Author: claimsbot

1. A method for determining a power of an amplified spontaneous emission in an optical fiber amplifier for a WDM signal, wherein the optical fiber amplifier includes at least a first amplifier stage having a predetermined output power set for a measured input power, comprising:
determining from the output power a first mean inversion for the first amplifier stage, and
determining a first output power of the amplified spontaneous emission at an output of the first amplifier stage by reference to tabulated values which depend on the first mean inversion.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein:
for a second amplifier stage, connected in series after the first amplifier stage, a second predetermined output power is set for a known output power from the first amplifier stage and from this a second mean inversion determinable for the second amplifier stage,
for a gain which is constant across the two amplifier stages, and by reference to three tabulated values, which are dependent on one of the first mean inversion and the second mean inversion, a second output power is determined for the amplified spontaneous emission at one of the output from the first amplifier stage and an output of the second amplifier stage.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein
for a second amplifier stage connected in series after the first amplifier stage, a second predetermined output power is set for a known output power from the first amplifier stage, and from this a second mean inversion is determined for the second amplifier stage,
by reference to tabulated values which depend on at least one of the first and second mean inversions, a second output power is determined for the amplified spontaneous emission at the output of the second amplifier stage.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein
two tabulated values, to which the ASE powers at outputs of the first and second amplifier stage are proportional, are calibrated before the determination of the total power, and
a further tabulated value, to which the ASE power at the output of the second amplifier stage is proportional, is calibrated before the determination of the total power.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein
for a third amplifier stage connected in series after the second amplifier stage, a third predetermined output power is set for a known output power from the second amplifier stage, and from this a third mean inversion is determinable for the third amplifier stage (V3),
for a gain which is constant across the three amplifier stages and by reference to six tabulated values, four of which values are dependent on one of the mean inversions (\u03c7I, \u03c7II, \u03c7III) and two of which values are dependent on two of the mean inversions, a third output power is determined for the amplified spontaneous emission at an output of the third amplifier stage.
6. The method of claim 3, wherein
for a third amplifier stage connected in series after the second amplifier stage, a third predetermined output power is set for a known output power from the second amplifier stage, and from this a third mean inversion is determined for the third amplifier stage,
by reference to six tabulated values which are dependent on one to all of the mean inversions, a third output power is determined for the amplified spontaneous emission at an output of the third amplifier stage.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein three tabulated values, to which the ASE powers at outputs of the amplifier stages are proportional, are calibrated before the determination of a total power, and
two further tabulated values, to which in turn the ASE powers at outputs of the second and third amplifier stages are proportional, are calibrated before the determination of the total power, and
a last one tabulated value, which is proportional to a ratio of a power contribution from the second amplifier stage which is applied to the third amplifier stage to the total power, is calibrated before the determination of the total power.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein
when an optical fiber amplifier with more than three amplifier stages, further power contributions are determined for determining the total power of the amplified spontaneous emission of the optical fiber amplifier, and are added together to give total power values at the outputs of the individual amplifier stages.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein
all power contributions are determined using tabulated values which are saved in a precalibrated table.
10. The method of in claim 9, wherein
factors of proportionality between power contributions and the tabulated values, due to such system characteristics including at least one of attenuation values and overall gain values, are determined.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein
the tabulated values are regularly recalibrated, so that ageing or expansion effects in the optical fiber amplifier are taken into account.
12. (canceled)
13. (canceled)
14. (canceled)
15. (canceled)
16. An optical fiber amplifier comprising:
an amplifier stage;
a first power measurement facility coupled to an input of the amplifier stage; and
an arrangement for determining a mean inversion, coupled to the first amplifier stage and configured to use one of a second power measurement facility on an output side, and a preset gain controller,
wherein output signals from the first power measurement facility and from the arrangement for determining the mean inversion are fed to a table, in which calibrated values of the power values of an amplified spontaneous emission are stored.
17. An optical fiber amplifier with several amplifier stages, to the input of each of which is assigned a first power measurement facility, together with an arrangement for determining a mean inversion for the amplifier stage concerned, using at least one of a second power measurement facility on an output side of the amplifier stage a preset gain controller,
wherein output signals from the first power measurement facility and from the arrangement for the determination of the mean inversion are fed to a table, in which, for individual amplifier stages and power contributions which are involved between amplifier stages,
various calibrated values of power contributions for an amplified spontaneous emission, are stored, and wherein
a linear adder is coupled to the table, adding components of which are designed for the determination of a total power of the amplified spontaneous emission, arising at the output from the optical amplifier, from calibrated values selected from the table.
18. The optical fiber amplifier of claim 17, wherein
the linear adder has a multiplier which weights each addition components from the table with system-dependent factors including attenuation values and constant gain values.

