Author: claimsbot

1. Method comprising:
a) introducing a first analyzing optical wavelength \u03bb1 into a tunable optical filter using a nominally fixed wavelength laser operating at a first temperature T1, the tunable optical filter being tunable by changing an operating parameter (parameter), and having a first calibration between optical wavelength and the operating parameter,
b) varying the parameter of the tunable optical filter,
c) measuring the optical power output from the tunable optical filter to produce a first optical power vs. parameter relationship,
d) changing the temperature of the nominally fixed wavelength laser to temperature T2 to produce a second analyzing optical wavelength \u03bb2,
e) introducing the second analyzing optical wavelength into the tunable optical filter,
f) varying the parameter of the tunable optical filter,
g) measuring the optical power output from the tunable optical filter to produce a second optical power vs. parameter relationship,
h) comparing the first and second optical power vs. parameter relationships,
i) based on said comparison changing the calibration of the tunable optical filter.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the parameter is voltage.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the parameter is current.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein an additional optical signal is introduced into the tunable optical filter.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the additional optical signal is a WDM signal.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein \u03bb1 and \u03bb2 differ by less than 2 nm.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the difference between T1 and T2 is in the range 5-30 degrees C.
8. The method of claim 1 including the additional steps of:
j) changing the temperature of the nominally fixed wavelength laser to temperature T3 to produce a third analyzing optical wavelength \u03bb3,
k) introducing the third analyzing optical wavelength into the tunable optical filter,
l) varying the parameter of the tunable optical filter,
m) measuring the optical power output from the tunable optical filter to produce a third optical power vs. parameter relationship,
n) comparing the first, second, and third optical power vs. parameter relationships,
o) based on said comparison changing the calibration of the tunable optical filter.
9. Optical system comprising:
a) a nominally fixed wavelength laser operating at a first temperature T1 to produce an output, the output having first analyzing optical wavelength \u03bb1,
b) a tunable optical filter, the tunable optical filter being tunable by changing an operating parameter (parameter), and having a first calibration between optical wavelength and the operating parameter,
c) an optical connection connecting a) and b) for introducing the output of the nominally fixed wavelength laser into the tunable optical filter.
d) a tuning source for varying the parameter of the tunable optical filter,
e) a photodetector for measuring the optical power output from the tunable optical filter to produce a first optical power vs. parameter relationship,
f) a thermoelectric device associated with the nominally fixed wavelength laser for changing the temperature of the nominally fixed wavelength laser to temperature T2 to produce a second analyzing optical wavelength \u03bb2, and produce a second optical power vs. parameter relationship.
10. The optical device of claim 9 wherein the parameter is voltage.
11. The optical device of claim 9 wherein the parameter is current.
12. The optical device of claim 9 further including an additional optical connector associated with the tunable optical filter for introducing an additional optical signal into the tunable optical filter.
13. The optical device of claim 12 wherein the additional optical signal is a WDM signal.
14. The optical device of claim 9 wherein the thermoelectric device operates over a range of 5-30 degrees C.
15. Method comprising introducing an optical signal into a tunable optical filter, and analyzing the performance of the tunable optical filter by steps comprising:
a) introducing a first analyzing optical wavelength \u03bb1 into the tunable optical filter using a nominally fixed wavelength laser operating at a first temperature T1, the tunable optical filter being tunable by changing an operating parameter (parameter), and having a first calibration between optical wavelength and the operating parameter,
b) varying the parameter of the tunable optical filter,
c) measuring the optical power output from the tunable optical filter to produce a first optical power vs. parameter relationship for the analyzing wavelength \u03bb1,
d) changing the temperature of the nominally fixed wavelength laser to temperature T2 to produce a second analyzing optical wavelength \u03bb2,
e) introducing the second analyzing optical wavelength into the tunable optical filter,
f) varying the parameter of the tunable optical filter,
g) measuring the optical power output from the tunable optical filter to produce a second optical power vs. parameter relationship for the analyzing wavelength \u03bb2,
h) comparing the first and second optical power vs. parameter relationships,
i) based on said comparison changing the calibration of the tunable optical filter.

