34th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 30 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090207998 | DETERMINING UNIQUE MATERIAL IDENTIFIER NUMBERS USING CHECKSUM VALUES - A system and method for determining unique material identifier numbers using checksum values are disclosed herein. The system and method involves providing a set of data, loading the set of data into at least one processor, using at least one algorithm with at least one processor to calculate a checksum value based on the data content of the set of data, and using the checksum value as the unique material identifier number for the set of data. In some embodiments, at least one algorithm is a Message-Digest algorithm 5 (MD5) and/or a Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA) hash function. In one or more embodiments, the set of data may be a data set from a single digital picture file, a data set from a single digital audio file, and/or any data set generated by nature. | 2009-08-20 |
20090207999 | DECRYPTION PROCESSING APPARATUS, SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - In a decryption processing apparatus, a decompression processing unit performs a map to pieces of compressed data included in a compressed encrypted data, thereby obtaining the pieces of the encrypted data having each of the pieces of the compressed data decompressed, the decompression map being a process of inputting the compressed data and either the final output data or the auxiliary output data and being a process of outputting the encrypted data and the auxiliary output data, a decryption processing unit performs a decryption process to each of the pieces of encrypted data, using a secret key corresponding to the public key, thereby obtaining the plain data, and a control unit controls parallel execution of the decompression process and the decryption process, and controls the decryption process performed by the decryption processing unit to the encrypted data output by the decompression processing unit, based on the decryption procedure. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208000 | SIGNATURE MANAGEMENT METHOD AND SIGNATURE MANAGEMENT DEVICE - A signature management apparatus and method of cutting-out streaming data. The signature management apparatus includes a signature-related information preparing device which prepares signature-related information for streaming data, a signature-related information storage device which partitions a sequence header of the streaming data into stream header information needed for reproduction of the streaming data and user header information which a user can freely use for storage, and stores the signature-related information within the user header information in a form that allows no start code to emerge. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208001 | Instant Messaging Private Tags - Systems for instant messaging private tags preferably comprise a parser for parsing an instant message for sensitive data and an encryption engine for encrypting the sensitive data. A modified uuencoder is also preferably included for converting the encrypted sensitive data into a data stream that complies with an XML format. Other systems and methods are also provided. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208002 | PREVENTING REPLAY ATTACKS IN ENCRYPTED FILE SYSTEMS - Replay attacks in an encrypted file system are prevented by generating a session key and providing the session key to one or more drive managers and an encrypted file system process. When a drive request is received by the encrypted file system process the drive request is encrypted using the generated session key. The encrypted drive request is sent to a drive manager. The drive manager attempts to decrypt the drive request using the session key. If the encrypted drive request is successfully decrypted, then the drive manager performs the requested operation. On the other hand, if the request is not decrypted successfully, then the request is not performed by the drive manager. Drive managers can include both disk device drivers and a logical volume managers. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208003 | Authentication Method, Host Computer and Recording Medium - According to one embodiment, a host computer updates the media key block MKB in a first updatable memory device in the case where the version number of the media key block MKB read from a recording medium is newer than that of the media key block MKB in the first updatable memory device. The host computer generates a medium unique key Kmu based on a media key Km calculated from the media key block MKB read from the recording medium and a media ID read from the recording medium. The host computer executes the authentication and key exchange AKE process with the recording medium based on the medium unique key Kmu. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208004 | File Encrypting/Decrypting Method, Apparatus, Program, And Computer-Readable Recording Medium Storing The Program - To achieve both information confidentiality management and early discovery of information leak. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208005 | KEY GENERATING DEVICE, ENCRYPTING DEVICE, RECEIVING DEVICE, KEY GENERATING METHOD, ENCRYPTING METHOD, KEY PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A key generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a parameter determining unit that randomly determines a plurality of parameters that are needed when generating a secret key and a public key; a bilinear group selecting unit that selects a plurality of bilinear groups and bilinear mapping on the basis of the plurality of parameters; and a key generating unit that generates the secret key and the public key on the basis of the parameters and the plurality of bilinear groups. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208006 | Encryption system for satellite delivered television - A television content delivery system consistent with certain embodiments has a receiver system that receives television content from a plurality of content suppliers. A selective multiple encrypter selectively multiple encrypts the television content, wherein the resultant selectively multiple encrypted content stream is encrypted under at least one conditional access system (CAS) and at least one digital rights management system (DRMS). A transmitter transmits the selectively multiple encrypted television content stream to multiple receivers, so that the selectively multiple encrypted television content stream can be decrypted under either a system using at least one CAS or at least one DRMS. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208007 | ENCRYPTION DEVICE, A DECRYPTING DEVICE, A SECRET KEY GENERATION DEVICE, A COPYRIGHT PROTECTION SYSTEM AND A CIPHER COMMUNICATION DEVICE - An encryption device, a decrypting device, a secret key generation device, a copyright protection system and a cipher communication device including: a CRL memory unit memorizing a CRL, a device key ring memory unit memorizing a specific device key KD_A in every IC card used in a decrypting device, a content key memory unit memorizing a content key Kc, which is a secret key for decrypting content, and a hashing function processing unit calculating a hashing value of the CRL memorized in the CRL memory unit. The devices further including an Ex-OR unit carrying out an exclusive OR between the hashing value and the device key KD_A memorized in the device key ring memory unit, and an Enc unit encrypting the content key Kc memorized in the content key memory unit using an output value of an Ex-OR unit. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208008 | DIGITAL WATERMARKING WITH SPATIOTEMPORAL MASKING - Visually imperceptible distortion, from watermarking or compression, desired for embedding into frames of a video sequence is computed. Within each spatiotemporal region of the frames, points are counted, which have feature information amplitude that at least equals the desired distortion. In each region, a fraction of the points with magnitudes at least equal to desired distortion is determined, in relation to the total number of points and compared to a threshold. Regions with fractions at least equal to the threshold are identified. Visual aspects of features in the identified regions are analyzed for salience related to drawing visual attention. The salience is compared to a threshold. Identified regions that do not exceed the salience threshold may be selected as candidates for hiding the watermark. Spatial and temporal contrast values may relate to the salience, as well as luminance values computed therewith. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208009 | ROTATION OF KEYS DURING ENCRYPTION/DECRYPTION - An encrypted program received in an MPEG transport stream is decrypted by receiving a message in the MPEG transport stream, wherein the message contains a key, decrypting the encrypted program based on the key, and replacing the message in the MPEG transport stream with a null packet. