Showing papers by "Mitsubishi Electric published in 1996"

Hand gesture control system

Abstract: A system is provided for rapidly recognizing hand gestures for the control of computer graphics, in which image moment calculations are utilized to determine an overall equivalent rectangle corresponding to hand position, orientation and size, with size in one embodiment correlating to the width of the hand. In a further embodiment, a hole generated through the utilization of the touching of the forefinger with the thumb provides a special trigger gesture recognized through the corresponding hole in the binary representation of the hand. In a further embodiment, image moments of images of other objects are detected for controlling or directing onscreen images.

Computer vision for computer games

Abstract: The appeal of computer games may be enhanced by vision-based user inputs. The high speed and low cost requirements for near-term, mass-market game applications make system design challenging. The response time of the vision interface should be less than a video frame time and the interface should cost less than $50 U.S. We meet these constraints with algorithms tailored to particular hardware. We have developed a special detector, called the artificial retina chip, which allows for fast, on-chip image processing. We describe two algorithms, based on image moments and orientation histograms, which exploit the capabilities of the chip to provide interactive response to the player's hand or body positions at 10 msec frame time and at low-cost. We show several possible game interactions.

System for correcting grammar based on parts of speech probability

Abstract: In a grammar checking system in which a sentence is first tagged as to pa of speech, the probability of the sequence of the parts of speech being correct is utilized to correct improper use of troublesome words, especially those identical sounding words which are spelled differently The system corrects word usage based not on the probability of the entire sentence being correct but rather on the probability of the sequence of the parts of speech being correct As part of the subject invention, the parts of speech sequence probability is utilized in part of speech sequence verification, underlying spelling recovery, auxiliary verb correction, determiner correction, and in a context-sensitive dictionary lookup

Face recognition system using local autocorrelations and multiscale integration

Abstract: In this paper we investigate the performance of a technique for face recognition based on the computation of 25 local autocorrelation coefficients. We use a large database of 11,600 frontal facial images of 116 persons, organized in training and test sets, for evaluation. Autocorrelation coefficients are computationally inexpensive, inherently shift-invariant and quite robust against changes in facial expression. We focus on the difficult problem of recognizing a large number of known human faces while rejecting other, unknown faces which lie quite close in pattern space. A multiresolution system achieves a recognition rate of 95%, while falsely accepting only 1.5% of unknown faces. It operates at a speed of about one face per second. Without rejection of unknown faces, we obtain a peak recognition rate of 99.9%. The good performance indicates that local autocorrelation coefficients have a surprisingly high information content.

Continuously variable control of animated on-screen characters

Abstract: A compact convenient hand-held, accelerometer-based computer control device is utilized to control on-screen animated characters presented by a comer-driven display in which the movement, persona, style, and voice of the character is controlled. The control device detects accelerations which are used to provide the on-screen character a particular persona, style or voice quality determined by the user. Character motion is determined by acceleration patterns based upon a learned language. The system requires only a series of easily learned hand movement patterns for corresponding character control. The style or emotional content of the movement is specified directly from gross accelerometer outputs without pattern matching. The outputs can also be used in connection with speech synthesis to provide voice quality attributes to audible information. The system has particular relevance to control of on-screen characters in interactive theater and virtual reality systems.

New structure of block ciphers with provable security against differential and linear cryptanalysis

Abstract: We introduce a methodology for designing block ciphers with provable security against differential and linear cryptanalysis. It is based on three new principles: change of the location of round functions, round functions with recursive structure, and substitution boxes of different sizes. The first realizes parallel computation of the round functions without losing provable security, and the second reduces the size of substitution boxes; moreover, the last is expected to make algebraic attacks difficult. We also give specific examples of practical block ciphers that are provably secure under an independent subkey assumption and are reasonably fast in hardware as well as in software implementation.

