All The Claims

1. Angle-of-rotation sensor comprising at least:
a rotor unit (1) that is positioned on a rotational axis (15) on a shaft element (10, 11),
a stator unit (2) disposed on the rotational axis and having at least one sensor element (4, 5) which creates a signal that corresponds to the rotational position of the rotor unit (1) with respect to the stator unit (2),
a stamped lead assembly (25) at least partially embedded in insulating material comprising at least one lead line by means of which the signal may be passed to an output unit (26, 51), and
at least one circuit component (81, 82, 83, 84; 91.1, . . . , 91.4) connected to the lead assembly,
characterized in that
the stamped lead assembly (25) is at least partially embedded in a shaped holding bracket (24) by means of which, forming a holder unit (23), the stator unit (2) is held together with the sensor element (4, 5) and the output unit (26, 51), and
an expansion unit (30) is positioned at least within the lead lines (25.1, . . . , 25.n) of the stamped lead assembly (25) and at least partially in the shaped holding bracket (24).
2. Angle-of-rotation sensor comprising at least:
a rotor unit (1) that is positioned on a rotational axis (15) on a shaft element (10, 11),
a stator unit (2) disposed on the rotational axis and having at least one sensor element (4, 5) which creates a signal that corresponds to the rotational position of the rotor unit (1) with respect to the stator unit (2),
a stamped lead assembly (25) at least partially embedded in insulating material comprising at least one lead line by means of which the signal may be passed to an output unit (26, 51), and
at least one circuit component (81, 82, 83, 84; 91.1, . . . , 91.4) connected to the lead assembly,
characterized in that
the stamped lead assembly (25) and at least one circuit component (91.1, . . . , 91.n) is at least partially embedded in a shaped holding bracket (24) by means of which, forming a holder unit (23), the stator unit (2) is held together with the sensor element (4, 5) and the output unit (26, 51), and
an expansion unit (30) is positioned at least within the lead lines (25.1, . . . , 25.n) of the stamped lead assembly (25) and at least partially in the shaped holding bracket (24).
3. Angle-of-rotation sensor as in claim 1, characterized in that
at least one component (91.1, . . . , 91.n) is embedded in a shaped holding bracket (24), and that the stator unit (2) with the sensor element (4, 5) and the output unit (26, 51) and that the at least partially formed stamped lead assembly (25) are held together by the shaped holding bracket (24) as a holder unit (23).
4. Device as in claim 1 or 3 or 2, characterized in that the shaped holding bracket (24) is made of insulating material andor metal.
5. Device as in claim 1, 3, and 4, or 2, or 4, characterized in that
the sensor element (4, 5) includes at least one connection line element (125.1, . . . , 225.1, . . .) that is connected with the lead lines (25.1, . . . , 25.n) of the stamped lead assembly (25), and
at least one additional circuit component (81, . . . , 84) is mounted on at least one connection line element (125.1, . . . , 225.1, . . . ).
6. Device as in one of the previous claims, characterized in that at least one expansion notch (625.11, . . . , 625.18) is included in the connection line elements (125.1, . . . , 225.1, . . . ).
7. Device as in one of the previous claims, characterized in that the additional circuit components (81, . . . , 84) are soldered to two opposing connection line elements (125.1, . . . , 225.1, . . . ).
8. Device as in one of the previous claims, characterized in that the components (91.1, . . . , 91.n) and the additional circuit components (81, . . . , 84) are arranged individually or on circuit boards parallel or offset to one another on the lead lines (25.1, . . . , 25.n) and on the connection line elements (125.1, . . . ).
9. Device as in one of the previous claims, characterized in that a first expansion unit (30) consists of an expansion arch (27) positioned within the stamped lead assembly (25), and a compatible shaped holding bracket expansion arch (35) positioned within the shaped holding bracket (24).
10. Device as in one of the previous claims, characterized in that
a second expansion unit (30) consists of lead lines (25.1, . . . , 25.n) exposed through a lead window (36) of the shaped holding bracket (24), whereby the lead window (36) is limited by at least one shaped holder strip (24.1, 24.1), and
at least one expansion notch (31.1, . . . , 31.n) is included in at least one of the lead lines (25.1, . . . , 25.n).
11. Device as in one of the previous claims, characterized in that the shaped holder strip (24.1, 24.2) or the exposed lead lines (25.1, . . . , 25.n) are formed from a shaped expansion arch (32).
