Showing papers by "Mitsubishi Electric published in 2003"

The Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for the Earth Observing System (AMSR-E), NASDA's contribution to the EOS for global energy and water cycle studies

Abstract: The Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for the Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) was developed and provided to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's EOS Aqua satellite by the National Space Development Agency of Japan, as one of the indispensable instruments for Aqua's mission. AMSR-E is a modified version of AMSR that was launched December 2002 aboard the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite-II (ADEOS-II). It is a six-frequency dual-polarized total-power passive microwave radiometer that observes water-related geophysical parameters supporting global change science and monitoring efforts. The hardware improvements over existing spaceborne microwave radiometers for Earth imaging include the largest main reflector of its kind and addition of 6.925-GHz channels. These improvements provide finer spatial resolution and the capability to retrieve sea surface temperature and soil moisture information on a global basis. This paper provides an overview of the instrument characteristics, mission objectives, and data products.

Background subtraction based on cooccurrence of image variations

Abstract: This paper presents a novel background subtraction method for detecting foreground objects in dynamic scenes involving swaying trees and fluttering flags. Most methods proposed so far adjust the permissible range of the background image variations according to the training samples of background images. Thus, the detection sensitivity decreases at those pixels having wide permissible ranges. If we can narrow the ranges by analyzing input images, the detection sensitivity can be improved. For this narrowing, we employ the property that image variations at neighboring image blocks have strong correlation, also known as "cooccurrence". This approach is essentially different from chronological background image updating or morphological postprocessing. Experimental results for real images demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.

Equatorial Atmosphere Radar (EAR): System description and first results

Abstract: [1] A VHF Doppler radar with an active phased-array antenna system, called the Equatorial Atmosphere Radar (EAR), was established recently at the equator near Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia (0.20°S, 100.32°E, 865 m above sea level). The EAR is a large monostatic radar which operates at 47.0 MHz with peak output power of 100 kW. The EAR uses a circular antenna array, approximately 110 m in diameter, which consists of 560 three-element Yagi antennas. Each antenna is driven by a solid-state transmitter-receiver module. This system configuration allows the antenna beam to be steered electronically up to 5,000 times per second. The scientific objective of the EAR is to advance knowledge of dynamical and electrodynamical coupling processes in the equatorial atmosphere from the near-surface region to the upper atmosphere. The equatorial atmosphere over Indonesia is considered to play an important role in global change of the Earth's atmosphere. This paper presents the system description of the EAR, including observational results of the equatorial atmosphere made for the first time with altitude resolution of 75–150 m.

Stress intensity factor analysis of interface cracks using X‐FEM

Abstract: The extended finite element method (X-FEM) proposed by Belytschko et al. (International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 1999; 45: 602; 1999; 46: 131; 2001; 50: 993) uses interpolation functions based on the concept of partition of unity, and considers the asymptotic solution and the discontinuity of displacement fields near a crack independently of the finite element mesh. This paper describes the application of X-FEM to stress analyses of structures containing interface cracks between dissimilar materials. In X-FEM, an interface crack can be modelled by locally changing an interpolation function in the element near a crack. The energy release rate should be separated into individual stress intensity factors, K1 and K2, because the stress field around the interface crack has mixed modes coupled with mode-I and mode-II. For this purpose, various evaluation methods used in conjunction with numerical methods such as FEM and BEM are reviewed. These methods are examined in numerical examples of elastostatic analyses of structures containing interface cracks using X-FEM. The numerical results show that X-FEM is an effective method for performing stress analyses and evaluating stress intensity factors in problems related to bi-material fractures. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

S 2 L permutation symmetry for left-handed μ and τ families and neutrino oscillations in an SU ( 3 ) L × U ( 1 ) N gauge model

Abstract: We construct an ${\mathrm{SU}(3)}_{L}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{U(1)}_{N}$ gauge model based on an ${S}_{2L}$ permutation symmetry for left-handed $\ensuremath{\mu}$ and $\ensuremath{\tau}$ families, which provides the almost maximal atmospheric neutrino mixing and the large solar neutrino mixing of the large mixing angle type. Neutrinos acquire one-loop radiative masses induced by the radiative mechanism of the Zee type as well as tree level masses induced by the type II seesaw mechanism utilizing interactions of lepton triplets with an $\mathrm{SU}(3)$-sextet scalar. The atmospheric neutrino mixing controlled by the tree-level and radiative masses turns out to be almost maximal owing to the presence of ${S}_{2L}$ supplemented by a ${Z}_{4}$ discrete symmetry. These symmetries ensure the near equality between the ${\ensuremath{ u}}_{e}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{ u}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}$ and ${\ensuremath{ u}}_{e}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{ u}}_{\ensuremath{\tau}}$ radiative masses dominated by contributions from heavy leptons contained in the third members of lepton triplets, whose Yukawa interactions conserve ${S}_{2L}$ even after the spontaneous breaking. The solar neutrino mixing controlled by radiative masses, including a ${\ensuremath{ u}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{ u}}_{\ensuremath{\tau}}$ mass, which are taken to be of similar order, turns out to be described by large solar neutrino mixing angles.