An 8.8-ns 54/spl times/54-bit multiplier with high speed redundant binary architecture

Abstract: A high speed redundant binary (RB) architecture, which is optimized for the fast CMOS parallel multiplier, is developed. This architecture enables one to convert a pair of partial products in normal binary (NB) form to one RE number with no additional circuit. We improved the RB adder (RBA) circuit so that it can make a fast addition of the RB partial products. We also simplified the converter circuit that converts the final RE number into the corresponding NE number. The carry propagation path of the converter circuit is carried out with only multiplexer circuits. A 54/spl times/54-bit multiplier is designed with this architecture. It is fabricated by 0.5 /spl mu/m CMOS with triple level metal technology. The active area size is 3.0/spl times/3.08 mm/sup 2/ and the number of transistors is 78,800. This is the smallest number for all 54/spl times/54-bit multipliers ever reported. Under the condition of 3.3 V supply voltage, the chip achieves 8.8 ns multiplication time. The power dissipation of 540 mW is estimated for the operating frequency of 100 MHz. These are, so far, the fastest speed and the lowest power for 54/spl times/54-bit multipliers with 0.5-/spl mu/m CMOS.

Computer network interface and network protocol with direct deposit messaging

Abstract: A network protocol and interface using direct deposit messaging provides low overhead communication in a network of multi-user computers. This system uses both sender-provided and receiver-provided information to process received messages and to deposit data directly in memory and to conditionally interrupt a host processor based on control information. Message processing is separated into data delivery, which bypasses the host processor and operating system, and message actions which may or may not require host processor interaction. In this protocol, a message includes an indication of the operation desired by the sender, an operand specified by the sender and an operand which refers to some information stored at the receiver. The receiver ensures that the desired action is permitted and then, if the action is permitted, performs the action according to both the operand specified by the sender and the state of the receiver. The action may be message delivery, wherein the operands in the message specify values for use in various addressing modes including direct, indirect, post-increment and index modes. The action may also be conditionally generating an interrupt, wherein the operands are used, in combination with the receiver state, to determine whether a message requires immediate or delayed action. The action may also be an operation on a register in the network interface or on other information stored at the receiver.

Integrated guidance system for vehicles

Abstract: An integrated guidance system integrates and displays useful information from various information providers by a simple operation during travel During travel the information is collected from various types of information supply servers (7,8,9) connected to a network (6) A navigation server (5) transmits the useful information to a mobile terminal device (2) using radio communication On a single screen the mobile terminal device (2) displays traffic and town information which are obtained from the navigation server (5) and map information from a secondary memory section (3) Even if the information provider differs, useful information for a user is displayed when travelling in an integrated form by a simple operation

(Ba, Sr)TiO3 Films Prepared by Liquid Source Chemical Vapor Deposition on Ru Electrodes

Abstract: Electrical properties of (Ba, Sr)TiO3 [BST] films have been investigated on RuO2/Ru and Ru electrodes instead of Pt, because they are easy to be etched. BST films were deposited at a substrate temperature of T s=420° C and a reactor pressure of P=1.5 Torr by employing a two-step liquid source chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. BST films on RuO2/Ru were electrically shorted, which was considered to be caused by surface roughening during BST film deposition and/or post-annealing. In the case of Ru electrodes, an equivalent SiO2 thickness of t eq=0.50 nm (a dielectric constant of e r=190), a leakage current of J L=4.6×10-8 A/cm2 at +1.1 V, and a dielectric loss of tan δ=0.018 were achieved at a total film thickness of 250 A, by restricting Ru surface oxidation and its surface roughening. Moreover, BST film deposition on Ru storage nodes, 0.24 µ m wide, 0.6 µ m deep, 0.15 µ m high, and each spaced by 0.3–0.14 µ m, verified that the storage capacitance can be successfully increased by using sidewalls of the storage node, without a significant increase in the leakage current.

Use of two-dimensional deformable mesh structures for video coding. II. The analysis problem and a region-based coder employing an active mesh representation

Abstract: For pt.I see ibid., vol.6, no.6, p.636-46 (1996). This paper explores the use of the deformable mesh structure for motion/shape analysis and synthesis in an image sequence. We present algorithms for the analysis problem, including scene-adaptive mesh generation and node tracking over successive frames. We also describe a region-based video coder that integrates the analysis and synthesis algorithms presented. The coder describes each region by an ensemble of connected quadrilateral elements embedded in a mesh structure. For each region, its shape and texture are described by the nodal positions and image functions of the elements in this region in an initial frame, while its motion (including shape deformation) is characterized by the nodal trajectories in the following frames, which are in turn specified by a few motion parameters. This coder has been applied to a typical common intermediate format (CIF) resolution, head-and-shoulder type sequence. The visual quality is significantly better than the H.263-TMN4 algorithm at about 50 kb/s (for the luminance component only, 30 Hz).