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. Vertebral osteosynthesis equipment, including:
bony anchoring members, such as pedicular screws (1) or hooks, whereof at least one comprises a proximal threaded stud (6) intended for receiving a nut (4) and a base portion (7) intended for anchoring to a vertebra;
one or two linking rods (2), intended to be connected to these anchoring members and to be attached to the vertebrae by these anchoring members,
parts (3) for connecting this(these) linking rod(s) (2) to these anchoring members, and
extension pieces (5) intended for engaging on the proximal stud(s) (6) of the anchoring member(s) for running down connecting parts (3) on this or these proximal stud(s) (6) until they rest on the proximal zone(s) (17) of the base portion(s) (7) of the anchoring members;
equipment characterized in that the proximal stud (6) of at least one anchoring member and the extension piece (5) intended to be used with this anchoring member include retaining means (12, 32; 35) enabling to position and retain the extension piece (5) on the free end of the proximal stud (6), concentrically thereto, and in that the end distal portion (30) of said extension piece (5) has an external diameter smaller that that of the bore of said nut (4), in order to let through the nut (4) thereon.
2. Vertebral osteosynthesis equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that said positioning means comprise a rod (12) integral with the proximal stud (6) or of the extension piece (5) and a bore (32) provided, respectively, in the extension piece (5) or the proximal stud (6), whereas this rod (12) may be engaged in this bore (32).
3. Vertebral osteosynthesis equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that said positioning means comprise means enabling axial connection of the proximal stud (6) with the extension piece (5).
4. Vertebral osteosynthesis equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that the proximal stud (6) comprises a threaded proximal rod (12), and said end distal portion (30) of the extension piece (5) comprises a tapered hole (32) for screwing the extension piece (5) on this proximal rod (12).
5. Vertebral osteosynthesis equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the extension piece (5) is, outside said end distal portion (30), of flexible structure.
6. Vertebral osteosynthesis equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that said flexible structure is in the form of a metal wire wound into a spiral.
7. Vertebral osteosynthesis equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that the spires of said metal wire are contiguous.
8. Vertebral osteosynthesis equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that said end distal portion (30) is threaded so that it enables to screw the nut (4) thereon.
9. Vertebral osteosynthesis equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that said retaining means includes an unthreaded proximal rod (12) on the stud (6), and an unthreaded bore (32) and two flexible tabs (35) bent inwardly on said end distal portion (30), said tabs 35 being capable of being elastically bent outwardly by said proximal rod (12) when the latter is inserted in the bore (32) so as to generate a friction between these tabs (35) and the rod (12), sufficient for the retention of the extension piece (5) on the stud (6).
10. Vertebral osteosynthesis equipment according to claim 9, characterized in that the two tabs (35) are diametrically opposed.
11. Vertebral osteosynthesis equipment according to claim 9, characterized in that the two tabs (35) are arranged by U-shaped slots (36) cut through the wall of the end distal portion (30).
12. Vertebral osteosynthesis equipment according to claim 9, characterized in that the bore (32) is narrowing from its distal opened end to its proximal end, until a narrow portion (37) near which are located the proximal ends of the tabs (35).
13. Vertebral osteosynthesis equipment according to claim 9, characterized in that the body (31) is formed by a single flexible rod, having a tip cap (38) at its proximal end.
14. Vertebral osteosynthesis equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that said positioning means comprise means enabling axial connection of the proximal stud (6) with the extension piece (5).
15. Vertebral osteosynthesis equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that the extension piece (5) is, outside said end distal portion (30), of flexible structure.
16. Vertebral osteosynthesis equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that said end distal portion (30) is threaded so that it enables to screw the nut (4) thereon.

1. An apparatus, comprising:
an encoder for encoding an image block by determining a motion estimation predictor for the image block using motion information previously generated from an element other than said encoder, and using the motion estimation predictor in a motion estimation process to generate a motion vector for the image block, wherein the motion estimation predictor is used in place of at least one predictor otherwise used in the motion estimation process, the at least one predictor being any of a search window predictor, a temporal predictor, and a block type predictor.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the other element from which the motion information is previously generated is a pre-processing element.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said encoder is configured as a transcoder, and the motion information is derived from a received bitstream to be transcoded.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said encoder also uses the motion information to determine a motion vector refinement process.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said encoder applies one or more thresholds to the motion information to terminate the motion estimation process.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said encoder scales the motion information according to a temporal distance between a current picture that includes the image block and a reference picture used for the motion estimation process.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said encoder generates the motion estimation predictor using the Enhanced Predictive Zonal Search Algorithm.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said encoder omits the at least one predictor from the Enhanced Predictive Zonal Search Algorithm.
