An FPGA implementation of real-time K-means clustering for color images

K-means clustering is a very popular clustering technique, which is used in numerous applications. In the k-means clustering algorithm, each point in the dataset is assigned to the nearest cluster by calculating the distances from each point to the cluster centers. The computation of these distances is a very time-consuming task, particularly for large dataset and large number of clusters. In order to achieve high performance, we need to reduce the number of the distance calculations for each point efficiently. In this paper, we describe an FPGA implementation of k-means clustering for color images based on the filtering algorithm. In our implementation, when calculating the distances for each point, clusters which are apparently not closer to the point than other clusters are filtered out using kd-trees which are dynamically generated on the FPGA in each iteration of k-means clustering. The performance of our system for 512 × 512 and 640 × 480  pixel images (24-bit full color RGB) is more than 30 fps, and 20–30 fps for 756 × 512 pixel images in average when dividing to 256 clusters.

Inter-comparison of various global sea surface temperature products

In this study, eight global sea surface temperature (SST) products for 2009 are compared to clarify their characteristics. The median of eight daily values, the Ensemble Median as Reference Product (EMRP), is used as a reference product for inter-comparison. The results show that the absolute value of mean differences and the value of root mean square (RMS) differences are higher in single-microwave products such as Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for the Earth observing system (AMSR-E), Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Microwave Imager (TMI), and WindSat, than in products such as MicroWave Optimally Interpolated SST (MWOI), Merged satellite and in situ data Global Daily SST (MGD), and Operational Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Ice Analysis (OSTIA) constructed by merging several SST data. It is of note that the characteristics of SST products depend on the type of SST used within the product, rather than the data source used. A comparison of SST products was also conducted using EMRP and data observed by moored buoys. The results show that only AMSR-E has a warm bias (+0.06°C) while other products have a cool bias (maximum value ?0.10°C). The RMS error of TMI is the highest (0.57°C), and that of EMRP the lowest (0.28°C). Furthermore, the temporal variability between the data in each SST product was compared to those observed by the Kuroshio Extension Observatory (KEO) buoy. Results show that the temporal variability of EMRP corresponds well to that of buoy data, and that the RMS error of EMRP is lower than that of the other SST products.     

Intuitive substitute interface

This paper proposes the “Substitute Interface” to utilize the flat surfaces of objects around us as part of an ad hoc mobile device. The substitute interface is established by the combination of wearable devices such as a head-mounted display with camera and a ring-type microphone. The camera recognizes which object the user intends to employ. When the user picks up and taps the object, such as a notebook, a virtual display is overlaid on the object, and the user can operate the ad hoc mobile device as if the object were part of the device. Display size can be changed easily by selecting a larger object. The user’s pointing/selection action is recognized by the combination of the camera and the ring-type microphone. We first investigate the usage scene of tablet devices and create a prototype that can operate as a tablet device. Experiments on the prototype confirm that the proposal functions as intended.     

Effect of rolling deformation on the structures and properties of multi‐walled carbon nanotube filled isotactic polypropylene

Isotactic polypropylene filled with various contents of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated by the injection molding technique and then rolled at room temperature. The unrolled samples (URS) and rolled samples (RS) were characterized by X‐ray diffraction studies, scanning electron microscopy, mechanical and micromechanical tests and differential thermal analyses. Although the URS exhibit the lamellar α‐crystal with a*‐axis orientation, the RS show the same crystals with both a*‐ and c‐axis orientation, which is explained by interlamellar and intralamellar slips and lamellar destruction. Scanning electron micrographs display distinct surface morphological features for both URS and RS. While the tensile strength of RS is higher than that of URS, the Young's modulus (Y) is found to be lower than that of URS. Anisotropy in microharness (H) parallel and perpendicular to the rolled direction has been detected, although H for both samples increases with increasing MWCNT contents. The average relationship H/Y ≈ 0.18 as estimated for URS is closer to the predicted value of 0.10 for polymers than the H/Y ≈ 0.22 obtained for RS. The lamellar thickness for URS increases with increase of MWCNT content and that for RS decreases, as evaluated from both differential thermal analyses and X‐ray diffraction data. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Novel functional polymers: Poly(dimethylsiloxane)–polyamide multiblock copolymer. III. Synthesis and surface properties of disiloxane–aromatic polyamide multiblock copolymer

Disiloxane–aromatic polyamide(aramid) multiblock copolymers(2SiPASs) were synthesized using 1,3-bis(3-aminopropyl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane(BATS) as an analog of aramidsilicone resin consisting of aromatic polyamide and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). 2SiPASs afford a transparent and toughened plastic film. The surface properties of 2SiPAS were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (xps) and static contact angle measurement. The results of surface analysis suggested that BATS content of the 2SiPAS surface increased with increasing BATS content in bulk. The interaction between the platelets and the 2SiPAS surface was found to be very weak when the BATS content reached 26 wt % in bulk. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Selective permeation of sour gases through polymeric membranes modified by sulfolanes. I. Study of selective permeation of CO2 through modified polymeric membranes determined on different systems

Several sulfolanes such as 3-methylsulfolane, sulfolane, and 3-sulfolene were tested as modifiers in poly(trimethylsilyl methyl methacrylate) (PTMSMMA) and poly(trimethylsilyl propyne) (PMSP) to improve the selectivity of CO₂. The gas permeabilities for the PTMSMMA-blend membranes containing high 3-methylsulfolane content were determined on a nonvacuum system in which the membranes started to be measured at their steady states at 30°C; those for all the other membranes were determined in a vacuum system in which those membranes were measured after they reached their unsteady states at 30°C. The PTMSMMA-blend membrane containing 40% 3-methylsulfolane was found to give the best separation of CO₂ under the conditions in this study compared to all the PTMSMMA-blend membranes and the others prepared in our work; its ideal separation factors for CO₂ over N₂ were above 40 and its permeability coefficients of CO₂ increased to above 250 Barrer. The modifications of PMSP membranes by impregnating with sulfolane and blending with sulfolene were found to be effective in improving the selectivity for CO₂ over N₂ for the PMSP membrane. The ideal separation factors for CO₂ over N₂ for the modified PMSP membranes impregnated with 30% sulfolane and blended with 25% 3-sulfolene were improved to above 10 and 13, respectively. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.