Analysis of friction on human fingers and design of artificial fingers

Abstract: In many cases of human hand tasks, grasping and manipulation of objects are the most basic motions. However, the influence of physical characteristics of human finger on grasping motions have not yet been sufficiently clarified. For example, friction which is an important characteristic of grasping motions has hardly been investigated. In this study, we pay attention, to friction between a finger and an object. First, we develop a system to measure the friction on fingers. Next, based on the experimental results obtained from the measurement system, we propose a new model for the maximum static friction force on human fingers. Also, we find that the friction forces are changed depending on the directions of tangential forces. Finally, we realize a finger-tip which is made of silicone and whose characteristics are similar to those of human fingers.

Network interface having support for message processing and an interface to a message coprocessor

Abstract: A network interface for a connection-based communication network has support for message processing, including an interface for communication with an optional message coprocessor that performs a variety of message processing operations. Message processing is low level processing of messages between the host computer and the network. Such processing is performed on transmission in response to control information provided by the host and is performed on reception in response to control information included in incoming messages. Message processing includes low latency remote read and remote write operations, message filtering, and message demultiplexing. Such a network interface provides support for a variety of message processing operations using the coprocessor, while the complexity and cost of the network interface due to this support is minimal. The network interface provides control information for a message to the message coprocessor. The control information indicates an operation to be performed by the message coprocessor, and possibly operands. The message coprocessor responds with one of a small set of commands to be executed by the network interface. The command from the message coprocessor may include additional data, such as a location in memory in which data should be deposited at the host or at a remote destination. Using this kind of interface, the control information provided to the message coprocessor can be completely arbitrary, limited only by the capabilities of the message coprocessor. Since the message coprocessor can be arbitrarily selected so long as it conforms to the protocol used by the network interface, experimentation with new communication protocols in connection with the network interface is simplified.

Digital broadcast receiver

Abstract: A digital broadcast receiver includes: a plurality of broadcast receiving units that receive program images and broadcast information; an image selecting/combining unit that selectively combines program images as a main-screen and a sub-screen; a plurality of monitors that display program images; a control unit that includes an idle-state detecting unit for detecting the broadcast receiving unit of idle-state, an idle-state establishing unit for controlling the broadcast receiving unit to halt receiving broadcast waves and controlling the image selecting/combining unit to output the program image received by other broadcast receiving unit to a monitor as a main-screen when an instruction of receiving broadcast information is accepted and when there is no broadcast receiving unit of idle-state, and a broadcast information acquisition instructing unit that control the broadcast receiving unit of idle-state to acquire the broadcast information when the instruction of receiving broadcast information is accepted.

Adding a collaborative agent to graphical user interfaces

Abstract: We have implemented a collaborative agent toolkit called Collagen and used it to build a software agent that collaborates with the user of a direct-manipulation graphical interface by following the rules and conventions of human discourse. One of the main results is an interaction history that is segmented according to the structure of the agent's and user's goals, without requiring the agent to understand natural language.

A digital audio broadcasting (DAB) receiver

Abstract: This paper describes the features and functions of the newly developed Eureka-147 DAB (digital audio broadcasting) receiver. In this paper, we also describe an AFC (automatic frequency control) and a synchronization technique using a DSP (digital signal processor).

System for sending small positive data notification messages over a network to indicate that a recipient node should obtain a particular version of a particular data item

Abstract: A system is provided for eliminating time-consuming, unnecessary transfersf data over networks such as the the World Wide Web while at the same time guaranteeing timeliness of the data used by recipients. Timeliness is assured by immediately sending small data-notification messages whenever data becomes relevant or changes. Efficiency is guaranteed by transmitting the data itself only when requested by the recipient of a data-notification message. In particular, recipients are alerted to the presence of, and changes in, data they might use by data-notification messages containing a timestamp, the data location, and a checksum. Based on the timestamp, the recipient can determine whether the data-notification message contains timely information or should be ignored. Based on the data location and checksum, the recipient can determine whether it already has the current version of the data in question, for example stored in a cache.

Nonlinear optical response due to resonant enhancement of the internal field with particular spatial distribution.

