83results about How to "More disadvantage" patented technology

The present invention consists of a method and apparatus providing for the continuous stream blending, preferably on a mass ratio basis, of two or more liquids. Each individual liquid stream is synchronously dosed in precise mass ratio to a common mixing point. The flow of each stream is on-off or digital. Repeated mass ratio doses of defined and matching flow interval, referred to as synchronous digital flow, interspersed with a defined interval of no flow, constitutes digital flow at a net rate sufficient to meet or exceed some required take-away of the blended liquids. In one preferred embodiment, each dose stream flow is produced and measured by a four element apparatus preferably consisting of a servo motor and controller, a precision positive displacement pump, a Coriolis mass meter and a precision flow stream shut-off device. The servo motor and controller establish and control a periodic and intermittent flow rate necessary to displace a defined mass dose in a precisely defined flow interval. The flow interval is measured against a precision millisecond digital clock. The Coriolis mass meter is used only to totalize mass flow to define the desired mass dose during the defined digital flow interval. The flow stream shut-off device ensures precise delivery of the mass dose to the common mixing point. The flow rate of a stream is automatically adjusted by the control electronics until the required mass dose is delivered in the defined flow interval.

A method for use in annotating documents provided in a collection. The method comprises determining, an annotation gain for a number of document clusters, the annotation gain being at least partially indicative of the effect of annotating at least one document associated with the respective cluster. A recommendation can then be determined using the determined annotation gains, the recommendation being indicative of at least one cluster. An indication of the recommendation can then be provided.

An electronic card (100) configured to be read by a reading device (300) is disclosed. The card (100) comprising a card portion (270) having a surface (156) onto which are formed a plurality of user interface elements (154) and electronic apparatus (259) attached to the card portion (270). The apparatus (259) comprising a memory (276) in which are retained a plurality of data strings. At least one of the data strings is associated with a corresponding one of the user interface elements (154). The apparatus (259) also comprises a processor means (275) coupled to the memory means (276) and communication means (278) for coupling the processor means (275) to the reading device (300). The processor means (275) is configured to relate reading signals generated from a selection of at least one of the elements (154) and received via the communication means (278) with at least one of the retained data strings. The retained data strings are inaccessible to the reading device (300).

A process for producing a shaped article from a bonded, non-woven, fibrous batt of fibers comprising a number of steps. There is first provided (A) a dry, solid, heat-responsive fiber-binder; and (B) a moisture-responsive fiber-binder which is a dry, solid, particulate, raw, ungelled starch which swells and becomes sticky upon contact with moisture. The heat-responsive fiber-binder is contacted with the fibers to form a raw batt with the heat-responsive fiber-binder loosely adhering to the fibers of the batt. The moisture-responsive fiber-binder is contacted with the fibers to form a raw batt with the moisture-responsive fiber-binder loosely adhering to the fibers of the batt. The batt is heated to a temperature above the binding temperature of the heat responsive fiber-binder but below the scorching or melting point of the fibers thereby activating the heat-responsive fiber-binder whereupon the heat-responsive fiber-binder engages the intersections of the fibers binding the fibers together at their intersections thereby converting the raw batt into a partially cured batt. The partially cured batt is contacted with steam, thereby causing the moisture-responsive fiber binder to swell, become sticky and further bind the fibers. Fiber binders and shaped articles are described.

Disclosed is an imaging engine system (699) generally intended for the reproduction of graphical object images using apparatus having limited computing resources, such as so-called “thin clients”. Numerous developments of traditional image processing and rendering enable high quality image generation. One such development takes advantage of temporal coherence between one frame in an animation sequence and the succeeding frame. In particular, there will often be some edges (233, 235) of graphical objects that remain “static” across several contiguous frames. One example of this includes those edges used to draw image background detail. Another development performs antialiasing during scan line rendering of a graphic object image where sub-pixel resolution coverage bit-masks (A-buffers 29-34) are generated for a limited number of scan lines at a time. Preferably the A-buffers are generated for only one pixel at a time. Another development relates to rendering a scan line of a graphic object image in a scan line renderer for a span of pixels lying between two x-order consecutive edges intersecting the scan line. For the span of pixels, this development maintains a subset of depths present in the rendering, the subset being those depths that are present on the span and being maintained in depth order (590) and subject to removal of depths where the corresponding depth is no longer active. In another development a compositing stack (6101-6107) of image layers to be rendered in a raster scan fashion is simplified. Rendering is operable over a run of two or more pixels within which a relationship between graphical objects contributing to the layers does not change. The layers are first divided into groups (6110, 6112, 6114), with each group being separated by a layer having variable transparency (6111, 6113). For a top one of the groups, layers having constant color in the run are reduced to a single equivalent color (6115, 6116, 6117) having an associated accumulated contribution. Many other developments are disclosed.