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208010 | System for traceable decryption of bandwidth-efficient broadcast of encrypted messages and security module revocation method used for securing broadcasted messages - The present invention makes use of techniques such as those described by Boneh and Franklin to allow for the realisation of a pseudo-asymmetric encryption scheme whereby one public encryption corresponds to a plurality of private decryption keys. This scheme therefore provides a solution to the problem of inefficient use of bandwidth in asymmetrical encryption schemes which inherently require that a plurality of encryptions of data be broadcast to a plurality of receivers. The invention further ensures that the advantage of traceability, typical found in asymmetric encryption schemes, is maintained due to the characteristic that each receiver uses a unique traceable decryption key. The traceability thus achieved by the present invention allows for the revocation of a security module which has been involved in the abusive use of conditional access data, particularly by means of clones of security modules whose security has been compromised. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208011 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PRODUCT FOR SECURING PATIENT IDENTITY - A method for securing patient identity comprising accessing an electronic medical records database including patient data for a plurality of patients. Each patient in the electronic medical records database is assigned a unique patient identifier. Patient data for a first patient, including a first patient identifier, is retrieved from the electronic medical records database. The first patient is de-identified from the patient data. De-identifying includes the creation of a first encoded patient identifier responsive to the first patient identifier. The de-identifying results in de-identified first patient data and includes the replacement of the first patient identifier with the first encoded patient identifier. The de-identified first patient data is transmitted to a data warehouse system. The method further comprises identifying a second patient in response to receiving report data that includes a second encoded patient identifier from the data warehouse system. The identifying includes the creation of a second patient identifier responsive to the second encoded patient identifier. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208012 | DECRYPTION SYSTEM AND RELATED METHOD THEREOF - A decryption system is provided. The decryption system includes a first RFID tag, a second code providing apparatus and a decryption module. The first RFID tag is for storing an encrypted data generated by encrypting an original data according to a first code. The second code providing apparatus is for providing a second code. The decryption module includes an RFID reader and a computing unit. The RFID reader reads the encrypted data from the first RFID tag. The computing unit receives the second code from the second code providing apparatus without utilizing the Internet, and decrypts the encrypted data according to the second code to obtain the original data. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208013 | WIRELESS NETWORK HANDOFF KEY - The present invention provides a method and system for handoff in a wireless communication network. In one embodiment, a common handoff encryption key is generated by an authentication server and transmitted to a first access point and a second access point. The first access point transmits the handoff encryption key to a wireless terminal. The wireless terminal encrypts output data with the handoff encryption key. When the wireless terminal is associated with the second access point, the second access point decrypts data from the wireless terminal with the handoff encryption key. In a second embodiment, a handoff WEP key generation secret parameter is provided to a first and a second access point. Both access points generate a handoff WEP key as a function of the handoff WEP key generation secret parameter and an address of a wireless terminal. The first access point transmits the handoff WEP key to the wireless terminal. The second access point communicates data packets encrypted with the handoff WEP key with the wireless terminal. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208014 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VERIFYING AND DIVERSIFYING RANDOMNESS - Method and apparatus for ensuring randomness of pseudo-random numbers generated by a conventional computer operating system or electronic device. Typically pseudo-random number generators used in computer operating systems or electronic devices may be penetrated by a hacker (pirate), who penetrates a cryptographic or other supposedly secure process using the random numbers by tampering with the input random numbers, thus making them nonrandom. The present method and apparatus are intended to verify such random numbers to make sure that they are indeed random enough, by applying suitable random tests. Only if the values pass the test are they passed on for use in the cryptographic or other process. If they fail the test, a new set of random numbers is requested from the pseudo-random number generator. These are again tested. Further a diversity function may be applied to the random numbers even if they have passed the random number test in order to improve their randomness. This diversity function is for instance double encryption. An anti-replay feature is also included by which the pool of random numbers is subject to a check on each cycle to make sure that there has been no duplication of the input random numbers. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208015 | OFFLINE CONSUMPTION OF PROTECTED INFORMATION - The offline consumption and publication of protected information in a networked environment. The offline consumption of protected information is accomplished by having the consuming user maintain a store of asymmetric encryption keys. The protected information is encrypted by the publishing user using a symmetric key and the symmetric key is then encrypted using a public asymmetric key associated with the consuming user. The consuming user received the protected information and a usage policy containing the encrypted symmetric key. The consuming user verifies that it can decrypt the symmetric key using a private asymmetric key maintained by the consumer. The user then decrypts the symmetric key and accesses the content of the protected information. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208016 | DOMAIN DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, LICENSE SHARING METHOD FOR DOMAIN DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND LICENSE SERVER - Disclosed is a domain DRM system, a license sharing method for the domain DRM system, and a license server. The domain DRM system includes at least one domain including at least one user module adapted for encryption or decryption using a provided encryption key and a domain manager adapted for decryption using a provided encryption key, and a license server for creating encryption keys corresponding to the domain manager and the one user module, respectively, and providing them with the created contents, respectively, so that, when at least one user module requests contents, a contents encryption key used to encrypt the contents is encrypted by using an encryption key of the user module and an encryption key of the domain manager according to a commutative encryption scheme, and one of the domain manager and the user module is provided with a shared license obtained as a result of encryption. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208017 | VALIDATION OF ENCRYPTION KEY - A label corresponding to a cryptographic key is stored at a first computational device. A user provided label is received at a second computational device. The user provided label is sent from the second computational device to the first computational device. The user provided label is compared to the label stored at the first computational device. The cryptographic key is used to perform cryptographic operations on data, in response to determining that the user provided label matches the label stored at the first computational device. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208018 | DATA TRANSFER DEVICE - A data transfer device for transferring data to a removable data storage item. The data transfer device receives content data to be stored to the removable data storage item, encrypts the content data using an encryption key, and transforms at least one of predetermined reference data and the encryption key. The data transfer device also encrypts the transformed predetermined reference data using the encryption key or encrypts the predetermined reference data using the transformed encryption key, and then stores the encrypted content data and the encrypted transformed/predetermined reference data to the removable data storage item. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208019 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENCRYPTING/DECRYPTING DATA - The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for encrypting data ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090208020 | Methods for Protecting from Pharming and Spyware Using an Enhanced Password Manager - Methods implemented by enhanced Password Manager for protecting against Pharming and Spyware comprising matching a saved record with certificate of website and withholding saved record's data if a match is not found. Further comprising, scrambling of retrieved data with a scrambling key wherein said key is synchronized with website. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208021 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING ENCRYPTION KEYS BY MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL CONNECTED WITH SMARTCARD - A method and an apparatus are provided for managing encryption keys by a mobile communication terminal connected to a smartcard that stores the encryption keys. The mobile communication terminal receives and stores encrypted multimedia data, extracts recording key information corresponding to an encryption key from the received multimedia data, determines whether the extracted recording key information has been previously stored in a recording key database, and maps the extracted recording key information to identification information of the received multimedia data and stores mapping data therebetween in the recording key database when the extracted recording key information has not been previously stored in the recording key database. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208022 | HEAD-RELATED TRANSFER FUNCTION MEASUREMENT METHOD, HEAD-RELATED TRANSFER FUNCTION CONVOLUTION METHOD, AND HEAD-RELATED TRANSFER FUNCTION CONVOLUTION DEVICE - A head-related transfer function measurement method includes the steps of: first measuring, including placing an acousto-electric conversion unit nearby both ears of a listener where placement of an electro-acoustic conversion unit is assumed, picking up sound waves emitted at a perceived sound source position with the acousto-electric conversion unit in a state with a dummy head or a human at the listener position, and measuring a head-related transfer function from only the sound waves directly reaching the acousto-electric conversion unit; second measuring, including picking up sound waves emitted at a perceived sound source position with the acousto-electric conversion unit, with no dummy head or human at the listener position, and measuring a natural-state transfer property from only the sound waves directly reaching the acousto-electric conversion unit; normalizing the head-related transfer function with the natural-state transfer property to obtain a normalized head-related transfer function; which is stored in a storage unit. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208023 | AUDIO CHANNEL SPATIAL TRANSLATION - Using an M:N variable matrix, M audio input signals, each associated with a direction, are translated to N audio output signals, each associated with a direction, wherein N is larger than M, M is two or more and N is a positive integer equal to three or more. The variable matrix is controlled in response to measures of: (1) the relative levels of the input signals, and (2) the cross-correlation of the input signals so that a soundfield generated by the output signals has a compact sound image in the nominal ongoing primary direction of the input signals when the input signals are highly correlated, the image spreading from compact to broad as the correlation decreases and progressively splitting into multiple compact sound images, each in a direction associated with an input signal, as the correlation continues to decrease to highly uncorrelated. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208024 | APPARATUS FOR REDUCING THE RISK OF NOISE INDUCED HEARING LOSS - An apparatus is disclosed for managing the joint contribution of noise exposure of the ear of a user of the apparatus from a loudspeaker of the apparatus as well as from ambient noise so that the risk of risk of noise induced hearing losses is reduced. By assessing the joint actual sound energy delivered to the ear and feeding said assessment to a model describing the accumulated risk of hearing loss due to said sound energy accumulated over a time period, an estimate of the current risk of hearing loss is obtained. When said risk estimate passes a predetermined threshold, one or more protective measures are taken. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208025 | ACTIVE NOISE REDUCTION SYSTEM - An electromechanical converter has independent electric input sections. The output of an active noise reduction controller is inputted into an electric input section and the audio signal from an audio section is inputted into an electric input section. These are mechanically combined at a vibration section and the combined signal is radiated as a sound wave into the space. With such a structure, both the active noise reduction function and the audio reproduction function are realized without installing a large device in an existing audio reproduction apparatus. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208026 | BAFFLE VIBRATION REDUCING - An apparatus for reducing baffle vibration includes a baffle that is subject to vibration. A first transducer that is seated in the baffle includes a first diaphragm that is acoustically coupled to a listening area in a vehicle and also acoustically coupled to a cavity in the vehicle. A first input signal applied to the first transducer causes the first diaphragm to move in a first direction, thereby generating an acoustic output. A second transducer is mechanically coupled to the first transducer. The second transducer includes a second diaphragm that is acoustically coupled to the first diaphragm and also acoustically coupled to the listening area. A second input signal applied to the second transducer causes the second diaphragm to move in a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction to reduce a vibration imparted to the baffle while substantially maintaining the acoustic output. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208027 | APPARATUS FOR RECTIFYING RESONANCE IN THE OUTER-EAR CANALS AND METHOD OF RECTIFYING - According to one embodiment, an apparatus for cancelling resonance in an outer-ear canal, comprises an outer-ear canal model includes attenuator modules representing reflection coefficients of an earphone or headphone and an eardrum, and a delay module having a delay time corresponding to a distance between the earphone or headphone and the eardrum, an inverse-filter forming unit configured to form an inverse filter of the outer-ear canal model, and a convolution module configured to perform convolution on an impulse response from the inverse filter and a sound-source signal. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208028 | ADAPTIVE FILTER IN A SENSOR ARRAY SYSTEM - Disclosed is a steerable sensor array that receives input from a target and applies an averaging filter. An adaptive filter is then used if the SNR of the output of the averaging filter reaches a threshold. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208029 | Hearing protector for use in magnetic resonance systems - The invention relates to a hearing protector for use in magnetic resonance systems. The hearing protector comprises a pad that is to be inserted in the ear and is provided on an adapter. A sound generating device is provided on or in the adapter or a sound transmitting device leads into same. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208030 | Customizability digital sound relaxation system - In one embodiment, an improved-customizability digital sound relaxation system having a sound card receiving port and a collectable sound card are cooperative to play prerecorded natural or other sounds by depressing one of a plurality of sound selector switches and a sound card selector switch. The new sounds of each collectable sound card customize the library of available sounds to individual taste. In another embodiment, an improved-flexibility digital sound relaxation system having at least two (2) prerecorded sounds stored at first and second memory locations of internal or external/internal memory devices may be selected and combined for concurrent and/or individual replay by depressing one of a plurality of sound selector switches and a combine switch, or by depressing one of a plurality of sound selector switches, a sound card selector switch and a combine switch. In this manner, from eighteen (18) digitally prerecorded sounds of the preferred embodiment ninety (90) individually selectable and/or combinable sounds are made available. In either embodiment, natural or other sounds may be stored in loop or sound bite format in either or both of the internal and external memories. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208031 | HEADSET SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A wireless headset is adapted to communicate with a sound source such as a music player or a cell phone or a suitable audio or sound communicated through a one-way or two-way communication device. The headset includes a mouth wearable communicator; and a linking unit coupled to the mouth wearable communicator, the linking unit adapted to communicate with the sound source. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208032 | POP NOISE SUPPRESSION APPARATUS AND AUDIO OUTPUT SYSTEM UTILIZING THE SAME - A pop noise suppression apparatus for eliminating popping noise generated upon initiation or shutdown of an audio output circuit comprises a switch component and a control circuit. The switch component allows the audio output circuit to provide audio through the output of the audio output circuit. The control circuit provides a mute signal for a first period of time in to response initiation or shutdown of the audio circuit. The control circuit comprises a capacitor to be charged upon initiation of the audio output circuit or to be discharged upon shutdown of the audio output circuit. A length of the first period of time during which the mute signal is provided depends on a second period of time to charge or discharge the capacitor. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208033 | DIGITAL AUTOMATIC GAIN CONTROL - Systems, devices, and methods are provided to inhibit apparent amplitude modulation in non-linear processing that causes distortion in a processed signal. One aspect of the invention includes a hearing aid. The hearing aid includes a microphone to receive an input signal, a speaker to reproduce the input signal, and a processor. The processor processes the input signal using a gain. The processor includes an inhibitor, which inhibits distortions, and an adjuster, which adjusts the gain. The inhibitor acts to smooth an envelope of the input signal to inhibit undesired modulation. The adjuster adjusts the gain if the envelope is either above or below a threshold. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208034 | AUDIO SIGNAL PROCESSING CIRCUIT - Plural variable gain amplifiers amplify audio signals of plural channels for each channel. An interface receives, from outside, plural gain control data individually designating gain of each channel. Plural gain controllers respectively switch the gain of the plural variable gain amplifiers, based on the plural gain control data. The plural gain controllers arrange timing to change gain of a variable gain amplifier corresponding to gain control data received in a predetermined data entry period, among the plural gain control data that are inputted at different timing. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208035 | VOLUME CONTROL APPARATUS AND VOLUME CONTROL PROGRAM - A volume control apparatus comprises signal processing section for performing digital signal processing and a scaling process on an audio signal outputted from a sound source; level adjusting section for amplifying or attenuating a level of the audio signal outputted from the signal processing section, by an amount of adjustment determined based on an instructed amount of change, and outputting the amplified or attenuated audio signal to an outside; storage section for storing a level value of the audio signal outputted to the outside and the amount of adjustment for the audio signal adjusted by the level adjusting section; detecting section for detecting, when a volume controller is controlled by a user, time required for an amount of operation to reach a predetermined value; first setting section for setting an amount of operational change based on the level value stored in the storage section and the detected time; second setting section for setting an allowable amount of change by which the level adjusting section can make an adjustment by an attenuation process, based on the amount of adjustment stored in the storage section; determining section for determining one of the amount of operational change and the allowable amount of change that has a smaller value to be the instructed amount of change; and instructing section for instructing the level adjusting section to adjust the level of the audio signal based on the determined instructed amount of change. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208036 | MAGNETIC ALERT DETECTOR - A tone alert amplifier includes a pickup coil, a filter unit, a converting unit, a micro-control unit, an amplifier, and a loud speaker unit. The pickup coil senses a magnetic signal to induce an input signal, and the filter unit performs a specific filtering operation upon the input signal to generate a filtered input signal. Next, the converting unit converts the filtered input signal into the digital signal, and the micro-control unit receives the digital signal to generate at least one output signal. Then the amplifier amplifies the output signal to generate an audio signal, and finally, the speaker unit outputs the audio signal. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208037 | Silicon microphone without dedicated backplate - Various embodiments of a silicon microphone sensing element without dedicated backplate are disclosed. The microphone sensing element has a circular or polygonal diaphragm with a plurality of perforated springs suspended above the front side of a conductive substrate. The diaphragm is aligned above one or more back holes in the substrate having a front opening smaller than the diaphragm. In one embodiment, a continuous perforated spring surrounds the diaphragm and has a shape that conforms to the diaphragm. A plurality of perforated beams connects the spring to rigid pads that anchor the movable diaphragm and spring. In another embodiment, there is a plurality of perforated springs having double or triple folding configurations and a plurality of perforated beams connecting the diaphragm to rigid pads. Also disclosed is a scheme to integrate the silicon microphone sensing element with CMOS devices on a single chip. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208038 | RIBBON FOR RIBBON MICROPHONE, MANUFACTURING METHOD OF THE SAME, AND RIBBON MICROPHONE - A ribbon for a ribbon microphone having a magnet forming a magnetic gap, the ribbon which is arranged in the magnetic gap and is vibrated by a sound wave, an electrode for outputting an electric signal which is generated when the ribbon vibrates in the magnetic gap, and a frame for holding the magnet and the electrode; the ribbon has patterns of a large waveform which are formed so as to progress in a longitudinal direction of the ribbon and are formed so that ridge lines face a direction which perpendicularly crosses the longitudinal direction of the ribbon, and small patterns which are smaller than the patterns of the waveform and are formed along the longitudinal direction of the ribbon. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208039 | HYBRID ACTUATOR, LOUDSPEAKER AND SOUND OUTPUT METHOD - A hybrid actuator ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090208040 | Hat with Music Player - This invention is a hat specially configured to carry earphones and a music player equipped with or without an attachment clip. The hat comprises slit-like button-hole openings and grooves in the bill into which the music player clip can be attached, as well as elastic retaining straps to affix the music player and the earphones. Button holes on the hat's surface form together with the headband a conduit that allow the passage, from outside to the inside, of the electrical cables connecting the music player to the earphones. The seam between the headband and the hat is open above the ears of the wearer to allow the retrieval or stowing away of the earphones. The invention also covers a method of listening to music at the option of the user without obstructing surrounding sound by keeping the earphones stowed away in the retaining area formed by the headband. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208041 | Speaker arrangement - A loudspeaker assembly arranged in a surrounding surface of a multimedia apparatus, wherein the loudspeaker assembly including a transducer unit, the transducer unit being located at the back side of the multimedia apparatus. The transducer may be configured so to radiate sound away from the apparatus in directions from primarily upward to primarily backward relative to the apparatus. Each of the one or more transducer units are driven as active speakers with means for amplification per each transducer unit. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208042 | WIRELESS HEADPHONES WITH DUAL ANTENNAS - A wireless headphone assembly has left and right speakers attached to ends of a headphone body, and at least two antennas, e.g., one located at each speaker. Since multiple antennas are used, reception can be improved using one of several approaches, e.g., simple selection of the “best” antenna, multiplexing antenna input, using diversity algorithms such as multiple input multiple output (MIMO) algorithms, etc. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208043 | WIRELESS BEACON SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY ACOUSTIC ENVIRONMENT FOR HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES - A beacon device adapted to wirelessly communicate with a hearing assistance device, the beacon device comprising a sensor to sense a signal related to determination of an acoustic environment, a memory to store information relating to the signal, a processor in communication with the memory and the sensor, the processor adapted to process the information, a wireless transmitter in communication with the memory and an antenna coupled to the wireless transceiver to transmit information to the hearing assistance device. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208044 | HEARING DEVICE, HEARING AID SYSTEM, METHOD OF OPERATING A HEARING AID SYSTEM AND USE OF A HEARING AID DEVICE - A hearing device ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090208045 | Water-resistant hearing device - The invention relates to a water-resistant hearing device, which has the following: At least one first electroacoustic transducer for receiving sound waves and converting said sound waves into electrical signals, an electronic circuit sealed against liquids by coating and/or encapsulation, at least one second electroacoustic transducer converting electrical signals supplied to the circuit into sound waves and an electrical energy source sealed against liquids by means of coating and/or encapsulation. In this way the electroacoustic transducers are made of materials which realize a deformation in an electrical and/or magnetic field and/or an electrical current flow and/or an electrical voltage (and/or vice versa) and are insensitive to liquids, in particular water, salt water and slight acids. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208046 | In-the-ear hearing device with a moveable gripping element - A smaller and more reliable rechargeable in-the-ear (ITE) hearing device is provided. The ITE hearing device includes a housing, which has a housing surface which points outwards in the worn state, an accumulator in the housing, at least one charging contact for charging the accumulator and a gripping element, which is arranged on the housing surface. The gripping element can be moved from a non-operational position into an operational position. The charging contact is concealed by the gripping element or the housing when the gripping element is in the non-operational position and is not concealed when the gripping element is in the operational position. As a result of the charging contact being concealable, the hearing device's reliability is improved. If the charging contact is fastened to the gripping element, the gripping element achieves an additional functionality resulting in a smaller design overall. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208047 | EARSET ASSEMBLY HAVING ACOUSTIC WAVEGUIDE - An earpiece may be used to detect sounds from an ear canal of a user. The earpiece may include a microphone assembly and an acoustic pathway that is at least partially defined by a hollow elongated member. The acoustic pathway fluidly couples the microphone assembly with an ear canal of the user when the earpiece is positioned with respect to the ear of the user. Sounds produced by the user travel from the ear canal through the acoustic pathway for detection by the microphone assembly. Also, the hollow elongated member behaves as an acoustic waveguide to amplify a desired frequency and/or attenuate other, less desirable, frequencies of the sounds produced by the user. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208048 | LOUDSPEAKER WITH REDUCED ROCKING TENDENCY - A loudspeaker ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090208049 | Accessory For A Set Of Headphones - The invention provides a headphone assembly comprising a set of headphones having at least one speaker, an input plug and a headphone wire connecting the input plug to the at least one speaker. The headphone assembly also includes decorative element connected to the headphone wire. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208050 | Defect Detection Apparatus, Defect Detection Method and Computer Program - There is provided a defect detection apparatus capable of highly accurately detecting a defect of a size not larger than a size desired by the user, in which the size setting device sets the defect size, the reduction ratio setting device sets an image reduction ratio based on the set defect size, the image reduction device generates a reduced image obtained by reducing the original multi-valued image, the filter processing device performs filter processing on the reduced image for removing a defect in the reduced image, the image enlarging device generates an enlarged image obtained by enlarging the reduced image, subjected to the filter processing, at an image enlargement ratio corresponding to the reciprocal of the image reduction ratio, and the difference calculating device generates a difference image obtained by performing a calculation of a difference between the original multi-valued image and the enlarged image. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208051 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLUOROGENIC DETERMINATION OF LEAD CONCENTRATIONS - A method and apparatus for the use of fluorogenic probes for development of a rapid, and cost-effective determination of lead clearance following lead hazard control activities. The invention involves the use of fluorogenic chemosensors for efficient detection of lead in dust on hard surfaces at regulatory levels. The use of methods for lead visualization based on one or more of the fluorogenic type compounds would be highly beneficial to lead abatement projects. The identification of areas of high lead concentration (hotspots) can allow work to be focused on areas that have the greatest impact on clearance. Also, a rapid and cost-effective means of determining if lead clearance has been met can improve compliance with lead abatement activities. This would decrease the amount of time and materials spent in general surface cleaning and allow the elimination of isolated areas of lead concentration that may otherwise have been missed. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208052 | INTERACTIVE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING COMMANDS FROM A USER - According to the present invention, it is provided an interactive device comprising a display, a camera, an image analysing means, said interactive device comprising means to acquire an image with the camera, the analysing means detecting at least a human face on the acquired image and displaying on the display at least a pattern where the human face was detected wherein the interactive device further comprises means to determine a halo region extending at least around the pattern and means to add into the halo region at least one interactive zone related to a command, means to detect movement onto the interactive zone and means to execute the command by said device. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208053 | AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION AND REMOVAL OF OBJECTS IN AN IMAGE, SUCH AS WIRES IN A FRAME OF VIDEO - A wire tracking system is described that provides a method and system for automatically locating wires in a digital image and tracking the located wires through a sequence of digital images. The wire tracking system is particularly good at removing wires from complex shots where background replacement is difficult. The wire tracking system performs complex signal processing to automatically remove the wire from the original image while preserving grain and background detail. Thus, the wire tracking system provides a reliable method of automatically identifying wires and replacing the wires with a reconstructed background image, and frees artists to make other enhancements to the scene. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208054 | MEASURING A COHORT'S VELOCITY, ACCELERATION AND DIRECTION USING DIGITAL VIDEO - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for identifying positional data for an object moving in an area of interest. Positional data for each camera in a set of cameras associated with the object is retrieved. The positional data identifies a location of each camera in the set of cameras within the area of interest. The object is within an image capture range of each camera in the set of cameras. Metadata describing video data captured by the set of cameras is analyzed using triangulation analytics and the positional data for the set of cameras to identify a location of the object. The metadata is generated in real time as the video data is captured by the set of cameras. The positional data for the object is identified based on locations of the object over a given time interval. The positional data describes motion of the object. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208055 | Efficient detection of broken line segments in a scanned image - Systems and methods are presented for detecting and repairing broken lines within an image from a plurality of edge segments comprising a plurality of pixels and having associated first and second endpoints. A characteristic angle is determined for each edge segment. A normal distance is determined for each line segment according the distance of closest approach to a reference point for a line defined by the first and second endpoints of each edge segment. At least one line within the scanned image is located according to the determined characteristic angles and the determined normal distance for the plurality of edge segments. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208056 | REAL-TIME FACE TRACKING IN A DIGITAL IMAGE ACQUISITION DEVICE - An image processing apparatus for tracking faces in an image stream iteratively receives a new acquired image from the image stream, the image potentially including one or more face regions. The acquired image is sub-sampled ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090208057 | VIRTUAL CONTROLLER FOR VISUAL DISPLAYS - Virtual controllers for visual displays are described. In one implementation, a camera captures an image of hands against a background. The image is segmented into hand areas and background areas. Various hand and finger gestures isolate parts of the background into independent areas, which are then assigned control parameters for manipulating the visual display. Multiple control parameters can be associated with attributes of multiple independent areas formed by two hands, for advanced control including simultaneous functions of clicking, selecting, executing, horizontal movement, vertical movement, scrolling, dragging, rotational movement, zooming, maximizing, minimizing, executing file functions, and executing menu choices. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208058 | IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE - An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging device having a field of view exteriorly and forward of the vehicle in its direction of travel, and an image processor operable to process the captured images in accordance with an algorithm. The algorithm comprises a sign recognition routine and a character recognition routine. The image processor processes the image data captured by the imaging device to detect signs in the field of view of the imaging device and applies the sign recognition routine to determine a sign type of the detected sign. The image processor is operable to apply the character recognition routine to the image data to determine information on the detected sign. The image processor applies the character recognition routine to the captured images in response to an output of the sign recognition routine being indicative of the detected sign being a sign type of interest. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208059 | Fast License Plate Verifier - A method for identifying vehicles, including capturing a first image of a first vehicle using a first camera at a first position and a second image of the first vehicle using a second camera at a second position different from the first position. The method further includes determining a transformation between the first image and the second image. A third image of a second vehicle using the first camera is captured, and the transformation is applied to the third image to generate a fourth image of the second vehicle. The fourth image is analyzed, using a database of identified vehicles, to determine an identity of the second vehicle. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208060 | LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION SYSTEM USING SPATIAL-TEMPORAL SEARCH-SPACE REDUCTION AND METHOD THEREOF - The present invention discloses a license plate recognition system by utilizing spatial-temporal search-space reduction and method thereof. The license plate recognition system can selects a pixel with character edge feature from the inputted image and a plurality of candidate regions from the image; and detect if the candidate region of the inputted image has been appeared in a preceding image. Then the recognition system in the present invention separates the candidate region into a plurality of blocks, calculates the repeated block based on a current image and a preceding image, and determines whether the candidate region is repeated according to the repeated block. Thus, by discarding the repeated regions, the license plate recognition system in the present invention can avoid redundant calculation and improve the efficiency and performance for recognition of real plate character in the image. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208061 | IMAGE ANALYSIS METHOD, APPARATUS AND PROGRAM - An image analysis method for analyzing the motion of an object by using the time-series image data. The method comprises inputting time-series image data, generating time-series object image data by extracting an object region from the time-series image data, and analyzing the motion of the object from the time-series object image data. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208062 | Method and a handheld device for capturing motion - A method for creating an image that depicts the motion of a moving object. The method comprises: a) identifying a motion of a moving object in a plurality of initial images depicting a scene, b) capturing a plurality of reference images of the moving object, c) cropping at least one sub-image of the moving object from at least one of the plurality of reference images, and d) combining the at least one sub-image and at least one of the plurality of reference images to produce a final representation depicting the motion. The resolution of the plurality of initial images is lower than the resolution of the plurality of reference images. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208063 | DYNAMIC CALIBRATION METHOD FOR SINGLE AND MULTIPLE VEDIO CAPTURE DEVICES - The present invention discloses a dynamic calibration method for a single and multiple video capture devices. The present invention can acquire the variations of the pan angle and tilt angle of a single video capture device according to the displacement of the feature points between successive images. For a plurality of video capture devices, the present invention includes the epipolar-plane constraint between a plurality of video capture devices to achieve the goal of dynamical calibration. The calibration method in the present invention does not require specific calibration patterns or complicated correspondence of feature points, and can be applied to surveillance systems with wide-range coverage. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208064 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION USING IRIS IMAGES - A system for animal identification includes: an image capture apparatus for obtaining an image of an eye of an animal including a pupil region and an iris region; and a template generation apparatus. The template generation apparatus is for: extracting a set of pixel data from the image, the set of pixel data representing an upper region of interest of the iris region above the pupil region and a lower region of interest of the iris region below the pupil region, the upper region of interest and the lower region of interest have parallel side boundaries that are spaced apart a distance that is substantially independent of a degree of dilation of the pupil region; and transforming the set of pixel data representing the upper region of interest and the lower region of interest into a template of the upper region of interest and the lower region of interest. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208065 | IMAGE READING APPARATUS, IMAGE READING METHOD, AND SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS - An image reading apparatus, in which sheets being transported are illuminated by an illuminating unit, one after another, and a sensor having an imaging elements arranged in a line photographs the sheets, one after another. A white-reference part is provided in a part of the photographing region of the sensor. A black-reference part guides the light reflected by the illuminating unit to the sensor when a sheet lies in the photographing region of the sensor, and to restrict application of the light reflected by the illuminating unit to the sensor when no sheets lie in the photographing region of the sensor. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208066 | Method for Recording and Visualising trainable performance Features and/or Characteristics - The invention relates to a method by which means competence functions can be represented on the basis of defined, common data criteria and used in the Internet. The invention also relates to a process whereby appliances to be used by people are able to complete and modify the data records for competence functions in a computer-assisted manner, to the definition of criteria for the determination of virtual competences of programs, and to the way in which such programs can automatic change and improve. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208067 | ANONYMOUS PASSENGER INDEXING SYSTEM FOR SECURITY TRACKING IN DESTINATION ENTRY DISPATCHING OPERATIONS - An elevator control system ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090208068 | IMAGING APPARATUS WITH IMAGE TRANSMISSION/RECEPTION FUNCTION - A person previously records his or her face data in a face data storage unit. When a face recognizing unit recognizes that another person is shown in image data captured by an imaging unit, the image data is transmitted from an image transmitting/receiving unit to another camera. A receiver's camera, only when a face recognizing unit recognizes that the receiver himself or herself is shown in the image data received by an image transmitting/receiving unit, records the image data into a storage unit. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208069 | Capacitive Fingerprint Sensor and the Panel Thereof - A capacitive fingerprint sensor comprises a fingerprint capacitor, an integrator, a first transistor, a second transistor and a multiplexer. The fingerprint capacitor has a capacitance that is either a valley capacitance C | 2009-08-20 |
20090208070 | DEVICE FOR ACQUIRING IMAGES OF PATTERNS FORMED BY FURROWS IN THE SKIN OF FINGERS OR THE PALM OF THE HAND - A device for acquiring images of a print of at least a portion of a user's hand, the device comprising a stand defining an acquisition zone extending substantially in a plane, an optical acquisition member that is fastened to the stand to have a field of view covering the acquisition zone, and a processor unit connected to the acquisition member to process an image signal coming therefrom, wherein:
| 2009-08-20 |