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 flexible solar cell, comprising:
a flexible transparent substrate; and
a plurality of solar cell units attached to the flexible transparent substrate and space from each other, thereby defining light-transmitting areas on the flexible transparent substrate among the solar cell units, allowing light to transmit therethroug.
2. The flexible solar cell of claim 1, wherein each of the solar cell units comprises a working electrode; each of the working electrodes comprises a conductive substrate and a semiconductor layer coated on and in direct contact with the conductive substrate; the conductive substrates are secured to the flexible transparent substrate.
3. The flexible solar cell of claim 2, wherein the semiconductor layers consist essentially of a metal oxide.
4. The flexible solar cell of claim 3, wherein the metal oxide is one or more selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, tin dioxide, and zinc oxide.
5. The flexible solar cell of claim 2, wherein each of the working electrodes further comprises photosensitive dye absorbed on the semiconductor layers.
6. The flexible solar cell of claim 2, wherein the conductive substrates are secured to the flexible transparent substrate by adhesive.
7. The flexible solar cell of claim 2, further comprising a transparent and patterned electrode layer formed on the flexible transparent substrate, the conductive substrates are electronically connected to the transparent and patterned electrode layer.
8. The flexible solar cell of claim 7, wherein the transparent and patterned electrode layer is made of a transparent and electro-conductive material selected from a group consisting of indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, aluminum oxide doped zinc, gallium oxide doped zinc oxide, carbon nanotubes, and Mg(OH)2\u2014C.
9. The flexible solar cell of claim 7, wherein each of the solar cell units further comprises a transparent counter electrode and an electrolyte between the working electrode and the transparent counter electrode; the transparent counter electrodes are electronically connected to the transparent and patterned electrode layer.
10. The flexible solar cell of claim 2, wherein conductive substrates comprise metal or alloy.
11. The flexible solar cell of claim 1, wherein the flexible transparent substrate is made of plastic or glass.
12. A method for manufacturing a flexible solar cell, comprising:
preparing a plurality of solar cell units;
providing a flexible transparent substrate; and
securing the plurality of solar cell units to the flexible transparent substrate, space from each other, wherein the plurality of solar cell units thereby defining light-transmitting areas on the flexible transparent substrate among the solar cell units, allowing light to transmit therethroug.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein preparing the solar cell units comprises:
providing a plurality of conductive substrates;
preparing a colloidal paste comprising a metal oxide, a solvent, and an organic binder;
applying the colloidal paste to a surface of each of the conductive substrates; and
heating the conductive substrates coated with the colloidal paste to sinter the metal oxide, thereby removing the solvent and the organic binder and creating a semiconductor layer on each of the conductive substrates.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the conductive substrates are made of metal or alloy.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the flexible transparent substrate has a transparent and patterned electrode layer formed thereon, the conductive substrates are electronically connected to the transparent and patterned electrode layer.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transparent and patterned electrode layer is made of a transparent and electro-conductive material selected from a group consisting of indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, aluminum oxide doped zinc, gallium oxide doped zinc oxide, carbon nanotubes, and Mg(OH)2\u2014C.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the metal oxide is one or more selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, tin dioxide, and zinc oxide.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein the solar cell units are secured to the flexible transparent substrate by an adhesive.
19. The method of claim 12, wherein the solar cell units are arranged in an array.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for handling passenger baggage, comprising:
obtaining a passenger identifier for a passenger associated with a ticket to a destination arrival facility;
obtaining passenger baggage for carriage to said destination in at least one passenger baggage collection facility before said passenger’s departure, said passenger baggage identified by said passenger identifier;
obtaining a destination address at said destination to which said passenger baggage is to be delivered; and
delivering said passenger baggage to said destination address after said passenger has departed.

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, comprising:
determining a minimal sum of absolute differences (SAD) for a pixel in an interlaced frame; and
comparing the minimal SAD to a first threshold and second threshold value, such that
when the minimal SAD is less than or equal to the first threshold value, smoothness and consistency checks are performed; and
when the minimal SAD is greater than the first threshold value and less than or equal to the second threshold value, the smoothness and consistency checks are performed, and supplemental checks are performed,
wherein the outcome of the smoothness and consistency checks and, when performed, the supplemental checks, determine whether a motion compensation interpolation value or a spatial interpolation value is selected for de-interlacing the interlaced frame; and wherein said determining and comparing are performed using a processor.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein each SAD is calculated according to the following:
SAD
=
\u2211