A method of encoding an digital image (502) by a discrete wavelet transform (DWT) to a predetermined level of decomposition on a block by block basis, each block (1501, 1504, 1506) having a specified size in number of coefficients, is disclosed. The image is divided into tiles, each having dimensions required to produce the number of coefficients in a first dimension of the transformed block at the predetermined level of decomposition, and less than the number of coefficients in a second dimension of the transformed block. At a particular DWT level, tiles are decomposed. HH, HL and LH subband coefficients are accumulated to form blocks of specified size, and these are encoded to a bit stream (402). A predetermined number of associated LL subband coefficients are similarly accumulated, the process performed recursively per DWT level until the predetermined decomposition level is attained, and the corresponding LL subband coefficients encoded to the bit stream (402).

There is described an apparatus for a concrete form for an insulated wall. The apparatus comprises first and second wall panels arranged in opposed spaced apart parallel relationship, each panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper edge surface, a lower edge surface and end surfaces. A plurality of retainers are secured within each of said first and second panels at spaced apart intervals, each retainer including a connecting portion extending outwardly from the inner surface of each panel, and an anchoring portion. The anchoring portion includes a framework disposed within the panels, an upper connector extending upwardly from each panel's upper edge surface and a lower connector extending downwardly from each panel's lower edge surface. The upper and lower connectors are adapted to respectively engage the upper and lower connectors of the next vertically adjacent panel to securely attach the panels together. A plurality of cross webs extends between the first and second panels to tie them together, the cross webs being adapted for respective connection to the connecting portions of opposed retainers in the first and second panels.

A method (400) of displaying video data using a video recording system (100). The method (400) records a first stream of video data captured by a first camera (e.g., 103) and a first event associated with the first camera (103). The method records a second stream of video data captured by a second camera (e.g., 104) and a second event associated with the second camera (104). A playback speed is determined based at least on a difference between a current play time position and a time position of a nearest one of the first event and the second event. The first stream and the second stream of video data are displayed in a synchronised manner. The first stream of video data and the second stream of video data are displayed at the playback speed.

A method and apparatus for tracking physical assets between a central site and other sites is disclosed. Assets are received at the central site and receive a unique identification number. Their location, at the central site, is recorded in a database. On each movement of an asset, exit of the asset is recorded in the database, as is the intended destination. When the asset arrives at the intended destination, its entry thereto is verified and its current location updated accordingly. In addition to the location information, configuration information (e.g. software build), specific to each asset, is recorded in the database.

Disclosed herein are a computer-implemented method and a camera system for determining a current spatial representation for a detection in a current frame of an image sequence. The method derives an expected spatial representation (820) for the detection based on at least one previous frame, generates a spatial representation (810) of the detection, and extends the spatial representation (810) to obtain an extended spatial representation (830), based on the expected spatial representation (820). The method determines a similarity measure between the extended spatial representation (830) and the expected spatial representation (820), and then determines the current spatial representation for the detection to based on the similarity measure.

A method of compositing a plurality of graphic objects with a compositing buffer, is disclosed. The plurality of graphic objects forming a group is attenuated by group opacity and is composited from a top object to a bottom object. Based on a first mask and the group opacity, a second mask is generated. The first mask stores a remaining possible contribution for further graphic objects below and including the plurality of graphic objects. The plurality of graphic objects in a top down order is processed. In particular, for each graphic object of the plurality of graphic objects: (a) a contribution value for the graphic object using the second mask is determined, the contribution value representing a contribution of the graphic object to the compositing buffer; (b) a colour value of the graphic object is composited with the compositing buffer using the contribution value; and (c) the second mask is updated using the contribution value. The first mask is then updated using the second mask and the group opacity. The updated first mask is configured for further compositing of objects below the plurality of graphic objects.

A method and apparatus (9) for estimating the blur parameters of blurred images (g1, g2) are disclosed. The apparatus (9) has one or more image sensors (10) for capturing the blurred images (g1, g2), a plurality of correlators (20, 30) for performing autocorrelation of the blurred image (g1) and cross-correlation between the two images (g1, g2) respectively, and an error function calculator (40) for evaluating an error function over all possible displacements using the results from the correlators (20, 30). The apparatus (9) further includes an extreme locater (50) for finding the displacement with the minimum value for the error function.