Abstract: Peculiar properties of nonlinear response, due to a resonant enhancement of internal field are predicted for the mesoscopic systems by means of a nonlocal theory of nonlinear response. In this theory, self-consistent motions of the internal field and the induced polarization, which are related nonlocally with each other, are determined by solving the equation system of Schr\"odinger and Maxwell's equations. A study with a model of ultrathin films consisting of one-dimensional Frenkel excitons has clarified the following points: As a result of a self-consistent motion with the induced polarization, the internal field with a characteristic spatial distribution associated with each quantized exciton state is enhanced at a particular resonant energy including a radiative correction that depends on system size. This resonant enhancement of the internal field greatly strengthens the nonlinear signal of a particular third-order process, leading to a remarkable size and energy dependence of the nonlinear response. This effect is explicitly demonstrated for a particular type of pump-probe spectroscopy. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.

Printed circuit board, printed circuit board used for flat panel display drive circuit, and flat panel display device

Abstract: The signal connecting through vias are provided on an edge side of a multilayer printed circuit board along a longitudinal direction thereof, and the signal wiring of the respective layers of the signal wiring layer is inclined with respected to the arrangement of the through vias.

Efficient and stable operation of a high-brightness cw 500-W Nd:YAG rod laser.

Abstract: Enhanced efficiency and stabilized beam-power generation were proved for a high-brightness cw-based 500-W Nd:YAG rod laser by compensation of the thermally induced bifocusing of the Nd:YAG rod. Maximum laser power of 500 W cw was obtained at lamp input power of 18.4 kW, with beam quality M2 = 19 or ωθ (radius x, the half-angle of divergence) = 6.4 mm mrad and power fluctuation of less than 1%.

System with collaborative interface agent

Abstract: The present invention relates to a discourse manager which permits effective collaboration between a user and a computer agent. The system operates according to a theory of collaborative discourse between humans, with the computer agent playing the same role as a human collaborator. The present invention does not concern the internal operation of a particular agent, but relates rather to the structures for managing a collaborative discourse between any type of agent and the user. The discourse manager includes a memory in which application-specific recipes are stored and a memory in which the discourse state is stored. Each recipe specifies a set of actions or subtasks which are performed to achieve an objective. The discourse state includes structures to track the agent's and user's current objectives, a selected recipe for each objective, and completed steps in each recipe. The discourse manager also includes a segmented interaction history, which is a chronological record of all the events in the interaction hierarchically grouped according to their purposes. During operation of the discourse manager, user actions and communications are interpreted according to how they relate to the current discourse state. The manager also generates an agenda of expected communications, which is presented to the user as a menu, obviating the need for the natural language understanding by the agent. Finally, the segmented interaction history permits powerful transformations, such as returning to earlier points in the collaboration and replaying segments in a new context.

System for text correction adaptive to the text being corrected

Abstract: A system is provided for correcting users' mistakes including context-sensitive spelling errors and the like in which an adaptive correction algorithm is utilized which is trained on not only a conventional training corpus, but also on the text which is being corrected, thus to permit the correction of words based on the particular usages of the words in the text being corrected, taking advantage of the fact that the text to be corrected is by and large already mostly correct.

Active Shape Control of a Deployable Space Antenna Reflector

Abstract: Feasibility of active shape formation or correction of a deployable space antenna reflector under the conditions of limited number of actuators and limited information of its surface shape is investigated to aim to suppress its deformations mainly due to thermal loads. Those conditions are practical for actual development of large space antennas. A reflector surface control scheme through checking electrical radiation patterns, instead of measuring structural surface, is also proposed, and its performance is evaluated through numerical simulations.

Apparatus and method for automatic yellow pages pagination and layout

Abstract: A computer-based system for automatic pagination and layout of yellow pagesor a commercial telephone directory uses a simulated annealing heuristic to refine a randomly determined candidate solution. The text and advertisements which are to be included in the yellow pages directory are ordered in two distinct data streams representing the order of text and the order of advertisements in the directory. The system determines a possible layout, called a candidate solution, by randomly setting parameters defining the pagination and layout. These parameters may include page breaks in the advertisement stream, column numbers for each advertisement, and an amount of padding or empty space to be added to each page. Once the parameters are set, the individual pages are laid out by putting the advertisements in the next available position in their assigned columns, and the text around the advertisements. The solution is scored based upon the guidelines for the format and layout of the yellow pages directory. The solution is then optimized using a simulated annealing heuristic, which utilizes small modifications or perturbations randomly made to the initial parameters of the candidate solution. The revised solution is scored and compared to the score of the prior solution. The revised solution is then kept according to a probabilistic formula relating the two scores. Through an iterative process of perturbations, scoring, and comparing, the candidate solution becomes optimized. The process is repeated multiple times for different initial candidate solutions, each of which is randomly determined. A best solution is then selected from all of the optimized candidate solutions.

