All The Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic filter tuning control system for tuning a characteristic frequency of a filter to a target frequency, the system comprising:
circuit configuration replacing means for replacing an original circuit configuration of the filter with an alternative tuning-dedicated circuit configuration while the filter is being tuned, wherein the filter with the alternative configuration has the same characteristic frequency as that of the filter with the original configuration and shows a signal-to-noise ratio higher than that of the filter with the original configuration;
a characteristic tuner, which measures one or some periods of an oscillating waveform appearing at the output of the filter with the alternative configuration when an impulse signal, pulse signal or step signal is input as a test signal to the filter;
detects the characteristic frequency of the filter in accordance with the period measured; and
then supplies a tuning signal to the filter, thereby adjusting a difference between the characteristic and target frequencies; and
a controller, which issues a tuning instruction to start the characteristic tuner and then stores a level of the tuning signal when the difference between the characteristic and target frequencies of the filter enters a tolerance range, wherein in operating the filter, the controller restores the filter to the original configuration, stops operating the characteristic tuner and controls the characteristics of the filter using the tuning signal stored.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the filter is a gm-C filter comprising a plurality of transconductance amplifiers and a plurality of capacitors.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuit configuration replacing means comprises means for boosting a gain of the filter being tuned.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuit configuration replacing means comprises means for increasing a quality factor of the filter being tuned.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuit configuration replacing means comprises means for oscillating the filter being tuned at the characteristic frequency of the filter.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller averages levels of the tuning signal that has been input to the filter at multiple tuning attempts, stores the tuning signal with the averaged level and controls the characteristics of the filter using the tuning signal with the averaged level.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the characteristic tuner comprises:
a frequency divider for dividing the frequency of a clock signal that has been delivered as a reference signal;
a test signal generator for generating the test signal from the clock signal with the divided frequency;
a counter for measuring one or some periods of the oscillating waveform, which appears at the output of the filter responsive to the test signal, synchronously with the clock signal;
a frequency detector for detecting the characteristic frequency of the filter based on the period measured by the counter; and
an updown counter for changing the tuning signal in accordance with the difference between the detected characteristic frequency and the target frequency.
8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a digital-to-analog converter, which receives the tuning signal as a digital quantity from the characteristic tuner or the controller and supplies an analog control signal, corresponding to the tuning signal, to the filter.
9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a phase-locked loop circuit for generating the reference signal.
10. The system of claim 7, wherein the greater the difference between the detected characteristic frequency and the target frequency, the more greatly the updown counter changes the tuning signal.
11. The system of claim 7, wherein when the detected characteristic frequency is close to the target frequency, the updown counter decreases control sensitivity of the tuning signal.
12. The system of claim 7, wherein the filter comprises a master filter and a slave filter, each of which has its characteristic frequency controlled variably responsive to the tuning signal, and wherein after the master filter has been tuned in advance in response to a second reference signal, obtained by dividing the frequency of the reference signal, the slave filter is tuned in response to the test signal.
13. A cellular phone comprising the automatic filter tuning control system as recited in one of claims 1 to 12 in a receiver section thereof.

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 for obtaining phosphors through microwave synthesis, the method comprising the steps of:
providing an insulator having an opening therein, wherein the opening is substantially symmetrically disposed in relation to a central axis of the insulator, and wherein the opening is adapted to receive a phosphor starting material;
depositing the starting material within the opening; and
subjecting the phosphor starting material to microwaves.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of positioning a susceptor configuration within the cavity, wherein the susceptor configuration is substantially symmetrically disposed in relation to the central axis of the insulator.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the insulator is comprised of refractory material that is essentially transparent to microwaves in a working temperature range.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the insulator is comprised of one of aluminosilicate fibers and alumina fibers.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the phosphor is one of halophosphate, barium-magnesium aluminate, lanthanum phosphate, and europium doped yttrium oxide.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of positioning a susceptor configuration within the cavity.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the microwave furnace is adapted to be tilted by raising the first end of the tube to facilitate the movement of the starting material through the tube.
