Technology trends
Technology trends
Engineering researchers at the Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD; www.ece.jhu.edu/) have developed a complex mathematical algorithm that allows a computer to filter out unwanted material in surveillance images and thereby accurately locate above-ground land mines in less than one minute. Mounted in a low-flying, unmanned airplane, a custom camera uses a six-segment spinning filter-lens assembly that produces six different images that are computer-analyzed for vegetation, ground object, and land-mine sizes and shapes.
PixTech Inc. (Santa Clara, CA; www.pixtech.com) is planning to show 15-in.-diameter field-emission-display prototypes at SID `99 next month in San Jose, CA. These prototypes offer unrestricted horizontal and vertical viewing angles, 6-kV anode voltage, 350-cd/m2 brightness, 20-µs response time, no motion artifacts, and instant-on power.
FLIR Systems Inc. (Portland, OR; www.flir.com) has designed a new lightweight, hands-free thermal imager for fire-fighting applications. This self-contained, uncooled microbolometer detector system attaches to the underside brim of any standard firefighter`s helmet and can deliver monochrome and color images depicting as many as 16,000 temperature levels.
A cooperative effort of Intel, Compaq, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, NEC, and Silicon Image, the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG; www.ddwg.com) has completed the Digital Visual Interface (DVI) specification for DDWG member final draft review. This comprehensive and extensible interface specification addresses the protocol, electrical, and mechanical requirements for a common digital connectivity for digital displays and PCs while allowing for existing analog support.