Author: claimsbot

1. A voltage level converter device for the conversion of an input signal, which is at a first voltage level, into an output signal, which is at a second voltage level that differs from the first voltage level, the voltage level converter device comprising:
a first and a second output transistor connected in series, whereby the output signal is output at an output of the voltage level converter device provided between the first and the second output transistors;
a third transistor having a control gate which is connected to the output of the voltage level converter device, and a source-drain current path which is connected to a control gate of the first output transistor;
a fourth transistor having a source-drain path which is directly connected between corresponding control gates of the first and the second output transistors, and which is further connected between the first transistor and an input of the voltage level converter device,
whereby an additional transistor is connected to the source-drain current path of the third transistor to be switched on or off when switching over the output signal, and the additional transistor, which is under control of a control signal comprising a voltage level corresponding to the voltage level of the input signal, is switched on or off for switching on or off the current path.
2. The voltage level converter device of claim 1, wherein an inverter is connected between the source-drain path of the fourth transistor, and the input of the voltage level converter device.
3. The voltage level converter device of claim 1, wherein the voltage level converter device is incorporated in a semi-conductor component.
4. The voltage level converter device of claim 2, wherein the signal used as a control signal for the additional transistor is a signal present at the semi-conductor component, and is additionally used to control further functions on the semiconductor component.

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. An armrest lock, in which an armrest includes an armrest body, an opening door provided on the armrest body, and a sliding cover slidably provided on the opening door, the armrest lock comprising:
a lever coupled to one side of the sliding cover;
a rod provided in the sliding cover wherein one side of the rod is coupled to the lever;
a trigger coupled to another side of the rod and configured to operate in response to a motion of the lever; and
a locking element coupled to the opening door and the armrest body and configured to be unlocked from at least one of the opening door and the armrest body when coming into contact with the trigger.
2. The armrest lock according to claim 1, wherein one side of the locking element is rotatably coupled to the opening door and another side of the locking element is engaged with the armrest body.
3. The armrest lock according to claim 2, wherein the locking element is formed into a pair of branched parts at the one side of the locking element.
4. The armrest lock according to claim 1, wherein one side of the trigger is coupled to the rod and another side is bent towards the locking element.
5. The armrest lock according to claim 3, wherein the rod passes between the pair of branched parts of the locking element.
6. The armrest lock according to claim 1, wherein the opening door is provided, on an upper portion thereof, with a pair of rod rails along the movement direction of the rod, and the other side of the rod is provided with a pair of rod-side projections to be coupled with the pair of rod rails.
7. The armrest lock according to claim 2, wherein the locking element is provided, on one side thereof, with a protrusion.
8. The armrest lock according to claim 7, wherein one side of the lever is rotatably coupled to the sliding cover, and is provided with an extension to be brought into contact with the protrusion of the locking element when the lever rotates.

1. A method performed by a computing device for determining a shadow invariant image from input image data, the method comprising:
receiving input image data associated with an image of a scene from an image recording device, each pixel of the input image data including pixel intensities associated with three or more primary colors;
calculating a shadow invariant intensity for each pixel intensity of each pixel; and
displaying a color shadow invariant image of the scene by displaying the shadow invariant intensities of each pixel on a display device.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving input image data further comprises uploading data from the image recording device to the computing device.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein calculating the shadow invariant intensity for each pixel intensity further comprises computing:
P
u

=
L
u

+
\u03ba
\u2062
\u2211

i
\u2208

{

r
,
g
,
b

}
\u2062
\u03bb
i
\u03bb
u
\u2062

L
i
–
\u03bb
m
\u03bb
u
\u2062

L
m
1
–

3
\u2062
\u03ba
where Lu is the logarithm of the pixel intensity Iu;
\u03ba is a constant other than \u2153; and
\u03bbu is a wavelength of the primary color u.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein calculating the shadow invariant intensity for each pixel intensity further comprises computing:
L
u

=
log
\u2061

(

I
u

)
=
log
\u2061
(
\u03c1
d

\u2062

S
\u2061

(

\u03bb
u

)
+

\u03c1
s
)

\u2062

q
u

\u2062
2
\u2062

hc
2
\u03bb
u
5
+

(

–

hc
\u03bb
u

\u2062
kT
)
where Iu is a pixel intensity associated with primary color u;
h is Plank’s constant;
c is the speed of light in a vacuum;
k is Boltzmann’s constant;
T is the color temperature
\u03c1d and \u03c1s are geometric factors associated with diffuse and specular reflection of each pixel;
qu is the magnitude of the sensor response associated with the pixel; and
S(\u03bb) is a surface reflectance spectrum.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprises calibrating the image recording device.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein calibrating the image recording device further comprises calculating the relative wavelength
\u03bb
u
\u2032