12. Device as in one of the previous claims, characterized in that a third expansion unit (30) comprises
a first lead line (25.1, . . . , 25.n) exposed through a first lead window (36) of the shaped holding bracket (24) that is limited by at least a first shaped holding bracket (24.1, 24.2), and
a second lead line (25.1, . . . , 25.n) exposed through a second lead window (37) of the shaped holding bracket (24) that is limited by at least a second shaped holding bracket (24.3)
whereby the exposed first lead lines (25.1, . . . , 25.n) or the first shaped holding bracket (24.1, 24.2) are formed as a first shaped expansion arch (32), and
whereby the exposed second lead lines (25.1, . . . , 25.n) or the second shaped holding bracket (24.3) are formed as a second shaped expansion arch (32).
13. Device as in one of the previous claims, characterized in that
at least a first expansion notch (31.1, . . . , 31.n) is included in the first lead lines (25.1, . . . , 25.n) of the first lead window (36) , and
at least a second expansion notch (31.1, . . . , 31.n) is included in the second lead lines (25.1, . . . , 25.n) of the second lead window (37).
14. Device as in one of the previous claims, characterized in that at least one of the shaped expansion arches (32, 33) is arched upward or downward with respect to the straight lead lines (25.1, . . . , 25.n) passing through the respective lead window (36, 37).
15. Device as in one of the previous claims, characterized in that at least one of the shaped expansion arches (32, 33) is arched upward or downward with respect to the straight shaped holding brackets (24.1, 24.2, 24.3).
16. Device as in one of the previous claims, characterized in that at least one of the shaped expansion arches (32, 33) is arched upward or downward with respect to the straight lead lines (25.1, . . . , 25.n) passing through the respective lead window (36, 37).
17. Device as in one of the previous claims, characterized in that a stepped shaped expansion arch (34) is positioned in the holder unit (23) between the first and the second lead windows (36, 37).
18. Device as in one of the previous claims, characterized in that
the stator unit (2) comprises at least two stator segments (21, 22) that are arranged together leaving at least one separation recess (9.1, 9.2), whereby at least one Hall sensor (4, 5) is placed into at least one of the separation recesses (9.1, 9.2) as a sensor element,
the rotor unit (1) consists of at least one magnet element (13) that is affixed to the shaft element (10, 11), and
the holder unit (23) is placed into a housing body (7) at a right angle to the rotational axis (15) so that the stator segments (21, 22) are arranged properly with respect to the magnet segment (13) leaving an air gap (3), and the output unit (26, 51) is accordingly positioned.
19. Device as in one of the previous claims, characterized in that
the output unit consists of a plug unit (26) and a drive unit (51), and that
the plug unit (26) is positioned in a plug recess (28), and the drive unit is placed into a drive housing (43) of the housing body (7) as a motor unit (51) with its carbon brushes positioned therein.
20. Device as in one of the previous claims, characterized in that the connection elements (125.1, . . . , 225.1, . . . ) are partially bent along a bend line (75).
21. Device as in one of the previous claims, characterized in that the magnet element is formed of at least one magnet segment or as a ring magnet (13).

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 power plant system to generate electricity, said power plant system comprising:
at least one power tower building structure having a top portion, a bottom portion, an outside surface, a hollow center portion, said hollow center portion connects the top portion with the bottom portion, a first room placed at the bottom portion of said building structure, a second room placed at the top portion of said building structure, and a conduit subsystem connects the top portion and the bottom portion of said building structure;
a wind collection and accelerating subsystem;
a wind receptor subsystem;
a management control subsystem;
wherein the wind receptors subsystem converts wind energy to electricity using wind receptors;
said wind receptors subsystem comprising: a first wind turbine provided at the bottom portion of the building structure and a second wind turbine provided at the top portion of the building structure and housed in the said second room;
said first wind turbine body is placed in the said first room and the first wind turbine blades are placed at the hollow portion of said building structure, wherein a horizontal barrier is provided around the shaft of the first wind turbine to prevent winds flowing downward to the bottom portion of said building structure;
wherein said outside surface of said building structure is divided to a plurality of sections around said outside surface of said building structure to capture winds from any compass direction;
wherein said wind collection and accelerating subsystem consists of a plurality of funnel-shaped horizontal ducts, such that each horizontal duct is provided for each said section of said outside surface of said building structure, whereby the cross sectional area of each horizontal duct decreases from the said outside surface of said building structure to a point before entry to the blades of the first wind turbine;
