Author: claimsbot

1. A method for determining a quality indicator representing a perceived quality of an output signal of an audio system with respect to a reference signal, where the reference signal and the output signal are processed and compared, and the processing includes dividing the reference signal and the output signal into mutually corresponding time frames, wherein the processing further comprises:
scaling the intensity of the reference signal towards a fixed intensity level;
performing measurements on time frames within the scaled reference signal for determining reference signal time frame characteristics;
scaling the intensity of the reference signal from the fixed intensity level towards an intensity level related to the output signal;
scaling the loudness of the output signal towards a fixed loudness level in the perceptual loudness domain, the output signal loudness scaling using the reference signal time frame characteristics; and
scaling the loudness of the reference signal from a loudness level corresponding to the output signal related intensity level towards a loudness level related to the loudness level of the scaled output signal in the perceptual loudness domain, the reference signal loudness scaling using the reference signal time frame characteristics.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein scaling the intensity of the reference signal from the fixed intensity level towards an intensity level related to the output signal is based on multiplication of the reference signal with a scaling factor, the scaling factor being defined by:
determining an average reference signal intensity level for a number of time frames;
determining an average output signal intensity level for a number of time frames corresponding to the time frames of the reference signal used to determine the average reference signal intensity level;
deriving a preliminary scaling factor by determining a fraction based on the average reference signal intensity level and the average output signal intensity level; and
determining a scaling factor by defining the scaling factor to be equal to the preliminary scaling factor if the preliminary scaling factor is smaller than a threshold value, and, being equal to the preliminary scaling factor incremented with an additional preliminary scaling factor dependent value otherwise.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method, before the loudness scaling of the output level to a fixed loudness level, further comprises:
locally scaling the loudness level of the reference signal towards the loudness level of the output signal for parts of the reference signal with a loudness level being higher than the loudness level of the output signal; and
subsequently locally scaling the loudness level of the output signal towards the loudness level of the reference signal for parts of the output signal with a loudness level being higher than the loudness level of the reference signal.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of compensating the locally scaled reference pitch power density function with respect to frequency and compensating the locally scaled reference loudness density function includes estimating a linear frequency response of the speech processing system based on the reference signal time frame characteristics.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing further comprises:
transforming the scaled reference signal and the output signal from the time domain towards the time-frequency domain;
deriving a reference pitch power density function from the reference signal, and deriving an output pitch power density function from the output signal, said intensity level difference corresponding to the difference between the intensity levels of the pitch power density functions;
locally scaling the reference pitch power density function to obtain a locally scaled reference pitch power density function;
partially compensating the locally scaled reference pitch power density function with respect to frequency; and
deriving a reference loudness density function and an output loudness density function, said loudness level difference corresponding to the difference between the loudness levels of the loudness density functions;
wherein the loudness density functions represent density functions that enable quantification of the impact of variable level playback on perceived quality.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising performing an excitation operation on at least one of the reference pitch power density function and the output pitch power density function.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference signal in the perceptual loudness domain, before the scaling towards a loudness level related to the loudness level of the output signal in the perceptual loudness domain, is subjected to a noise suppression action for suppressing noise up to a predetermined noise level.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the output signal in the perceptual loudness domain, before the scaling towards a fixed loudness level, is subjected to a noise suppression algorithm for suppressing noise up to a noise level representative of disturbance.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference signal and the output signal in the perceptual loudness domain, before comparison, are subjected to a global noise suppression.
10. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon software instructions that, if executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising the method steps according to claim 1.
11. A system for determining a quality indicator representing a perceived quality of an output signal of an audio system, with respect to an input signal of the audio system which serves as a reference signal, the system comprising:
a pre-processing device for pre-processing the reference signal and the output signal;
a first processing device for processing the reference signal, and a second processing device for processing the output signal to obtain representation signals for the reference signal and the output signal respectively;
a differentiation device for combining the representation signals of the reference signal and the output signal so as to obtain a differential signal; and
a modeling device for processing the differential signal to obtain a quality signal representing an estimate of the perceptual quality of the speech processing system,
wherein the pre-processing device, the first processing device, and the second processing device form a processing system configured to perform the method of claim 1.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method of providing precut trim pieces for a structural sliding door, comprising the steps of:
providing a first vertical rail and a second vertical rail, each said vertical rail having a substantially U-shaped cross section and a trim extension, said trim extension being terminated with a rail lip;
attaching said first vertical rail to one end of a bottom rail, attaching said second vertical rail to the other end of said bottom rail;
attaching a plurality of horizontal girts between said first and second vertical rails;
attaching a face plate to a front of said first vertical rail, said plurality of horizontal girts, and said second vertical rail;
attaching two vertical trim pieces to said face plate, each one of said two vertical trim pieces being placed on top of a single said rail lip, said two vertical trim pieces being horizontal adjustable relative to said rail lip; and
attaching a plurality of horizontal trim pieces to said face plate having a precut length between said first and second vertical trim pieces, the ends of said plurality of horizontal trim pieces being in contact with said two vertical trim pieces.