FAce MOUSe: A novel human-machine interface for controlling the position of a laparoscope

Abstract: Robotic laparoscope positioners are now expected as assisting devices for solo surgery among endoscopic surgeons. In such robotic systems, the human-machine (surgeon-robot) interface is of paramount importance because it is the means by which the surgeon communicates with and controls the robotic camera assistant. We have designed a novel human-machine interface, called "FAce MOUSe", for controlling the position of a laparoscope. The proposed human interface is an image-based system which tracks the surgeon's facial motions robustly in real time and does not require the use of any body-contact devices, such as head-mounted sensing devices. The surgeon can easily and precisely control the motion of the laparoscope by simply making the appropriate face gesture, without hand or foot switches or voice input. Based on the FAce MOUSe interface, we have developed a new robotic laparoscope positioning system for solo surgery. Our system allows nonintrusive, nonverbal, hands off and feet off laparoscope operations, which seem more convenient for the surgeon. To evaluate the performance of the proposed system and its applicability in clinical use, we set up an in vivo experiment, in which the surgeon used the system to perform a laparoscopic cholecystectomy on a pig.

Cosmic Shear Statistics in the Suprime-Cam 2.1 Square Degree Field: Constraints on Ωm and σ8*

Abstract: We present measurements of the cosmic shear correlation in the shapes of galaxies in the Suprime-Cam 2.1 deg2 RC-band imaging data. As an estimator of the shear correlation originating from the gravitational lensing, we adopt the aperture mass variance, which most naturally decomposes the correlation signal into E and B (non-gravitational lensing) modes. We detect a nonzero E mode variance on scales between θap = 2' and 40'. We also detect a small but nonzero B-mode variance on scales larger than θap > 5'. We compare the measured E-mode variance to the model predictions in CDM cosmologies using maximum likelihood analysis. A four-dimensional space is explored, which examines σ8, Ωm, Γ (the shape parameter of the CDM power spectrum), and s (mean redshift of galaxies). We include three possible sources of error: statistical noise, the cosmic variance estimated using numerical experiments, and a residual systematic effect estimated from the B-mode variance. We derive joint constraints on two parameters by marginalizing over the two remaining parameters. We obtain an upper limit of Γ 0.9 (68% confidence). For a prior Γ ∈ [0.1, 0.4] and s ∈ [0.6, 1.4], we find σ8 = (0.50)Ω for Ωm + ΩΛ = 1 and σ8 = (0.51)Ω for ΩΛ = 0 (95% confidence). If we take the currently popular ΛCDM model (Ωm = 0.3, Ωλ = 0.7, Γ = 0.21), we obtain a one-dimensional confidence interval on σ8 for the 95.4% level, 0.62 < σ8 < 1.32 for s ∈ [0.6, 1.4]. Information on the redshift distribution of galaxies is key to obtaining a correct cosmological constraint. An independent constraint on Γ from other observations is useful to tighten the constraint.

Multi-user collaborative graphical user interfaces

Abstract: A multi-user collaborative graphical user interface has a display area with a horizontal orientation, the display surface is positioned between the multiple users. The display area also has a centroid and a circumference. The display area is partitioned into work areas so that there is one working area for each user of the multiple users. An item is displayed in a particular working area using a global polar coordinate system centered on the centroid.

Method and system for calibrating projectors to arbitrarily shaped surfaces with discrete optical sensors mounted at the surfaces

Abstract: A system determines correspondence between locations on a display surface and pixels in an output image of a projector. The display surface can have an arbitrary shape and pose. Locations of known coordinates are identified on the display surface. Each location is optically coupled to a photo sensor by an optical fiber installed in a throughhole in the surface. Known calibration patterns are projected, while sensing directly an intensity of light at each location for each calibration pattern. The intensities are used to determine correspondences between the locations and pixels in an output image of the projector so that projected images can be warped to conform to the display surface.