wherein each said funnel-shaped duct provided with valve and control subsystem to prevent wind flowing backward and to control wind flow for high efficiency and to direct winds to the blades of said wind turbine;
wherein said hollow center portion of said building structure forms a funnel-shaped vertical duct from a point above the blades of the first wind turbine to the top portion of said building structure, whereby the cross sectional area decreases from the said point above the blades of the first wind turbine to a point before entry to the blades of the second wind turbine, whereby the said vertical duct is provided with a control unit to control wind flow for high efficiency and to direct winds to the blades of the second wind turbine and a valve to prevent winds from flowing downward into the hollow center portion of said building structure;
wherein said second room provided with vents to allow air flow outside said second room;
wherein said conduit subsystem houses a plurality of at least one of wires, cables, and pipes, to transfer energy from the top portion to the lower portion of said building structure;
wherein said funnel-shaped ducts provided with valve and control subsystem to prevent wind flowing backward and to control wind flow for high efficiency and to direct winds to the blades of said wind turbine;
wherein the cross-sectional area of said funnel-shaped ducts includes a plurality of at least one of rectangular profile, circular profile, elliptical profile, polygonal profile, and irregular profile;
wherein said power tower building structure includes a plurality of at least one of rectangular building, trapezoidal building, cubical building, spherical building, oval building, semi-oval building, cylindrical building, polygonal building, triangular building, semispherical building, cone building, semi-cone building, building with extended roof, building with wind huggers, and irregular shape building; and
wherein said management control subsystem combines electricity from said first wind turbine and said second wind turbine, and selectively delivering electricity to a power grid and an electric load.
2. The power plant system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a non-fossil fuel production subsystem;
wherein said management control subsystem selectively delivers electricity to said non-fossil fuel production subsystem, said power grid, and said electric load; and
wherein said non-fossil fuel production subsystem includes a plurality of at least one of hydrogen production subsystem, compressed air production subsystem, liquid nitrogen production subsystem, rechargeable batteries subsystem, and ammonia production subsystem.
3. The power plant system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: solar receptor subsystem;
wherein said solar receptor subsystem converts solar power to electricity using solar receptors, said solar receptors are located on the top portion of said building structure;
wherein said solar receptor subsystem includes a plurality of at least one of photovoltaic cells, concentrated photovoltaic cells, dye solar cells, concentrated dye solar cells, thin-film solar cells, concentrated thin-film cells, three-layer photovoltaic cells, concentrated three-layer photovoltaic cells, luminescent photovoltaic cells, concentrated luminescent photovoltaic cells, polymer photovoltaic cells, concentrated polymer photovoltaic cells, hybrid solar cells, and concentrated hybrid solar cells; and
wherein said management control subsystem combines electricity from said first wind turbine, said second wind turbine and said solar receptor subsystem, and selectively delivering electricity to said power grid and said electric load.
4. The power plant system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: a non-fossil fuel production subsystem;
wherein said management control subsystem selectively delivers electricity to said non-fossil fuel production subsystem, said power grid, and said electric load; and
wherein said non-fossil fuel production subsystem includes a plurality of at least one of hydrogen production subsystem, compressed air production subsystem, liquid nitrogen production subsystem, rechargeable batteries subsystem, and ammonia production subsystem.
5. The power plant system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a solar power tower provided at the center of the top portion of said building structure; a liquid furnace placed on said solar tower; a plurality of sun-light tracking devices provided at the top portion of said building structure to focus the sun’s ray upon said liquid furnace, and a steam-driven turbine to convert steam energy to electricity;
wherein said liquid furnace converts water to steam and said steam drives the said steam-driven turbine to generate electricity; and
wherein said management control subsystem combines electricity from said first wind turbine, said second wind turbine and said steam-driven turbine, and selectively delivering electricity to said power grid and said electric load.
6. The power plant system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising: a non-fossil fuel production subsystem;
wherein said management control subsystem selectively delivers electricity to said non-fossil fuel production subsystem, said power grid, and said electric load; and
wherein said non-fossil fuel production subsystem includes a plurality of at least one of hydrogen production subsystem, compressed air production subsystem, liquid nitrogen production subsystem, rechargeable batteries subsystem, and ammonia production subsystem.