20090208071 | Medical Image Processing Apparatus, Luminal Image Processing Apparatus, Luminal Image Processing Method, and Programs for the Same - There is provided a medical image processing apparatus including an image-extracting section extracting a frame image from in vivo motion picture data picked up by an in vivo image pickup device or a plurality of consecutively picked-up still image data, and an image analysis section analyzing the frame image extracted by the image-extracting section to output an image analysis result. The image analysis section includes a first biological-feature detection section detecting a first biological feature, a second biological-feature detection section detecting, based on a detection result obtained by the first biological feature detection section, a second biological feature in a frame image picked up temporally before or after the image used for detection by the first biological feature detection section; and a condition determination section making a determination for a biological condition based on a detection result obtained by the second biological feature detection section to output the determination. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208072 | 3D IMAGING OF LIVE CELLS WITH ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION - A method for 3D imaging of cells in an optical tomography system includes moving a biological object relatively to a microscope objective to present varying angles of view. The biological object is illuminated with radiation having a spectral bandwidth limited to wavelengths between 150 nm and 390 nm. Radiation transmitted through the biological object and the microscope objective is sensed with a camera from a plurality of differing view angles. A plurality of pseudoprojections of the biological object from the sensed radiation is formed and the plurality of pseudoprojections is reconstructed to form a 3D image of the cell. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208073 | Brain stimulation models, systems, devices, and methods - This document discusses, among other things, brain stimulation models, systems, devices, and methods, such as for deep brain stimulation (DBS) or other electrical stimulation. In an example, volumetric imaging data representing an anatomical volume of a brain of a patient can be obtained and transformed to brain atlas data. A patient-specific brain atlas can be created using the inverse of the transformation to map the brain atlas data onto the volumetric imaging data and a volume of influence can be calculated using the patient-specific brain atlas. In certain examples, the volume of influence can include a predicted volume of tissue affected by an electrical stimulation delivered by an electrode at a corresponding at least one candidate electrode target location. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208074 | 3D real-time tracking of human anatomy using combined kV and MV imaging - A medical imaging-based system and method uses both kV and MV images captured during a treatment period for organ motion tracking. 3D geometric locations of internal features are computationally tracked as a function of time from internal features, such as natural biological features or implanted fiducials, which are computationally extracted from the captured kV and MV images. A partial information method allows 3D tracking to be maintained in the event that imaging information is temporarily not available. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208075 | ERROR ADAPTIVE FUNCTIONAL IIMAGING - A method for use in functional medical imaging includes adaptively partitioning functional imaging data as a function of a spatially varying error model. The functional image data is partitioned according to an optimization strategy. The data may be visualized or used to plan a course of treatment. In one implementation, the image data is partitioned so as to vary its spatial resolution. In another, the number of clusters is varied based on the error model. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208076 | MEDICAL NETWORK SYSTEM, AND IMAGE-INTERPRETATION SUPPORT APPARATUS AND METHOD - Even though a client hospital has made an urgent image-interpretation request, if a designated radiologist is out of an image-interpretation center, a data center transfers the request to a portable terminal of the radiologist. Upon receiving the urgent request, the radiologist accesses the data center to download an image to be interpreted. An application server in the data center forms a whole image by subjecting the original image to a data amount reduction process, and delivers it to the portable terminal. The application server also forms a detailed image by cropping a desired area out of the original image, and delivers it to the portable terminal if necessary. The detailed image has higher resolution than the whole image because it is not subjected to the data amount reduction process. The radiologist makes a medical report with observing the image by the portable terminal and uploads it to the data center. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208077 | IMAGING SYSTEM - The present invention relates to an imaging system for imaging a field of interest, in particular to a computed tomography system. The imaging system comprises an irradiation unit ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090208078 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC DETERMINATION OF CORONORY SUPPLY REGIONS - A method and system for automatically associating coronary arteries with regions of the myocardium to which the arteries supply blood is described. The method uses three dimensional image data of a patient, and an axial image slice is used to identify candidate locations of the aorta. Candidate aorta centroid locations are evaluated to eliminate spurious identifications, and the identified aorta is used to locate the left ventricle of the heart with respect thereto. Arteries of the coronary artery tree may be located by segmentation of contrasted images, and the individual arteries may be identified by skeletonization of the segmented arteries. The skeletonized arteries are projected onto an image of the patient heart, and may be associated with specific regions of the myocardium. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208079 | METHOD FOR GENERATING A REGISTERED IMAGE RELATIVE TO A CARDIAC CYCLE AND A RESPIRATORY CYCLE OF A PERSON - A method for generating a registered image relative to a cardiac cycle and a respiratory cycle of a person is provided. The method includes generating a plurality of 2-D images of an anatomical region of the person. The method further includes generating a 3-D model of the anatomical region of the person. The 3-D model is associated with a predetermined phase of the cardiac cycle and a predetermined phase of the respiratory cycle. The method further includes selecting a first 2-D image from the plurality of 2-D images associated with the predetermined phase of the cardiac cycle and the predetermined phase of the respiratory cycle. The method further includes generating the registered image of the anatomical region utilizing the first 2-D image and the 3-D model. The method further includes storing the registered image in a memory device. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208080 | Method and computer program for spatial compounding of images - A plurality of images of a common object acquired by ultrasound echo imaging, such as echocardiography, are combined. In respect of each image, a monogenic signal is derived and used to derive, in respect of each pixel, feature measures being measures of phase congruency feature, and alignment measures being measures of the degree of alignment between the normal to said phase congruency feature and the analysis beam. In respect of each pixel, there are derived relative weights for the plurality of images in correspondence with the feature measures for the plurality of images in respect of the corresponding pixel, taking into account the alignment measures for the plurality of images. A combined image is produced by combining the corresponding pixels of each image in accordance with the determined relative weights. By use of the image content, in particular the feature measures and the alignment measures, the images having a better definition of features in any given area predominate in the combined image so that the overall information content is improved. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208081 | Apparatus and method for computing regional statistical distribution over a mean atomic space - The present invention is an apparatus and method for computing regional statistical distributions or characteristics of one or more quantitative measures over a mean anatomic space for one or more predefined populations and uses this statistical distributions/characteristics to study, research or understand the regional response of a disease or a treatment process and to regionally assess clinical status in patient data from an unknown population for diagnostic purposes. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208082 | AUTOMATIC IMAGE SEGMENTATION METHODS AND APPARATUS - The invention provides methods and apparatus for image processing that perform image segmentation on data sets in two- and/or three-dimensions so as to resolve structures that have the same or similar grey values (and that would otherwise render with the same or similar intensity values) and that, thereby, facilitate visualization and processing of those data sets. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208083 | METHOD AND DEVICE TO AUTOMATICALLY DETERMINE THE REST PHASE OF THE HEART - In a method and device to automatically determine a rest phase of the heart of an examination person in an imaging device, multiple images of the heart are acquired during a cardiac cycle and the rest phase of the heart is automatically determined by post-processing of the acquired images, and the determined rest phase is used for subsequent measurements. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208084 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR QUANTITATIVE IMAGING OF CHEMICAL COMPOSITION TO DECOMPOSE MORE THAN TWO MATERIALS - A system and method for decomposing more than two materials in an imaging object includes performing a CT imaging acquisition of a portion of an imaging object using at least two energy levels to acquire imaging data associated with each of the at least two energy levels. A total mass attenuation of the imaging data is expressed as a weighted sum of constituent element mass attenuation coefficients and an effective atomic number and density of the constituent elements in the portion of the imaging object is determined by one of a number of methods. Accordingly, concentration of the constituent elements in imaged object is determined by solve the expression using known material attenuation coefficients and the measured CT data. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208085 | METHOD FOR PROCESSING IMAGES OBTAINED BY TOMOSYNTHESIS AND ASSOCIATED DEVICE - A processing method for images obtained by tomosynthesis comprising acquisition of a plurality of 2D projection images of a region of interest of a patient; reconstruction of a 3D digital image from the acquired 2D projection images. An embodiment of the method is characterised in that it comprises: detection of an object in the reconstructed image; estimation of a thickness limit characteristic of a contrast default of the voxels for a diameter of the object; estimation of the thickness of the object; comparison of the thickness of the object to the thickness limit; and in that if the thickness of the object is less than the thickness limit, the method further comprises application at least to the voxels of the object in the reconstructed image of a multiplicative corrective factor equal to the ratio between the thickness limit and the thickness of the object. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208086 | Compression and decompression of raw image data - A lossy compression method for raw image data with noise or error shaping is provided. The compression method reduces the low frequency components of the compression error. The noise shaping improves the quality of the image subsequently formed using the decompressed data. For each sample of raw image data to be compressed, the error from a previously compressed sample is added to form a modified sample. The modified sample is then compressed to form a compressed sample. The compressed sample is decompressed to form a decompressed sample. The error is calculated between the decompressed sample and the modified sample. For computed tomography (CT), the compressed samples are decompressed prior to image reconstruction. The applications include x-ray CT, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, radiography, fluoroscopy, and angiography. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208087 | RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGE CORRECTION METHOD, APPARATUS AND RECORDING-MEDIUM STORED THEREIN PROGRAM - Unevenness in the density of a radiographic image of a subject that has been obtained by outputting radiation from a radiation output unit toward the subject and by detecting the radiation at a radiographic image detector is corrected. An area that has substantially the same density throughout the area when the radiation output by the radiation output unit is uniform with respect to the entire area of the radiographic image detector and that is present in a subject-image-present area is obtained from the radiographic image. Further, the pixel values of the radiographic image are corrected by using pixel values of the obtained area. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208088 | Photo sensor array for banknote evaluation - A banknote acceptor illuminates a banknote as it passes through an evaluation channel in a manner to locate the banknote in the width of the channel. A photo sensor array receives reflected light from the surface of the banknote and has a series of responsive divisions across an illuminated banknote. These divisions are sampled and analysed according to the banknote position to determine the authenticity of the banknote. Both apparatus and method steps are disclosed. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208089 | METHOD FOR INSPECTING SURFACES - A method for inspecting surfaces | 2009-08-20 |
20090208090 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSPECTING DEFECT OF PATTERN FORMED ON SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - In the inspection apparatus for a defect of a semiconductor and the method using it for automatically detecting the defect on a semiconductor wafer and presuming the defect occurrence factor using the circuit design data, a plurality of shapes are formed from the circuit design data by deforming the design data with respect to shape deformation items stipulated for respective defect occurrence factor for comparison with the inspection object circuit pattern. The defect is detected by comparison of the group of shapes formed and the actual pattern. Further, the occurrence factors of these defects are presumed, and the defects are classified according to respective factor. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208091 | INSPECTION APPARATUS FOR INSPECTING PATTERNS OF SUBSTRATE - A degradation in throughput is prevented even in cases where it is necessary to reduce a pixel size during inspection according to a finer circuit pattern. In an inspection method and an inspection apparatus in which an inspected sample having a circuit pattern is irradiated with a charged particle beam to generate a signal, an image is obtained from the signal, and in which a defect of the circuit pattern is detected from the image, the inspection is performed while an inspected pixel size in a direction in which the charged particle beam is scanned relative to the inspected sample and an inspected pixel size in a stage moving direction are separately set. The stage is moved while the inspected sample is placed thereon. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208092 | APPERANCE INSPECTION APPARATUS WITH SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE AND IMAGE DATA PROCESSING METHOD USING SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE - The present invention provides an appearance inspection apparatus that allows a user to give precedence to either defect detection performance or throughput. The appearance inspection apparatus allows a user to select the frequency of a digital image signal or the ratio of the frequency of the digital image signal to a sampling rate. Further, a user is allowed to select either throughput improvement or S/N improvement to prioritize. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208093 | METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR INSPECTING A COILED STRIP - A method and an installation are used for inspecting a surface of a coiled metal strip, wherein the coil to be inspected is unwound along a moving plane so as to cause at least part of the strip to move to a position for inspecting the surfaces. Accordingly, the method consists in moving the part of the strip to be inspected along a substantially vertical inspection plane, between an unwinding device and a winding device arranged on two vertically spaced apart levels on either side of an intermediate inspection level. Thus, the inspection is visually performed on both surfaces of the strip by an operator moving about on a floor at the intermediate inspection level. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208094 | ROBOT APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - To make it possible, in a robot apparatus that performs actions in response to external environment, to distinguish the image of a part of its own body contained in three dimensional data of the external environment. A robot | 2009-08-20 |
20090208095 | SITE MODELING USING IMAGE DATA FUSION - Site modeling using image data fusion. Geometric shapes are generated to represent portions of one or more structures based on digital height data and a two-dimensional segmentation of portions of the one or more structures is generated based on three-dimensional line segments and digital height data. A labeled segmentation of the one or more structures is generated based on the geometric shapes and the two-dimensional segmentation. A three-dimensional model of the one or more structures is generated based on the labeled segmentation. | 2009-08-20 |
20090208096 | TRANSFORMING MEASUREMENT DATA FOR CLASSIFICATION LEARNING | 2009-08-20 |
20090208097 | COST-EFFECTIVE IMAGE METADATA CREATION USING NEAR-DUPLICATE IMAGE DETECTION - Briefly, embodiments describe a method, article and/or system for determining image similarity. | 2009-08-20 |