2. The method of providing precut trim pieces for a structural sliding door of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
attaching cross trim pieces having a precut length to said face plate between said first and second vertical trim pieces, the ends of said cross trim pieces being in contact with said first and second vertical trim pieces.
3. The method of providing precut trim pieces for a structural sliding door of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
forming a window in said structural sliding door.
4. A method of providing precut trim pieces for a structural sliding door, comprising the steps of:
providing a first vertical rail and a second vertical rail, each said vertical rail having a substantially U-shaped cross section and a trim extension, said trim extension being terminated with a rail lip;
attaching said first vertical rail to one end of a bottom rail, attaching said second vertical rail to the other end of said bottom rail;
attaching a plurality of horizontal girts between said first and second vertical rails;
attaching a face plate to a front of said first vertical rail, said plurality of horizontal girts, and said second vertical rail;
attaching two vertical trim pieces to said face plate, each one of said two vertical trim pieces being placed on top of a single said rail lip, said two vertical trim pieces being horizontal adjustable relative to said rail lip;
attaching a plurality of horizontal trim pieces to said face plate having a precut length between said first and second vertical trim pieces, the ends of said plurality of horizontal trim pieces being in contact with said two vertical trim pieces; and
attaching cross trim pieces having a precut length to said face plate between said first and second vertical trim pieces, the ends of said cross trim pieces being in contact with said first and second vertical trim pieces.
5. The method of providing precut trim pieces for a structural sliding door of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:
forming a window in said structural sliding door.
6. A method of providing precut trim pieces for a structural sliding door, comprising the steps of:
providing a first vertical rail and a second vertical rail, each said vertical rail having a substantially U-shaped cross section and a trim extension, said trim extension being terminated with a rail lip;
attaching said first vertical rail to one end of a bottom rail, attaching said second vertical rail to the other end of said bottom rail;
attaching a plurality of horizontal girts between said first and second vertical rails;
attaching a face plate to a front of said first vertical rail, said plurality of horizontal girts, and said second vertical rail;
attaching two vertical trim pieces to said face plate, each one of said two vertical trim pieces being placed on top of a single said rail lip, said two vertical trim pieces being horizontal adjustable relative to said rail lip;
attaching a plurality of horizontal trim pieces to said face plate having a precut length between said first and second vertical trim pieces, the ends of said plurality of horizontal trim pieces being in contact with said two vertical trim pieces;
attaching cross trim pieces having a precut length to said face plate between said first and second vertical trim pieces, the ends of said cross trim pieces being in contact with said first and second vertical trim pieces; and
forming a window in said structural sliding door.

1. A method to facilitate extending the useful life of a turbine engine including a combustor and a turbine downstream from and in flow communication with the combustor, said method comprising:
identifying at least a portion of the combustor that is at least one of distressed, worn, deteriorated, based on pre-determined threshold data, and beyond serviceable limits;
identifying at least one enhancement kit for installation within the combustor;
removing at least two portions of the combustor including at least two of a combustor dome assembly, a swirlercowl assembly, and the combustor inner and outer liners; and
installing the enhancement kit within the turbine engine such that a useful life of the turbine engine is facilitated to be increased.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein installing the enhancement kit within the turbine engine further comprises installing a retrofit dome assembly within the combustor that includes at least one premixer cup having an axial length that is shorter than an axial length of the dome assembly premixer cup removed from the combustor.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein installing the enhancement kit within the turbine engine further comprises installing a retrofit dome assembly within the combustor that includes at least one premixer cup having substantially smooth and un-dimpled flow surfaces.
4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein installing the enhancement kit within the turbine engine further comprises installing a retrofit dome assembly within the combustor that is coated with a thermal barrier coating.
5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein installing the enhancement kit within the turbine engine further comprises installing a retrofit swirler assembly within the combustor that includes at least one swirler that has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of a swirler removed from the combustor.
6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein installing the enhancement kit within the turbine engine further comprises installing a retrofit cowl assembly within the combustor that includes at least one nozzle eyelet that has a larger diameter than at least one nozzle eyelet removed from the combustor.
7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein installing the enhancement kit within the turbine engine further comprises installing a retrofit inner liner and outer liner within the combustor that are fabricated from a material having intrinsic material properties that are enhanced in comparison to the material used in fabricating the inner and outer liners removed from the combustor.
8. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein installing the enhancement kit within the turbine engine further comprises at least one of modifying and retrofitting at least a portion of the turbine extending downstream from the combustor when the portions of the combustor are retrofitted.
9. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein installing the enhancement kit within the turbine engine further comprises:
removing at least one of a turbine nozzle, a turbine blade, a turbine shroud, and a thermal shield from the turbine engine; and
installing, within the turbine engine, at least one of a retrofit turbine nozzle, turbine blade, turbine shroud, and thermal shield fabricated from a material having intrinsic material properties that are enhanced in comparison to the material used in fabricating the turbine components removed from the engine.
10. A method to facilitate extending the useful life of a turbine engine, said method comprising:
determining threshold data for selected components within at least one of a combustor within the turbine engine and a turbine within the turbine engine and downstream from the combustor;
identifying selected components warranting service based on the pre-determined threshold data;
removing at least a portion of the combustor and a portion of the turbine extending downstream from the combustor from the turbine engine;
implementing an enhancement kit within the turbine engine such that a portion of the combustor and the turbine are at least one of modified and retrofit to facilitate extending a useful life of the turbine engine is facilitated to be increased.
11. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein removing at least a portion of the combustor and a portion of the turbine further comprises removing at least at least two of a combustor dome assembly, a combustor swirlercowl assembly, and the combustor inner and outer liners from the turbine engine.
12. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein implementing an enhancement kit within the turbine engine further comprises installing a retrofit dome assembly within the combustor that includes at least one premixer cup having an axial length that is shorter than an axial length of the dome assembly premixer cup removed from the combustor.
13. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein implementing an enhancement kit within the turbine engine further comprises installing a retrofit dome assembly within the combustor that includes at least one premixer cup having substantially smooth flow surfaces.
14. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein implementing an enhancement kit within the turbine engine further comprises installing a retrofit dome assembly within the combustor that is coated with a thermal barrier coating.
15. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein implementing an enhancement kit within the turbine engine further comprises installing a retrofit swirler assembly within the combustor that includes at least one swirler that has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of a swirler removed from the combustor.
16. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein implementing an enhancement kit within the turbine engine further comprises installing a retrofit cowl assembly within the combustor that includes at least one nozzle eyelet that has a larger diameter than at least one nozzle eyelet removed from the combustor.
17. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein implementing an enhancement kit within the turbine engine further comprises installing a retrofit inner liner and outer liner within the combustor that are fabricated from a material having intrinsic material properties that are enhanced in comparison to the material used in fabricating the inner and outer liners removed from the combustor.
18. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein implementing an enhancement kit within the turbine engine further comprises installing at least one of a retrofit turbine nozzle, turbine blade, turbine shroud, and thermal shield from the turbine engine.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1-15. (canceled)
16. A method for making an illuminated panel portion for vehicles or vehicular accessories, comprising:
forming an aperture in an adjacent panel having an outer surface,
disposing a generally translucent panel having an outer surface in the aperture of the adjacent panel, such that the outer surface of the adjacent panel and the outer surface of the translucent panel are substantially flush, the translucent panel defining a selected design, and
disposing a light source in relation to the panel for illuminating the panel.
17. The method for making an illuminated panel portion of claim 16 further comprising shaping the generally translucent panel to the contour of the adjacent panel.
18. The method for making an illuminated panel portion of claim 16 further comprising etching the selected design into the translucent panel.
19. The method for making an illuminated panel portion of claim 16 further comprising forming a generally opaque layer on the translucent panel for defining a generally opaque area and a generally translucent area such that the generally translucent area is illuminated by said light source.
20. The method for making an illuminated panel portion of claim 15 further comprising forming a beveled outer edge about the translucent panel and forming a complementary beveled edge on the adjacent panel about the aperture.
21. A method for making an illuminated panel portion for vehicles or vehicular accessories, comprising:
applying a generally opaque layer on a surface of a generally translucent panel, wherein the opaque layer forms an uneven interface with the generally translucent panel;
evening the uneven interface between the opaque layer and the surface of the generally translucent panel;
applying a clear coating on the surface of the generally translucent panel;
repeating the steps of evening the interface and applying a clear coating to achieve a smooth, even surface on the surface of the generally translucent panel; and
disposing a light source in relation to the generally translucent panel for illuminating the generally translucent panel.
22. The method for making an illuminated panel portion for vehicles or vehicular accessories of claim 28, wherein the opaque layer is applied using a sticker mask.
23. The method for making an illuminated panel portion for vehicles or vehicular accessories of claim 28, wherein the uneven interface between the opaque layer and the surface of the generally translucent panel is wetsanded in order to achieve evening.