Author: claimsbot

1. A picture decoding method for decoding a current block of a current macroblock included in a current B picture in direct mode, with reference to a motion vector of an adjacent macroblock that is located adjacent to the current macroblock, the picture decoding method comprising:
obtaining a reference motion vector from a block for which motion compensation has been performed, the block being included in a co-located block, the co-located block being included in a co-located macroblock, the co-located macroblock being included in a picture subsequent in display order to the current B picture, wherein the size of the block is smaller than the size of the current block and the size of the co-located block is the same as the current block and wherein the block is located in a corner of the co-located macroblock;
specifying plural adjacent macroblocks which are located adjacent to the current macroblock;
determining a motion vector of the current block to be decoded for performing motion compensation on the current block using the obtained reference motion vector;
generating a predictive image of the current block by using the determined motion vector of the current block;
decoding a coded difference image between the current block and the generated predictive image of the current block to obtain a decoded difference image of the current block; and
recovering a reconstructed image of the current block by adding the generated predictive image of the current block and the decoded difference image of the current block,
wherein, in the case where a size of the obtained reference motion vector is a predetermined value or less, the motion vector of the current block is determined to be \u201c0\u201d, and in the case where the size of the obtained reference motion vector exceeds the predetermined value, the motion vector of the current block is determined to be a median of plural motion vectors of the plural adjacent macroblocks,
wherein,
the motion vector of the adjacent macroblock is determined to be a motion vector of a motion compensated block included in the adjacent macroblock in the case where a size of the motion compensated block is the same as a size of the adjacent macroblock, and
the motion vector of the adjacent macroblock is determined to be a motion vector of the 4\xd74 block included in the adjacent macroblock in the case where a size of the motion compensated block is smaller than a size of the adjacent macroblock, wherein (1) the 4\xd74 block is a block located on the upper-right corner of the adjacent macroblock in the case that the adjacent macroblock is located to the left of the current macroblock, and (2) the 4\xd74 block is a block located on the lower-left corner of the adjacent macroblock in the case that the adjacent macroblock is located above the current macroblock, and (3) the 4\xd74 block is a block located on the lower-left corner of the adjacent macroblock in the case that the adjacent macroblock is located above-right of the current macroblock.
2. The picture decoding method according to claim 1,
wherein a size of the current macroblock, the adjacent macroblock and the co-located macroblock is 16 pixels\xd716 pixels,
a size of the current block is 8 pixels\xd78 pixels, and
a size of each of the plurality of blocks which are included in the co-located macroblock and for which motion compensation has been performed is 4 pixels\xd74 pixels.
3. The picture decoding method according to claim 1,
wherein the co-located macroblock is included in a B picture.
4. A picture decoding apparatus which decodes a current block of a current macroblock included in a current B picture in direct mode, with reference to a motion vector of an adjacent macroblock that is located adjacent to the current macroblock, the picture decoding apparatus comprising:
a motion vector obtaining unit operable to obtain a reference motion vector from a block for which motion compensation has been performed, the block being included in a co-located block, the co-located block being included in a co-located macroblock, the co-located macroblock being included in a picture subsequent in display order to the current B picture, wherein the size of the block is smaller than the size of the current block and the size of the co-located block is the same as the current block and wherein the block is located in a corner of the co-located macroblock;
a specifying unit operable to specify plural adjacent macroblocks which are located adjacent to the current macroblock;
a motion vector determining unit operable to determine a motion vector of the current block to be decoded for performing motion compensation on the current block using the obtained reference motion vector;
a predictive image generating unit operable to generate a predictive image of the current block by using the determined motion vector of the current block;
a difference image decoding unit operable to decode a coded difference image between the current block and the generated predictive image of the current block to obtain a decoded difference image of the current block; and
a reconstructed image recovering unit operable to recover a reconstructed image of the current block by adding the generated predictive image of the current block and the decoded difference image of the current block,
wherein, in the case where a size of the obtained reference motion vector is a predetermined value or less, the motion vector for the current block is determined to be \u201c0\u201d, and in the case where the size of the obtained motion vector exceeds the predetermined value, the motion vector of the current block is determined to be a median of plural motion vectors of the plural adjacent macroblocks,
wherein,
the motion vector of the adjacent macroblock is determined to be a motion vector of a motion compensated block included in the adjacent macroblock in the case where a size of the motion compensated block is the same as a size of the adjacent macroblock, and
the motion vector of the adjacent macroblock is determined to be a motion vector of the 4\xd74 block included in the adjacent macroblock in the case where a size of the motion compensated block is smaller than a size of the adjacent macroblock, wherein (1) the 4\xd74 block is a block located on the upper-right corner of the adjacent macroblock in the case that the adjacent macroblock is located to the left of the current macroblock, and (2) the 4\xd74 block is a block located to the lower-left corner of the adjacent macroblock in the case that the adjacent macroblock is located above the current macroblock, and (3) the 4\xd74 block is a block located on the lower-left corner of the adjacent macroblock in the case that the adjacent macroblock is located above-right of the current macroblock.