Integrated residential gateway controller for home energy management system

Abstract: A low cost and highly reliable residential gateway controller (residential G/W) with plug & play mechanism has been developed for home energy management system (HEMS). Residential G/W is integrated on a small embedded H/W with Java, GUI-OS and the latest Internet technologies. HEMS equipped with residential G/W is also developed and installed in 20 houses in Tokyo for evaluation.

Model-based 3D face capture with shape-from-silhouettes

Abstract: We present a method for 3D face acquisition using a set or sequence of 2D binary silhouettes. Since silhouette images depend only on the shape and pose of an object, they are immune to lighting and/or texture variations (unlike feature or texture-based shape-from-correspondence). Our prior 3D face model is a linear combination of "eigenheads" obtained by applying PCA to a training set of laser-scanned 3D faces. These shape coefficients are the parameters for a near-automatic system for capturing the 3D shape as well as the 2D texture-map of a novel input face. Specifically, we use back-projection and a boundary-weighted XOR-based cost function for binary silhouette matching, coupled with a probabilistic "downhill-simplex" optimization for shape estimation and refinement. Experiments with a multicamera rig as well as monocular video sequences demonstrate the advantages of our 3D modeling framework and ultimately, its utility for robust face recognition with built-in invariance to pose and illumination.

Secure routing protocol for an ad hoc network using one-way/one-time hash functions

Abstract: A method authenticates packets that are transmitted serially in a network. A current password is selected for a current packet to be transmitted. The current packet includes current data. A one-way/one-time hash function is applied to the current password to form a current tag. A next password is selected for a next packet that includes next data, and the one-way/one-time hash function is applied to the next password to form a next tag. The one-way/one-time hash function is then applied to the next data, the next tag, and the current password to obtain a hashed value. The current packet is then transmitted to include the hash value, the current data, the current tag, and a previous password of a previous transmitted packet to authenticate the current data.

Optical Simulation of Light Source Devices Composed of Blue LEDs and YAG Phosphor

Abstract: The optical structures and luminous properties of light source devices composed of blue LEDs and YAG phosphor were examined using optical simulation. Results showed that the reflection-type light source device had a high luminous flux over 1.5 times greater than the transmission-type light source device. This suggests that using light reflected from the phosphor is an effective way of obtaining high output from light sources composed of LEDs and phosphor.

Ridge filter design for proton therapy at Hyogo Ion Beam Medical Center

Abstract: At the Hyogo Ion Beam Medical Center (HIBMC) we have developed a new design method for the bar ridge filter used in proton therapy, taking into consideration the scattering and nuclear interaction effects within the filter itself, which are introduced in the design. In our beam delivery system, the bar ridge filter is employed as the range modulator. It is combined with the wobbler system, and produces a three-dimensionally uniform spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP). The design program predicts the three-dimensional dose distribution. Ridge filters of 3–12 cm SOBP in 1 cm increments were designed in the maximum radiation field for 150 MeV and 190 MeV proton beams so that a uniform physical dose area is obtained in the SOBP region three-dimensionally. Measurements were performed with the constructed ridge filters to verify the uniformity and these were compared with the predictions of the design program. The predictions and measurements were found to be in agreement except for the 12 cm SOBP. The uniformities were better than ±3.0% for all SOBPs produced. The ridge filters are now clinically in use.

Bit allocation for MPEG-4 video coding with spatio-temporal tradeoffs

Abstract: This paper describes rate-control algorithms that consider the tradeoff between coded quality and temporal rate. We target improved coding efficiency for both frame-based and object-based video coding. We propose models that estimate the rate-distortion characteristics for coded frames and objects, as well as skipped frames and objects. Based on the proposed models, we propose three types of rate-control algorithms. The first is for frame-based coding, in which the distortion of coded frames is balanced with the distortion incurred by frame skipping. The second algorithm applies to object-based coding, where the temporal rate of all objects is constrained to be the same, but the bit allocation is performed at the object level. The third algorithm also targets object-based coding, but in contrast to the second algorithm, the temporal rates of each object may vary. The algorithm also takes into account the composition problem, which may cause holes in the reconstructed frame when objects are encoded at different temporal rates. We propose a solution to this problem that is based on first detecting changes in the shape boundaries over time at the encoder, then employing a hole detection and recovery algorithm at the decoder. Overall, the proposed algorithms are able to achieve the target bit rate, effectively code frames and objects with different temporal rates, and maintain a stable buffer level.