9. A video encoding method, comprising:
encoding an image block by determining a motion estimation predictor for the image block using motion information previously generated from an element other than an encoder that performs said encoding step, and using the motion estimation predictor in a motion estimation process to generate a motion vector for the image block, wherein the motion estimation predictor is used in place of at least one predictor otherwise used in the motion estimation process, the at least one predictor being any of a search window predictor, a temporal predictor, and a block type predictor.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the other element from which the motion information is previously generated is a pre-processing element.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the method is implemented in a transcoder, and the motion information is derived from a received bitstream to be transcoded.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein said encoding step also uses the motion information to determine a motion vector refinement process.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein said encoding step applies one or more thresholds to the motion information to terminate the motion estimation process.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein said encoding step scales the motion information according to a temporal distance between a current picture that includes the image block and a reference picture used for the motion estimation process.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein said encoding step generates the motion estimation predictor using the Enhanced Predictive Zonal Search Algorithm.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein said encoding step omits the at least one predictor from the Enhanced Predictive Zonal Search Algorithm.
17. An apparatus, comprising:
a transcoder for encoding an image block in accordance with a second video coding format,
wherein said transcoder reduces a complexity of a motion estimation process used to encode the image block in accordance with the second video coding format by determining a motion estimation predictor for the image block using motion information from a received bitstream corresponding to a first video coding format, wherein the motion estimation predictor is used in place of at least one predictor otherwise used in the motion estimation process, the at least one predictor being any of a search window predictor, a temporal predictor, and a block type predictor.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said transcoder comprises a decoder for decoding the received bitstream corresponding to the first video coding format.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said transcoder also uses the motion information to determine a motion vector refinement process.
20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said transcoder applies one or more thresholds to the motion information to terminate the motion estimation process.
21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said transcoder scales the motion information according to a temporal distance between a current picture that includes the image block and a reference picture used for the motion estimation process.
22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said transcoder generates the motion estimation predictor for the image block using the Enhanced Predictive Zonal Search Algorithm.
23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said transcoder omits the at least one predictor from the Enhanced Predictive Zonal Search Algorithm.
24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first video coding format corresponds to one of a first video coding standard or a first video coding recommendation, and the second video coding format corresponds to one of a second video coding standard or a second video coding recommendation.
25. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the motion information is previously generated from an element other than said transcoder.
26. A video transcoding method, comprising:
transcoding an image block to encode the image block in accordance with a second video coding format,
wherein said transcoding step reduces a complexity of a motion estimation process used to encode the image block in accordance with the second video coding format by determining a motion estimation predictor for the image block using motion information from a received bitstream corresponding to a first video coding format, wherein the motion estimation predictor is used in place of at least one predictor otherwise used in the motion estimation process, the at least one predictor being any of a search window predictor, a temporal predictor, and a block type predictor.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein said transcoding step comprises decoding the received bitstream corresponding to the first video coding format.
28. The method of claim 26, wherein said transcoding step also uses the motion information to determine a motion vector refinement process.
29. The method of claim 26, wherein said transcoding step applies one or more thresholds to the motion information to terminate the motion estimation process.
30. The method of claim 26, wherein said transcoding step scales the motion information according to a temporal distance between a current picture that includes the image block and a reference picture used for the motion estimation process.
31. The method of claim 26, wherein said transcoding step generates the motion estimation predictor for the image block using the Enhanced Predictive Zonal Search Algorithm.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein said transcoding step omits the at least one predictor from the Enhanced Predictive Zonal Search Algorithm.
33. The method of claim 26, wherein the first video coding format corresponds to one of a first video coding standard or a first video coding recommendation, and the second video coding format corresponds to one of a second video coding standard or a second video coding recommendation.
34. The method of claim 26, wherein the motion information is previously generated from an element other than a transcoder that performs said transcoding step.

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 heating a dental material contained in a package, comprising exposing the package to heat generated by an exothermic chemical reaction.
2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said step of exposing the package to heat includes inducing an exothermic chemical reaction within a heat pack.
3. A method as in claim 2, wherein said step of exposing includes physically contacting the package and said heat pack.
4. A method as in claim 1, wherein said exothermic chemical reaction results from the mixture of iron powder, water, a salt, activated charcoal, vermiculite and air.
5. A method as in claim 2, wherein said heat pack is in the shape of an envelope, such that the package may be placed within the envelope.
6. A heat pack for heating a packaged dental material comprising a fabric enclosing a mixture of ingredients which can be induced to react to produce heat.
7. A heat pack as in claim 6, wherein said fabric is configured to receive the packaged dental material.
8. A heat pack as in claim 7 wherein said fabric is in the shape of an envelope having an open end for receiving the packaged dental material.
9. A heat pack as in claim 6, further comprising a temperature indicia.
10. A heat pack as in claim 9 wherein said indicia is in the form of a label affixed to said fabric.
11. A heat pack as in claim 6, wherein said fabric is caused to produce an indicia upon reaching a predetermined temperature.