=
1
(
L
u

\u2061

(
x
)
–
L
u

\u2061

(
y
)
)
\u2211

i
\u2208

{

r
,
g
,
b

}
\u2062

1
(
L
i

\u2061

(
x
)
–
L
i

\u2061

(
y
)
)
for each shadow and non-shadow pixel pair x and y, respectively, within a uniform color distribution.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the image recording device further comprises a digital camera, a mobile phone, a camera phone, a personal digital assistant, a camcorder or any device that digitally captures images via an electronic image sensor and can store the image data in memory.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device further comprises a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a portable computer, a display system, a television, a computer monitor, a navigation system, a portable media player, a personal digital assistant, a game console, a handheld electronic device, an embedded electronic device, or an appliance.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein calculating the shadow invariant image further comprises assuming Plankian illuminating conditions.
10. A method performed by a computing device for determining a shadow-shading invariant image from input image data, the method comprising:
receiving input image data associated with an image of a scene from a image recording device, each pixel of the input image data including pixel intensities associated with three or more primary colors;
calculating a shadow-shading invariant intensity for each pixel intensity of each pixel; and
displaying a color shadow-shading invariant image of the scene by displaying the shadow-shading invariant intensities of each pixel on a display device.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein receiving input image data further comprises uploading data from the image recording device to the computing device.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein calculating the shadow-shading invariant intensity for each pixel intensity further comprises calculating:
p
u

=
L
u

–
\u03bb
m
\u03bb
u
\u2062

L
m
+

\u03ba
(
\u2211

i
\u2208

{

r
,
g
,
b

}
\u2062

(
\u03bb
i
\u03bb
u
\u2062

L
i
)
–

3
\u2062
\u2062

L
u
)
\u2211

i
\u2208

{

r
,
g
,
b

}
\u2062

(
\u03bb
i
\u03bb
u
\u2062

L
i
)
–
3
\u2062

\u03bb
m
\u03bb
u
\u2062

L
m
where Lu is the logarithm of the pixel intensity Iu;
\u03ba is a constant other than \u2153; and
\u03bbu is a wavelength of the primary color u.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein calculating the shadow-shading invariant intensity for each pixel intensity further comprises calculating:
L
u

=
log
\u2061

(

I
u

)
=
log
(
\u03c1
d

\u2062

S
\u2061

(

\u03bb
u

)
+

\u03c1
s
)

\u2062

q
u

\u2062
2
\u2062

hc
2
\u03bb
u
2
+

(

–

hc
\u03bb
u

\u2062
kT
)
where Iu is a pixel intensity associated with primary color u;
h is Plank’s constant;
c is the speed of light in a vacuum;
k is Boltzmann’s constant;
T is the color temperature
\u03c1d and \u03c1s are geometric factors associated with diffuse and specular reflection of each pixel;
qu is the magnitude of the sensor response associated with the pixel; and
S(\u03bb) is a surface reflectance spectrum.
14. The method of claim 10 further comprises calibrating the image recording device.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein calibrating the image recording device further comprises calculating the relative wavelength
\u03bb
u
\u2032

=
1
(
L
u

\u2061

(
x
)
–
L
u

\u2061

(
y
)
)
\u2211

i
\u2208

{

r
,
g
,
b

}
\u2062

1
(
L
i

\u2061

(
x
)
–
L
i

\u2061

(
y
)
)
for each shadow and non-shadow pixel pair x and y, respectively, within a uniform color distribution.
16. The method of claim 10 wherein the image recording device further comprises a digital camera, a mobile phone, a camera phone, a personal digital assistant, a camcorder or any device that digitally captures images via an electronic image sensor and can store the image data in memory.
17. The method of claim 10 wherein the computing device further comprises a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a portable computer, a display system, a television, a computer monitor, a navigation system, a portable media player, a personal digital assistant, a game console, a handheld electronic device, an embedded electronic device, or an appliance.
18. The method of claim 10 wherein calculating the shadow-shading invariant image further comprises assuming Plankian illuminating conditions.

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. An implantable device for placement on a tissue surface and interior to an exterior tissue surface comprising:
a) a biodegradable supportive backing comprising a first biodegradable material, the supportive backing having:
i.) at least a first area with a plurality of biodegradable attachment points extending from the first area for attaching to a selected tissue, wherein the plurality of attachment points is comprised of at least a second biodegradable material that is different than the first biodearadable material, and
ii.) a second area discrete from the first area, wherein the backing has physical characteristics sufficient to approximate or to support the selected tissue adjacent the first area with respect to the second area, and