P‐51: Dual Directional Backlight for Stereoscopic LCD

Abstract: We propose a new light direction controlling backlight for nonglasses field sequential stereoscopic LCD. This backlight using a double-sided prism sheet can change the direction of light by switching the light sources. We made a prototype, and demonstrated that the light from the backlight could be separated into the required directions

Rapid serial visual presentation techniques for consumer digital video devices

Abstract: In this paper we propose a new model for a class of rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) interfaces [16] in the context of consumer video devices. The basic spatial layout "explodes" a sequence of image frames into a 3D trail in order to provide more context for a spatial/temporal presentation. As the user plays forward or back, the trail advances or recedes while the image in the foreground focus position is replaced. The design is able to incorporate a variety of methods for analyzing or highlighting images in the trail. Our hypotheses are that users can navigate more quickly and precisely to points of interest when compared to conventional consumer-based browsing, channel flipping, or fast-forwarding techniques. We report on an experiment testing our hypotheses in which we found that subjects were more accurate but not faster in browsing to a target of interest in recorded television content with a TV remote.

Digital content use right management system

Abstract: A digital content management system to decide whether or not a digital content is available depending on a location of a user who desires to use the digital content is provided. A digital content use right management system includes a digital content server device 1 to store an encrypted digital content, a license server device 2 to generate and transmit license data 4 containing an available location of the digital content and a decryption key to decrypt the digital content, and a client device 3 to receive the digital content from the digital content server device 1 , to receive the license data 4 from the license server 2 , and based on a condition for use defined by its use condition, to determine whether or not to decrypt the digital content with the decryption key contained in the license data 4 . In the digital content use right management system, the client device 3 includes a current location identifying means to obtain a current location, and a license data processing means to compare the current location obtained by the current location identifying means with the available location contained in the license data 4 , and to determine whether or not to decrypt the digital content.

Multi-display control system and image display apparatus

Abstract: A multi-display control system enables an operation screen to come up on an operator's front screen when an application performing a display operation changes, without the need for the operator to move the display image. When the conditions for image detection have been met, it is detected where the position of a mouse is on a hypothetical single-sheet page 5 (process 1). Next, from the position detection result it is assessed if the mouse is on a second sub display apparatus 8 (process 2). Then in the case where the assessed operating screen is not the main display apparatus 6, the screen contents of the second sub display apparatus 8 and the screen contents of the main display apparatus 6 are exchanged and displayed on the respective image display apparatuses. That is, the screen contents of the second sub display apparatus 8 are transformed to the main display apparatus 6, and the screen contents of the main display apparatus 6 are transformed to the second sub display apparatus 8 (process 3). As a result, the working space shown by the mouse can always be brought to the front screen, and the operating efficiency of the image display can be further improved.

Method and apparatus for detecting and/or tracking one or more colour regions in an image or sequence of images

Abstract: A method of detecting a region having predetermined colour characteristics in an image comprises transforming colour values of pixels in the image from a first colour space to a second colour space, using the colour values in the second colour space to determine probability values expressing a match between pixels and the predetermined colour characteristics, where the probability values range over a multiplicity of values, using said probability values to identify pixels at least approximating to said predetermined colour characteristics, grouping pixels which at least approximate to said predetermined colour characteristics, and extracting information about each group, wherein pixels are weighted according to the respective multiplicity of probability values, and the weightings are used when grouping the pixels and/or when extracting information about a group.

Thin film magnetic memory device executing self-reference type data read

Abstract: In one data read operation, data read for reading stored data before and after a predetermined data write magnetic field is applied to a selected memory cell, respectively, is executed, and the data read is executed in accordance with comparison of voltage levels corresponding to the data read operations before and after application of the predetermined data write magnetic field. In addition, data read operations before and after the application of a data write magnetic field are executed using read modify write. It is thereby possible to avoid an influence of an offset or the like resulting from manufacturing irregularities in respective circuits forming a data read path, to improve efficiency of the data read operation with accuracy and to execute a high rate data read operation.

Image display system

Abstract: An image display system with an external device (80) which outputs an image signal including an index signal, and a plurality of image display devices (81, 82, 8n), which are connected together in series and each of which comprises: an input interface and an output interface (62, 63), two data transmitting and receiving apparatuses (60, 61) connected to the input and output interface (62, 63) in signal communication and the device information data to adjacent image display devices (81, 82, 8n) to send and from adjacent image display devices (81, 82 , 8n) received, with the input interface and the output interface (62, 63) are connected, an identification processing device (67), analyzes and processes the data detected by the data transmitting and receiving apparatuses (60, 61) which are connected to the input interface (62), and at least one storage device (68), the control information and the image display device (81, 82, 8n) associated device address and device information data of the image display device (81, 82, 8n) stores, an index discriminating device (64) for distinguishing or discriminating an added to the image signal index signal ...

