, which can come via software supplied with the controllable device or by accessing the manufacturer's web site and downloading the necessary software therefrom. The display screen of the PDA can then be customized to replicate any control functions with a touch screen actuation control buttons.