8. A method of synthesis of a phosphor by microwave processing, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a microwave furnace having a microwave chamber;
(b) providing a phosphor starting material in the microwave chamber; and
(c) subjecting the phosphor starting material to microwaves, whereby the starting material is synthesized into a phosphor.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the phosphor is a halophosphate phosphor.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the phosphor is represented by Ca10(PO4)6(Cl,F):Sb:Mn.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the phosphor is synthesized by microwave processing at about 1000\xb0 C.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the starting material comprises a mixture of HCaPO4, CaCO3, CaF2, NH4Cl, MnCO3 and Sb2O3.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the phosphor is synthesized by microwave processing at about 1000\xb0 C. for about 20 minutes.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein the phosphor is a barium-magnesium aluminate.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the phosphor is represented by BaMg1+xAl10+yO17+z, wherein 0<x<2.0, 0<y<5.0, and 0<z<10.5 and the phosphor has a europium activator.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the phosphor is synthesized by microwave processing in a reducing atmosphere at about 1250\xb0 C. to about 1500\xb0 C.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the phosphor is synthesized by microwave processing at about 1400\xb0 C. to about 1500\xb0 C.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the starting material is a mixture of aluminum hydroxide, magnesium oxide, barium carbonate, europium oxide and a barium fluoride flux.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the phosphor is synthesized by microwave processing in a reducing atmosphere at about 1250\xb0 C. to about 1500\xb0 C. for about 20 minutes.
20. The method of claim 8, wherein the phosphor is a lanthanum phosphate.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the phosphor is represented by (La, Ce, Tb)PO4:Ce:Tb.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein the phosphor is synthesized by microwave processing at about 800\xb0 C. to about 1125\xb0 C.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein the starting material is a coprecipitate mixture of lanthanum phosphate, cerium phosphate and terbium phosphate.
24. The method of claim 21, wherein the starting material further includes a flux.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein the phosphor is synthesized by microwave processing at about 800\xb0 C. to about 1125\xb0 C. for about 10 to about 30 minutes.
26. The method of claim 8, wherein the phosphor is a europium doped yttrium oxide.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the phosphor is synthesized by microwave processing at about 1100\xb0 C. to about 1350\xb0 C.
28. The method of claim 26, wherein the starting material is a mixture of yttrium oxide and europium oxide.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the phosphor is synthesized by microwave processing at about 1100\xb0 C. to about 1350\xb0 C. for about 10 minutes to about 40 minutes.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the mixture further includes a flux.
31. The method of claim 8, wherein the phosphor is synthesized without a flux.

1. A shrink film applying apparatus comprising:
an article feed for feeding articles for shrink-wrapping at line pressure;
a wrapping conveyor driven at a wrapping speed through a wrapping zone, the wrapping conveyor receiving articles from the article feed;
a first film supply supplying a first film to the wrapping zone, the first film being fed to a position above the wrapping conveyor and beneath the articles;
a second film supply supplying a second film to the wrapping zone, the second film being fed to a position above the first film and the articles;
a plurality of flight bars and a plurality of flight bar drives, each flight bar individually driven in a path at a variable speed by a respective one of the flight bar drives, the second film being sequentially pulled down between selected articles by the flight bars so as to form loops of the second film in the wrapping zone between adjacent flight bars, each loop of the second film having a contact point adjacent the respective flight bar contacting the first film; and
a sealing mechanism within the wrapping zone for sealing the first film to the second film at the contact points to form a circumferential film unit substantially surrounding grouped articles within each loop of second film and a corresponding portion of the first film, the film unit being shrinkable about the grouped articles to form a package.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wrapping conveyor includes a plurality of independent slats and a track, the slats being driven by a drive along the track in a path, each of the slats being movable relative to adjacent slats along the path.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the flight bars each include alignment elements configured to fit between adjacent slats in the wrapping conveyor, the alignment elements self-adjustably moving certain of the slats relative to each other to an extent necessary for the alignment elements to fit between the slats as the flight bars approach the wrapping conveyor.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the flight bars include two plates mounted so as to be movable relative to each other in a direction of travel, the flight bars contacting a frame of the shrink film applying assembly in the wrapping zone to move apart the two plates, the alignment elements moving apart adjacent slats of the wrapping conveyor when the plates of the flight bars move apart.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sealing mechanism is disposed beneath the wrapping conveyor, the sealing mechanism proving heat to the wrapping zone to seal the first film to the second film.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the sealing mechanism provides heat at least when the two plates of the flight bars and the adjacent slats are moved apart.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, further including a controller, the controller controlling the flight bar drives, a wrapping conveyor drive, and a sealing mechanism drive so that the flight bars, the wrapping conveyor and the sealing mechanism operate in synchronicity.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller causes the wrapping conveyor to be driven at a constant speed and the flight bars and sealing mechanism to be driven at a constant speed within at least a portion of the wrapping zone.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller causes the flight bars and sealing mechanism to be driven at a variable speed along at least a portion of their respective travel.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sealing mechanism and flight bars cooperate to separate adjacent respective film units and grouped articles within the wrapping zone.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the flight bars include two plates mounted so as to be movable relative to each other in a direction of travel, the flight bars contacting a frame of the shrink film applying apparatus in the wrapping zone to move apart the two plates, thereby separating the adjacent film units and grouped articles.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wrapping conveyor includes compression spring elements between adjacent slats.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the fight bar drives includes a variable speed servo-motor for driving a chain, a respective one of the flight bars being attached to each chain.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus includes at least four of the flight bars and flight bar drives.