7. The power plant system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: thermal receptor subsystem;
wherein said thermal receptor subsystem converts thermal power to electricity using thermal receptors, said thermal receptors acting as a heat sink are mounted on at least one of the said top portion of said building structure; said bottom portion, said outside surface, and the said room;
wherein said thermal receptors includes a plurality of at least one of thermoelectric cells, concentrated thermoelectric cells, thermophotovoltaic cells, and concentrated thermophotovoltaic cells; and
wherein said management control subsystem combines electricity from said first wind turbine, said second wind turbine, said thermal receptor subsystem, and selectively delivering electricity to said power grid and said electric load.
8. The power plant system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: thermal receptor subsystem;
wherein said thermal receptor subsystem converts thermal power to electricity using thermal receptors, said thermal receptors acting as a heat sink are mounted on at least one of the said top portion of said building structure; said bottom portion, said outside surface, said first room, and the said second room;
wherein said thermal receptors includes a plurality of at least one of thermoelectric cells, concentrated thermoelectric cells, thermophotovoltaic cells, and concentrated thermophotovoltaic cells; and
wherein said management control subsystem combines electricity from said first wind turbine, said second wind turbine, said thermal receptor subsystem, and selectively delivering electricity to said non-fossil production subsystem, said power grid, and said electric load.
9. The power plant system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: thermal receptor subsystem;
wherein said thermal receptor subsystem converts thermal power to electricity using thermal receptors, said thermal receptors acting as a heat sink are mounted on at least one of the said top portion of said building structure; said bottom portion, said outside surface, said first room, and the said second room;
wherein said thermal receptors includes a plurality of at least one of thermoelectric cells, concentrated thermoelectric cells, thermophotovoltaic cells, and concentrated thermophotovoltaic cells; and
wherein said management control subsystem combines electricity from said first wind turbine, said second wind turbine, said solar receptor subsystem, and said thermal receptor subsystem, and selectively delivering electricity to said power grid and said electric load.
10. The power plant system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: thermal receptor subsystem;
wherein said thermal receptor subsystem converts thermal power to electricity using thermal receptors, said thermal receptors acting as a heat sink are mounted on at least one of the said top portion of said building structure; said bottom portion, said outside surface, said first room, and the said second room;
wherein said thermal receptors includes a plurality of at least one of thermoelectric cells, concentrated thermoelectric cells, thermophotovoltaic cells, and concentrated thermophotovoltaic cells; and
wherein said management control subsystem combines electricity from said first wind turbine, said second wind turbine, said solar receptor subsystem, and said thermal receptor subsystem, and selectively delivering electricity to said non-fossil fuel production subsystem, said power grid, and said electric load.
11. The power plant system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising: thermal receptor subsystem;
wherein said thermal receptor subsystem converts thermal power to electricity using thermal receptors, said thermal receptors acting as a heat sink are mounted on at least one of the said top portion of said building structure; said bottom portion, said outside surface, said first room, and the said second room;
wherein said thermal receptors includes a plurality of at least one of thermoelectric cells, concentrated thermoelectric cells, thermophotovoltaic cells, and concentrated thermophotovoltaic cells; and
wherein said management control subsystem combines electricity from said first wind turbine, said second wind turbine, said steam-driven turbine, and said thermal receptor subsystem, and selectively delivering electricity to said power grid and said electric load.
12. The power plant system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: thermal receptor subsystem;
wherein said thermal receptor subsystem converts thermal power to electricity using thermal receptors, said thermal receptors acting as a heat sink are mounted on at least one of the said top portion of said building structure, said bottom portion, said outside surface, said first room, and the said second room;
wherein said thermal receptors includes a plurality of at least one of thermoelectric cells, concentrated thermoelectric cells, thermophotovoltaic cells, and concentrated thermophotovoltaic cells; and
wherein said management control subsystem combines electricity from said first wind turbine, said second wind turbine, said steam-driven turbine, and said thermal receptor subsystem, and selectively delivering electricity to said non-fossil fuel production subsystem, said power grid, and said electric load.

1. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a system comprising a processor, data from a network-based calendar system, wherein the data indicates that a subscriber is to be notified of a calendar-based event;
receiving, by the system from a presence system, presence information related to the subscriber, wherein the presence information indicates whether the subscriber is present at one or more of a plurality of subscriber devices, wherein the presence information indicates subscriber preferences, wherein the subscriber preferences indicate that an event notification is to be sent to an initiating device when the subscriber is not present at any of the plurality of subscriber devices, wherein the initiating device is a device from which the calendar-based event was initiated;
sending, by the system in a recorded voice over internet protocol message, an event notification related to the calendar-based event to the initiating device without providing a message of the event notification to any of the plurality of subscriber devices of the subscriber responsive to determining that the subscriber is not present at any of the plurality of subscriber devices based on the presence information;
sending the event notification to a set-top box device without providing an email message of the event notification to any of the plurality of subscriber devices responsive to the presence information indicating that the subscriber is present at the set-top box device; and
sending the event notification to one of the plurality of subscriber devices responsive to the event notification corresponding to a type of calendar-based event,
wherein the calendar-based event is associated with a party other than the subscriber.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiating device is another set-top box.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiating device is a mobile communication device.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the event notification at a notification system.
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving the event notification at the notification system from the calendar system.
6. A non-transitory computer readable storage device comprising computer instructions which, responsive to being executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving data from a network-based calendar system, wherein the data indicates that a subscriber is to be notified of a calendar-based event;
receiving, from a presence system, presence information related to the subscriber, wherein the presence information indicates whether the subscriber is present at one or more of a plurality of subscriber devices, wherein the presence information indicates subscriber preferences, wherein the subscriber preferences indicate that an event notification is to be sent to an initiating device when the subscriber is not present at any of the plurality of subscriber devices, wherein the initiating device is a device from which the calendar-based event was initiated;
sending, in a recorded voice over internet protocol message, an event notification related to the calendar-based event to the initiating device without providing a message of the event notification to any of the plurality of subscriber devices of the subscriber responsive to determining that the subscriber is not present at any of the plurality of subscriber devices based on the presence information;
sending the event notification to a set-top box device without providing an email message of the event notification to any of the plurality of subscriber devices responsive to the presence information indicating that the subscriber is present at the set-top box device; and
sending the event notification to one of the plurality of subscriber devices responsive to the event notification corresponds to a type of calendar-based event,
wherein the calendar-based event is associated with a party other than the subscriber.
7. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 6, wherein the initiating device is another set-top box.
8. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 6, wherein the initiating device is a mobile communication device.
9. A system comprising:
a memory to store computer instructions; and
a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor, responsive to executing the computer instructions, performs operations comprising:
receiving data from a network-based calendar system, wherein the data indicates that a subscriber is to be notified of a calendar-based event;
receiving, from a presence system, presence information related to the subscriber, wherein the presence information indicates whether the subscriber is present at one or more of a plurality of subscriber devices, wherein the presence information indicates subscriber preferences, wherein the subscriber preferences indicate that an event notification is to be sent to an initiating device when the subscriber is not present at any of the plurality of subscriber devices, wherein the initiating device is a device from which the calendar-based event was initiated;
sending, in a recorded voice over internet protocol message, an event notification related to the calendar-based event to the initiating device without providing a message of the event notification to any of the plurality of subscriber devices of the subscriber responsive to determining that the subscriber is not present at any of the plurality of subscriber devices based on the presence information;
sending the event notification to a set-top box device without providing an email message of the event notification to any of the plurality of subscriber devices responsive to the presence information indicating that the subscriber is present at the set-top box device; and
sending the event notification to one of the plurality of subscriber devices responsive to the event notification corresponds to a type of calendar-based event,
wherein the calendar-based event is associated with a party other than the subscriber.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the initiating device is another set-top box.