i
=

x
–
w
x
+
w
+
1
\ue89e
\ue89e
\u2211

j
=

y
–
h
y
+
h
\ue89e
\ue89e

\uf603
p
ref

\ue8a0

(
i
+

M
x
,

j
+

M
y
)
–
p
curr

\ue8a0

(

i
,
j

)
\uf604
where
pref is an opposite field in a reference field,
pcurr is an opposite field in a current field,
Mx and My are respective x and y components of an associated motion vector MV,
w is a width of a block, and
h is a height of the block.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein
the first threshold is equal to zero;
the second threshold is greater than or equal to 5 and less than or equal to 10; and
the second threshold is correlated to the textural complexity of the interlaced frame.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said performance of the smoothness check comprises:
determining a best motion vector MV for each respective pixel neighboring the pixel in the interlaced frame; and
comparing each best MV with a MV associated with the minimal SAD,

wherein, when all the comparisons are less than an MV threshold, the smoothness check is passed.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said performance of the consistency check comprises:
evaluating a logical expression
|Pcur(x\u2212Edge,y\u22121)\u2212Pcur(x+Edge,y+1)|>|PDI(x,y)\u2212PDI\u2014cur(x,y)|&&|PDI(x,y)\u2212PDI\u2014cur(x,y)|<MC_pixel\u2014TH(default:25)
such that, when true, the consistency check is passed,

wherein
Edge is an x coordinate of an edge of the interlaced frame;
Pcur is a motion compensation distance based on the motion vector as projected from the indicated coordinates,
PDI (x,y) is a motion compensation distance based on the motion vector as projected to the current pixel in the current frame from the corresponding pixel of the reference frame,
PDI\u2014cur (x,y) is a motion compensation distance based on the motion vector as projected from the current pixel to a location in the opposite field of the current frame, and
MC_pixel_TH is a threshold value having a default value of 25.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental checks comprise:
a SAD check;
a best angle check;
a median filtering check; and
a minimum operation check;

wherein passing the SAD and best angle checks, and at least one of the media filtering and the minimum operation checks represents passing the supplemental checks.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein said SAD check comprises:
determining whether the minimal SAD is less than a spatial deinterlacing SAD,

where, when true, the SAD check is passed.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the best angle check comprises:
determining whether the best angle is 90\xb0,

where, when true, the best angle check is passed.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein
the median filtering check comprises determining whether
MC==Median(p(x,y\u22121),MC,p(x,y+1))
is true where, when true, the median filtering check is passed; and
the minimum operation check comprises determining whether
Min(abs(MC\u2212p(x,y\u22121)),abs(MC\u2212p(x,y\u22121))<\u03b1)
is true where, when true, the minimum operation check is passed.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein:
when the minimal SAD is greater than the second threshold value, the spatial interpolation value is selected for deinterlacing the interlaced frame;
when the minimal SAD is greater than the first threshold value and less than or equal to the second threshold value, and
the smoothness, consistency, and supplemental checks are passed, the motion compensation interpolation value is selected for deinterlacing the interlaced frame, and
when any of the smoothness, consistency, and supplemental checks fails, the spatial interpolation value is selected for deinterlacing the interlaced frame; and when the minimal SAD is less than or equal to the first threshold value, and
the smoothness and consistency checks are passed, the motion compensation interpolation value is selected for deinterlacing the interlaced frame, and
when either the smoothness or consistency checks fails, the spatial interpolation value is selected for deinterlacing the interlaced frame.
11. A computer program product including a computer readable medium having computer program logic stored therein, the computer program logic including:
logic to cause a processor to determine a minimal sum of absolute differences (SAD) for a pixel in an interlaced frame; and
logic to cause a processor to compare the minimal SAD to a first threshold and second threshold value, such that
when the minimal SAD is less than or equal to the first threshold value, smoothness and consistency checks are performed; and
when the minimal SAD is greater than the first threshold value and less than or equal to the second threshold value, the smoothness and consistency checks are performed, and supplemental checks are performed,

wherein the outcome of the smoothness and consistency checks and, when performed, the supplemental checks, determine whether a motion compensation interpolation value or a spatial interpolation value is selected for de-interlacing the interlaced frame.
12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein each SAD is calculated according to the following:
SAD
=
\u2211

