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.

Speech recognition in living rooms: Integrated speech enhancement and recognition system based on spatial,spectral and temporal modeling of sounds

Research on noise robust speech recognition has mainly focused on dealing with relatively stationary noise that may differ from the noise conditions in most living environments. In this paper, we introduce a recognition system that can recognize speech in the presence of multiple rapidly time-varying noise sources as found in a typical family living room. To deal with such severe noise conditions, our recognition system exploits all available information about speech and noise; that is spatial (directional), spectral and temporal information. This is realized with a model-based speech enhancement pre-processor, which consists of two complementary elements, a multi-channel speech–noise separation method that exploits spatial and spectral information, followed by a single channel enhancement algorithm that uses the long-term temporal characteristics of speech obtained from clean speech examples. Moreover, to compensate for any mismatch that may remain between the enhanced speech and the acoustic model, our system employs an adaptation technique that combines conventional maximum likelihood linear regression with the dynamic adaptive compensation of the variance of the Gaussians of the acoustic model. Our proposed system approaches human performance levels by greatly improving the audible quality of speech and substantially improving the keyword recognition accuracy.     

A novel photoreactive amphiphile of nitrophenylazide for immobilization of bioactive proteins

Monolayers of an amphiphilic nitrophenylazide (ANPA) derivative were prepared and their ability to immobilize a protein molecule by a photochemical binding reaction was demonstrated as a novel means to constitute a biofunctional membrane. Molecular orientations and photoreactions in the ANPA monolayers were investigated by Fourier transform IR spectroscopy. Rapid photolysis of ANPA was observed which reflects decomposition of the azide group to a reactive nitrene radical intermediate. As an enzyme, glucose oxidase (GOD) was immobilized on a monomolecular film of ANPA, coated on a substrate, by means of enzyme adsorption at the solid-solution interface and subsequent photolysis of ANPA. Radioisotope labelling experiments revealed that the enzyme was immobilized at a high surface concentration which corresponds to a closely packed monolayer of GOD. The specific activity of the immobilized enzyme was estimated to be high compared with those of other systems involving the adsorption of this enzyme. The usefulness of the present technique for fabricating biofunctional monolayer assemblies is discussed.     

A novel quarter‐wave retardation film for improving viewing angle properties in time‐sequential stereoscopic 3D‐LCDs

We have successfully developed a quarter‐wave retardation film (QWF) for wide viewing angle 3D liquid crystal displays (3D‐LCDs) that provides high luminance, low crosstalk, low color change, and low head‐tilt‐angle dependency. It was found that the out‐of‐plane retardation (Rth) of the QWF in the LCD needs to be close to 0 nm in order to improve the 3D display properties at an off‐axis position and that the in‐plane retardation (Re) needs to be adjusted from 120 to 130 nm to achieve low color change with head tilting. We adopted a coating process for making our QWF because of its potential for retardation control. 3D‐LCDs with this QWF whose Rth was nearly zero had high performance and allowed off‐axis other than on‐axis.     

Thermal diffusivity of liquids determined by flash heating of a three-layered cell

An investigation of the applicability of the flash heating of a three-layered cell for determining the thermal diffusivity of a central liquid layer at temperatures between its melting and boiling points is described. Two different cell designs were developed. In one, the outside layers were brazed to a ring-shaped central spacer; in the other, bolted flanges held the outside layers against a central spacer. Test units were fabricated from type 304 stainless steel. Thermal diffusivity results for water obtained with two brazed cells and one bolted cell were all within ±1% of standard reference values. Results obtained with a high temperature salt (Hitec) with two brazed cells were within ±2.5% of each other over the temperature range of 149–427°C. In contrast, bolted cell measurements were inconsistent.     

Absolute stability of sampled-data systems with a sector nonlinearity

This paper studies the absolute stability problem of sampled-data systems with a sector nonlinearity. Using the FR-operator technique, a frequency-domain criterion with a Nyquist-like plot is derived. It can be regarded as a sampled-data version of the circle criterion. It is shown that the “absolute-stability gain margin” can be read directly from the plot.     

Characterizing image quality of autostereoscopic displays by using the maximum luminance at each viewing position

A metric of the 3D image quality of autostereoscopic displays based on optical measurements is proposed. This metric uses each view's luminance contrast, which is defined as the ratio of maximum luminance at each viewing position to total luminance at that position. Conventional metrics of the autostereoscopic display based on crosstalk, which uses “wanted” and “unwanted” lights. However, in case of the multiple‐views‐type autostereoscopic displays, it is difficult to distinguish exactly which lights are wanted lights and which are unwanted lights. This paper assumes that the wanted light has a maximum luminance at the good stereoscopic viewing position, and the unwanted light also has a maximum luminance at the worst pseudo‐stereoscopic viewing position. By using the maximum luminance that is indexed by view number of the autostereoscopic display, the proposed method enables characterizing stereoscopic viewing conditions without using wanted/unwanted light. A 3D image quality metric called “stereo luminance contrast,” the average of both eyes' contrast, is proposed. The effectiveness of the proposed metric is confirmed by the results of optical measurement analyses of different types of autostereoscopic displays, such as the two‐view, scan‐backlight, multi‐view, and integral.     

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.     

Emerging From the Cocoon? Revisiting the Tele‐Cocooning Hypothesis in the Smartphone Era

The tele‐cocooning hypothesis posits that mobile communication increases interaction with communication rich ties, while simultaneously weakening interaction with communication weak ties. In this study, we demonstrate how smartphones can be used to mitigate tele‐cocooning behavior by stimulating interaction with communication weak ties. Using a smartphone application to collect non‐identifying mobile communication log data, we conducted a field experiment with 193 Japanese participants. The treatment consisted of onscreen reminders designed to stimulate interaction with communication weak ties. The results indicate that the treatment promoted the activation of communication weak ties and the acquisition of information through those ties, suggesting that smartphones can be utilized to promote access to social capital.