11. The system of claim 9, wherein the initiating device is a mobile communication device.

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 apparatus for detecting a feature in an image, the apparatus comprising:
an image input section for receiving at least part of the image in the form of image data comprising a plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels comprising a plurality of non-border pixels of the image;
a feature detection module adapted to attribute a feature probability value to each of the pixels of the image data;
an extremum determination module for determining at least one local extremum among the feature probability values, wherein the extremum determination module is adapted to output, for each of the plurality of pixels, a final indication if the feature probability value of the pixel in question is a local extremum; and
a preliminary indication memory adapted to store, for each of a portion of the plurality of pixels, a preliminary indication if the feature probability value of the pixel in question is a potential local extremum,
wherein the extremum determination module is adapted to use, for each of the plurality of non-border pixels, comparison results of at least two comparison operations, with each comparison operation comprising a comparison of the feature probability value of the non-border pixel in question with the feature probability values of a respective subset of neighboring pixels, with the respective subsets of neighboring pixels being different subsets, and
wherein the extremum determination module is adapted to store a preliminary indication in the preliminary indication memory for each of the plurality of non-border pixels at least once between two of the at least two comparison operations and to determine the final indication, for each of the plurality of non-border pixels, according to the preliminary indication for the pixel in question in combination with comparison results of at least one of the at least two comparison operations for the pixel in question.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the respective subsets of neighboring pixels for the comparison operations are overlapping subsets.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the respective subsets of neighboring pixels comprises at least 3 immediately neighboring pixels.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, for each of the plurality of non-border pixels, the combination of all of the respective subsets of neighboring pixels includes all immediately neighboring pixels of the non-border pixel in question.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extremum determination module is adapted to perform, for a particular comparison operation, a comparison of the feature probability value of each pixel in a window, consisting of the non-border pixel in question and the respective subset of neighboring pixels of the particular comparison operation, to the feature probability value of each other pixel in the window.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the extremum determination module is adapted to use the comparison results of the particular comparison operation for all of the pixels in the window.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extremum determination module is, for a given comparison operation, adapted to output a final indication for at least one pixel of a window, consisting of the pixel in question and the respective subset of neighboring pixels, store a preliminary indication in the preliminary indication memory for at least one pixel of the window and adapted to locally store a preliminary indication for at least two pixels of the window for being used in a subsequent comparison operation.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the window is a (m+1)\xd7(n+1) pixel window, wherein the extremum determination module is adapted to output the final indication for a corner pixel of the window, and wherein the extremum determination module is adapted to store the preliminary indication in the preliminary indication memory for those m or n pixels that form, together with the corner pixel, a window edge of the window.
9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the window is a 2\xd72 pixel window.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extremum determination module is adapted to output the final indication for one pixel per clock cycle.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the preliminary indication memory is a preliminary indication buffer having a size to store the preliminary indication for a row of pixels or having a size to store the preliminary indication for a column of pixels.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a probability value buffer having a size to store the feature probability values for a row of pixels or having a size to store the feature probability values for a column of pixels, with the probability value buffer being coupled between the feature detection module and the extremum determination module.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feature detection module is adapted to output the feature probability values for two adjacent pixels to the extremum determination module at the same time, with no probability value buffer being provided between the feature detection module and the extremum determination module.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feature detection module and the extremum determination module are coupled to each other and to a random access memory via a data bus system, with the random access memory comprising the preliminary indication memory.
15. A method for detecting a feature in an image, comprising:
receiving at least part of the image in the form of image data comprising a plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels comprising a plurality of non-border pixels of the image;
attributing a feature probability value to each pixel of the plurality of pixels of the image data;
determining at least one local extremum among the feature probability values; and
determining, for each pixel of the plurality of pixels, a final indication if the feature probability value of the pixel in question is a local extremum,
wherein determining at least one local extremum comprises, for each non-border pixel:
performing a first comparison operation comparing the feature probability value of the non-border pixel in question with the feature probability values of a first subset of neighboring pixels and determining a preliminary indication if the feature probability value of the non-border pixel in question is a potential local extremum,
performing one or more further comparison operations comparing the feature probability value of the non-border pixel in question with the feature probability values of one or more further subsets of neighboring pixels, different from the first subset of neighboring pixels, and updating the preliminary indication based on the one or more further comparison operations,
storing, at least once between two of the first comparison operation and the one or more further comparison operations, the preliminary indication in a preliminary indication memory, and
outputting the preliminary indication as the final indication after the completion of all of the one or more further comparison operations.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein performing one or more further comparison operations comprises:
checking the preliminary indication for the non-border pixel in question before a particular one of the one or more further comparison operations,
if the preliminary indication indicates that the feature probability value of the non-border pixel in question is a potential local extremum, carrying out the comparing of the feature probability value of the non-border pixel in question with the feature probability values of the further subset of neighboring pixels of the particular one of the one or more further comparison operations,
if the preliminary indication indicates that the feature probability value of the non-border pixel in question is not a potential local extremum, skipping the comparing of the feature probability value of the non-border pixel in question with the feature probability values of the further subset of neighboring pixels of the particular one of the one or more further comparison operations.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first subset and one of the one or more further subsets of neighboring pixels are overlapping subsets.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the one or more further subsets of neighboring pixels comprises at least 3 immediately neighboring pixels.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein, for each of a first plurality of non-border pixels, the combination of all of the respective subsets of neighboring pixels includes all immediately neighboring pixels of the non-border pixel in question.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein outputting the preliminary indication as the final indication comprises outputting the preliminary indication as the final indication in a (m+1)\xd7(n=1) window.