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 occupant protection apparatus adapted to cover a window in a vehicle, comprising:
a window peripheral edge including an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion, the window being defined between the lower edge portion and the upper edge portion of the window peripheral edge;
a cover sheet having an upper side part and a lower side part, for covering almost a whole area of the window,
wherein the cover sheet is accommodated in the lower edge portion of the window peripheral edge such that the lower side part of the cover sheet as a stationary side is fixed substantially entirely along the lower edge portion of the window peripheral edge, and the upper side part of the cover sheet as a moving side to be pulled is located adjacent to the lower side part by folding the cover sheet; and
a pulling unit including a pulling string having flexibility and a pulling device disposed below the window to pull the pulling string,
wherein one end of the pulling string as a fixed end is fixed to a first side upper end portion of the window peripheral edge located on one of a front and rear sides of the window,
another end of the pulling string as a proximal end is led to the pulling device through the lower edge portion of the window peripheral edge and a second upper end portion of the window peripheral edge located on the other of the front and rear sides of the window peripheral edge, and
the pulling string is slidably guided around a support member provided at the second upper end portion of the window peripheral edge to reverse a pulling direction of the pulling string;
wherein when the pulling unit is activated, the pulling string is pulled to the pulling device to be linearly led between the first upper end portion and the second upper end portion, whereby the pulling string lifts the moving side of the cover sheet from the lower edge portion of the window peripheral edge top spread the cover sheet from the lower edge portion of the window to cover the window;
wherein the cover sheet includes a passageway portion through which the pulling string is slidably inserted in a vicinity of a front side and a rear side of the upper side part of the cover sheet, the passageway portion is accommodated before the pulling string is activated.
2. An occupant protection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper side part of the cover sheet is formed into a tubular shape over a whole area from the front end to the rear end thereof, so as to constitute the passageway portion.
3. An occupant protection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a stopper mechanism is provided on the upper side part of the cover sheet so that the passageway portion lies toward the support member as well as on the pulling string such that constituent parts of the stopper mechanism are brought into engagement with each other to prevent the upper side part of the cover sheet where the passageway portion is provided from returning back toward the fixed end of the pulling material when the cover sheet is completely deployed.
4. An occupant protection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a height of the fixed end of the pulling string and a height of the support member is set such that the pulling string extending from the fixed end to the support member is kept farther away from the lower edge portion of the window peripheral edge at a support member end than at the fixed end thereof when the cover sheet is completely deployed, and
wherein the cover sheet is set such that the upper side part moves away from the lower side part thereof so as to correspond to height-wise positions of the fixed end of the pulling string and the support member so set.
5. An occupant protection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a secondary stopper mechanism is provided on the upper side part of the cover sheet so that the passageway portion lies toward the fixed end of the pulling string as well as the pulling string such that constituent parts of the secondary mechanism are brought into engagement with each other so as to prevent the upper side part of the cover sheet where the passageway portion is provided from moving toward the support member when the cover sheet is completely deployed.