A user input device (300) configured with a communication protocol for communicating transmission data with predetermined apparatus (700, 601) is disclosed. The device (300) comprises a receiving means for receiving protocol data and an associated format function. The protocol data and the format function in combination describe a further communication protocol for communicating with the predetermined apparatus (700, 601). The device (300) also comprises a central processing unit (805) for selecting the received protocol data and the format function and for configuring the device (300) to communicate with the predetermined apparatus (700, 601). The protocol data defines properties of the further communication protocol and the format function is adapted to configure at least a portion of the transmission data for communication with the apparatus (700, 601) according to the further communications protocol.

Continuous stream ratio blending of two or more liquids. Each stream flow is time synchronized to all others and turned on and off to dose precise ratios into a constant pressure streams combining chamber. Combined on-off flows constitute a net flow rate exceeding some maximum continuous flow demand for the blended liquids. Dosed streams are pumped from the streams combining chamber at a rate matching their inflow, then through a mixing element into a finished blend tank. Use of a constant pressure streams combining chamber feeding a mix pump allows decoupling of individual streams ratio dosing flows and pressures one from another and from the combined stream. Blended liquid is available on demand as a continuous stream from the level controlled finished blend tank. The level sensor automatically starts and stops blended flow into the tank. Streams flow can be stopped upon completion of any dose cycle.

A customisable data filter system is disclosed, that is adapted to reduce the dimension of a searchable data base (100), and to enable performance of a database search and / or a data item selection, in relation to the reduced search space. The system comprises a Portable Customisable data Filter and Interface (PCFI) (204) storing at least a base data filter parameter, and able to provide a user interface by means of user selectable icons. The system also comprises a reader (210) for the PCFI (204), and database processing means (214) responsive to the data filter parameter and a user icon selection, wherein the reduced search space is defined by the filter parameter, and the database search and / or the data item selection is performed using the selectable icons.

Disclosed herein are a method and system for classifying a detected region of change of a video frame as one of an abandoned object event and an object removal event, wherein a plurality of boundary blocks define a boundary of said region of change. For each one of a set of said boundary blocks (510), the method determines a predicted edge characteristic (520) and an observed edge characteristic (530) for said boundary block. The method then determines an individual block score (540) for said boundary block, based on said predicted edge characteristic (520) for said boundary block and said observed edge characteristic (530) for said boundary block. Once all of the set of boundary blocks have been processed, the method determines a global score (560) for said region of change, based on said individual block scores of said boundary blocks. The method then classifies the region of change (570) as an abandoned object event or an object removal event, based on how the overall score relates to a threshold.

A method and system for determining a net energy consumption are described. Information is received descriptive of a power output generated by at least one source of renewable energy (1) associated with a user (100). Further information describes power consumption at premises (102) associated with the user and located remotely from the at least one source of renewable energy (1). A difference is determined between a value of the power consumption and a value of the power output. An energy bill may be generated dependent on the difference.

A method (100) of marking an image comprising image data and associated metadata, for modification detection, is disclosed. The method (100) encodes the image data to produce encoded image data and hashes the encoded image data to provide a first hash. The first hash is added to the associated metadata to form augmented metadata the associated metadata is hashed to provide a second hash. The second hash is added to the augmented metadata. An association is created between the encoded image data, the first and second hash, and the augmented metadata, thereby marking the image.

A method of rendering a scan line of a graphic object image in a scan line renderer for spans of pixels laying between consecutive x-ordered edges intersecting the scan line includes maintaining a set of depths present in the rendering of the scan line, with the set being maintained in depth order. For each span, the set contains at least those depths that are active in the span, and the set is subject to removal of at least one depth at a subsequent span on the scan line where the corresponding depth is no longer active.

A method is disclosed for providing a means for identifying recovered component parts of a destroyed assembly quickly and relatively easily using digital or electronic scanning techniques and comparison to virtual components that are presumed to have constituted the original assembly. The method also provides a means for digitally rigging the component parts in three-dimensional virtual space, thereby minimizing and, in some situations, possibly eliminating any need to physical rig the component parts.

A method of removing a barcode from the bitmap representation of a document is disclosed. The barcode comprises a plurality of data encoding symbols (102) and (104). The method starts with the step of scanning said document containing the barcode to form the bitmap representation of the at least a portion of the document. From said bitmap representation, the plurality of data encoding symbols (102) and (104), defining said barcode, are identified and the barcode is decoded at least partially. The locations of data encoding symbols (102) and (104) in the bitmap representation of said document are then identified, using data obtained during the at least partial decoding of said barcode. Finally, at least some of the data encoding symbols (102) and (104) are removed from said bitmap representation of said document.