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 for displaying video images, the method comprising:
receiving a first digital video signal corresponding to a captured wide-angle video image of an environment, said wide-angle video image having a field of view distorted relative to human perception and being navigable for selecting regions of the wide-angle video image to display;
collecting data points within the environment by collecting information relating to positions of a plurality of objects located within the environment;
storing the collected data points as correlation data in a storage device;
selecting an object of interest within the wide-angle field of view by performing a navigation of the wide-angle video image and selecting, based on a user input, the object of interest;
processing the first digital video signal to create a perspectively corrected video image corresponding to the selected object of interest;
receiving a second digital video signal corresponding to a second video image captured by a pan-tilt-zoom video camera, the second video image providing a view corresponding to the selected object of interest, the second video image further having been interpolated with the correlation data to correct parallax effects and correctly orient the pan-tilt-zoom video camera to the selected object of interest; and
contemporaneously displaying the perspectively corrected video image, and the second video image.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input is received through a pointing device.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the field of view of the wide-angle video image has an immersive field of view.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contemporaneously displaying is performed on a single viewing device.
5. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:
processing the first digital video signal to create an equirectangular video image,
wherein the step of contemporaneously displaying further comprises contemporaneously displaying: the equirectangular video image.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
receiving user input relative the displayed equirectangular video image indicating the object of interest within the environment, the user input being a mouse click on the object of interest within the video image of the environment;
orienting the pan-tilt-zoom video camera to capture a video image corresponding to the object of interest indicated by the user input relative to the displayed equirectangular video image.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the field of view of the wide-angle video image is an immersive field of view.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of contemporaneously displaying is performed on a single viewing device.
9. A method for displaying video images, the method comprising:
displaying an equirectangular video image of an environment to a user;
collecting data points within the environment by collecting information relating to positions of a plurality of objects located within the environment;
storing the collected data points as correlation data in a storage device;
receiving user input performing navigation operations on the equirectangular video image selecting an object of interest within the environment relative to the displayed equirectangular video;
orienting a pan-tilt-zoom video camera to capture a video image corresponding to the object of interest indicated by the user input, the orientation of the pan-tilt-zoom video camera being determined by interpolating the selected object of interest with the correlation data to obtain parallax corrected orientation of the camera; and
displaying the captured video image obtained by the oriented pan-tilt-zoom video camera.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the user input is received through a pointing device.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the user moves the pointing device and selects the object of interest on the displayed equirectangular video image.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the received user input further indicates a selected field of view, and the step of orienting further comprises adjusting the level of zoom of the pan-tilt-zoom video camera to correspond to the selected field of view.
13. A method for displaying video images, the method comprising:
displaying a navigable perspectively corrected immersive video image of an environment to a user;
collecting data points within the environment by collecting information relating to positions of a plurality of objects located within the environment;
storing the collected data points as correlation data in a storage device;
receiving user input navigating the displayed navigable perspectively corrected immersive video image to select an object of interest within the environment;
orienting a pan-tilt-zoom video camera to capture a video image corresponding to the object of interest indicated by the user input, the orientation of the pan-tilt-zoom video camera being determined by interpolating the selected object of interest with the correlation data to obtain parallax corrected orientation of the camera; and
displaying the captured video image obtained by the oriented pan-tilt-zoom video camera.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the user input is received through a pointing device.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the user moves the pointing device and selects the object of interest on the displayed equirectangular video image.