6. An occupant protection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a substantially vertically extending rod-like guide rail is provided on at least either of the front and rear sides of the window peripheral edge, and
wherein the cover sheet includes a locking portion provided on either of front and rear edges thereof which corresponds to the guide rail when the cover sheet covers the window so as to slidably lock on to the guide rail so as to restrict the movement of the cover sheet toward a center of the window when the cover sheet covers the window.
7. An occupant protection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the guide rail is provided with a portion of the pulling string which extends from the support member where the pulling string reverses its pulling direction toward the pulling device.

1. An encoder device for use in a magnetic sensor arrangement, the encoder device comprising:
a metallic ring having a set of clearances in a ferromagnetic material, wherein
the clearances are arranged around a circumference of the metallic ring, wherein
the metallic ring is configured to generate an oscillating magnetic induction in a nearby magnetic sensor upon rotation of the metallic ring, and wherein
the metallic ring is made of at least one flat and strip-like sheet metal material, two ends of which are joined to form a loop.
2. The encoder device according to claim 1, wherein the encoder device further comprises means for connecting the end portions of the strip-like sheet metal material in a connecting portion of the metallic ring.
3. The encoder device according to claim 2, wherein the end portions of the strip-like like sheet metal material are overlapping in the connecting portion of the metallic ring.
4. The encoder device according to claim 2, wherein the end portions of the strip-like like sheet metal material are bent radially inward and clamped by a clamping slit in a connecting portion of the encoder device.
5. The encoder device according to claim 1, wherein the metallic ring provides holes for bolting the metallic ring onto a support ring.
6. The encoder device according to claim 1, further comprising a support ring with an essentially cylindrical outer surface, wherein the strip-like metal material forming the metal ring is wound around the outer surface of the support ring and fixed thereon.
7. The encoder device according to claim 1, wherein the clearances are stamped out of a strip of the sheet metal material.
8. The encoder device according to claim 1, wherein the clearances have a substantially rectangular shape and are surrounded by the ferromagnetic material.
9. A bearing unit comprising:
at least two rings rotating relative to one another,
a magnetic sensor and
an encoder device having;
a metallic ring having a set of clearances in a ferromagnetic material, wherein
the clearances are arranged around a circumference of the metallic ring, wherein
the metallic ring is configured to generate an oscillating magnetic induction in a nearby magnetic sensor upon rotation of the metallic ring, and wherein
the metallic ring is made of at least one flat and strip-like sheet metal material, two ends of which are joined to form a loop, wherein
the metallic ring is connected to a first one of the rings and the magnetic sensor is connected to a second one of the rings so as to measure the oscillating magnetic induction generated upon rotation of the metallic ring.
10. The bearing unit according to claim 9, further comprising an end plate for clamping the first one of the metallic ring, wherein the end plate is used as a support ring with a cylindrical outer surface on which the strip-like metal material forming the metal ring is wound and fixed.
11. An axlebox for railway vehicles comprising:
a bearing unit having;
at least two rings rotating relative to one another,
a magnetic sensor and
an encoder device having;
a metallic ring having a set of clearances in a ferromagnetic material, wherein
the clearances are arranged around a circumference of the metallic ring, wherein
the metallic ring is configured to generate an oscillating magnetic induction in a nearby magnetic sensor upon rotation of the metallic ring, and wherein
the metallic ring is made of at least one flat and strip-like sheet metal material, two ends of which are joined to form a loop, wherein
the metallic ring is connected to a first one of the rings and the magnetic sensor is connected to a second one of the rings so as to measure the oscillating magnetic induction generated upon rotation of the metallic ring, and
an end cover, wherein
the magnetic sensor is mounted within the end cover.

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

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:

1. An auxiliary container adapted for physical association with a conventional medication container, the auxiliary container comprising:
a body substantially defining an interior space and having an opening providing access to the interior space;
a lid corresponding to the opening and operable to removably secure thereover so as to further define the interior space and to restrict access to the interior space; and
a coupling mechanism operable to removably couple the auxiliary container with the conventional medication container, wherein such coupling does not require opening the conventional medication container.
2. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the conventional medication container is selected from the group consisting of: bottles, pill bottles, spray bottles, tubes, squeeze tubes, and spray cans.
3. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the interior space has a volume of between approximately 0.16-0.32 cubic inch
4. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the interior space is substantially cylindrical and has a radius of approximately between 0.50-1.50 inch and a depth of approximately between 0.20-0.50 inch.
5. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the body includes a tab projecting outwardly therefrom, with the tab having a hole operable to receive an attachment mechanism.
6. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the body.
7. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism includes a chemical adhesive.
8. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism includes a mechanical catch.
9. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism includes a leg depending from the body, the leg having a flexible portion and, at a distal end of the leg, a male catch, wherein the auxiliary container may be pushed onto the conventional medication container such that the male catch mechanically cooperates with the conventional medication container to removably couple the auxiliary container therewith.
10. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism includes an elongated and substantially rigid secondary leg depending from the body so as to be in substantially close physical proximity to the conventional medication container, thereby substantially opposing lateral movement of the auxiliary container relative to the conventional medication container.
11. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 1, further including a closure mechanism for securing the lid over the opening in the body.
12. An auxiliary container adapted for physical association with a conventional medication container, the auxiliary container comprising:
a body substantially defining an interior space having a volume of between approximately 0.16-0.32 cubic inch, and the body having an opening providing access to the interior space;
a lid hingedly connected to the body and corresponding to the opening and operable to removably secure thereover so as to further define the interior space and to restrict access to the interior space;
a closure mechanism for securing the lid over the opening in the body; and
a coupling mechanism operable to removably couple the auxiliary container with the conventional medication container, wherein such coupling does not require opening the conventional medication container.
13. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 12, wherein the conventional medication container is selected from the group consisting of: bottles, pill bottles, spray bottles, tubes, squeeze tubes, cans, and spray cans.
14. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 12, wherein the interior space is substantially cylindrical and has a radius of approximately between 0.50-1.50 inch and a depth of approximately between 0.20-0.50 inch.
15. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 12, wherein the body includes a tab projecting outwardly therefrom, with the tab having a hole operable to receive an attachment mechanism.
16. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 12, wherein the coupling mechanism includes a chemical adhesive.
17. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 12, wherein the coupling mechanism includes a mechanical catch.
18. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 12, wherein the coupling mechanism includes an elongated and substantially rigid secondary leg depending from the body so as to be in substantially close physical proximity to the conventional medication container, thereby substantially opposing lateral movement of the auxiliary container relative to the conventional medication container.
19. An auxiliary container adapted for physical association with a heart medication container, the auxiliary container comprising:
a body substantially defining an interior space which is substantially cylindrical and has a radius of approximately between 0.50-1.50 inch and a depth of approximately between 0.20-0.50 inch, and the body having an opening providing access to the interior space;
a lid hingedly connected to the body and corresponding to the opening and operable to removably secure thereover so as to further define the interior space and to restrict access to the interior space;
a closure mechanism for securing the lid over the opening in the body; and
a coupling mechanism operable to removably couple the auxiliary container with the heart medication container, wherein such coupling does not require opening the heart medication container.
20. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 19, wherein the heart medication container is selected from the group consisting of: bottles, pill bottles, spray bottles, tubes, squeeze tubes, cans, and spray cans.
21. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 19, wherein the body includes a tab projecting outwardly therefrom, with the tab having a hole operable to receive an attachment mechanism.
22. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 19, wherein the coupling mechanism includes a chemical adhesive.
23. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 19, wherein the coupling mechanism includes a mechanical catch.
24. The auxiliary container as set forth in claim 19, wherein the coupling mechanism includes an elongated and substantially rigid secondary leg depending from the body so as to be in substantially close physical proximity to the conventional medication container, thereby substantially opposing lateral movement of the auxiliary container relative to the conventional medication container.