Strength Prediction of Mechanically Fastened Quasi-Isotropic Carbon/Epoxy Joints

Abstract: A study on predicting the joint strength of mechanical fasteners has been performed. However bearing failure that is most important failure mode for designing joints has not been taken into consideration. So in this study, the prediction method in consideration with bearing failure was examined. Two joint geometries that exhibit net-tension failure and bearing failure were chosen. In the proposed method, the characteristic length is combined with the Yamada-Sun failure criterion, and the characteristic length for compression was determined from the "bearing failure test" that was newly conceived to take bearing failure into consideration. The proposed prediction method was applied to quasi-isotropic carbon/epoxy T300/#2500 joints showing net-tension and bearing failure experimentally. Good agreement was found between the predicted and experimental results for each joint geometry.

Control Architectures for Autonomous and Interacting Agents: A Survey

Abstract: The control architecture of an autonomous agent describes its modules and capabilities, and how they work together Over the past few years, numerous architectures have been proposed in the literature, addressing different key features an agent should have

Effect of operational potential on performance decay rate in a phosphoric acid fuel cell

Abstract: The effect of operational potential on the cell voltage decay rate in a phosphoric acid fuel cell was estimated using the calculation of the platinum dissolution rate The voltage loss, due to deterioration in activation polarization, was used in calculating the cell voltage decay rate The voltage loss due to activation polarization was estimated using the relationship between the activation polarization and the platinum surface area The change in the Pt surface area, arising from the dissolution of platinum, was obtained under accelerated open circuit voltage (ocv) conditions The study was focused on typical voltage decay rates from 01 to 10 mV per 1000 h It was found that the cell voltage decay became significant even at low temperature during long-term operation (at ocv) and that the cell had to be operated below 840 mV (iR-free) at 200 mA cm−2) 200°C for a decay rate of 1 mV per 1000 h From the present estimation, operational conditions such as temperature, cathode potential, and holding time at a given potential, can be roughly determined for a given decay rate It was concluded that the voltage loss due to platinum dissolution may be negligible at a rated power operation

Drive circuit of semiconductor device

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a drive circuit which facilitates both the suppression of a voltage surge and the reduction of a switching loss and, further, can be applied to all IGBT(insulated gate self-extinguishing type) devices. SOLUTION: A drive circuit is composed of a 1st drive means 12 which drives an IGBT device 1, a 2nd drive means 13 which drives the IGBT device at a speed slower than the speed of the 1st drive means 12, a switching means 11 by which the output of the 1st drive circuit 12 and the output of the 2nd drive circuit 13 are switched from one to the other and supplied to the gate of the IGBT device 1 and a current decrease start point detecting means 14 which detects the time point when the current decrease starts in a transition period from a 1st period in which the collector current of the IGBT device changes gradually to a 2nd period which follows the 1st period and in which the collector current changes sharply when the IGBT device 1 is turned off. The switching means 11 is operated by the output of the current decrease start point detecting means 14 so as to use the 1st drive means 12 in the 1st period and use the 2nd drive means 13 in the 2nd period. COPYRIGHT: (C)1998,JPO

ATM local area network switch with dual queues

Abstract: A switch for digital communication networks includes a queuing system cape of implementing a broad class of scheduling algorithms for many different applications and purposes, with the queuing system including both a tag-based primary queue which contain ATM cells organized by priority and a secondary queue which contains ATM cells which are not yet scheduled for transmission and which are organized by virtual channel. A queuing decision module is provided to determine in which queue an incoming ATM cell should be deposited. A requeuing module operates when an event occurs that unblocks a particular virtual channel. The requeuing module, on occurrence of such an event, accesses the secondary queue to obtain another cell, to assign it priority and to move it to the primary queue. The queuing decision module, along with a virtual channel table, can be used easily to block virtual channels when necessary. The combination of queues also allows for round robin scheduling.