3D graphics LSI core for mobile phone "Z3D"

Abstract: In this paper we describe the architecture of the 3D graphics LSI core for mobile phone "Z3D". The major 3D graphics applications on mobile phones are character animation and games. While a character animation or a game is running, the CPU has to be used for the communication to the center machine and CPU clock frequency is low. Therefore, the requirement of Z3D is small, low power, and CPU free. The pipeline of Z3D is composed of a geometry engine, rendering engine, and pixel engine. Generally, these modules run in pipeline on PC, but running in pipeline, power consumption rises. We used gated clock control for low power consumption and having the pipeline work in sequential, we could reduce 40% of the power consumption with 10% performance decreasing. The geometry processing performance of Z3D is up to 185Kvertex/sec and the pixel performance is 5Mpixel/sec. This performance is enough to have character animations and games run. The data of 3D shape and animation can be defined using common 3D modeler and contents program can be described by Java. Low level rendering interface and animation rendering interface are provided as a Java API. All the contents programs can be downloaded from network.

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for malignant melanoma with special reference to absorbed doses to the normal skin and tumor

Abstract: Twenty-two patients with malignant melanoma were treated with boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) using10B-p-boronophenylalanine (BPA). The estimation of absorbed dose and optimization of treatment dose based on the pharmacokinetics of BPA in melanoma patients is described. The doses of γ-rays were measured using small TLDs of Mg2SiO4 (Tb) and thermal neutron fluence was measured using gold foil and wire. The total absorbed dose to the tissue from BNCT was obtained by summing the primary and capture γ-ray doses and the high LET radiation doses from10B(n,α)7Li and14N(n,p)14C reactions. The key point of the dose optimization is that the skin surrounding the tumour is always irradiated to 18 Gy−Eq, which is the maximum tolerable dose to the skin, regardless of the10B-concentration in the tumor. The neutron fluence was optimized as follows. (1) The10B concentration in the blood was measured 15−40 min after the start of neutron irradiation. (2) The10B-concentration in the skin was estimated by multiplying the blood10B value by a factor of 1.3. (3) The neutron fluence was calculated. Absorbed doses to the skin ranged from 15.7 to 37.1 Gy−Eq. Among the patients, 16 out of 22 patients exhibited tolerable skin damage. Although six patients showed skin damage that exceeded the tolerance level, three of them could be cured within a few months after BNCT and the remaining three developed severe skin damage requiring skin grafts. The absorbed doses to the tumor ranged from 15.7 to 68.5 Gy−Eq and the percentage of complete response was 73% (16/22). When BNCT is used in the treatment of malignant melanoma, based on the pharmacokinetics of BPA and radiobiological considerations, promising clinical results have been obtained, although many problems and issues remain to be solved.

Highly resistive GaN layers formed by ion implantation of Zn along the c axis

Abstract: Highly resistive layers are formed by the implantation of Zn ion along the c axis of GaN and AlGaN/GaN epitaxial layers. Heavy ions such as Zn have been desirable for the formation of highly resistive layers, because ions effectively transferred their energy to the crystal atoms rather than the electrons in GaN. A sheet resistance Rs as high as 3.8×1011 Ω/sq was obtained on GaN layers after the ion implantation. Rs increased up to 2.2×1013 Ω/sq after the annealing at 500 °C for 300 s in an N2 atmosphere. The thermal activation energy Er for this sample was 0.67 eV. It was found that the experimental data in current–voltage characteristics were fitted to the equation included the Poole–Frenkel current and resistive (ohmic) current. The difference of Rs between the as-implanted and 500 °C annealed samples was due to the Poole–Frenkel current. The Poole–Frenkel current overcame the resistive one, and dominated the current mechanism in the case of the samples annealed at 200 °C or less. On the other hand, for...

A 35-GHz Scanning Doppler Radar for Fog Observations

Abstract: To observe fog, a 35-GHz scanning Doppler radar was designed, assembled, and tested. The radar, mounted on a flatbed vehicle for portability, transmits peak powers of 100 kW in a pulse of 0.5-µs width and a beamwidth of 0.3°. Thus, a reflectivity factor Z of −20 dBZ at a range of 10 km generates a signal-to-noise ratio of 0 dB. Doppler velocity measurements are made by sampling the radio frequency phase within each pulse transmitted by a magnetron oscillator and referencing the phases of the received echoes to the transmitted phase. A Nyquist velocity of approximately 9.7 m s–1 is obtained in real time using the spaced pulse-pair method, and aliases of radial velocities are corrected using software. The three-dimensional structure of sea fog and its advection are depicted with the radar.