i
=

x
–
w
x
+
w
+
1
\ue89e
\ue89e
\u2211

j
=

y
–
h
y
+
h
\ue89e
\ue89e

\uf603
p
ref

\ue8a0

(
i
+

M
x
,

j
+

M
y
)
–
p
curr

\ue8a0

(

i
,
j

)
\uf604
where
pref is an opposite field in a reference field,
pcurr is an opposite field in a current field,
Mx and My are respective x and y components of an associated motion vector MV,
w is a width of a block, and
h is a height of the block.
13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein
the first threshold is equal to zero;
the second threshold is greater than or equal to 5 and less than or equal to 10; and
the second threshold is correlated to the textural complexity of the interlaced frame.
14. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising logic to cause the processor to perform the smoothness check, which comprises:
logic to cause the processor to determine the best motion vector MV for each respective pixel neighboring the pixel in the interlaced frame; and
logic to cause the processor to compare each best MV with the motion vector MV associated with the minimal SAD,

wherein, when all the comparisons are less than an MV threshold, the smoothness check is passed.
15. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising logic to cause the processor to perform the consistency check, comprising:
logic to cause the processor to evaluate a logical expression
|Pcur(x\u2212Edge,y\u22121)\u2212Pcur(x+Edge,y+1)|>|PDI(x,y)\u2212PDIcurcur(x,y)|&&|PDI(x,y)\u2212PDI\u2014cur(x,y)|<MC_pixel\u2014TH(default:25)
such that, when true, the consistency check is passed,

wherein
Pcur is a motion compensation distance based on the motion vector as projected from the indicated coordinates,
PDI (x,y) is a motion compensation distance based on the motion vector as projected to the current pixel in the current frame from the corresponding pixel of the reference frame,
PDI\u2014cur (x,y) is a motion compensation distance based on the motion vector as projected from the current pixel to a location in the opposite field of the current frame, and
MC_pixel_TH is a threshold value having a default value of 25.
16. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising logic to cause the processor to perform the supplemental checks, comprising:
logic to cause the processor to perform a SAD check;
logic to cause the processor to perform a best angle check;
logic to cause the processor to perform a median filtering check; and
logic to cause the processor to perform a minimum operation check;

wherein passing the SAD and best angle checks, and at least one of the media filtering and the minimum operation checks represents passing the supplemental checks.
17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein said logic to cause the processor to perform the SAD check comprises:
logic to cause the processor to determine whether the minimal SAD is less than a spatial deinterlacing SAD,

where, when true, the SAD check is passed.
18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein said logic to cause the processor to perform the best angle check comprises:
logic to cause the processor to determine whether the best angle is 90\xb0,

where, when true, the best angle check is passed.
19. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein
said logic to cause the processor to perform the median filtering check comprises: logic to cause the processor to determine whether
MC==Median(p(x,y\u22121),MC,p(x,y+1))
is true where, when true, the median filtering check is passed; and
said logic to cause the processor to perform the minimum operation check comprises logic to cause the processor to determine whether
Min(abs(MC\u2212p(x,y\u22121)),abs(MC\u2212p(x,y\u22121))<\u03b1)
is true where, when true, the minimum operation check is passed.
20. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said logic to cause a processor to compare the minimal SAD to the first threshold and second threshold value comprises:
logic to cause the processor to select the spatial interpolation value for deinterlacing the interlaced frame, when the minimal SAD is greater than the second threshold value;
logic to cause the processor to select the motion compensation interpolation value for deinterlacing the interlaced frame when the minimal SAD is greater than the first threshold value and less than or equal to the second threshold value, and the smoothness, consistency, and supplemental checks are passed;
logic to cause the processor to select the spatial interpolation value for deinterlacing the interlaced frame when the minimal SAD is greater than the first threshold value and less than or equal to the second threshold value, and when any of the smoothness, consistency, and supplemental checks fails;
logic to cause the processor to select the motion compensation interpolation value for deinterlacing the interlaced frame when the minimal SAD is less than or equal to the first threshold value and the smoothness and consistency checks are passed; and
logic to cause the processor to select the spatial interpolation value for deinterlacing the interlaced frame when the minimal SAD is less than or equal to the first threshold value, and either the smoothness or consistency checks fails.
21. A system, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory in communication with said processor, said memory storing a plurality of processing instructions configured to direct said processor to
determine a minimal sum of absolute differences (SAD) for a pixel in an interlaced frame; and
compare the minimal SAD to a first threshold and second threshold value, such that
when the minimal SAD is less than or equal to the first threshold value, smoothness and consistency checks are performed; and
when the minimal SAD is greater than the first threshold value and less than or equal to the second threshold value, the smoothness and consistency checks are performed, and supplemental checks are performed,
wherein the outcome of the smoothness and consistency checks and, when performed, the supplemental checks, determine whether a motion compensation interpolation value or a spatial interpolation value is selected for de-interlacing the interlaced frame.
22. The system of claim 21, wherein each SAD is calculated according to the following:
SAD
=
\u2211