Disclosed is an imaging engine system (699) generally intended for the reproduction of graphical object images using apparatus having limited computing resources, such as so-called “thin clients”. Numerous developments of traditional image processing and rendering enable high quality image generation. One such development takes advantage of temporal coherence between one frame in an animation sequence and the succeeding frame. In particular, there will often be some edges (233, 235) of graphical objects that remain “static” across several contiguous frames. One example of this includes those edges used to draw image background detail. Another development performs antialiasing during scan line rendering of a graphic object image where sub-pixel resolution coverage bit-masks (A-buffers 29-34) are generated for a limited number of scan lines at a time. Preferably the A-buffers are generated for only one pixel at a time. Another development relates to rendering a scan line of a graphic object image in a scan line renderer for a span of pixels lying between two x-order consecutive edges intersecting the scan line. For the span of pixels, this development maintains a subset of depths present in the rendering, the subset being those depths that are present on the span and being maintained in depth order (590) and subject to removal of depths where the corresponding depth is no longer active. In another development a compositing stack (6101-6107) of image layers to be rendered in a raster scan fashion is simplified. Rendering is operable over a run of two or more pixels within which a relationship between graphical objects contributing to the layers does not change. The layers are first divided into groups (6110, 6112, 6114), with each group being separated by a layer having variable transparency (6111, 6113). For a top one of the groups, layers having constant color in the run are reduced to a single equivalent color (6115, 6116, 6117) having an associated accumulated contribution. Many other developments are disclosed.

A method (1600) and apparatus (220) for encoding a sequence of images for transmission over a communication network is disclosed. Initially (1602) an object-based first image is rendered from a computer graphics application (240). The rendered first image is then (1604) encoded (226) according to a predetermined encoding scheme and transmitted (1606) for remote display (116). A test (1608) is then performed to determine if any more images are to be rendered. If so, the next (further) image is rendered (1612) from the computer graphics application (240). Changes between the first image and the further image are then determined (1614) from a change indicating output (244,246) of the computer graphics application (240). The identified changes are then used (1616) to determine a manner in which the further image is to be encoded according to the predetermined format. The further image is then encoded (1618) based upon the changes. and transmitted (1620) for remote display. Further images are rendered and encoded using changes from the preceding image.

A method of selecting an image captured on an image capture device (101) is disclosed. A captured image is displayed on a display (114) associated with the image capture device (101). A viewer image of a viewer viewing the captured image displayed on the display (114) is captured using the image capture device (101). The captured image and the viewer image are compared to identify at least one common feature in the captured image and the viewer image. The captured image is selected if the at least one common feature is identified in both the captured image and the viewer image.

Systems and methods of flyback capacitor level shifter feedback regulation for negative pumps. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a feedback regulator for a negative output charge pump comprises a flyback capacitor for inverting an output of the negative output charge pump to a positive voltage. The feedback regulator further comprises a voltage comparator for comparing the positive voltage to a reference voltage. The voltage comparator is also for producing an enable signal for control of pump driving signals to the negative output charge pump. The feedback regulator further comprises a first plurality of switches for selectively coupling a first terminal of the flyback capacitor between a low voltage and the output and a second plurality of switches for selectively coupling a second terminal of the flyback capacitor between a low voltage and the voltage comparator. Further, the feedback regulator comprises switch control logic for controlling the plurality of switches.

A printing system is disclosed, the system including a receiving hardware interface (300) for coupling page description data to an interpreter (304) said interpreter interpreting the page description data to thereby output a display list to a renderer software interface (308) which processes the display list to thereby output a processed display list, and rendering hardware (312) for processing the processed display list to thereby output raw pixel data, wherein the receiving hardware interface (300), the interpreter (304), the rendering software interface (308), and the rendering hardware (312) are arranged to operate in a pipelined manner, being thereby capable of concurrently processing job data from at least one page of the print job.

A portable air pump includes a tubular body, a barrel, a piston mechanism, a head, and a dispensing head. Tubular body has upper cover having air inlet holes and sealed bottom cover. Barrel has air passage running through along its axis direction. Piston, having center hole and through hole, and check valve is in between second end of the barrel and piston. As tubular body is moved in relation to barrel away from the head, air is flown into tubular body through air inlet holes and to the bottom of tubular body through the through hole. Air can be prevented from flowing out from the center hole using check valve disc. As the tubular body is moved in relation to the barrel towards the head, air on the bottom of tubular body is flown into air passage of the barrel through center hole, and out from the head and the dispensing head.

Methods are disclosed for providing a means for identifying recovered component parts of a destroyed assembly quickly and relatively easily using digital or electronic scanning techniques and comparison to virtual components that are presumed to have constituted the original assembly. The method also provides a means for digitally rigging the component parts in three-dimensional virtual space, thereby minimizing and, in some situations, possibly eliminating any need to physical rig the component parts. The methods include texture mapping a photographic image of a component part onto a representation of the component.