b) the plurality of biodegradable attachment points extending from the first area, wherein the plurality of biodegradable attachment points are configured to attach to the selected tissue and to distribute tension between the first area and the selected tissue.
2. The implantable device of claim 1 wherein the first biodegradable material is more flexible than the second biodegradable material.
3. The implantable device of claim 1 wherein the first biodegradable material comprises a first polymer or copolymer and the second biodegradable material comprises a second polymer or copolymer.
4. The implantable device of claim 3 wherein said first polymer or copolymer comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyglycolide, polylactide, poly-\u03b1-caprolactone, polyglyconate, polylactide-co-glycolide, their mixtures, alloys, and random and block copolymers.
5. The implantable device of claim 3 wherein said second polymer or copolymer comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyglycolide, polylactide, poly-\u03b1-caprolactone, polyglyconate, polylactide-co-glycolide, their mixtures, alloys, and random and block copolymers.
6. The implantable device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of attachment points is additionally comprised of a plurality of biodegradable materials.
7. The implantable device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of biodegradable attachment points comprise more than one shape.
8. The implantable device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of biodegradable attachment points comprise shapes and directions selected from the group consisting of canted tines, erect tines, canted hooks, canted arrowheads, erect barbed tipped tines, canted barbed tipped tines, erect arrowhead tipped tines, canted arrowhead tipped tines, erect nail-shaped tines, canted nail-shaped tines, and cheese grater-like tines.
9. The implantable device of claim 1 wherein said biodegradable supportive backing comprises front and back sides.
10. The implantable device of claim 9 wherein said plurality of biodegradable attachment points extend from the biodegradable supportive backing on said front and back sides.
11. The implantable device of claim 10 wherein auxiliary biodegradable attachment points comprising a third biodegradable material extend from said back side.
12. The implantable device of claim 11 wherein the third biodegradable material comprises a third polymer or copolymer.
13. The implantable device of claim 12 wherein said third polymer or copolymer comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyglycolide, polylactide, poly-\u03b1-caprolactone, polyglyconate, polylactide-co-glycolide, their mixtures, alloys, and random and block polymers.
14. An implantable device for placement on a tissue surface and interior to an exterior tissue surface comprising:
a) a supportive backing having:
i.) at least a first biodegradable area with a plurality of biodegradable attachment points extending from the first area for attaching to a selected tissue and
ii.) a second area discrete from the first area, wherein the backing has physical characteristics sufficient to approximate or to support the selected tissue adjacent the first area with respect to the second area, and

b) the plurality of biodegradable attachment points extending from the first area, wherein the plurality of biodegradable attachment points are configured to attach to the selected tissue and to distribute tension between the first area and the selected tissue;
wherein the first biodegradable area is comprised of a first biodegradable material and the plurality of biodegradable attachment points is comprised of a second biodegradable material that is different than the first biodegradable material.
15. The implantable device of claim 14 wherein the second area is biodegradable.
16. The implantable device of claim 14 wherein the second area comprises an anchor for tissue.
17. The implantable device of claim 16 wherein the anchor comprises a pin, nail, or screw.
18. The implantable device of claim 14 wherein the first biodegradable material comprises a first polymer or copolymer and the second biodegradable material comprises a second polymer or copolymer.
19. The implantable device of claim 18 wherein said first polymer or copolymer comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyglycolide, polylactide, poly-\u03b1-caprolactone, polyglyconate, polylactide-co-glycolide, their mixtures, alloys, and random and block copolymers.
20. The implantable device of claim 18 wherein said second polymer or copolymer comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyglycolide, polylactide, poly-\u03b1-caprolactone, polyglyconate, polylactide-co-glycolide, their mixtures, alloys, and random and block copolymers.
21. An implantable device for placement on a tissue surface and interior to an exterior tissue surface comprising:
a) a biodegradable supportive backing having:
i.) at least a first area having a first density with a plurality of biodegradable attachment points extending from the first area for attaching to a selected tissue and

ii.) a second area discrete from the first area and having at least a second density that is different than the first density, wherein the backing has physical characteristics sufficient to approximate or to support the selected tissue adjacent the first area with respect to the second area, and
b) the plurality of biodegradable attachment points extending from the first area, wherein the plurality of biodegradable attachment points are configured to attach to the selected tissue and to distribute tension between the first area and the selected tissue.
22. The implantable device of claim 21 wherein the first density is greater than the second density.
23. The implantable device of claim 21 wherein the first density is less than the second density.
24. The implantable device of claim 21 wherein the second area of the supportive backing additionally comprises a plurality of densities.
25. The implantable device of claim 21 wherein the first area having the first density comprises a first polymer or copolymer and the second area having the second density comprises a second polymer or copolymer.
26. The implantable device of claim 25 wherein said first polymer or copolymer comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyglycolide, polylactide, poly-\u03b1-caprolactone, polyglyconate, polylactide-co-glycolide, their mixtures, alloys, and random and block copolymers.
27. The implantable device of claim 25 wherein said second polymer or copolymer comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyglycolide, polylactide, poly-\u03b1-caprolactone, polyglyconate, polylactide-co-glycolide, their mixtures, alloys, and random and block copolymers.