i
=

x
–
w
x
+
w
+
1
\ue89e
\ue89e
\u2211

j
=

y
–
h
y
+
h
\ue89e
\ue89e

\uf603
p
ref

\ue8a0

(
i
+

M
x
,

j
+

M
y
)
–
p
curr

\ue8a0

(

i
,
j

)
\uf604
where
pref is an opposite field in a reference field,
pcurr is an opposite field in a current field,
Mx and My are respective x and y components of an associated motion vector MV,
w is the width of a block, and
h is the height of the block.
23. The system of claim 21, wherein
the first threshold is equal to zero;
the second threshold is greater than or equal to 5 and less than or equal to 10; and
the second threshold is correlated to the textural complexity of the interlaced frame.
24. The system of claim 21, wherein said memory further stores processing instructions configured to direct said processor to perform the smoothness check, where said processing instructions configured to direct said processor to perform the smoothness check comprise instructions configured to direct said processor to:
determine the best motion vector MV for each respective pixel neighboring the pixel in the interlaced frame; and
compare each best MV with the motion vector MV associated with the minimal SAD,

wherein, when all the comparisons are less than an MV threshold, the smoothness check is passed.
25. The system of claim 21, wherein said memory further stores processing instructions configured to direct said processor to perform the consistency check, said processing instructions configured to direct said processor to perform the consistency check comprising instructions configured to direct said processor to:
evaluate a logical expression
|Pcur(x\u2212Edge,y\u22121)\u2212Pcur(x+Edge,y+1)|>|PDI(x,y)\u2212PDI\u2014cur(x,y)|&&|PDI(x,y)\u2212PDI\u2014cur(x,y)|<MC_pixel\u2014TH(default:25)
such that, when true, the consistency check is passed,

wherein
Pcur is a motion compensation distance based on the motion vector as projected from the indicated coordinates,
PDI (x,y) is a motion compensation distance based on the motion vector as projected to the current pixel in the current frame from the corresponding pixel of the reference frame,
PDI\u2014cur (x,y) is a motion compensation distance based on the motion vector as projected from the current pixel to a location in the opposite field of the current frame, and
MC_pixel_TH is a threshold value having a default value of 25.
26. The system of claim 21, wherein said memory further stores processing instructions configured to direct said processor to perform the supplemental checks, said processing instructions configured to direct said processor to perform the supplemental checks comprising instructions configured to direct said processor to:
perform a SAD check;
perform a best angle check;
perform a median filtering check; and
perform a minimum operation check;

wherein passing the SAD and best angle checks, and at least one of the media filtering and the minimum operation checks represents passing the supplemental checks.
27. The system of claim 26, wherein said instructions configured to direct said processor to perform the SAD check comprises instructions configured to direct said processor to:
determine whether the minimal SAD is less than a spatial deinterlacing SAD,

where, when true, the SAD check is passed.
28. The system of claim 26, wherein said instructions configured to direct said processor to perform the best angle check comprises instructions configured to direct said processor to:
determine whether the best angle is 90\xb0,

where, when true, the best angle check is passed.
29. The system of claim 26, wherein
said instructions configured to direct said processor to perform the median filtering check comprises instructions configured to direct said processor to determine if
MC==Median(p(x,y\u22121),MC,p(x,y+1))
is true where, when true, the median filtering check is passed; and
said instructions configured to direct said processor to perform the minimum operation check comprises instructions configured to direct said processor to determine if
Min(abs(MC\u2212p(x,y\u22121)),abs(MC\u2212p(x,y\u22121))<\u03b1)
is true where, when true, the minimum operation check is passed.
30. The system of claim 21, wherein said instructions configured to direct the processor to compare the minimal SAD to the first threshold and second threshold value comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to:
select the spatial interpolation value for deinterlacing the interlaced frame, when the minimal SAD is greater than the second threshold value;
select the motion compensation interpolation value for deinterlacing the interlaced frame when the minimal SAD is greater than the first threshold value and less than or equal to the second threshold value, and the smoothness, consistency, and supplemental checks are passed;
select the spatial interpolation value for deinterlacing the interlaced frame when the minimal SAD is greater than the first threshold value and less than or equal to the second threshold value, and when any of the smoothness, consistency, and supplemental checks fails;
select the motion compensation interpolation value for deinterlacing the interlaced frame when the minimal SAD is less than or equal to the first threshold value and the smoothness and consistency checks are passed; and
select the spatial interpolation value for deinterlacing the interlaced frame when the minimal SAD is less than or equal to the first threshold value, and either the smoothness or consistency checks fails.